Nora grinned at her aunt. “Are you going to make dragon Christmas cakes?”
“Not dragons, but we could make Santa’s workshop and something else.”
Nora jumped off the kitchen chair. “What if one of the cakes looked like a big Christmas present. It could have pink spots and a yellow ribbon on top.”
Megan washed her hands under the faucet. “That sounds like an amazing cake to me.”
William knelt beside Nora. “Thank you for showing me how to frost the cookies.”
“That’s okay. I like helping you.” She wrapped her arms around William’s neck and gave him a hug. “I love you.”
His arms tightened around Nora’s little body. It had been so long since anyone had said they loved him that it took him a moment to reply. “I love you, too. Sweet dreams.”
When Nora stepped away, Megan scooped her into her arms. “What story are we reading tonight?”
“Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy!”
William looked bemusedly between Nora and Megan.
“Hairy Maclary is a little black dog,” Megan explained. “He has all sorts of adventures with other dogs.”
“And lots of cats,” Nora added.
“Definitely lots of cats.” Megan tightened her hold on Nora. “Let’s see what adventures Hairy Maclary has been up to.”
“And Bottomley Potts all covered in spots, and Hercules Morse as big as a horse…”
“And Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy,” Megan said in a sing-song voice with Nora.
William had never heard of the book, but it must be one of Nora’s favorites. He said good night to her as she giggled her way out of the kitchen.
He sat on the chair Nora had been using and sighed. He’d forgotten what it felt like to hear a child say they loved him, to know that whatever happened, they trusted you with their life.
And he knew the pain of not being able to live up to their expectations. Of letting them down in the worst possible way.
He dropped his head into his hands. Without knowing how it had happened, he’d stepped into an emotional web that could only end in heartache.
And that was the last thing he wanted for anyone.
Chapter 9
Reading Nora a bedtime story had taken longer than Megan thought. By the time she made it downstairs, William was in the kitchen, drying the last mixing bowl.
He looked up and smiled.
Megan’s heart squeezed tight. Whether he wanted to or not, William had become an important part of Nora’s life. “Thank you for doing the dishes. I didn’t think I’d be so long.”
“That’s okay” He opened a cupboard and placed the mixing bowl on top of another. “Did Nora enjoy the story?”
“She did. Except she wanted me to read two more stories.” Megan turned on the coffeepot. “Let me make you a drink. I’ll find some cake as well.”
“What are your plans for tomorrow?”
Megan smiled. “Apart from finishing the cookies and decorating the cakes, I thought I’d update my website. What about you?”
“I promised a little girl I’d take her on another sled ride.”
“It’s okay to say no. You must have other things you need to do.”
William took two plates out of a cupboard. “I enjoy spending time with her.”
Megan organized their cups, then waited beside the coffeepot. She didn’t know how to talk to William about Nora, how to tell him they needed to be careful.
“William?”
His eyebrows rose. “Yes?”
“I need to say something, but I don’t want you to take it the wrong way.”
“Should I sit down?”
Megan sighed. “This is important. We need to be careful. About Nora.”
“Nora is safe. Caleb hasn’t received any more emails threatening her life.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
William frowned. “If you’re worried about someone finding us, the risk is extremely low.”
“It’s not the terrorists I’m worried about. It’s you.”
The gleam in William’s eyes disappeared. “What do you mean?”
“I’m worried that Nora is becoming too attached to you.”
“She likes my company because I’m different. If there were other people here, they would be a distraction and keep her busy.”
“It’s more than that. Nora wanted to know if we could stay with you forever. It’s going to be hard on her when we leave.” Megan took a sheet of paper out of her pocket. “She made this for you. I think she sees us as a family.” William studied the picture for so long that Megan didn’t think he was going to speak.
He handed the picture back to her. “Everyone is your best friend when you’re six years old. Once Nora’s in Milwaukee, her life will settle into a normal routine. She won’t even know I’m not there.”
Megan poured two cups of coffee and handed one to William. “Nora has always wanted a dad. She sees you as a father-figure. If we don’t do something about it now, she’ll be devastated when we leave.”
“I guess this means our sled ride tomorrow won’t happen.”
“I know it’s hard to understand. Nora is at a tricky age. What’s happened has been stressful enough for her. I don’t want her getting hurt.”
“I don’t want that either.” William cradled his cup in his hands. “I could do less around the house with her.”
Megan didn’t know if that would help. Nora had a way of becoming involved in almost everything around her. “I could take her sledding tomorrow. I’m not sure if it will help, but at least it’s a start.”
“You can’t be on the mountain on your own. Even though the risk of anything happening is extremely low, it’s still there.”
“You could watch from the sidelines.”
“How long do you think that would last?”
Megan dropped her head to her chest. “I know it’s not ideal, but it’s the best I can come up with. I’ve already talked to her about your life in Bozeman. She knows it’s a long way from Milwaukee, but she still thinks we can spend time together.”
