Marrying Miss Kringle: Lux

by McConnell, Lucy

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Lux glanced at Matthew’s door and put her finger over her lips to shush Stella. She took her sister’s hand and pulled her into the bedroom. It might be right next to Matthew’s, but the walls were several feet thick.

  “Boughs of holly! Stella—I have no idea why they got divorced.” Lux sorted through her tee shirts. Captain America’s shield with a caption: “I’d flex but I like this shirt.” She didn’t even feel like wearing her “I’m Batman” tee. “Ugh! None of these are appropriate for meeting my husband’s beautiful ex-wife.” And Amy was beautiful. The image on the screen showed a woman who could have been a model. Her glossy blond hair hung in perfect beach waves and framed her oval face. Clear, impeccable olive skin.

  “Here.” Stella reached past the tee shirts and pulled out a form-fitting, emerald-green sweater. “He won’t be able to breathe if you wear this one.”

  “Perfect.” Lux snatched it and threw it over her head. Her hair was everywhere. “Stella?”

  Stella rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Lux, you’re prettier than you give yourself credit for.” She shoved Lux into a chair in front of her desk. “Sit.” Lux did so, silently thanking the Lord for blessing her with sisters.

  Stella used a large brush to work out the knots and then smoothed coconut hair serum from the roots to the ends.

  Matthew knocked on the door, his rap-tap-tap echoing the furious beat of her heart. “You ’bout ready?”

  Lux panicked. “Almost,” she called back. To Stella she whispered, “Nothing too fancy. I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard.”

  Stella nodded. “I know just the thing.” She started an inside-out French braid, pulling the loops loose as she went.

  In thirty seconds, Lux had a stunning braid wrapped around her head and draping over her shoulder. The loose loops were on-purpose messy, but she could pass it off to Matthew as just messy. Guys didn’t know the difference. “How’d you do that?”

  Stella grinned. “Just because my hair is short doesn’t mean I don’t have skills.”

  “Thanks.” Lux gave her a quick hug. “Okay. I think I’m ready.”

  “Really?” Stella asked.

  “Not really. I might throw up. This is so awful. What if he still loves her?” She wrapped her arms around her middle.

  “I don’t know. This is your chance to find out. You’re his wife, so act the part.”

  Lux nodded. “Okay.” She pressed her arms down and away from her body while exhaling. “Here I go.”

  She pulled the door open to find Matthew leaning against the doorjamb, filling the doorway. He smelled of a pine forest with a dusting of snow, and he was staring at her like he’d never seen her before. Lux watched his Adam’s apple move up and down.

  “You look ready,” Quik said.

  “I need my bag,” Lux replied. She’d left it by the front door.

  “Okay.” He didn’t move.

  Lux’s cheeks grew warm under his heated gaze. Honestly, the man had more fire in him than the old candy ovens.

  Stella cleared her throat—loudly.

  Quik jerked out of his spell and pushed off the doorway. Lux turned to give Stella a knock-it-off glare and was met by a gigantic smile and a thumbs-up that made her chuckle. With a small wave, she headed to the door where she retrieved her bag. “Let’s go.”

  They made their way to the stables. Lux pressed her hand into her stomach to keep from losing her hot chocolate. If Matthew still loved Amy, she was going to come apart like a nesting doll.

  “Are you good to drive?” His hand briefly touched her back and was gone again. “I would, but …”

  Dunder snapped his teeth at Matthew. Lux scratched the reindeer’s favorite spot behind his ears. “Depending on how this goes, I might let you take a bite out of him,” she whispered. Dunder chortled with glee. “Please remember I’m in the sleigh too,” she pleaded.

  He looked contrite enough that she felt safe getting into the sleigh. “I can drive,” she told Matthew.

  Matthew went to step in, and Dunder took three steps, moving the sleigh out of his reach. Lux buried her grin. Knowing she had one person—er, animal—on her side gave her a shot of courage.

