"So does everyone else sitting at this table. Aunt Sallie's two sons are flying missions every day just the way Moss does, and Fanny hasn't heard from her husband in a month. We're all coping, we aren't blaming anyone and making everyone around us miserable," BiUie said.
"I couldn't have said it better, Billie," Sallie said.
Agnes had the good sense to look embarrassed. She clamped her mouth shut, her eyes everywhere but on Sallie.
Fanny turned to Billie. She mouthed the words, "Good for you." Billie smiled from ear to ear.
"We'll have coffee and brandy in the living room, sing a few Christmas carols, say our Christmas prayer that Simon, Ash, and Moss return home safely as well as every other mother's son fighting this war. We'll admire the tree and go to bed with sugarplums dancing in our heads to await Santa's arrival. I want to thank all of you for coming to share the holiday," Sallie said.
"Good night. Mother," Billie said. She leaned into Sallie's open arm. There was nothing for Agnes to do but head up the stairs.
Sallie flopped down on the sofa next to Billie. "I don't think I've ever spent a Christmas where there waisn't some sort of stress or tension. I expect holidays bring out the best and the worst of most people. I want you to know 1 am prepared for Seth and your mother to leave in the morning when they sec Amelia and her son. I can handle that, Billie, but can you?"
"I have to handle it. Moss loves Amelia, and Amelia loves him. He knows how awful his father is to her. He tries to make it up, but he can't. Moss's mother was always a buffer between Amelia and her father, but she's gone now. AmeUa's here in the States to . . . to ... to get an abortion. I'm sure she'll tell you herself, it's not my place. She's going to need you. Aunt SaUie. She knows . . . someone who has agreed to do it for a great deal of money. She's so frail and fragile right now. Oh, I wish Moss was home."
"Soon, Billie. Listen, I have an idea. Why don't you lie down here on the sofa and take a litde nap. While you're snoozing, Fanny and I can rewrap some of the presents to make sure Rand and Amelia have gifts to open."
"I have all the wrapping paper and new ribbon," Fanny said. "Two pairs of scissors."
When they were fmished they had trucks, cars, blocks, a pair of roller skates, books, games, a bright red sweater with matching red cap, and a stocking filled with candies, nuts, and oranges for the litde boy. For Amelia there was a cashmere sweater set with matching scarf, leather gloves, an alligator handbag with matching belt, a pair of pearl earrings, a peignoir set that was litde more than lacy cobwebs stitched together, delightful French perfume, and several new novels.
Sallie leaned back, a glass of wine in her hand. "Merry Christmas, Fanny. I hope we have many, many more. It's Christmas Day. I wonder where my sons are. Dear God, I hope they're alive and well. Moss too."
"Of course they are. How could they be anything less with a mother like you? Wherever they are, I'm sure they're thinking about home and family. You have to think positive. I do; that's the only way I can get through this."
"Put your coat on, Fanny. I have something to show you."
Fanny followed SaUie out into the night air. "It's beautiful, isn't it? Everything is crystal clear. Sometimes I wish I was a child again, knowing what I know today. Come, come, before we freeze."
"Is it a secret?" Fanny asked, her teeth chattering.
"It was." Sallie threw open the door of the garage and turned on the light. "One for you and one for Billie."
"Oh," was all Fanny could say.
"It's a Buick Roadster. I thought you would like yellow because, like me, you like sunshine in your life. I thought Billie would like it too."
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"What would Billie like?" Billie said from the open doorway. "I'm sorry, am I intruding? I woke and heard you leave by the back door and thought Amelia was here."
"Of course you're not intruding. I was showing Fanny her Christmas present. Now, you can see yours. Do you like it?"
"I can't drive," both young women said at the same time.
"I rather thought Amelia and you might want to drive back to Texas when you leave. After you have the baby you can take driving lessons. You can take Maggie and go for drives and not have to be dependent on Seth or your mother. Fanny can learn right here when she's ready. Do you like the colors? I picked yellow because it reminds me of sunshine."
"Oh, my goodness. I never, ever thought I'd have a car of my very own. How can I ever thank you?"
"You already have. All I wanted was to see your smile."
