"The more the merrier. Take care of yourself, Philip."
Philip kissed her lighdy, drinking in the scent of her, savoring her soft, gentie lips on his own. "Merry Christmas, Sallie."
"Merry Christmas, PhiHp," Sallie said with a catch in her voice. "If the boys call, I'll tell them to call you in Boston." Philip nodded.
SaUie watched from the window until Philip's cab was out of sight.
Sunrise hummed with activity as the huge evergreen was brought into the middle of the living room. "No corner this year. I want us all to see every inch of it."
"That's the funniest thing you've ever said, Sallie." Fanny laughed. "There are so many presents, you can't get within two feet of it. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful tree. However did you get all these presents, Sallie?"
SaUie laughed. "It wasn't easy. As the days started to dwindle, I called stores, told them what I wanted, and they delivered. Christmas is the only time I'm glad I'm rich. I love to give. How are your driving lessons going, Fanny?"
"They aren't. I'm going to start again after New Year's. You have more faith in my abihty than I do, SaUie. I get very jittery behind the wheel."
"That's normal at first. If I can do it, so can you. Joseph was an excellent teacher. Stay on after the New Year and Chue will teach you. He loves to drive. He's a little bossy, but a good teacher."
"Maybe I will. I love it up here. I need to talk to you, Sallie, about all the help. I can't let you keep paying for everything."
"I want to do it, Fanny. It makes me happy to be able to help. I don't want you to have to struggle. I did enough of that to last this family a lifetime. Please, Fanny, let me do this for you. Ash, and the boys. It will make life so much easier for all of you. Take a minute, close your eyes, and try to picture what your life would be like without Moon and the others. Now, open your eyes and tell me what you saw."
"Total disaster. I accept. I'm so grateful, Sallie. Ash will have to . . . come to terms with it."
"Have you heard from him?"
"Not since he left. Not even a Christmas card. He might call if he can get leave, but I'm not counting on it."
"It's going to be a wonderful Christmas. We're aU going to be together. What time is it, Fanny?"
"Eight o'clock. They're just a little late."
Sallie's eyes lit up as she smiled from ear to ear. "I hear Devin in the kitchen. He must have come in the back way. Excuse me, Fanny."
Ash, where are you, what are you doing? Are you remembering this time last year? Are you thinking about me? Fanny's eyes filled. That was another time, another place.
When Fanny saw the headlights arc on the living room wall, she ran to the door and threw it open. Billie's name on her lips carried into the crisp star-filled night.
"Fanny! I'd run, but all I can do is waddle."
"I can run," Fanny shouted as she raced across the lawn to the driveway. "I've been waiting all day for you to get here." She hugged Billie as best she could, careful not to press hard on her protruding stomach. "We have so much to talk about. We'll do it later in my room after everyone goes to sleep. My manners are terrible. Mrs. Ames, I'm Fanny Thornton. Mr. Coleman, it's so nice to meet you. And this sleeping cherub must be Maggie. Please, come into the house, it's cold out here. Chue will carry Maggie upstairs if you want to put her to bed. I'll help while the rest of the family gets acquainted," Fanny said, her arms around Billie's shoulders.
"Seth!" Sallie called from the doorway. "Merry Christmas! I'm
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so glad you could come. You too, Mrs. Ames. Where's Amelia?"
"She couldn't make it," Seth said gruffly.
"Not true," BiUie whispered to Fanny. "I'll tell you about it later."
Chue, with Maggie in his arms, led the way up the steps, Fanny and Billie behind him.
Sallie ushered her guests into the huge living room, her eyes amused as Agnes Ames visually cataloged everything in the house with dollar signs. Sallie knew she was comparing each stick of furniture, each painting, each article of clothing on her body, as well as her jewelry, dollar for dollar.
"You have a lovely home, Mrs. Thornton," Mrs. Ames said.
"Please caU me SaUie."
"Then you must call me Agnes."
"Call her Aggie. I do," Seth saiid in his gravel voice.
"Your tree is gorgeous," Agnes said.
"Grown and cut right here on the property," Sallie said.
