Vegas heat

by Michaels, Fern

  "I don't think either one of you should quit your day jobs." Fanny laughed.

  "I'm of the same opinion. I never would have believed this

  if I wasn't right here on the scene. That little-bitty matchstick thing stuck on a piece of cardboard is now something to take notice of. I'm anxious to see what it looks like when it gets painted with all the Christmas colors. You must be very proud of your daughter, Fanny. I was married once but never had children. I suppose it was a good thing because the marriage didn't last."

  "I'm sorry. When all else fails, when things don't go right, you can always count on family to get over the trouble spots. It isn't always a constant in one's life, but it should be."

  "Where will you be this Christmas, Fanny?"

  "At the casino. Would you like to join us? Don't feel you have to, just to be polite. It will probably be just me and Daisy. The kids might stop by. I can't be sure about anything these days."

  "I can't think of anything I'd like more. Of course. Do you do the tree, sing carols, drink eggnog, open gifts?"

  "The whole nine yards. We do it Christmas Eve. We have a big as in very big dinner first. Sallie always did it that way. It was wonderful. She invited everyone she thought might be alone. Sallie was the kindest, gentlest, most wonderful person I've ever met. I don't think she was ever truly happy. Are you happy, Marcus?"

  "Define the word happy, Fanny. This is a tremendous sandwich."

  "Well, it's a wonderful feeling. You can't wait to get up in the morning and you hate going to sleep at night. It's that contented feeling that all is right with your world. It's caring about people who care about you. The sun is brighter, the stars shinier, that kind of thing."

  "Then I guess I'm sort of happy. I like crunchy apples. I'd like to stay and talk, Fanny, but your son cracks a mean whip. He doesn't much care for cigarette breaks either. He puffs as he works. Thanks for lunch."

  "Isn't it great, Mom? The tree's coming late this afternoon. The delivery people are going to set it up. Mom, would it be impossible to shut down Babylon so we can do all this without

  262 Fern Michaels

  interruption? I know we'll lose money, but this stuff is going to bring in people by the drove. How long did the company you hired say their work will take?"

  "A day and a half. Sure, we can close down. I'm the boss, remember."

  "We have to cover the front doors and windows. We want this to be an in-your-face, blow-your-socks-off opening. By the way, what's it costing for the casino?"

  "You don't want to know. We'll recoup. I'll have Neal put up signs, and we'll announce it hourly over the loudspeaker. I have to get back."

  "He's got a nice tush. For a man his age. Did you notice, Mom?"

  "No, I did not notice." Flustered at her daughter's comment, Fanny packed up her picnic basket.

  "C'mon, Mom, he's a groovy-looking guy. For his age. He's nice. I like him. Sage does, too. The truth is, he's a better carpenter than Sage is. They're both having the time of their lives. I think you are, too; but you won't admit it. He's nothing like Dad or Uncle Simon."

  Fanny changed the subject. "How's that twenty-foot-high Santa coming?"

  "I'm doing the beard this afternoon. It's one silky strand at a time, and it takes time. The ladder isn't all that steady. The guys are making me a scaffold. I stitch as I go along. Where are we going to store this stuff after Christmas?''

  "Right here in Red's barns. The bigger question is, how are you going to transport this to Babylon?"

  "In eighteen wheelers. It's all taken care of, Mom."

  "All right. Don't fall off the ladder, Billie. I'll see you this evening."

  Fanny turned to risk a quick glance in Marcus Reed's direction. There was something about a man in jeans and hard hat. Billie was right. He did have a nice tush. For someone his age.

  Back at the casino, Fanny tracked down Ash's business manager and Security chief. She hated going toe to toe with people

  when they wore the stubborn look Neal was wearing. "It is good business, Neal. We aren't going to fold because we close our doors for two days. I'm not asking you. I'm telling you what we're going to do. Post notices at all the entrances and announce it hourly. We'll be open for business Saturday evening at six o'clock. I would suggest you hire extra security. The media will be here in full force. Starting tonight on the six o'clock news, ads will begin to air. They'll run until Saturday. Full-page ads will be in the papers starting tomorrow. Your staff won't be able to handle the crush of people so you should bring in all your people who are off for the weekend. Santa arrives promptly at seven. Do whatever you have to do so there are no glitches. I want this to run smoothly. Oh, one other thing. Mr. Thornton will be in attendance. Ah, I rather thought that would get your attention."