"Sallie, I don't know what to say. Thank you doesn't seem to be enough."
"It's enough. You two need to go back in the house now. I want to walk over to the cemetery and visit. I always do that on Christmas Eve. The time got away from me this last evening."
"Seth buried his horse in the family plot. Then he buried his wife right next to the horse," Billie said. "He said when he dies he's going to be buried on the other side of the horse."
All Sallie could do was shake her head. "I don't know why that doesn't surprise me. Merry Christmas to both of you."
"Do you have any idea how lucky you are, Fanny Thornton?" Billie said wistfully. "Wait till my mother sees this car. Her eyes are going to pop right out of her head."
"Before or after she sees Amelia?" Fanny asked. Both women burst out laughing and were still giggling like schoolgirls when Sallie returned to the garage.
"I saw headlights from down below," she said. "I think it's Devin. Come, come, we're going to freeze standing here. They'll be another ten minutes. We can make some coffee and prepare some food. I imagine Amelia will be starving, and I know a thing or two about little boys. I imagine Rand will want some sweets."
Arm in arm, the three women walked to the house. "You really do waddle, Billie. Did I look like that, Sallie?"
"Worse. But, look at you now, Fanny."
In the kitchen, Sallie made coffee and thick sandwiches. Fanny heated Khee's famous chicken soup while Billie cut pie and cake. "I
hear the car!" Billie said, struggling up from the kitchen chair. "I'm so glad you did this, Aunt Sallie."
She was tail and thin with tired, weary eyes, a Coleman through and through. A smile warmed her features the moment she saw Billie. "I know I have you to thank for this."
"Welcome to Sunrise, AmeUa," Sallie said, opening her arms to the frail young woman. Amelia burst into tears as she stepped into the warm embrace. "Yes, it was Billie's idea. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't think of it. You're much too thin. Before you leave here, you will have meat on your bones. Smile, you're with people who love you dearly. That will never change, I want you to know that. Now, introduce me to this little fellow. And to the critter in his arms."
"I'm Rand Nelson. And this is Sally Dearest," the little boy said, extending his hand. Sallie shook it solemnly.
"And a remarkable cat it is. I can see that from here."
"He's . . . pre . . . precious," the litde boy said. "Is Santa Claus going to know I'm here? Did he come yet?"
"Not till you have something to eat and go to sleep. When you wake up you'll find presents under the tree. He followed you all the way from England." Sallie smiled.
"Smashing!"
"I'd like to put him to bed, if it's all right," Devin said, when Rand's head started to droop into his ice cream and cake. "Where, Sallie?"
"Is it all right if he sleeps in your room on a cot, Amelia?"
"More than all right. The poor baby has awful nightmares. I like to be close to him."
"Of course you do. Let's finish up here, Khee will clean up in the morning. Fanny, draw a bath for Amelia. I laid out clothes for her. A cup of Khee's special tea along with a few drops of brandy will make you feel like a new person."
A second later, Ameha felt herself swooped into a pair of strong arms and carried upstairs. "Who is this wonderful person?" Amelia asked wearily.
Sallie looked at Billie and said sofdy, "My reason for living."
''That, I understand."
<
br /> Devin set Amelia down by the bathroom door. He steadied her with one strong arm before he let her go. "I imagine you ladies are going to chitter and chat for the remainder of the evening, so if my services aren't needed, I think I'll redre. Call me if you need me."
"He reminds me of Geoff," Amelia said. "Kind and gentle. I felt
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comfortable with him the minute I saw him. Geoff was like that. I like the smile in his voice. It reaches his eyes. That means he's a good, kind person. Someday I'd like to hear how he fits into the family."
"WTiy not right now?" Sallie said, perching on the edge of the mb. "He's my lover, my reason for wanting to wake to a new day. He makes me laugh and he can make me cry. He cares about everyone and everything. You're right, there's always a smile in his voice and yes, it reaches his eyes. If I said I wanted the moon, he'd try and find a way to get it for me and he'd wrap it in the stars. Devin is always there, that one-of-a-kind fiiend you can depend on no matter what. He doesn't judge, but accepts you for who and what you are. I never said that out loud. To anyone. I guess I want all of you to know who I am. I don't want any pretenses with my new family. It's not something I consciously try to hide. Everyone in town knows. For Phihp's sake I try to be discreet. He knows. You also need to know I will never divorce Philip. Devin knows that, and so does Philip. Goodness, such a heavy conversation for Christmas morning."