  She’d considered herself a pioneer in the Kringle family, the one who took on the science of Christmas Magic like none before her. As far as she knew, this situation was a new one for a Kringle, too. However, there wasn’t a thrill of anticipation zipping up her spine. Instead, she had a block of coal, hard and lumpy, in her stomach.

  She wasn’t built for this sort of thing.

  She was fragile. Tender. Lost.

  How did women survive love? Because if anything was going to kill her, it would be the trials she faced because she was married to Matthew.

  How could she blame him for all this? He’d done his job for the military, and now they’d rather kill him than let him fall into enemy hands. And the enemies who wanted him alive would use him for their own purposes. He hadn’t seen his son in years, and yet he cared enough to risk life and limb to check on the five-year-old.

  If there was a silver lining in this situation, it was meeting Oliver. Lux had to focus on the needs of the child—for a child she could and would do anything. She glanced at Matthew out of the corner of her eye. He stood next to her, his foot on the bracing block instead of settling into the seat. His fingers gripped the post, his jaw muscle twitched. He was beautiful in a scary, determined way.

  She sighed and flicked the reins. She would do anything for Matthew. Even meet his ex-wife. “On, Dunder!”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Lux guided Dunder to a quick, though fairly smooth landing on top of the hospital. The roof was covered in pebbles, and the runners splayed rocks as Dunder turned to keep the sled from going over the edge.

  “That was exciting.” Quik jumped out.

  Dunder thumped his back leg in distaste.

  “You did great, boy.” Lux handed him a fresh carrot from her bag.

  “What if someone sees the sleigh?” asked Quik. He motioned toward the door on the other side of the roof, and they headed that direction.

  Lux scanned the area. “This is the tallest building in the area.” She tipped her chin up, scanning the skies. “If someone flies over, it’s unlikely they’ll look down. Even if they do, adults don’t believe in magic.” She gave him a teasing shove.

  He chuckled. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

  They reached the door. “I don’t anticipate it going away any time soon.”

  Quik jiggled the handle. “Locked.”

  “No problem.” Lux reached into her bag and wished for a key to unlock the door. “Here.” She handed it to Quik.

  His jaw tightened momentarily before he tried the key. “It worked.”

  “Of course it did.” She glided past him as he held the door. “Stella says your, um … she is on the twelfth floor.”

  “You know, if I were to ever go back into the military, I’d take Stella with me. She’d blow their intelligence staff away.”

  Lux forced amused sounds out of her throat, even though it was closing off at the thought of Matthew leaving. And why would he take Stella? Why not take Lux? Had it even crossed his mind that she might like to be—not shown off. No. She would not like to be shown off. “Do you think about that a lot?” She started down the concrete stairs, her hand gliding over the green painted handrail and her movements fast as if she could outrun an answer she didn’t like.

  “About what?”

  “About going back to the army.”

  “I used to. It was the only place I felt like I fit.”

  She stopped and spun around. With her on the lower step, she was staring right at his chest. Right at his Captain America chest. “What about now?” she rasped out. Dang those ice climbing trips. He wore the blue scarf she’d given him so long ago. The end was frayed. She reached for the loose thread, intending to tuck it back into the weave.

  “Lux, I—” />
  Before her fingers even touched the scarf, a green spark arched between her and Quik. That hadn’t happened outside the building site. She yanked her hand down, severing the connection and making the spark flash and disappear. She spun around and ran down the stairs.

  “Lux!” he called after her. His footsteps pounded on the concrete and echoed off the walls.

  At the door that had a number twelve in tan paint, Lux burst from the stairwell and into a quiet hallway.

  Matthew caught up to her. “Lux,” he said with caution. A man in blue scrubs scowled at them as he hurried past.

  The carpeted hallway, soft beeps, and quiet voices coming from the nursing station all said quiet. “Not here. Come on.” Lux followed the numbers on the wall, leading them to the patients’ rooms. They approached Amy’s open door with caution. Lux wondered how the woman would feel about being on a first-name basis.

  “You’re not in a position to care for him any longer,” said a sharp male voice.