  Fanny beelined to her office and immediately dialed the number at Sunrise. Ash answered, laughter in his voice. "It's Fanny, Ash. Is everything okay?"

  "Yep. Jake is tickling my feet. What's up, Fanny?"

  Fanny told him. "I'd like you to come, Ash. I'd like it even more if you'd bring Jake. Polly's too young. Will you do it? I think I just want to hear you say you're proud of me. The kids are really doing a job on this. It's going to be the most wonderful fairyland. I'm sure Jake knows about the North Pole, Santa, and the elves. You read him stories, don't you?"

  "I can come of course. I'm not sure if Sunny will allow me to take Jake though."

  "Ash, Sunny is invited. I wasn't excluding her. Do your best, okay? The kids did everything with Jake in mind. You are absolutely going to be blown away. The kids stopped by on Thanksgiving. Did you tell them to do that? If you did, then I need to thank you."

  "It was their own idea. It was miserable when they were here. There's some problems here, but we can talk about them when I come down. I need your clear head on some stuff."

  "I'll be here, Ash."

  264 Fern Michaels

  Ash sat for a long time, his thoughts whirling chaotically. He eyed the little boy sleeping on the sofa. His features softened and he smiled. They were going fishing later. Chue had a small natural pond he stocked with plastic goldfish for his grandchildren along with a basket of ten-cent prizes in case one of the children was lucky enough to snare one of the plastic fish. Regardless, they always came home with a prize and a fortune cookie.

  Ash steered his way to the closed-in garden room, where Sunny reclined in the last patch of afternoon sun. "How's it going?" he asked.

  "Hi. I was sitting here thinking about Tyler. He called earlier and wanted to know if he could take Jake to New York the day after Christmas. He said he'd take him ice-skating and do some father-son things. I didn't say yes and I didn't say no. I wanted to talk to you first. It's just for two days. Jake would like going on a plane."

  "By himself!" Ash said, horror written all over his face. "He's only three, Sunny. If someone was to take him, it would be different. I don't think it's a good idea, but it's your decision."

  "I always make the wrong decisions. That's why I wanted to talk to you. Jake does miss Tyler. He didn't even ask about Polly. I did send a picture of her that we took on Thanksgiving. He didn't mention it at all. He also said he's dating someone. 'Seeing someone' is the way he put it. I thought that would bother me, but it doesn't. I wonder why that is. Is Jake still sleeping?"

  "On the sofa. He climbed up, and he was asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. This is just a little catnap. He's too excited about going fishing."

  "That's so silly, fishing for plastic fish."

  Ash bristled. "He loves doing it. I'd like to take him down the mountain on Saturday if you have no objections. Santa is coming to Babylon and it's going to be decorated. A monster

  tree came in from Oregon, and they're going to turn on the lights. Why don't you come with us?"

  "Are you going to see Mom?"

  "I imagine so if she's around." Ash wondered if his vague, bland attitude was working. ' 'I thought it would be a good time to pick up my old train set, so we
can put it around the tree. It's the only toy I saved from my childhood. I think Simon still has his. The engine belches smoke, there's a real whistle, and the cars have little people in them. Jake will love it. I think you should come with us, though."

  "No. I'll stay here. If you take Jake, that will give me time to wrap some of his Christmas presents. He's so curious and already he's poking in the closets."

  "Would you object if we stayed overnight? I don't like driving at night with Jake in the car."

  "Are you going to stay at Mom's?"

  "I could get a room. It would be better if we stayed with your mother."

  "No, it wouldn't. If you promise me you'll stay in the hotel, it's okay. Staying with Mom is not okay."

  "You're carrying this too far, Sunny."

  "You're entitled to your opinion, Dad. I want your word. Jake will tell at some point if you stay with Mom. Please don't make him lie to me."

  "All right, Sunny. We'll take a room. Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

  "I'm sure. I think I'll call the people who installed those awful gates for Mom and have them put up again."