"How many acres is this spread?" Seth asked.
"Acres? I don't think I'd call it a spread. I own the mountain. To answer your question, I guess I'd have to say I don't know. Tomorrow when it's light you might be able to make a judgment."
"You oum the whole mountain?" Agnes purred.
"Yes," Sallie smiled. "I'm remiss, let me introduce you to everyone. This is Peggy, your sister. She looks like Pop, don't you think? And you, too. This handsome man standing next to her is her husband, Steven Lawton, the lieutenant governor of Nevada. This is Red Ruby, a personal friend of mine, and this sweet young woman is Akia, Chue's wife. This is Su Li and her husband Teke; both are doctors. Philip isn't here. His brother died, and he had to go to Boston. And, last but not least, this is Devin Rollins, my attorney and friend. The two of you have been corresponding for months now. Everyone, this is Agnes Ames and my brother Seth. Now, what would you all like to drink?"
"Whiskey," Seth said. "A double. Aggie here will have one of those pink blossom things."
Agnes's snoot rose. "Actually, Seth, I'd prefer a double scotch." Her smile was arrogant, an I-guess-I-told-you smile. Sallie thought of barracudas and sharks.
Sallie stepped aside so that her sister Peggy and her husband could greet Seth. She signaled Su Li to offer Agnes a tour of the house, which Agnes readily accepted.
"Where's your office, girl?" Seth demanded. Sallie ignored the
question, knowing full well that he was talking to her. Even when he raised his voice and spoke a second time, she ignored him. She had a name.
"Sallie?"
"Yes, Seth," Sallie said sweetly.
"Do you keep an office here in the house?"
"Yes, it's off the kitchen. Would you like to see it?"
"I would, before this whiskey takes hold of my gut."
"Follow me then," Sallie said, leading the way out of the living room, through the dining room, and on out to the kitchen where dinner preparations were under way.
"Is something wrong, Seth? Is it something to do with your son Moss?"
"No, nothing like that."
"He's going to stay safe. You need to have a Htde more faith. I think you're scaring Billie out of her wits. She's vulnerable right now and she's picking up your negative thoughts. If you aren't careful, she could miscarry. Moss will make it."
"Why in the hell is it that every damn fool woman in the world says exactly the same thing? I love that boy. He's all I got." His voice was hoarse and gruff, almost apologetic.
"Because every damn fool woman never gives up until the last second, and even then we keep hoping. I'm at a loss as to why fathers don't think the same way," Sallie said.
Seth snorted. He reached into the breast pocket of his red flannel shirt and handed SaUie a slip of paper. "It's your check. I never cashed it. I was testing you."
Sallie stared at the folded check. "Testing me? For what?"
"To see if you were running off at the mouth or if you had the money to back up my request. I called the bank to verify the amount of money. They were more than willing to cash the check."
Sallie stared at her brother. "I don't mind anything you just said. I don't even mind that you want to give the check back, and I certainly don't mind that you verified the check at the bank. What I do mind is that you're lying to me by saying you were testing me. You need that money desperately. Therefore, I don't understand why you're returning the check. Is it because I'm a woman and your sister? Do you resent it that I'm better off than you are? Why don't we let our hair down and be honest wi
th each other. We're in a closed room, no one can hear, and I do not talk about family business to other people. Whatever we say in this room will stay in this room."
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Seth's bushy eyebrows drew together to form a straight line across his brow. He finger-combed his hair for a few seconds, but never responded.
"I understand," Sallie said softly,- her hand with the check extended. "Is there anything else I can do for you? You just have to ask, Seth. Asking isn't all that hard. Who knows, the day might come when I need your help. I'd like to know I can count on you. That's all there is to it. One last thing, Seth; I'd like Billie to stay on for a while. I'll make sure she gets home safe and sound even if I have to drive her myself She'll be good company for Fanny. Fanny will be good for Billie. It will be nice to have Maggie here, toddling around. However, you can take the barracuda back with you."
Seth snorted with laughter, doubling over and slapping at his knees. In between snorts of laughter, he managed to say, "See you got Aggie pegged."
