* * *
It turned out to be the most wonderful Christmas Eve in Amanda’s memory. Jeb seemed to like her mom and went out of his way to make her feel welcome in his home. He helped Amanda fix a simple but festive dinner, and in honor of the occasion, they dined at the formal table, using his fine china. Chloe was served apple juice in her wine goblet while the adults sipped a nice Merlot from theirs.
When it came time for kitchen cleanup, Jeb insisted that Emma relax with Chloe in the living room by the tree while he returned to help Amanda do the dishes.
She was surprised when he said in a low voice, “I don’t want your mother to be climbing up and down those stairs. I think we should sleep in one of the guest rooms and let her have the master suite.”
Amanda had noticed how her mother limped, putting as little weight on her right hip as possible, but she’d never expected Jeb to give up his sleeping quarters to make Emma more comfortable.
As if he read her mind, Jeb said, “All the rooms upstairs have adjoining baths, and the one at the end of the hall has a king bed. We’ll be fine up there.”
Over the last two days, Amanda had moved much of her clothing and toiletries into the master suite, and all of Jeb’s stuff was in there. “I don’t mind doing that, but it’ll be a big inconvenience for you.”
“No, it won’t. I’ll grab a few changes of clothes and my shaving gear. Going up and down those stairs will be hard on her.”
Amanda nodded, and it was decided. When the kitchen was tidy, she helped Jeb collect their things, and then they hurried upstairs to get settled in the end bedroom. “I feel a little self-conscious about sleeping with you with my mom in the house.”
Jeb grinned. “We’re engaged. I think Emma will understand. Besides, after having you beside me for two nights, I’d be lost without you.” Mischief danced in his eyes. “If you get all prissy on me, I’ll move in with you, Chloe, Bozo, and Frosty.”
Amanda laughed. “And I’d end up sleeping on the floor. No, thanks. We’ll sleep in here, and Mom will just have to deal with it.”
Before they left the room, Jeb pulled her close for a long hug, whispering to her of an idea he had to make the future easier for Emma. Amanda’s heart caught when she heard his plan.
“Jeb, are you sure you want to do this?”
“I’m positive as long as you feel comfortable with it.”
Amanda framed his face between her hands. “I think it’s the most generous, wonderful idea ever, and I can’t wait to see her face when you tell her.”
* * *
They spent the remainder of the evening by the gorgeous spruce, aglow with multicolored lights and sparkling with decorations. Bozo and Frosty snuggled near the hearth, basking in the warmth that radiated from the burning logs. Jeb played holiday music at a low volume, and they visited long into the evening, Amanda and Emma catching up while Chloe admired all the presents.
“Grammy, there are presents for you, too,” Chloe said.
Emma smiled at Jeb. “Being here is the only Christmas gift that I need.”
Amanda studied the package in Chloe’s hands and realized it was the teacup and saucer she’d wrapped. She narrowed an eye at Jeb. He chuckled. “Another white lie, Mandy. I didn’t have it mailed because I knew your mom would be here.”
“White lies are okay at Christmas!” Chloe announced. “That’s so everyone can be surprised!”
Feeling happy in a way she hadn’t for years, Amanda announced, “Speaking of surprises, sweetness, it’s time for little girls to be in bed.”
“But, Mommy, I want to stay up until midnight so I can put Baby Jesus in the manger.”
Jeb saved the day by saying, “But then Santa can’t come until after midnight, and that’ll put him way behind on all his rounds. He has lots of boys and girls on his delivery list. So he wants little children in bed earlier.”
Chloe pouted her bottom lip. “But I wanted to put the baby in tonight.”
Jeb glanced at his watch. “It’s almost Christmas in New York, so I guess we can do it now.”
Jeb disappeared and was wearing the Glock on his hip when he returned. He went to the coat closet and dragged out Chloe’s snow boots and parka. After bundling her up against the cold, he put boots on Bozo and fetched the manger piece.
Chloe’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve never put Baby Jesus in his manger. Do I need to say a blessing?”
“We’ll sing him the happy birthday song,” Jeb told her.