"Billie, are you comfortable sitting on that tufted vanit^ bench?"
"If it's aU right with you, I think I'll go in on your chaise. I think it's time to put my feet up."
The phone took that moment to peal. The women stared at one another, naked fear on their faces. Sallie was the first to move, and then she ran to her room, Fanny right behind her. Did the War Department, or whoever it was that called with bad news, call in the middle of the night?
"It's nothing, Fanny. I know it's nothing. It's probably a wrong number." Sallie rubbed her hands together nervously before she picked up the phone. She worked her tongue around the dryness in her mouth before she could even manage a strangled, hello. She looked up to see Devin standing in the doorway. "Hello," she said more firmly.
"Mom, it's Ash. Merry Christmas."
"Ash! Oh, Ash, it's so good to hear your voice. Merry Christmas, son. Your father isn't here, he had to go to Boston. His brother died. Fanny's standing right here next to me. I'll put her right on."
Sallie tactfully withdrew to the hallway, where Devin was standing. They both heard Billie say, "I won't listen, I'll turn to the wall, it's too much trouble to get up."
Sallie sighed. One minute she was talking to her son, hearing his voice, and the next minute he was gone. Tears filled her eyes. She blinked them away.
"Ash said to tell you he loves you," Fanny said, her voice cool. "I told him to tell you himself, and he said he already did."
"I think we need to rescue Amelia," Sallie said, pretending not to notice how upset Fanny was. "She's either been reduced to a prune or she's asleep in the tub."
Sallie was stunned to see how thin AmeHa was. She handed over a long, warm flannel nightgown and slippers. "Come in by the fire, darling. Khee just brought up your tea. Fanny checked on Rand and he's sleeping soundly, Sally Dearest in his arms. I'm so glad you're here," SaUie said, hugging her.
The little boy tiptoed down the steps, his treasured cat secure in his arms. His eyes grew round as saucers when he spied the ceiling-high Christmas tree, the lights still burning. "Ohhhh."
"What are you doing here?"
"Where's your red suit? Did you get it dirty coming down the chimney?"
Seth stared at the small boy with the stuffed animal in his arms. He frowned. How was it possible this child didn't recognize him, and then he remembered. The boy had been sleeping when Ameha first arrived at Sunbridge, the day before yesterday, and on his orders, had been kept upstairs in the nursery. There had been no contact at all between the two of them.
With the aid of his cane, Seth setded himself in one of the chairs.
"You didn't answer my question, sir?" Rand said.
"What question was that?"
"I asked you if you got your suit dirty coming down the chimney?"
Moss used to ask questions like this. So many years ago. "Fm washing it," Seth growled. "Why aren't you in bed?"
"Because Fm awake. I was afraid you wouldn't find me. Are you magic? Where's your sled and the reindeer? Did you get the biscuit I left for you and the glass of milk?"
"Yes," Seth growled again. "The reindeer are hadng a snack,"
"Oh. Are you going to leave soon? Is it far to the North Pole?"
"Almost as far as Texas. Where's your pap, boy?"
"His airplane got shot down. He died. He's in heaven. I'm going to fly airplanes someday. Just like my dad. Do you know my dad?"
Seth's stomach started to chum. "Don't know your dad. What happened to your mam?"
"A bomb hit her. She covered me. Amelia found me. I love
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Amelia. Do you love Amelia, Santa? Can I sit on your lap?" Before Seth could say yes or no, Rand was on his lap snuggling against the big man's chest. Seth's head reared back, but only for a moment. His big, rough, callused hand reached out to stroke the Httle boy's dark head, so much like Moss's head when he was Htde and sat on his lap. His faded blue eyes filled. Imperceptively, he started to rock, crooning softly. Before he knew it, Rand was asleep in his arms. Once or twice his hold on the little boy tightened. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Yesterday was so long ago, wasn't it, Seth?" SaUie said softly. "You're remembering when Moss was little and you held him like this. He's just a httle boy, Seth, with no mother or father. Ameha loves him and he loves her. Are you angry because I brought them here?"