"You could say that."
"I don't see a problem if the girl wants to stay. She gets on my nerves with all that whimpiering and whining. She's not robust. I never expected my only son to marry a sickly girl like this one. Fair makes me want to puke."
"You did. Marry a frail young woman, I mean. That's the funny thing about love. All women aren't broodmares. Thank God for that. There's a saying, Seth, that sons follow in their father's footsteps."
"Smart-ass woman," Seth growled.
"I know you mean that as a compliment, so that's how I'm going to take it. Put the check in your pocket and let's get back to our guests." Impulsively, Sallie reached out to her brother, and hugged him. "That was for Mama. So's this," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
There was no displeasure on Seth's face when he said, "Women, all they want to do is kiss and snuggle and wrap their arms around you. At the end, did . . . Ma . . . did Ma have all her curls piled high on her head like a princess?" He looked away as he waited for his sister's reply.
Sallie heard the choked-back sob in his voice, but pretended she didn't. "She did, Seth, she truly did," Sallie lied with a straight face.
"That's how I want to remember Ma. What's for supper? Don't like eating this late, gives me indigestion."
"Don't worry about a thing. My housekeeper has an herb for everything. If you want to sleep like a baby, just let me know. We're
having fresh game hens with all the trimmings. For those who don't like game hens, we're having prime ribs, and everything that goes with beef."
They were almost to the door when Seth said, "Tell me true, girl, and swear on Ma, do you really feel my boy will be safe?"
"Oh, Seth, I do. I truly do. I pray every night. Fanny tells me she does, too. God always listens to women's prayers. I bet you didn't know that, Seth."
"You probably made that up," Seth muttered.
"Do you think we're on good enough terms for me to ask a favor of you?"
"Damnation, I knew there was a catch. What is it?"
"Talk to Peggy. Talk to her like she's your sister, and you're her brother. She also needs a sense of family. I'd be very grateful."
"You try the patience of a saint, girl."
Sallie beamed her pleasure.
"Oh, Fanny, how beautiful your sons are. They look like little cherubs." BiUie patted her stomach. "I'm hoping for a boy this time, but it feels like a girl. Seth wants a boy so bad. I think part of it is if Moss. .. if Moss doesn't make it back.. . there will be a son to carry on the name. I honestly think if this child turns out to be another girl, he's going to want to give it back. I never saw such desperation. I wish I was back in Philadelphia. He's so ... so controlling, and Moss always took his side. They treat me like .. . I'm slow-witted. My mother, too. She's aligned herself with Seth. I hate to say this about my own mother, but she's on ^r side. It's all that money. She really thinks she belongs and Seth allows her to think like that. I'm an outsider, Fanny. I'm always going to be an outsider, unless I produce an heir to the Coleman dynasty, in which case they might let me stand on the porch and look through the window. Women simply don't count for cmything in that family."
Fanny leaned over the crib Maggie was sleeping in. "Not even this sweet little thing?"
"Seth ignores her. My own mother goes into the nursery once a week or so. She's turned into Seth's right hand. She's got a certain amount of control, and she loves it. She's not going to jeopardize that position. Now do you understand what I meant when I said I have no one?"
Fanny put her arms around BiUie's shoulders. "You have me and
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Sallie. If there's a way to put it right, she'll know how to do it. Why didn't AmeHa come with you?"
"Seth wouldn't allow it. She's here from England with her stepson. He's the sweetest Htde boy, and she loves him dearly. Seth calls him a brat. He's not. He's quiet, well-mannered, and he adores Amelia. His father was killed. Seth says such cruel things to Amelia. He calls her a slut, a whore, and all because she stood up to him all her life. She wasn't. . . loose. She told me she wasn't, and I believe her. They hate each other. He said she couldn't get a man in Texas, so she had to go to England to get one with a snotty kid. She drove a Red Cross ambulance. Seth said there was no room in the car because I'm so fat, and he wasn't making the trip with a squalling kid. That was the end of it. I cried, Amelia cried, and he turned a deaf ear."