William left his coffee on the counter and stood in front of her. “What if I could move to Milwaukee?”
With a pounding heart, Megan looked into William’s eyes. “Why would you do that?” When he held her hands, she held her breath, waiting for what came next.
“I’m not very good at showing people how I feel, but I really like you. I want to spend more time with you after this is over. If I moved to Milwaukee, we could go to the movies. Have dinner. Do things most people enjoy when they’re getting to know each other.”
“What about your job?”
“The FBI has an office there. I could request a transfer.”
Deciding to spend more time with William was one thing. But knowing he’d left his house and job to be closer to them was a big commitment. “What if it doesn’t work?”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I enjoy spending time with you and Nora, and I can’t see that changing. If it does, at least we’ll both know it wasn’t meant to be.”
What she needed to do was think logically, but she couldn’t see beyond the warmth in William’s blue eyes.
“I would never do anything to hurt either of you.”
Megan took a deep breath. “I know you wouldn’t but, for Nora, life doesn’t come in shades of gray. If you move to Milwaukee, you’ll become an even more important part of her life.”
“Nothing comes with guarantees. I promise I’ll do everything I can to make you both happy.”
Megan lifted her hands to William’s shoulders. Beneath his shirt, his muscles tensed. “I don’t know what the future holds,” she began, “but I like you, too. I want to be part of your life, but—”
William’s lips brushed against hers.
Instant heat spread through her body. She forgot about the reasons why this wasn’t a good idea, why she should step away and end whatever was happening between them. All she co
uld think about was William and how good it felt to be kissing him.
She moved closer and William groaned, molding her shoulder to hip against his hard body.
Before her brain completely switched off, she made an important decision. Tomorrow would be soon enough to wonder if letting him into her heart was a good idea.
Later that night, after Megan went to bed, William studied Nora’s drawing. Beneath a big, shiny sun, three people held hands. They were surrounded by flowers and butterflies and, unsurprisingly, a family of mice.
His hand touched the image of Megan. Meeting her had changed his life. It had made him re-evaluate what was important and question some of the decisions he’d made after his daughter died.
Megan and Nora had been through a lot of heartache but they had survived. With a lot of courage and determination, Megan had created a new life for them. It was completely different from what she had imagined, but she’d never once said she was angry or disappointed.
He thought about his own life. The first year after Lacey died was the hardest. He’d blamed himself for what happened. His life had stopped and he’d never wanted to make things right with the people he loved. Until now.
Picking up his cell phone, he scrolled through his contact list. He hadn’t spoken to his dad in more than four years. His aunt kept him up to date with family news, but nothing could replace the sound of his dad’s voice or hearing what was happening in his life.
With a trembling hand, he tapped the call button. A part of him hoped his dad wasn’t home. They’d said a lot of hurtful things to each other. It would be a miracle if they could ever repair their relationship.
“James Parker speaking.”
A lump formed in William’s throat. “Hi, Dad. It’s me.” The silence on the other end of the phone wasn’t reassuring.
“It’s been a long time.”
His dad’s voice had the same deep, slow drawl that William remembered. “It’s nearly Christmas. I thought I’d call to see how you’re doing.”
“Your aunt said you spoke to her last month. Nothing much has changed.”
William refused to end the conversation there. His dad was one of the stubbornest men he knew. He was also proud, and what they’d said to each other would have cut his dad’s heart in two.
“Are you still planning to visit Paris next year?” His mom and dad had always dreamed of visiting Paris in the spring. When his mom died unexpectedly, his dad gave up the idea of going anywhere. But for whatever reason, he had changed his mind.
“I bought my tickets last week. There was a special and I…” His dad’s voice faded.
“Are you still there?”
“I’m still here. Why did you call me?”
William shouldn’t have expected anything less from his father. He was still as blunt as ever. With his hand gripping the phone, he prepared himself for what he needed to say. “It’s been a long time since we spoke. I wanted to tell you I’m sorry for what I said.”
More silence. This was a mistake. In his dad’s eyes, admitting you were wrong was a weakness, something to avoid at all costs. Listening to his son say he was sorry would be reinforcing everything he’d said after Lacey died.
“You don’t need to apologize.” His father’s strained voice echoed down the phone. “I said things I regret, too. A lot of things.”
After all this time, William could still hear his father telling him he’d killed the only good thing to come out of his marriage. His father blamed him for the accident, told him he was irresponsible and reckless. It had taken William a long time to come to terms with what happened and, even now, he had days when the blackness threatened to overwhelm him.
He took a deep breath. He’d extended an olive branch. It was a start. A good start. “We were grieving. Lacey meant the world to both of us.”
“I knew Vanessa was going to leave Chicago. She didn’t want Lacey. All she wanted was to hurt you.”
