by Vivi Holt
Kate laughed. “He is pretty gorgeous, but there was no sweeping. I’m pretty sure he can barely stand the sight of me, at least that’s how he acts. He’s really rich and successful, I’m talking billions, and so arrogant I want to slap him sometimes.”
“Sounds perfect,” replied Shanice with a lip-smacking sound.
“That might be your type, but it’s not mine. I like guys who are kind, compassionate, humble. Not arrogant jerks.”
“So he’s a jerk?”
“Well, not exactly. Kind of. I mean, he’s really cold toward everyone. Although I think I know why he acts that way now, because his family are warm and loving and…just delightful in every way, really.”
“What’s up with billionaire-man then?”
“His wife died three years ago. He still seems to be really cut up about it. I couldn’t say much on the phone before, because he was listening in, but that’s why I’m here. He’s paying me to pretend to be his girlfriend, so the family leaves him alone about who he’s dating over the holidays. He just wants some downtime without having to worry about being set up. Apparently, his mother is really bad about that. Although to me she’s been nothing but sweet and kind.”
“That’s probably it then. He’s still hurting. Though, it seems to me three years should be long enough to get some healing. Maybe there’s more to it he’s not telling you.”
“Maybe.”
“So, that’s why you dropped everything and ran off to Montana? Because lover-boy needed a fake girlfriend, and you thought you were just perfect for that job? Seriously, I still can’t see it. It’s just not like you.”
Kate sighed and combed fingers through her hair then balanced the phone with her cheek against her shoulder and began braiding her hair the way she always did before she went to bed. The way Mom had taught her to when she was old enough to reach it on her own. “There’s another thing. Just before I left the apartment, I got a letter from my birth mother.”
Shanice gasped. “What? She finally wrote you?”
“Yup. And she lives here, in Billings, Montana. Well, not exactly here, but really close by. When he said he wanted me to come to Billings with him, and he’d pay me to do it, I just couldn’t say no. She says she wants to meet me.”
There was silence for a few moments. Then Shanice spoke in a guarded voice. “Are you sure about this?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you’ve been looking for your birth mother for a long time, and with your own folks gone…there’s just a lot riding on it for you. What if she tells you she doesn’t want to get to know you, doesn’t want anything to do with you? Are you going to be able to handle that?”
Kate screwed up her face and groaned. “I don’t know.”
“Because that’s a real possibility.”
“I know it is. Although she did write to me. And I’ve got to try. I can’t just ignore the fact that I have family, because you know that’s all I’ve wanted ever since Mom and Dad died.”
“I know,” Shanice said, her voice softening. “Just be careful. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I will.”
Chapter 8
December 22nd
Chris stared at the ceiling above his bed and sighed. He’d been awake for ten minutes but hadn’t felt the urge to get out of bed yet. The air had cooled during the night; likely his dad had turned down the thermostat, and they always banked the fires at night.
He pulled the covers up beneath his chin and linked his hands behind his head. His conversation with Kate the night before was still on his mind. He couldn’t believe she’d tricked him into taking her to Montana with him. Although, if he were entirely honest with himself, he realized he’d corralled her into it. He’d barked at her to hurry and get her bag before she’d even had a chance to open her mouth.
Despite all of that, he still felt as though there was something she wasn’t telling him. It didn’t make sense that she’d come here with him without any kind of plan. Or maybe she really did just need the money that badly.
He climbed out of bed and shivered across the floor in his boxer shorts. When he climbed under the hot jets of the shower, his shoulders relaxed, and he let the water pummel his face, eyes closed, as the stress of the year began to melt away.
Whatever her reasons, and despite everything, he was glad she was there. He couldn’t say why. It didn’t make sense. But there it was. Whenever he spoke with her, she seemed to help him relax, and that wasn’t something that came easily to him, especially not these days.
He dried off and dressed then hurried downstairs. Dad greeted him from the dining table, a newspaper open in front of his bowl of oatmeal.
“Mornin’, son,” he said.
Chris replied in kind and went into the kitchen to dip himself a bowl of oatmeal from the pan. He always ate oatmeal with Dad when he was home. Rarely ever ate it in Atlanta. It didn’t make much sense to cook oatmeal for one, and he hated the instant stuff—it was far too sweet for his taste buds. He poured himself a cup of coffee from the drip coffee maker then carried it all out to the dining room.
He sat beside Dad at the table. Dad wordlessly handed him half of the newspaper. He nodded his thanks and set it beside him to read while he ate.
“Is Mom up yet?” he asked. A ridiculous question really, considering he’d never witnessed his mother sleep late in his entire life.
“She and Kate are trimming the tree.”
Chris arched an eyebrow and almost choked on a mouthful of oatmeal. “What?”
Dad chuckled without taking his eyes off the newspaper. “They’re in there now, all smiles and with Christmas music playing.”
