by Clay, Verna
Her explanation sounded reasonable, but Sean knew she was lying. Cecelia wasn't a good liar. Now he was more determined than ever to break into that room.
Cecelia pulled his dad's Toyota SUV into a long drive leading to a cabin. A real cabin. An old cabin. A log cabin. "Hey, this place is fantastic." He glanced past the cabin to a big red barn with a couple of corrals nearby. "So, Tessa's father is a rodeo star?"
"From what I understand. I knew his wife, Monica, in New York before she moved here and married him."
"Really? Did she meet her husband at a rodeo in New York?"
Cecelia grinned. "No, actually, their story is very romantic."
Sean refrained from rolling his eyes. Women were so into romantic stuff. When she didn't continue, he said, "And?"
She grinned. "Okay. I'll tell you the story. Monica was a very successful interior designer in New York. In fact, she decorated my brother's penthouse and well, they even dated."
Sean focused his full attention away from the horses and back to Cecelia. This story was getting good.
She continued, "Anyway, Monica had some bad luck and lost everything—her job, residence, just everything. Because she'd previously known my brother, she called him to ask about a job lead, and ended up spilling her story. To make a long story short, he checked around and found out there was an opening with a local rancher and rodeo star who had busted his leg and needed a housekeeper and someone to watch Tessa. Because Monica was desperate, she applied for the job. Dirk, after talking to my brother, felt sorry for her and decided to offer her the position." Cecelia lifted a hand to her mouth and chuckled. "I guess things got interesting after that because Monica had never been "domestic" in her life. I have to tell you, that when I knew her in New York, she was spoiled and impossible and I didn't much like her. Now–" she moved her hands in an expansive motion, "–she's a sweet country gal who loves Tessa, her husband, and their six month old baby, Candi. I swear she's not the same woman I knew."
Sean said, "Hmm. So, does Mr. Branigan still ride in rodeos?"
"Tooty told me that last year he won the National Finals in Las Vegas, one of the most prominent competitions, and retired. Now he makes guest appearances, endorses products and–" she waited for Sean to look at her, "–works as a horse whisperer."
"Huh?"
"Did you ever see the movie, The Horse Whisperer?"
Sean thought a second. "No."
"Well, a horse whisperer has an uncanny ability to communicate with horses."
Sean repeated, "Huh? You mean like read their minds?"
"From my understanding, something like that."
He glanced back at the horses. "Sounds weird to me."
"There are a lot of unexplained happenings in this world."
Sean wanted to say, Yeah, like my dad. But he kept his thought to himself.
A car pulled behind theirs. Cecelia said, "Goodness, we've probably been sitting here ten minutes." She glanced in the rearview mirror. "Looks like Sage Tanner is dropping off his twins and Harris."
Sean wanted to groan. He was happy to see Toby and Harris, but Preston could have stayed home for all he cared. Cecelia opened her door and stepped out. He did the same.
"Hello Sage, boys," she called as a tall cowboy stepped from a van with the words LAZY M RANCH painted on the side.
They all called greetings.
The man looked familiar and even though he was older, Sean wondered if he'd been in the movies. He had that kind of face. Sean said low. "He looks familiar. Is he a movie star?"
Cecelia laughed. "No, but he's been on just about every magazine there is. He's been modeling for years. I think he's retired though."
Sean now understood where Toby and Preston got their looks. He wondered if Tessa thought they were good looking.
Harris and Toby rushed to talk with Sean, while Preston slowly approached. Another car pulled up, and then another. Soon there was a congregation of teenagers. The front door to the cabin opened and a pretty lady holding a squirming baby stepped outside, followed by a tall, rough-looking cowboy who had to be Tessa's father with his matching dimple in one cheek. The lady called, "Hello!" Sean could detect a New York accent. It sounded funny coming from a woman wearing jeans, a cowgirl shirt with snap buttons, and fancy boots. Her husband, dressed in similar duds, reached for the baby and bounced her in the air in a playful manner. The kid laughed that cute sound that only babies have. He then tucked her under his arm and called, "Howdy folks!" The lady said, "Please come in! Tessa is still getting dressed, but she'll be out soon."
Sean followed Harris into the cabin. He was curious about the inside. It was really rustic, but had a great feel. The long hallway led to a big living room with a massive fireplace. Over the fireplace hung a huge family portrait that had obviously been taken recently and on the mantle a mounted golden buckle sat directly beneath the picture. Impressive, thought Sean.
The room had been decorated with streamers and a big sign that said, HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY, TESSA!
Mr. Branigan welcomed everyone again and pointed to a long table with a punch bowl, chips, dips, and veggies. "Ya'll help yourself. As soon as Tessa's ready, we got a great day planned."
Most of the teenagers headed toward the snack table. There was also a table for presents and Sean set his down. He sure hoped Tessa liked the necklace with a stone the same green as her eyes.
Instead of grabbing a snack, he walked to the mantle to look at some pictures in frames. There were several of Tessa and the baby together, a school picture of Tessa, and two pictures of babies just after being born with their hair standing straight up. Sean figured they were Tessa and her sister. There was another photo of a man and woman with a young girl, maybe four or five, standing in front of them. The man was definitely Dirk Branigan. Sean looked closer. Mr. Branigan had his arm around the chubby lady and he decided the child was Tessa. A voice beside him startled him. Mrs. Branigan said, "We love that photo. It's Dirk, Tessa, and her mother."
Sean looked from the photo to Mrs. Branigan. "Yeah, it's nice."
Mrs. Branigan held out her hand. "I'm Monica Branigan, Tessa's stepmother. I haven't been able to get to Dixie's Cuppa Joe much lately, and when I have, you weren't working. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Harris and Tessa say nice things about you. They're going to miss you when you're gone. But maybe you'll come back for another visit."
