Harlequin Heartwarming December 2020 Box Set

by Cari Lynn Webb, Linda Warren, Mary Anne Wilson

  Something his father had said crossed his mind. It’s just something that needs to be opened when I’ve passed. The letter his father had given him could hold the answer. He hadn’t thought much about it until now.

  He fished a key out of his pocket and unlocked the glove compartment where he had put the letter. He pulled it out and ripped it open, unfolding a legal document. It was a life insurance policy on his father. The beneficiaries were Bo and Kelsey. There was a note attached at the very top, written by hand. You might use a little of this to put me away. Bury me close to my dad in the Horseshoe Cemetery. Love, your father.

  The policy was for five hundred thousand dollars. Bo was always steady and strong, but today his hands shook as he stared at the note and the policy. Forgiveness now was simple and easy, not because of the money, but because he’d opened his heart and accepted his dad for who he was. He’d taken the step and talked to him man-to-man, and now he would bury his father with forgiveness in his heart. There was nothing left.

  He made arrangements to bury his dad on Tuesday and used his own money. He hadn’t had time to deal with the insurance policy yet. There was a small family service at the church in Horseshoe. A lot of people he didn’t know came, friends of his dad. Most of the town showed up because of his mom. They all knew her.

  Bo had Maribel from the diner do the lunch afterward and Anamarie who used to run the bakery now had her own shop and made all the sweets. Today he would honor his father.

  His grandmother had wanted Mason’s gospel recordings to be played during the ceremony. His earthy, rich voice filled the small church and memories, like snapshots, floated through Bo’s mind. There were those mornings in the bathroom when he would sing with his dad. When he was smaller, his dad would put him on the vanity and he would clap and pump his leg to his dad’s voice. Kelsey couldn’t carry a tune if her life depended on it and they would laugh at her. There had been a lot of laughter on those mornings, but then… Bo refused to think about the bad times. Today was a day to remember the good. As his dad’s voice rang out, a pang of sadness pierced his heart and he wondered for a brief moment how he was supposed to get through the rest of this.

  Grandma and Aunt Lois and her family sat in the front row. Bo, Kelsey, his mom and Craig were in the second row. Bo sat on the end in case his grandmother needed him. Someone touched his shoulder and he looked up to see Becky in a black dress and heels. They all scooted down to let her in.

  As the pastor began to speak, she reached out and took his hand, and he now knew how he was going to get through this. The service was short, as was the drive to the cemetery. Only the family went to the graveside and he held on to Becky’s hand, making sure she went with him. Bo worried about his grandma, but she was holding up really well. It was after two when they finished eating and he shook hands with everyone as they left.

  “Do you need anything?” Cole asked.

  “Just some time.” And Bo realized that was true. He needed time to adjust to this new situation, just as Becky did. He understood it now.

  He walked her to her car and held her hand all the way.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure. I didn’t expect it this soon and I have this good and evil warring inside me. I just wonder if that will ever end.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on to him for a little while, and that helped more than he could ever have imagined.

  She drew back. “I’m sorry. I know this is hard for you.”

  “I’m supposed to be strong and fearless, so this should be easy for me, right? But it isn’t.” He told her about the insurance policy. “I don’t want the money. It’s like putting a Band-Aid on the past and I just can’t accept it. I don’t understand why he did that.”

  “Because he wanted to give you something, something he never gave you in life—security. But if you don’t want the money, give it to a charity in his name. Or better yet, you could set up a scholarship fund at the Horseshoe high school for underprivileged children. Do something that makes you feel better about it.”

  “I don’t know if I’ll ever feel better.”

  “You will. It takes time, and I wish I could stay, but I have to pick up Luci.”

  She stood on tiptoes and kissed him. “We’ll talk later.”

  Bo watched her drive away and then went back into the Fellowship Hall. Later, his grandmother asked if he would take her home and he did. She talked and talked about Mason when he was little and all the things that he’d done, and it was what Bo needed to hear.

  As he listened to his grandmother, he realized something. He really hadn’t known his father. He had memories of the singing and memories of him being in the house, but other than that there was no close connection and now there never would be. It really was over, and that’s what was hurting the most.

  * * *

  BECKY WAS IN her pajamas, getting ready for bed. She already had Luci tucked in for the night with Pink and Purr. She flipped off the kitchen light and was about to unplug the little Christmas tree she and Luci had put up when there was a knock at the front door. She glanced at the clock and saw it was after ten. Who could that be?

  She glanced through the peephole and saw a distraught, disheveled man. She opened the door. “Bo.”

  He walked past her to the sofa and plopped down. “I can’t stay in my apartment alone. I have all these thoughts I don’t understand. I hated that man most of my life, so now why do I have these feelings?”

  “Because he was your father and you loved him in spite of his behavior.”

  “Maybe.” Bo rested his head on the cushions and stretched out his legs. “Life is hell and I don’t understand any of it.” In a second he was sound asleep.

  She wasn’t even sure if he knew where he was. He wasn’t drunk. He was just on emotion overload. She went upstairs and got a blanket and a pillow.