Mom had never let anyone outside of their immediate family help her decorate the tree before. No girlfriend had ever been given the privilege. When he’d dated Mia, she’d had to sit back and watch until she had that gold band firmly ensconced around her finger. It’d been something of a bone of contention between her and her mother-in-law since even their engagement hadn’t changed Mom’s mind about the tree trimming.
“Well, how about that.”
Dad nodded, chuckled again, then dipped his spoon into his oatmeal. “Your momma still surprises me sometimes. I guess she really likes Kate.”
“I guess so.” He studied his oatmeal, his thoughts in a whirl. What had he been thinking bringing her here? He hadn’t even considered how attached to her his family might get. He’d thought a few days with her would be completely harmless. Next time he saw them, he could just say they’d broken up, and no one would have to suffer any pain. But Mom was letting her help trim the tree—that was serious.
He finished up his oatmeal and coffee then headed for the den, his stomach churning with mild indigestion. And then he saw them. The tree was spectacular as usual. His parents never settled for anything less when it came to a Christmas tree.
Dad would pick it out from somewhere on the ranch earlier in the year and trim it with a hedge trimmer regularly, even fertilizing it at times, to get it just right. Then, he’d cut it down and lug it into the den where Mom would tend it day and night up until Christmas Day. It was always tall, reaching for the cathedral ceiling overhead, full, green, and smelling distinctly of the woods. This tree was no exception.
He perched on the arm of one of the leather chairs in the room to watch for a moment before saying, “Hi.”
Both women turned toward him with a smile. Kate waved. She stood on the top rung of a small step-stool and was reaching high above her head to hang a string of gold beads around the tree. Mom was fussing with a glass angel on one of the midsection branches.
“So, I thought no one but family could trim the tree with you, Mom?”
Mom waved a hand and pshawed him. “I don’t stick to that rule these days. That’s so old-fashioned, Chris.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yes. I’m flexible, you should know that already. I move with the times. And since Kate is special to you, she’s special to
me. Aren’t you, hon?” The last she addressed to Kate as she reached out to pat her on one shoulder.
Kate nodded and patted her right back. “Thank you so much, Diana. I feel very welcomed.”
“Well, you are. Chris here doesn’t bring just anyone home to meet us. So, I know you’re important to him.”
Kate flashed him a look he couldn’t quite interpret. Was it worry, smugness, pity? He couldn’t say. It unnerved him, and he fidgeted with the gold trim on a cushion beside him.
“Good to hear you’re open to change, Mom.”
“Speaking of change, how about you come and join in?” suggested Mom.
“You want me to help decorate the tree? I thought you said I didn’t have a stylish bone in my body the last time I tried.”
Mom laughed and huffed all at the same time. “I never said such a thing. I don’t know where you come up with this stuff. You should help. It’ll do you good. I’m gonna go and get us some eggnog to drink.”
He frowned. “I just ate breakfast, Mom.”
“It’s never too early for eggnog in my opinion.” She winked as she went by him and patted him gently on the arm.
What was happening? His mother had never let them drink eggnog before five o’clock in the evening. She certainly didn’t allow him to trim the tree. And now she was acting as though all her rules had been thrown out the window. As though she were carefree and easygoing. He knew that wasn’t even close to the truth, much as he adored her.
“Okay…”
He stood and stretched his arms above his head, working out the kinks in his shoulders. Where should he begin?
“I could really use some help over here,” began Kate. “I can’t quite reach…”
She stood on tiptoe and stretched as far as she could toward a bare patch of pine needles then turned to face him with a smile.
He nodded and headed toward her.
She handed him a small red nutcracker and backed down the step-stool. He climbed up and secured the nutcracker onto the tree then moved out of her way.
“Is that okay?”
“Perfect,” she said.
As he stepped aside, she rested a hand on his arm. “Thanks for not saying anything. I know this must be hard for you, but I really appreciate it. I’m having a great time with your family.”
He nodded, unable to form words with the feel of her hand on his arm. Goose pimples grew on his skin beneath the sleeve of his shirt.
“What do you think? Should we add more ornaments?”
“A few more couldn’t hurt.” Besides, he wanted to extend the moment for a little longer.
He helped her select some ornaments and a few more strings of beads, and then they worked side by side to decorate the tree. Finally, when they were done, it shone and glinted in the light dancing in the nearby fireplace.
“It looks nice,” he said.
She laughed. “It looks spectacular.”
“That too.”
“Are you always so…underwhelmed?” She studied him with a glint of mischief in her eyes.
He felt his cheeks color. “I don’t know. I guess so.”
“I’ve noticed your family has a thing about the cold,” she said, surprising him.
“You mean the ‘it’s so cold’ jokes?”
She nodded. “I’ve got one.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s so cold, my dog got stuck to a fire hydrant.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I hadn’t heard that one.”
Her blonde hair shone, her eyes sparkled, and the red Christmas sweater she wore hugged her lithe frame in a way that made it hard for him to look away. Was he being disloyal to Mia thinking this way? He shouldn’t be able to move on, to find happiness or laughter with anyone else. She was gone; she’d never laugh again.