"No, that isn't the end of it. Wait right here. Don't move!" Fanny sprinted down the hall to the back stairway that led to the kitchen. "Fetch Miss Sallie back here right away," she whispered to one of the cooks. "Tell her to come upstairs right away."
"What can I do?" Devin asked, entering the room five minutes later.
"Find a way to get my niece and her Htde boy here for Christmas morning," SalHe said breathlessly.
"Is that all?"
"How, Devin? What do you mean is that all?"
"Sallie, you are the richest woman in this state, probably the bordering states, too. All we have to do is charter a plane."
A few minutes later, Devin said, "Call your niece and tell her to skedaddle to the airport, the plane is waiting. Tell her not to take the time to pack. You can buy her whatever she needs when she gets here. Do you have presents for the litde boy?"
"We'll repackage after everyone goes to bed, right girls?"
"Oh yes," both Fanny and Billie said in unison.
"After dinner I'll go to the airport and wait. I'll bring them in the back way and up the kitchen stairwell. You need to get back downstairs, Sallie."
"Seth is going to . . . Seth will. . ."
"Find out what it's like when someone else takes control," Billie said sofdy. "He'll have to live with it, won't he?"
"Either that or he's going to leave in the morning."
"Without me and Amelia," Billie said smartly. "I might just stay here forever. I never felt so welcome anyplace in my life."
"Thirty minutes till dinner. Devin is right, we have to get back downstairs. Call Amelia. This man is my white knight in shining armor," Sallie said, leading Devin by the hand.
Fanny turned to Billie. "Hurry up, call AmeUa. Good Gk>d, I am so excited. What's your father-in-law going to do come morning?"
Billie laughed. "I can't wait to see his reaction. My mother will blame me. So will Seth. Who cares?" Billie said, picking up the telephone.
"Who's Sally Dearest?" Fanny asked when Billie finished the call.
"Amelia's son Rand's stuffed cat. He carried it all through the war. He never puts it down. It was the last thing his mother gave him. She was caught in one of the first bomb blasts."
"Sallie is going to love that name. Time to fi'eshen up and go downstairs. Bright lipstick, BiUie, this is Christmas. Some rouge too."
Tears welled in Billie's eyes. "I love him so much, Fanny. My heart is so fiill of that love, there are times when I feel like I can't breathe. My love for Moss is strangling me, and I know he doesn't love
me in the same way. I wish I could turn it off or tone it down, but I can't. If something happens to him . . ."
"You will be strong and do what every other wife does, you will take care of your family and go on, one day at a time. I hope this family dinner goes fast, so we can spend the night talking. Hurry, Billie."
"This is as fast as I move these days. I can't wait till I can see my toes."
SaUie kept the conversation moving during dinner, as did Agnes, whose main contribution was to ask questions. Several times Devin chopped her off at the knees, winking at her as he did so, saying, "Now, those are business secrets, Agnes, and way above your beautiful head."
"That's a polite way of saying it's none of your business, Aggie," Seth growled.
"My apologies," Agnes said. "It's natural curiosity on my part. I'd never been outside Philadelphia until I got to Texas. Nevada intrigues me."
"You could read a travel book. Mother," Billie said.
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"And I have one I'll be glad to lend you, Mrs. Ames," Fanny said.
"Shouldn't you be checking on your daughter?" Seth said pointedly to Billie.
"Oh, she doesn't have to do that. Moon has everything under control. BiUie is here for a visit and a rest. We're going to spend our time getting to know one another. Isn't that what this visit is all about, Seth, your family and my family?" Sallie said, a huge smile on her face.
"Tomorrow we can do that. I'm heading off to bed if you'll show me where it is. Merry Christmas everyone. Aggie?"
"It's too early for bed, Seth. I plan on having some plum pudding." Seth scowled at her, but headed for the steps, where Khee was waiting to show him to his room. She bowed respectfully before she picked up his heavy bag.
"Seth goes to bed early because he rises early," Agnes said.
"And when he doesn't get his way. Be fair, Mother," Billie said.
"He has a lot on his mind," Agnes said defensively.
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