"You got no right to interfere in my family's business."
"I have every right. We're all family. We're all adults with the exception of that little boy. We all have our own minds to make up. You aren't God, Seth. You can't play with people's lives even if you mean well. The sun will be up in a htde while. I'll take him if he's too heavy for you."
"My arm is numb is all. He thinks I'm Santy Glaus. Wanted to know if my red suit got dirty. Asks as many questions as Moss did. Told me his mam covered him when the bomb hit her. Amelia found him."
"Guess you're going to have to rethink a few things, eh, Seth. I think everyone more or less finds themselves doing that at this time of year. Miracles happen, you know. Moss is coming home. I feel it in every bone in my body. You do too, but you're afraid if you say the words out loud it won't happen. If you have faith and trust in God, it will happen. I think I'll make us some coffee. You sit here and think about what you're going to say to this child when he wakes and finds out you aren't Santa."
"Got that figured out already. Us Texans aren't dumb, we just look that way."
Sallie smiled. "I think you are the biggest phony there is. You're all mush inside."
A sound unlike anything Sallie had ever heard, erupted from her brother's mouth. Such anguished torment. The litde boy stirred and muttered, "Don't worry, Santa, Amelia will wash your suit."
"Maybe you better take him, Sallie. I'll go upstairs and shave off this beard. No sense in disappointing the boy."
"Oh, Seth."
"You gonna start to bawl now? I hate squalling women." "No."
Sallie lifted the little boy from Seth's arms and carried him upstairs. The smile stayed on her face for a long time.
14
Major Ashford Thornton brought his hand up to his forehead and offered his men the snappiest salute of his illustrious career. If his eyes were on the moist side, it wasn't evident to the members of his squadron, whose own eyes were openly wet. "Remember now, we're going to meet one year from today at the Silver Dollar in Las Vegas. That's an order, men! The gig's on me. Now, get the hell out of here, your families are waiting for you."
The date was September 10, 1945, eight days after the Japanese formally surrendered abo
ard the USS Missouri. V-J Day. Victory over Japan.
He was finally going home. Home to his wife and children. No one single word ever sounded as good as the word home.
Impeccably and impressively dressed in his summer whites, his visored cap at a jaunty angle, Ash walked into the waiting arms of his beautiful young wife. His twin sons dressed in blue-and-white sailor suits smiled shyly as they offered their father the salute they'd been practicing for weeks. When he hoisted his sons, one on each shoulder, and took baby daughter Sunny in his arms, his men let loose with shouts, their closed fists shooting into the air.
It was finally over. He was going home with his family.
"Okay, troops, this is the drill," Ash told his family. "We're heading for the nearest hot dog stand so we can get a weenie with the works and an Orange Julius. Say, aye, aye, sir, and we're on our way."
"Aye, aye, sir," three happy voices rang in the air as baby Sunny gurgled her pleasure.
Simon Thornton, alias Captain Adam Jessup, dressed also in impeccable and impressive navy whites, walked away from the San
292 Fern Michaels
Diego Naval Base. He didn't look right or left. No one was waiting for him with open arms.
Five hours later he was knocking on the door of the rm/Adamjes-sup. Simon blinked. Who was this shabby, seedy young man with straggly hair and a three-day stubbly^beard? "Fm Simon Thornton, I have something for you."
"Paid the light bill yesterday. Don't want no magazines. Want a beer?"
"No thanks. Do you mind if I come in?"
"Suit yourself Told you, Fm not buying anything."
"Fm not selling," Simon said as he looked around for a place to sit down. "Do you remember me?"
"You look farmliar. Can't exacdy place you. Fve had a few beers."
"Fm your cousin Jerry's friend. I bought your identity a few years ago. Fm here to give it back."
"Yeah, well, it isn't that easy. Don't think Fm giving you back the money. I spent it a long time ago."
"I don't want the money." Simon opened his duffel and withdrew a manila folder. He held it out to Jessup.
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