“So, I was wondering…do you think I could borrow a truck and drive into Billings today?”
He frowned. “I guess so. What do you need in Billings? Maybe I could get it for you.”
She shook her head, her cheeks flushing pink. “No, it’s okay. Actually, as I’m sure you are aware, I didn’t get a chance to buy gifts for anyone. And I’d really like to. Your family is being so kind to me, I want to get something to put under this magnificent tree for them…and for you.”
He smiled. “That’s very kind, but you really don’t have to. I know they’re not expecting anything, and neither am I.”
“I want to.”
“Okay. I’m happy to drive you into town if you’d like me to. I’m sure Mom will have some errands for me to do.”
“That sounds great.”
As she turned toward the tree to tweak a few of the ornaments, he studied her profile. He couldn’t say why, but he had the feeling she hadn’t told him everything. Steve would say he had a suspicious nature and to give her the benefit of the doubt. His best friend usually knew what he was talking about, even when Chris was loath to admit it. So, that’s what he’d do.
Kate leaned against the truck window, the cold air seeping through her coat and into her bones. She shivered and fussed with the air vent, directing the hot air that blasted from it onto her face.
In the driver’s seat, Chris hummed along to the music on the radio. He seemed more relaxed than he had been when they arrived at the ranch—either being home was good for him, or perhaps he was finally warming up to her. Either way, she’d spent the entire drive into Billings worrying about whether he’d let her drive and how she could get away from him long enough to pay a visit to her birth mother.
“Where would you like to go first? There’s a mall on this side of town that’s pretty good.”
“That sounds perfect.”
She smiled, but her heart thundered against her ribcage. Perhaps she’d meet her mother today. She’d dreamed about this moment for so many years. Ever since her parents told her the truth of her adoption, she’d daydreamed about running into her birth parents and showing them just how well she was doing without them. And them loving her and wanting her back—telling her they wished they’d never given her up.
It wasn’t the only reason a bead of sweat trickled down her back between her shoulder blades either. She glanced across at Chris. This kind of thing wasn’t like her—telling lies or partial truths. Sneaking off in someone else’s truck. Either way, she couldn’t wait until this day was over.
She inhaled sharply and returned to staring out the window.
“Something on your mind?” asked Chris, with a quick glance in her direction.
How did he know? She couldn’t tell him. Not yet. Even talking about what she planned to do with Shanice the night before had given her an anxiety attack.
“I’m fine. Just trying to think of ideas for your family. Do you know what they might like?”
He chuckled. “If I knew, I’d buy it for them. In fact, I think I’m going to do some shopping as well, since I haven’t really had time to think about what to get for everyone either. My PA bought a few things, but I don’t think it’s really enough. Plus, Mom can tell when I don’t do my own gift buying—she has a nose for it, and she doesn’t like it. Says that it’s the thoughtfulness that goes into the gift that matters most, and if someone else buys it for you, then the thought isn’t there.”
“She’s right about that,” replied Kate with a grin.
He scowled. “Great, now there are two of you to give me grief.”
“I tell you what. I’ll help you buy your mom a gift, but afterward do you mind if I take the truck and look around town at some different stores while you shop at the mall? I’d like to check out a few other places.”
He nodded. “That’s fine. We can just arrange a time to meet up.”
Chris held the steering wheel with one hand and reached into his back jeans pocket with the other. Keeping his eyes on the road, he extracted a credit card from the wallet and reached out his hand toward her.
“Here, take this.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“You’re
buying gifts for my family because of me. You should use my credit card.”
“Okay. Thanks.” It felt strange to take his credit card to buy him a gift. Still, she really couldn’t afford to get the kinds of gifts his family were likely used to. Most of the time, she gave handmade gifts, like paintings or small sculptures, to give her own friends. Once she’d even made jars of bright, cheery cranberry sauce and decorated them with red ribbons and fabric lid covers. But she hadn’t brought anything like that with her.
“Don’t worry about the cost,” he added.
She nodded. If only her life were so simple. There was no way she could even imagine living like that—paying no mind to the cost.
She swallowed hard. Convincing Chris to lend her the truck hadn’t been as difficult as she’d thought it would be. He hadn’t questioned her or resisted the way she’d expected he might. So far things were working out just the way she’d hoped they would. Now all she had to do was drive on icy roads in a town she didn’t know to find the mother she’d never met and somehow also buy gifts for an entire family of people she hardly knew. Simple.
Chapter 9
As soon as Kate was done helping Chris select a Christmas gift for Diana, she hurried to do her own shopping. She selected a leather jacket for Chris, one she hoped he’d like especially given the fact that he was paying for it. Then, she found a vase for Diana that would complement the decor of the ranch house.
A new Stetson was next, this time for Frank. For Todd and Sasha, she bought a matching set of Christmas-inspired china serving dishes. And for each of the kids she bought art supplies—her favorite kind of shopping—paints, brushes, and canvases and she didn’t look once at the price tags. She was more excited about her purchases than the kids were likely to be when they opened them on Christmas morning.