  "Sunny, for God's sake, why? Your mother doesn't come here. No one comes here unless you invite them, and if you keep on the way you're going, even invited guests won't come. This is your mother's house. It isn't yours. Please remember that. She could put you out tomorrow if she wanted to, and it would be perfectly legal."

  "She would never do that," Sunny blustered.

  "Don't be so sure. Fanny is a constant surprise. Just when I think I have her down pat, she throws a curve. It's my personal

  266 Fern Michaels

  opinion that you've pushed her as far as she will allow. It won't be pleasant if she decides to push back. Leave the gates alone. They don't belong to you."

  "I can move back to town," Sunny continued to bluster.

  "Yes, you could. The question is, would you and the children be happy there. For the record, I have no intention of moving. I was born here, and I plan to die here." At Sunny's stricken look he added hastily, "At some point in the far future. Sunny, don't you have any friends? We've been here more than four months and no one comes up, no one calls."

  "I did. They have lives of their own with families. Two of my best friends moved away. We write once in a while. It's okay. You see how busy I am. Jake and Polly take a lot of time. I'm not devastated about Tyler. It's what it is. Maybe someday things will change."

  "They aren't going to change unless you open your mind and heart."

  His training pants around his knees, fishing pole over his shoulder, Jake entered the garden room. "Time to fish, Pop Pop."

  "Oh, Jake, you peed on your socks. Run in your room and bring me a clean pair. Tell me if Polly is awake."

  Jake returned with his socks. "Hers awake. Hers playing with her toes. Mitzi said ..."

  "What did Mitzi say?"

  "Hers giving her her bottle."

  "Okay. Go with Pop Pop and catch me a big fish."

  Sunny watched her father and son until they rounded the bend that would take them to Chue's house. What would she do when her father was no longer here? What would she do if Tyler took the kids? She knuckled her eyes as she shuffled back to the house.

  "I've never seen anything so magnificent in my life," Fanny said breathlessly as she walked around Babylon. In every corner, in every aisle, golden Christmas trees complete with gaily wrapped packages graced the casino. Overhead, red velvet swags with golden angels carrying golden trumpets moved in the air from the ventilation system. Bouquets of holly and mistletoe tied with red velvet ribbons could be seen everywhere. Exquisite miniature sleighs, Santas, and elves hung from the tinsel-wrapped chandeliers. Red-and-green signs, their arrows pointing in the direction of the hanging gardens, were in every aisle and by all the exit signs. In the central entrance, a wire arrangement in the shape of a Christmas tree was transformed into a thirty-foot-high poinsettia. Empty boxes wrapped in gold and silver with large red velvet bows sat at the base. In the middle of the casino, above the wide center aisle, suspended from wires, was a real sleigh, with a life-size stuffed Santa, complete with a sack of presents, a small evergreen nestled in the sleigh, and eight prancing reindeer. Every five minutes the Santa offered up a roughish wink and a jolly, Ho-Ho-Ho. Fanny clapped her hands in glee.

  Her children and Marcus Reed behind her, Fanny followed one of the red arrows leading to the hanging gardens, where all she could do was stare in amazement. The North Pole complete with swirling snow. "It isn't really snow," Sage whispered.

  "I know," Fanny whispered in return. "It's wonderful. You actually built an entire village. Where did the mechanical elves come from?"

  "Santa," Marcus quipped. "How do you like Santa's workshop?"

  "It isn't a real fire in the fireplace, Mom," Sage whispered.

  "I know. It takes my breath away. It's so real. The buckets of paint look real too."

  "They're colored pudding with preservatives added. We nave to change it once a week," Billie volunteered.

  "You actually created an entire village as well as Santa's workshop. I feel like I'm peeking into the magical man's private

  268 Fern Michaels

  world. That scroll must be a mile long. Every little boy and girl's Christmas list. And the barn with the reindeer. Oh, my, there's Rudolph. Jake is going to love this. What's in all those baskets?"

  Everyone laughed. "Reindeer treats. They're giveaways. Jake asked me what he could leave for Santa's reindeer. They're little bags filled with hay and glitter and tied with a red ribbon. A small instruction slip says, 'Leave outside the front door.' I hired some kids from the university and they made up ten thousand packets."