William’s sharp, in-drawn breath filled the silent living room. An hour before the accident, his wife had called to say she had Lacey. They were catching a train and leaving Chicago. Leaving him. He’d jumped into his truck and raced across town. Somehow, he managed to convince Vanessa to come home, to give their marriage another chance. When they were almost at their house, their lives changed forever.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you needed to sort out your own marriage. There was no point me telling you how to look after your wife. Vanessa was a different person than your mom. I never understood why the two of you got married in the first place.” His dad cursed. “I did it again. I shouldn’t have said that. You must have loved each other.”
“It’s okay. When I look back now, I don’t think I ever loved her, not the way I should have,” William admitted. “I was young and naive. Vanessa told me everything I wanted to hear, and I believed her. At least she’s happy now.”
“What about you, Son? Are you happy?”
William thought about everything that had happened since he’d last seen his dad. He looked down at Nora’s crayon picture. The best part of his life had just started, and he wasn’t letting it go.
“I’ve met someone I care about. Her name is Megan. She looks after her six-year-old niece.”
“Does she live in Bozeman?”
“Megan and Nora live in Milwaukee. I’m thinking of moving to be closer to them.”
“You’ll be near Chicago.”
William heard the unspoken question in his dad’s voice. Why did it always have to be like this? His dad should have been able to come straight out and invite him to visit. But unless William made the first move, it wouldn’t happen.
“I could come and see you. If the Blackhawks are playing a home game, I’ll get some tickets.” Ice hockey was his dad’s favorite winter sport.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“It won’t be for a few more weeks. I’m on an assignment at the moment, but I’ll call you as soon as it’s over.”
His dad took a deep breath. “Don’t take too long. I’ve missed you.”
William dropped his head to his chest. “I’ve missed you, too.” With a final goodbye, he ended the call.
It had taken four years to take the first step. Their relationship wouldn’t heal overnight, but at least they were trying.
At eleven-thirty the next day, William stood in the kitchen, flipping pancakes. It wasn’t what he’d planned on doing, but it was better than worrying about his dad and everything else that was happening. After waking up far too early, he’d spent most of the morning checking Zac’s property, reading reports, and catching up on what was happening on other FBI cases.
While he kept himself busy, Nora and Megan had decorated the rest of the cookies and made a start on the cakes. Right now, they were in the living room, making Christmas cards for their friends.
He slid four pancakes out of the skillet. For someone who didn’t rate his cooking ability all that high, the pancakes were a success. Megan’s way of dealing with stress must be rubbing off on him.
Nora had wanted pancakes for lunch and he wasn’t arguing. She could have chosen something far more complicated, like ravioli or chicken pot pie. At least this way, no one would leave the table hungry.
His cell phone rang. He checked the caller display and frowned. Samantha Jones was still looking after Caleb. It was unusual for her to contact him, especially in the middle of the day. “Hi, Sam. What’s happened?”
“Caleb has disappeared. He went to a doctor’s appointment in Polson, but left the hospital before Tanner and Connor could find him.”
William’s heart pounded. “Do you have any idea where he’s gone?”
“I checked his laptop. He emailed the terrorists and arranged to meet them at the ranger’s cabin. I don’t think Megan and Nora are in danger but keep them close. I need to go, but I’ll contact you when I have more information.”
Before William could ask more quest
ions, Sam ended the call. Why on earth would Caleb have contacted the terrorists? It was the last thing he should have done. Unless he had an ulterior motive.
He quickly turned off the stove. If Sam didn’t know what was going on, maybe Megan did. To the best of his knowledge, Megan hadn’t spoken to her brother since the results of the DNA test had come through. But that didn’t mean Caleb hadn’t called her when he wasn’t in the same room.
Nora and Megan looked up as he strode into the living room. The coffee table was covered in glitter, colored card, and felt-tip pens.
“Look what we’re making,” Nora said excitedly as she waved a Christmas card in the air. A shower of glitter drifted through the air. “Oops. Now I’m all sparkly.”
Megan wiped the glitter off Nora’s face. “You look like a fairy princess.” She glanced at William, before wiping her hands on her jeans. “Nora, could you find Dolly? I think we left her in my room.”
“Okay. I’ll be back soon.”
As soon as Nora left the room, Megan turned to William. “What’s wrong?”
“Have you heard from Caleb since we received the results of your DNA test?”
“No, we haven’t spoken to each other since then. Is he okay?”
William wasn’t sure how to tell her that her brother had disappeared. “He went to Polson this morning for a doctor’s appointment. While he was at the hospital, he disappeared. It looks as though he contacted the terrorists and arranged to meet them somewhere.”
Megan’s face was pale. “Why would he do something like that? He was supposed to be keeping away from them.”
“Did he say anything about the terrorists when you spoke to him?”
“Not that I remember. But he did say he was sorry we’ve been dragged into everything that’s happened. You don’t think he’s been kidnapped, do you?”
William wasn’t sure what was going on. “I don’t know. But it seems strange he would want to meet the terrorists.”
“How well do you know my brother?”
“I know him enough to realize how much pressure he’s under.”
A Christmas Wish: Sapphire Bay, Book 3 Page 10