  Covering him up, she kissed his cheek, but he didn’t stir. She placed the pillow on the coffee table in case he needed it. He was trying to hate his dad, but he couldn’t and she admired him for that. Staring at him, she knew she was never going to stop loving him and she had to come to terms with her own feelings about him.

  When she woke up the next morning, Bo was gone, as she’d known he would be. Her phone buzzed.

  “Hey, sorry for crashing at your place last night.”

  “No problem.”

  “Since I was off yesterday I’ll be working straight through over the weekend.”

  “How are you?”

  “Adjusting. Work takes my mind off of things.”

  She wanted to say so much, but she sensed he didn’t want to talk and she let it go. “Well, call when you can.”

  She felt as if she was talking to a stranger. Where was the man who’d held her hand yesterday with such strength and seemed to need her? Or maybe she needed him, high-risk job or not.

  That week she didn’t hear from Bo so she decided to go home for the weekend. Luci wanted to see Grandpa and the tree. With her father’s marriage she couldn’t drop in just any time she wanted anymore. Things were changing and she didn’t mind.

  Becky liked Ava, who was perfect for her dad. When she’d found a moment to talk to Ava she asked about Bo, and Ava said he was very busy this time of year. That meant he was working himself to death to keep from thinking about his dad.

  Later on Sunday afternoon she returned to Austin and the days passed quickly as they neared Christmas. Still Bo hadn’t called. On the twenty-second she gave up waiting and picked up her phone to dial his number.

  “Hey, Bec.” His voice was as calm and pleasant as if she’d seen him yesterday.

  “I don’t want to bother you, but I wanted to let you know that Luci and I are going home for Christmas. I have to work a half a day on the twenty-third and then we’re leaving for Horseshoe.”

  “Yeah, Chr
istmas. I’d almost forgotten about it.”

  “Bo, Luci expects you to be there.” And so do I.

  “I put in for time off, but the lieutenant hasn’t okayed it yet. Bec…”

  “If you want this relationship to work,” she broke in, “you will be there and not let anything keep us apart this holiday season.” She threw her phone into her purse. Would he bail on them this Christmas?

  * * *

  BO WALKED INTO the lieutenant’s office. Becky was right; he needed to do something about their lives. But lately he’d been grappling with his dad’s death and the insurance money, and in his mind it stood out like a sore thumb that had been beaten by a sledgehammer. Or an open wound that he couldn’t ignore. He had to decide what to do with the money.

  Kelsey said it was his call. Neither one of them wanted it. Money didn’t erase the past or make anything better. They both had good jobs and made good salaries. They didn’t need it. But evidently, his father had thought it would make up for the past. And deep down Bo knew that wasn’t possible—not like this. He had to get his act together before he lost the most important person in the world—Becky.

  “What is it, Goodnight?” The lieutenant’s eyes were on the computer screen and not him.

  “You haven’t okayed my time off for Christmas.”

  “There are a lot of guys who want off for Christmas.”

  “Does that mean I’m not getting it?”

  She didn’t reply, just tapped a few keys on the computer and it angered him. He put in a lot of hours and hardly ever took a vacation. He deserved time off.

  “Let me make this easy for you. I’ll be leaving SWAT at the end of the year.”

  She finally looked up at him. “What?”

  “I’m seeing someone who doesn’t like my job and I happen to love her more than SWAT. And this Christmas I’m spending time with her, one way or another.”

  She leaned back in her chair, her jaw one stubborn line. “You’ve trained a lot of years for this job and you’re one of the best. You can’t throw away your pension and everything just like that!” She snapped her fingers.

  “I can. It’s my decision.”

  Her eyes narrowed on him. “Are you pushing me against the wall to get your way?”

  “I would never do that. But I haven’t had a vacation in over two years, just the two weeks you imposed on me.”

  They stared at each other in silence. Bo wasn’t backing down. He meant every word he’d said.

  “Okay. Take the time off and we’ll talk again when you get back. I won’t mention this to the commander. I know your life has been stressful lately with your father’s death.”

  “Yes, it has, but I’m serious about quitting SWAT. I’ll let you know for sure when I get back.” He walked out, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He could now breathe and sort out the rest of his life.

  He worked late that night, and went home and fell into a deep sleep. On the twenty-third he was at work early and they got a call from police for help. Some man had stormed his way into his ex’s house and was holding her hostage with their two kids. Another custodial battle over kids at Christmas, which never ended easily.

  Neighbors had called the cops. It turned into a three-hour standoff as they tried to talk him out of the house. It didn’t work and they had to go in and take him. It had been a long morning, and Bo was looking forward to time off and seeing Becky and Luci.

  He sent her a quick text: Meet you in Horseshoe on Christmas Eve.

  They cleaned the Hummer and made sure everything was back in place for the next call. Even though he was a sergeant, he worked alongside his crew. Maybe it would be a slow day and he could concentrate on going home. He was ready.

  The lieutenant came into the room. “Load up. We’ve got a serious situation. Shots have been reported at the Women’s Center. I’m taking the lead on this one.”