  "It's mind-boggling is what it is. When does the giant Santa go up?" Fanny asked.

  "As we speak. I had to polyurethane him. I wanted to make sure he dried. He's under the canopy with his own twenty-four-hour guard. Okay, time to shower and be on hand when the door opens. See you guys later," Billie said with a wave of her hand.

  "We're off, too," Iris and Birch said in unison. "See you later."

  Marcus Reed held out his hand. "I don't think I ever worked so hard for zero pay. I also didn't think it was possible to enjoy myself as much as I did. I want to thank you, Fanny, for allowing me to be a part of this. I'll say my good-bye now, too."

  "You're leaving! You aren't staying for the opening?"

  "Business calls. I hate crowds. I hope tonight is everything you want it to be."

  Fanny watched Marcus walk away. Suddenly everything seemed off-color and out of focus. The urge to run after him, to ask him to stay, was so strong, Fanny forced herself to dig her heels into the soft artificial snow.

  "I'm alone again."

  "Did you say something, Mrs. Thornton?" Neal asked.

  "No. I guess I was thinking out loud. Tell me, what do you think?"

  "I never would have believed it. When you said decorate I thought you meant a wreath, a tree, and some red bows. I've

  never seen anything like this. I think your assessment was on target. We'll recoup our money. Do you mind me asking who that man was in the red plaid shirt?"

  "Mr. Reed. He helped build this stuff. Do you know him?"

  "No. I think I've seen him somewhere, though, or else he reminds me of someone. It will come to me at some point. You only have ninety minutes, Mrs. Thornton, before the doors open."

  "I guess I better hurry then."

  Fanny pressed the play button on her answering machine. Ash's voice pealed into the room. "Fanny, I have the okay to bring Jake down. We'll be there for Santa's arrival. I'll book a room. The kid is so excited he's going to make himself sick. He's bringing you a present, so act like you've been waiting all your life for it, okay. We'll see you in a couple of hours."

  Fanny sat down on the floor and tussled with Daisy. "Wait till you see who's coming to see us. Actually, we'll be going to see him. I think you might like him since he's a little person. Ah, that's it, give
me kisses." Fanny rolled over and over, Daisy yipping and yapping as she tried to snuggle against Fanny. "Okay, okay, you win, two cookies. Roll the can over here." Fanny fumbled with the lid as the phone rang. She burst out laughing when Daisy knocked the can out of her hand, cookies scattering everywhere. "Hello," she gasped.

  "Fanny, it's Simon."

  The laughter died in Fanny's throat. Her voice went flat. "Hello, Simon."

  "I thought I'd drive down tomorrow."

  "Why?"

  "Why? To see you."

  "Why?"

  "We need to talk."

  "Don't you mean you need to talk, Simon? I said everything I had to say."

  "Are you saying you don't want me to come?"

  "You can do whatever you please, Simon. I'm a person, Simon, with feelings, with needs. I'm not a possession you can

  270 Fern Michaels

  pull out on a whim and then store away again. This weekend is the opening of the Christmas season for us. I won't have any time to spend with you. Ash is bringing Jake down."

  "Let me make sure I understand what you're saying. You are too busy to see me and talk to me but you have time to spend with Ash and Jake."

  "That's about it, Simon. Ash will be taking care of Jake. I just get to see him. That little boy is very important to me."

  "When will you have time? Do I need an appointment?"

  "Sometime after the first of the year. Do you realize, Simon, you did the same thing to me your brother did? I will not tolerate that."

  "What about Christmas?"

  "What about it?"

  "Do you want me to come for Christmas?"

  Did she? "No, Simon, I do not. I'm sorry to cut you short, but I have to get dressed and be downstairs when the doors open. Have a nice evening."

  "Fanny, I'm sorry."

  "Sorry is just a word. I've heard it so much in my life it doesn't mean anything. Good-bye, Simon."

  Fanny scooped Daisy up into her arms. "Four months ago I thought I was going to die if Simon didn't call me. I thought I couldn't live without him. Guess what, I did ... I am. Whatever. What's even more amazing is I'm starting to like what I'm doing. Okay, go finish those cookies while I get ready."