  Lux leaned to the right and saw a man in uniform standing over the hospital bed where Amy lay with a bandage wrapped around her head, one leg in a long cast, an arm strapped to her body, and bruises on her face.

  Matthew hooked her elbow and pulled her to the side of door. Sure, there weren’t sparks when he touched her, but if she even thought about going near him, Christmas Magic gave her away. She frowned. Matthew pressed a finger to his lips. Lux nodded her understanding.

  “Where am I supposed to send him?” rasped Amy.

  “His father—”

  “Is not an option, Daddy. You know that as well as anyone.” Amy’s statement was met with stony silence. “Couldn’t you and Mom …?”

  “No.”

  Sigh.

  “My plane leaves in two hours.”

  “Have a good flight.”

  The uniformed man hurried out the door, not seeing Lux and Matthew pressed against the wall. Lux stared after him in disbelief. Had he really just turned away his own grandson?

  “It’s a pleasure to see you, General,” Matthew growled. He searched the hallway.

  “Do you see anybody who shouldn’t be here?”

  A cafeteria worker got off the elevator, pushing a cart full of covered dishes. Her hairnet crisscrossed her white bun. A nurse hurried into a room two doors down. A man with red-rimmed eyes occupied a couch at the far end of the hall. Matthew shook his head. “I think we’re safe.”

  Lux’s mouth went dry. “You think?”

  “Pretty sure no one here wants to kill me—except Amy.”

  She grabbed on to that info like a lifeline.

  “Come on.” He went into the room first, his shoulders practically touching his ears.

  With a deep breath, Lux followed.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Quik stared at the woman in the bed who looked nothing like Amy. Amy had been vivacious, the life of every party, refined and driven. This woman was beaten and lost.

  “Matthew?” She rubbed her head with one hand as he made his way to the side of her bed.

  “Yeah, it’s me.”

  “What are you doing here?” Her voice was groggy. They must have her on meds.

  “I heard about the accident. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

  Amy’s gaze shifted to look behind him. Her eyes narrowed. Matthew turned to see Lux standing just inside the door, her one arm wrapped around her middle. Amy could always pick out her greatest competition, even in a crowded ballroom.

  Lux was staring at the chairs where the light didn’t quite reach. Matthew followed her gaze to see a little boy with his legs tucked to his chest and his head down. My son.

  “Did you see my dad?” Amy brought his attention back to her.

  Matthew almost said no. The lie was right there, but he couldn’t get it passed his lips. He tried again, but it was like the word glued his mouth shut. “I saw him, but he didn’t see me,” ran out like hot chocolate from the machine in their kitchen. He thought it was silly the first time he saw it sitting there, but being able to make Lux’s favorite drink and see her face light up wasn’t silly at all.

  “Probably for the best.” Amy tried to shift, rustling the sheets, and grimaced. “He wants me to send Oliver to St. Catherine’s.”

  “Boarding school?” Quik’s hands balled into fists. “He’s five.”

  Her eyes sharpened. “Exactly. How can I care for a five-year-old? I can’t even take care of myself.”

  He nodded. “You’re right. I just…I feel so responsible.” He glanced over his shoulder at Oliver and nearly jumped to find him sitting on Lux’s lap. She read softly in his ear as he turned the pages to The Trouble with Santa’s Suit. The two of them were … perfect.

  “Why?” Amy’s question brought him back to the real reason he was here.

  “Why what?” he asked. Seeing Lux holding his son had shifted something inside of him. The wanderlust that sent him into the military filtered out of his blood and was replaced by domestic needs. Wife. Home. Family. Peace. Quiet. Hope.

  “Why do you feel responsible?”

  He blinked down at her. “I left for Alaska and—”

  She snorted. “The accident was my fault.”

  “What?”

  “I was arguing with my boyfriend. He’s being transferred and wanted me to go with him but didn’t want to take him.” She lifted her eyes to indicate Oliver. With a heavy sigh, she sank into the bed. “Who is she? Oliver likes her.”