  The Women’s Center? That was where Becky worked. Panic gripped him until he realized that she had only been working until noon. He let out a long breath. Thank God she wasn’t there.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  AT TWO O’CLOCK Becky walked the last patient into the waiting room. The day had run longer than they’d planned. A lady had come in with a swollen breast and Dr. Eames had decided to go ahead and do a mammogram. She’d known it was probably cancer and wanted to know right away so something could be done after the first of the year. That was why Becky loved working with Dr. Eames. She always did what was best for the patient.

  Carla, the receptionist, and Leesha were ready to go home for the holidays—their purses were on the counter.

  “Do you think we can leave?” Carla asked. “There’s no one else scheduled.”

  Before Becky could answer, the door opened and Kathy Purcell came in, red in the face, as if she’d been running. “I need to see Dr. Eames. Is she still here?”

  “I’ll check,” Becky said. She knew Dr. Eames was still there, but she wanted to make sure the doctor had time. She and her husband were catching a flight in three hours for Miami.

  Becky knocked on the doctor’s door and stuck her head around. “Kathy Purcell is here and wants to see you. She’s really nervous and agitated.”

  “Send her in. I have a few minutes. Tell Carla and Leesha they can go home. Happy holidays to everyone.”

  Just then screams and two gunshots rang out. She and Dr. Eames ran to the waiting area to find a man holding a gun. Kathy lay on the floor, bleeding from her chest. Bile rose in Becky’s throat and for a moment she was paralyzed with fear.

  “Who’s Dr. Eames?” the man snapped in an angry voice, waving a gun.

  Dr. Eames stepped forward. “That would be me. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “You aborted my son.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “My wife comes in here all the time and you talked her into an abortion because she didn’t want the kid. You did it.” He waved the gun at Dr. Eames. “You killed my son and now I’m going to kill you.” He pulled the trigger before anyone could move, and Dr. Eames staggered and fell backward to the floor, blood oozing from her chest.

  “What are you doing? You’re insane!” Becky pulled her medical jacket off and knelt by Dr. Eames, trying to stop the bleeding.

  The man yanked her up by an arm.

  “Let me go,” she shouted, pulling away from him.

  He smacked her across the side of her face with the gun. Sharp pain crippled her, the room spun and she prayed she wouldn’t pass out. Blood trickled down her face and she made an effort to brush it away, but her hand didn’t seem to work. She drew a ragged breath.

  “They…they need medical attention.”

  He laughed a laugh that slid down her skin like a poisonous snake. He grabbed her around the neck and yanked her close to his body. He smelled of cigarettes and liquor. “You do one more thing and I’ll put a bullet in your head.”

  Fear wrapped around her heart and she had this feeling she was going to die here today. She thought of Bo. He would come. That’s what he did for a living, and on this day she was very grateful for that.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Leesha’s head pop up from behind the desk. She and Carla were hunkered down behind it. They needed help. Becky wondered if anyone had heard the shots because no one was coming to their aid.

  The center had three doors, one into the hospital, the big glass front doors and the back door. The door into the hospital was the closest. It was usually closed, but today, for some reason it was open. That was the way out. They had to go for help. She looked into Leesha’s frightened eyes and glanced toward the open doorway. She did that twice and Leesha finally looked toward the door, getting the message. Becky had to distract the guy.

  “Listen, Mr. Purcell, we don’t do abortions here. We did not abort your son. Your wife had a miscarriage.�
�

  His arm tightened around her neck and he almost lifted her off her feet. “Shut up. Shut up! My wife’s a liar and your boss is a killer and she’s paying for that.”

  “Listen—”

  At that moment Leesha made a run for the door. She’d been a track runner in high school and she made it, but not before the man raised the gun and fired three times. He missed. Becky’s ears rang from the gunshots, but she could see Leesha hightailing it down the hallway. Now they would get help and she hoped it was in time.

  The man dragged her toward the door and slammed it shut, locking it.

  “Mr. Purcell, please, they need medical attention.”

  “Do you think I care? She killed my son.”

  “If anyone killed your son, it was you. You beat your wife so badly she lost the baby.”

  His hand tightened around her neck and she could barely breathe. “Shut up! That’s not true.”

  Sirens blared and she could see policemen running outside. The cops were here! Now maybe this nightmare would be over. First he had to let go of her and she had a feeling he wasn’t going to do that.

  * * *

  SPEED DROVE THE Hummer just as close as he could get to the scene. Police were everywhere and had the perimeter marked off. The lieutenant talked to the sergeant handling the scene.

  “Mr. Purcell thinks his wife had an abortion here and is very angry. He shot his wife and Dr. Eames. They’re both lying on the floor and need serious medical attention. He’s holding Dr. Eames’s PA with a gun to her head. He won’t hesitate to use it and we can’t figure a way to get in there to get him without hurting Ms. Tullous. He won’t pick up the phone. We need to get those people out of there as soon as possible.”

  Ms. Tullous! Becky was in there! Fear slammed into Bo’s gut and almost knocked him off his feet. What was she doing here? Oh, man! No! No! He couldn’t let on that he knew Becky. The lieutenant would send him back to the station.

  The lieutenant used a bullhorn. “Mr. Purcell, come out with your hands up or we’re coming in for you. This is your last chance.”