Amanda knew the drill. The moment Jeb stepped outside, she closed the door behind them and reset the security system. Then she joined her mom at the living room window to watch man and child approach the life-size Nativity scene. Bozo circled the yard, exhibiting no sign that he sensed any danger, which eased Amanda’s mind. Even so, she hoped Jeb didn’t linger out there. As Chloe approached the manger with Baby Jesus in her arms, her small face glowed in the soft illumination of the icicle lights strung along the eaves.
“She’s so darling.” Emma sent Amanda a questioning look. “I’ve noticed that Jeb wore a gun outside, and you’re both extremely diligent about keeping the alarm turned on. Is there a reason for that?”
Amanda had avoided giving her mom all the details about Mark’s break-in, so as not to worry her. “Mark is extremely dangerous, Mom. He was armed when he broke in last time, and if it hadn’t been for Bozo’s surprise intervention, he would have killed me. The divorce attorney Jeb hired says that violence by men like Mark can escalate as the hearing date approaches. That’s scheduled for the eleventh.”
Emma fixed a worried gaze on her daughter. “Do you think he can get in here again?”
“I think it’s unlikely, but it would be a mistake to underestimate him. That’s why we’re so careful to always keep the system armed. Last time, he watched for an opportunity and got inside in a matter of seconds.”
Emma rubbed her arms and shivered. Through the frosted glass, Amanda saw Jeb carrying Chloe back to the porch. She circled the tree to reach the hall and disarmed the system to let them back inside. After setting Chloe down, Jeb stepped over to the panel and hit Stay. Amanda took care of engaging the dead bolt.
Speaking of Mark’s break-in had depressed Amanda’s Christmas spirit, but Jeb helped her regain it as he assisted Chloe out of her jacket and boots. “You know what we almost forgot?”
“No, what?” Chloe asked.
“We haven’t put out cookies and milk for Santa. He’ll be up and down hundreds of chimneys tonight. At each stop, he needs a snack to keep his energy up.”
Concern filled Chloe’s expression. “But, Daddy Jeb, he can’t come down our chimney without landing in the fire!”
Jeb grinned. “I’ll put the fire out before I go to bed.” He glanced at the hearth and then at Amanda. “Can you help Chloe put together a high-calorie snack for Santa, Mandy? I have it on good authority that his favorite cookie is chocolate chip.”
After Chloe had put a plate of cookies and a glass of milk on the hearth, Amanda led her upstairs for her customary bath and bedtime stories. When she reentered the living room later, Jeb and her mom were chatting like old friends.
Jeb glanced up. Every time his hazel gaze turned Amanda’s way, she felt as if she’d received a physical caress. “Is she sound asleep?”
“Out like a light.”
Jeb pushed to his feet. “Excuse me, Emma.” He rubbed his hands together. “Now I get to play Santa Claus. It’s my first time, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Me, too.” Amanda bent to kiss her mom’s cheek. “I’ve had so much fun buying for her this year and I have presents hidden all over the place.”
Emma smiled.
Jeb caught Amanda around the waist with one arm and twirled her in close for a deep kiss. When he drew his mouth from hers, she felt weak at the knees. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Claus.”
/> Mrs. Claus felt herself blushing. “We aren’t standing under the mistletoe.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Claus don’t need mistletoe.”
Moments later as Jeb returned with the dollhouse, Emma gasped in delight. When he pushed the plug into an outlet, the older woman clasped her hands and leaned forward on the cushioned chair.
“I’ve never seen anything to equal this,” she said.
Amanda agreed. “It was gorgeous upstairs, but now, beneath the tree lights, it’s truly amazing. Chloe will be over the moon!”
“It does look great,” Jeb admitted with a wink at Amanda. “I had a lot of help.”
“Gingerbread and fairy tales,” Emma murmured. “It’s a fantasy house.”
Jeb stretched out on his belly to straighten the interior. Dishes had toppled during transport and furniture had shifted. Amanda joined him to help. Emma scooted an ottoman closer to watch them work.
When Amanda judged the house to be in perfect order, Jeb continued to fuss over this or that. “Jeb, it’s after midnight. Chloe will probably wake us up before dawn.”