  “She’s … my wife.” He’d never been so proud to say those words. His wife.

  “Your wife?” Even with the black eye, Amy managed to give him a disbelieving look.

  Quik couldn’t help but grin. When he thought about all that had happened to bring Lux into his life, he was overwhelmed that she’d agreed to marry him, even if it was an easy deal made in a cave while they were in mortal danger. “Yeah.”

  “So you’re in a good place?”

  He couldn’t stop the grin from spreading across his face. “I’m in the best of places.”

  “Then I want you to take him.”

  Quik blinked several times. “Excuse me?”

  Amy closed her eyes as if the light made it difficult to think. She was probably in pain, but she was keeping it together like the general’s daughter he’d known once upon a bad decision. When she opened her eyes, they were clear. “Take him with you. I can’t take care of him—not now.”

  “But you’re going to get better.”

  “And my life will be less complicated. You’re already married, settled.”

  Lux appeared at his side with Oliver on her hip. Oliver cuddled into her shoulder, tucked there as if he had done it a thousand times. “We’ll do it,” Lux affirmed.

  “We will?” Quik asked.

  Lux adjusted her hold and pushed her glasses up her nose. “We will.” Her words had a force to them he’d never heard from her before. “Do you want to go for a ride with us?” Lux asked Oliver.

  His eyes went big as he stared at his mom.

  “I look scary, but I’m okay, bud.” Amy smiled. “Will you go with your daddy?”

  He swung his gaze to Quik. Unsure what was appropriate in this situation, Quik gave a weak smile. Oliver ducked back into Lux.

  “He’ll be okay,” Amy assured them, though he couldn’t be sure who she was trying to convince. Her eyes shone with tears, and her lower lip trembled.

  “We’ll bring him back to visit.” Quik spoke without checking with Lux. He wasn’t trying to rip the kid away from his mama. He didn’t want to create trouble between them, and he didn’t want Oliver to feel like he was being kidnapped.

  Amy relaxed into the pillows. “I’d like that.”

  Lux reached into her bag and came up with a card. “This is my number. Please, call any time you want to talk to him or have questions.”

  “Who are you?” she asked again.

  “I’m …” Lux shrugged. “Lux.” She said her name as if it was inconsequential, as if she had no i
dea how amazing she was. He’d met women who would kill to have the brains and looks Lux shrugged off as if they were less than amazing.

  “You make me feel warm.” Amy fought against heavy eyelids.

  “She has that effect on people.” Quik watched Lux with a new fondness. Amy wasn’t the only one falling asleep. Oliver’s eyes fluttered shut as well. Lux held his child as if she’d been doing it for the last five years. She pulled him closer and pressed a kiss to his light brown hair.

  Quik put a hand on Oliver’s back. “Will he be welcome back home?” The magic had taken him in because of their marriage vows, but Oliver wasn’t theirs. He wasn’t even Quik’s. Amy had full custody.

  Lux’s eyes went wide. “He’s family,” she said firmly, like her words could make Christmas Magic accept this little boy. She leaned closer. “Layla lives there, and she’s Joseph’s niece. There’s no reason to believe your son would be any different.”

  He couldn’t argue with that logic. “We should go.” He looked around to see if they’d left anything behind that would indicate that they’d been in the room. He couldn’t even find a bag for Oliver.

  Lux headed toward the door. His son was big. Oliver’s legs dangled out to the sides, and Lux was arching her back to make up for the additional weight, but he doubted he could convince her to let him go.

  They took the elevator as high as it went and then found the stairwell for the last flight. When they stepped into the sunshine, Oliver woke with a groggy, “Mommy.”

  Lux rubbed his back. “Are you ready to go for a ride?”

  “I want Mommy.”

  “I know you do, little twinkle.”

  Quik, with his empty arms and full heart, was once again at a loss. She already had a nickname for the kid, and he had yet to speak to Oliver. He had five years to make up for and no idea how to go about doing something so monumental. He hadn’t even been around his nieces and nephews enough to learn how to talk to kids.