“Get your mom settled in for the night and then go on up. I’ll be along soon.”
Amanda pushed erect. “Don’t stay up too long. You’ll be exhausted tomorrow.”
He flashed a smile. “It’s heck playing Santa Claus.”
Emma chimed in, “Surely after all your hard work, you’ll tell Chloe it’s from you so she can thank you properly.”
With a laugh, Jeb said, “She’ll realize we made it for her someday. For now, it’s more important that she believe in the magic of Christmas.”
* * *
Emma protested about taking Jeb’s bed, but while putting on fresh linens, Amanda convinced her that Jeb refused to have it any other way. Minutes later, when Amanda entered the upstairs bedroom she and Jeb would share during her mom’s stay, she felt lonely. She was about to go back downstairs when the door opened and she briefly saw his large body silhouetted against the hall light before the room became blanketed in shadows again.
He moved to where she stood beside the bed and held one hand above her head. “We’re legal now,” he whispered.
“Legal for what?”
“Kissing. I stole a piece of mistletoe from downstairs.”
Amanda giggled until his warm, hungry mouth claimed hers. Then she forgot everything but the man who held her in his arms. Later, as they lay naked with limbs intertwined, he whispered, “For a woman who once told me she detests sex, you seem to have developed a sudden taste for it.”
“We don’t have sex; we make love.” She snuggled closer, loving the solid heat of him. “Thank you for everything. Having Mom here has made this Christmas perfect.”
Chapter Nineteen
And the following day was perfect. Chloe awakened the household at five thirty in the morning, screaming at the top of her lungs, “Santa came! He really and truly came this time! Hurry! Hurry! You have to come see!”
After throwing on clothes, Jeb and Amanda got downstairs just in time to see Emma hobbling sleepily from the master suite. All three adults hurried to the living room. Chloe knelt in front of her dollhouse, her expression rapt. She didn’t even glance up when Amanda said her name.
Jeb crouched beside the child. “Wow, that’s quite some dollhouse. Is that what you told Santa you wanted?”
Chloe nodded, her eyes sparkling as she took in each room. “But I never meant for him to work so hard to give me one this nice!” She reached in to touch the tiny stove. Then she saw the dishes in the cupboard. “It’s so pretty! If it wasn’t so little, I’d live there.”
The child’s fascination with the dollhouse gave the adults some time to drink coffee around the tree and wake up. Then, with no little effort, Amanda distracted her daughter long enough for them all to unwrap their gifts. Emma loved her fancy teacup and saucer. Jeb liked the all-purpose knife that Amanda had ordered for him online. She was equally appreciative of the expensive wool slacks and sweater Jeb had ordered for her. Chloe was soon nearly eclipsed by piles of discarded wrapping paper and bows all around her.
Jeb brought in large black garbage bags for the used wrapping paper. While the adults adjourned to the kitchen to start breakfast, Chloe remained with her dollhouse, dressing the tiny dolls. After enjoying the light meal, Jeb announced that it was time for everyone to slick up for Christmas. Even though it wasn’t safe for them to attend a church service, they dressed as if they were going to one. Amanda wore her new black slacks and the charcoal gray sweater Jeb had given her. Jeb complemented her attire with black trousers, a Christmas red dress shirt, and a gray sports jacket. Emma donned the only dress she’d packed, a lovely blue jersey, and Chloe wore her birthday outfit.
When they all gathered downstairs again, they sang some traditional hymns followed by Christmas carols. Afterward they spiffed up the house and prepared for the Sterling clan to arrive for gift giving and a huge meal. Emma expressed nervousness about meeting her daughter’s future in-laws, but the moment Kate and Jeremiah arrived, her anxiety faded. Jeb’s parents went out of their way to make Emma feel like part of the family, and all their kids followed suit. Amanda, who’d fretted for days about preparing a holiday meal to equal one of Kate’s, soon relaxed as well. So many people went to work in Jeb’s huge kitchen that no one could lay claim to any successes or failures. The meal became a group effort.
When everyone moved into the dining room, Jeb hurried to seat Amanda at the far end of the table from him, where a hostess would traditionally reign over a gathering. After herding everyone else to their places, he filled goblets with wine, and then, carrying his glass, he came to stand at Amanda’s side. “I have an announcement to make.”
Barney winked at Amanda, making her wonder if he already knew their secret. While cooking, she’d turned the ring so the diamond was toward her palm because she knew Jeb wanted to surprise everyone with the news.
“On the night of Chloe’s birthday, I asked Amanda to marry me,” Jeb said. Looking at his mother, he added, “Yes, Mom, I did it the old-fashioned way, on bent knee.” Everyone laughed. “Anyway, she said yes.” He captured Amanda’s left hand to show off the beautiful diamond surrounded by sapphires that she now wore. “It’s official. I’m no longer a free agent. We’ll be married as soon as we can.”
All the Sterling women vacated their chairs to look at the ring and gush over how gorgeous it was. Jeb accepted congratulatory handshakes from the men and hugs from the women. Amanda stood to receive embraces as well. The last came from her mom.
“You stinker. You didn’t even tell me.”
Amanda laughed. “You already knew. You told Jeb my ring size so he could order it, and I know you’ve seen it on my hand. And you were worried about meeting my future in-laws. So you’re the stinker.”
Emma smiled. “Okay, I confess. But I decided not to say anything until you were ready to share the news.” She drew Amanda close for yet another hug. “Congratulations, darling. You picked a winner this time.”
After the meal, the family gathered around the tree for yet another round of gift opening. By evening, when the house emptied of guests, Amanda felt weary to the bone. The holiday had been a whirlwind of ceaseless activity. Leaving Jeb and Emma at the kitchen table, she took her snifter of brandy into the living room where Chloe was once again entranced by her dollhouse. Gazing at the tree, the child, and the dog snuggling happily with a kitten, Amanda couldn’t help but think that this was every woman’s dream come true.
Jeb came to find her. Slipping an arm around her shoulders, he said, “Deep thoughts?”
Amanda released a happy sigh and leaned her weight against his sturdy length. “I was just thinking that it took me a lifetime to get here, but I’ve finally come home.” She smiled up at him. “Home. Isn’t that a beautiful word?”
“For me, home is in your arms,” he whispered, his voice gravelly
with emotion.
Amanda went up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “And they’ll always be open to you.”
* * *
At bedtime, Amanda couldn’t pry her daughter away from the dollhouse. She went back to join Jeb and her mom in the kitchen, allowing the child a few more minutes of playtime. After a quarter hour had passed, Jeb glanced at his watch.
“It’s been a long day for her,” he said, pushing to his feet. “Now that I’m Daddy Jeb, I think it’s my turn to do her bath and bedtime stories.” He leaned down to plant a kiss on Amanda’s forehead. “Enjoy visiting with your mom. I’ll take care of it tonight.”
“Have you ever bathed a child?” Amanda asked.
He grinned. “I think I can figure it out, Mandy. Relax. I’ll yell if she goes under for the third time.”
Keeping an ear cocked, Amanda soon noticed that Jeb had encountered rough sailing. In a high-pitched voice, Chloe refused to stop playing.
Astounded, Amanda started up from her chair, but her mother’s firm grip on her arm forestalled her. “Let Jeb handle it, Mandy. He isn’t Mark. You needn’t worry that he’ll harm her.”
“It’s just—well, Chloe never argues. I mean never.”
Emma smiled and swirled her brandy. “And now she has Daddy Jeb. It’s good that she isn’t afraid of him.” She took a sip of the liquor. “If you interfere, it’ll be a mistake. At some point, Jeb needs to step in and act like a parent.”
Next Amanda heard her daughter start to cry. In fact, it sounded as if Chloe was pitching her first temper tantrum. A jolt of fear shot through her. But when she looked at her mom, Emma shook her head. To stop herself from leaping to her feet, Amanda made tight fists on the table’s edge.
Jeb said in a firm voice, “You can put all your dolls to bed first. Tuck them in and pull the covers up to their chins. When you wake up in the morning, they can wake up with you. Then you can all play together some more.”
Silver Thaw Page 33