Sean doubted that, but he didn't say so. He shook Mrs. Branigan's hand. "Nice to meet you, too, ma'am."
Harris said loudly, "Hi, Tessa!"
Sean turned to see the birthday girl and felt a kick to his gut. He couldn't imagine anyone being cruel to such a sweet girl. She gave a little wave and grinned, showing that pretty smile.
Preston was one of the first to reach her. Sean sighed and realized it was going to be a long day.
Chapter 22: Christmas Kisses #1 and #2
Cecelia stretched in Mac's arms and then lifted her head to kiss him. He reached behind her head and pulled her mouth tighter against his. "You taste wonderful," he whispered against her lips.
Moving her mouth to his ear, she whispered back, "I kind of like your taste, too."
"Hmm, sounds like we need to have a tasting contest."
Cecelia laughed and pushed slightly away. "After I have a heart-to-heart talk with you."
Mac lifted his eyebrows. "Am I in trouble?"
"Not now, but you could be soon."
Placing his good arm behind his head, he said, "Okay, you have my undivided attention. What gives? I have a feeling it has something to do with Sean. Correct?"
She grinned. "It does."
Mac puffed a breath, scooted backward until he was leaning against the headboard, and finally said, "Go for it."
Cecelia's grin widened. "I love it when you do that."
"What?"
"Look so sexy."
Mac chuckled. "Are you trying to change the subject? Because if you are, it's working. Why don't you scoot up here and I'll try to look even se
xier."
"As tempting as that is, I really have to talk to you first." She paused a second before forging onward. "Sean was asking about your locked room."
Mac frowned. "When was that?"
"When I drove him to Tessa's birthday party earlier."
Mac reached to finger a strand of Cecelia's hair. "What do you think I should do?"
"You know what I think."
"You want me to reveal my identity."
She nodded.
Mac glanced past her and then back. "If the tabloids find out about my son, they'll track him relentlessly."
"But if he finds out on his own, he'll hate you."
"He already does."
"He does not. He wants a relationship with you, but he doesn't know how to go about it."
Mac moved his knuckles to graze Cecelia's cheek. "I need to contact his parents for their approval before saying anything. Things could get uncomfortable for them, too." Mac studied her shocked expression and pulled her forward. "See how much influence you have on me. I'm already changing my mind about things I thought were forever settled."
Cecelia burrowed her head against his chest. "I think you've made a wise choice." She bit her bottom lip and made a hasty decision. Since Mac was feeling so amiable she decided to ask a question she had long been pondering. She said, "Changing the subject, Mac, I have a burning question." She added quickly, "You don't have to answer, of course?"
He reached to smooth her hair again. "And what might that burning question be?"
"Who are the mysterious figures in your paintings?"
Mac chuckled low and moved his mouth to Cecelia's ear. He whispered, "I have no idea. At first, I felt compelled to paint them. Now, it's become something I rather enjoy. I sometimes speculate myself."
After his response, Mac's kisses made her forget everything but the present moment, until she remembered one more thing she needed to get off her chest. She leaned back and placed a finger over his lips. Shyly, she said, "After that first day we met and you bandaged my wounds, I researched you on the internet."
When she didn't continue, he nibbled on her finger still against his lips. "And?"
She inhaled deeply, moved her hand to rub the hair on his chest, and said, "You may not know this, but I'm five years older than you. Does that bother you?"
Mac grinned so big she knew his answer. And when he placed his hands on her shoulders, pulling her mouth back to his, she said, "I guess not."
*
Cecelia locked her coffee shop for the evening, walked across the street, and just stared at the wonder of it. Her employees were already gone and Sean had left an hour earlier. The next night she and Sean were driving to the Lazy M Ranch where Sage and Sarah Tanner were hosting a Christmas party for twenty disadvantaged or physically challenged children. Sarah had explained that after their first gathering several years previous, they'd become hooked on spreading joy to these children, and now, some of those same youth, as young adults, returned each year to help with their endeavor.
The Tanners' kindness touched Cecelia in a way she hadn't expected and she felt tears gathering. She would be forty-three soon and she had no one to lavish love on. Oh, she had Miles and Tooty and their children, but she wanted a family of her own. Her relationship with Mac was strong, but she knew it was only temporary. He needed her help only until he recovered and to briefly act as a go-between with his son. Once he regained his strength and Sean was gone, she would return to her own home. The thought brought a silent sob. Attempting to capture wayward emotions, she studied her place of business. I love my coffee shop. I love my town. I love my new friends. The sob wouldn't go away. I love Mac and Sean.
Glancing up and down the street and then back at Dixie's Cuppa Joe, she sniffed at the lovely scene. A dusting of snow glistened under colorful lights and sent reflections across the sidewalks and street. It's the perfect Christmas card picture. The tree inside her shop twinkled with white lights. The cardboard cutouts of Santa and his elves going about their duties of making toys, made her grin. From her vantage point, she watched a few locals she recognized, and others, probably tourists, stop to gaze in the windows and point inside, laughing happily.
She had so much to be thankful for that she needed to stop feeling sorry for herself and just be happy she was now a friend of the artist she idolized. As she walked toward Mac's house, she thought about their conversation the previous day. He'd finally spoken with Sean's adoptive parents and told them of his desire to reveal his identity, but warned them of the possible ramifications to their family. When he'd clicked off his cell phone, his expression had been reflective, but unreadable. Finally, Cecelia couldn't help herself and asked, "What did they say?"
Mac responded, "They told me to tell him. They said they were totally onboard and wished I'd done this years ago."
Cecelia had placed her hands on her cheeks. "That's wonderful."
"I don't now how wonderful it is. It looks like you-know-what is about to hit the fan."
"Are you going to tell him tonight?"
"No. I'll wait until after Christmas. He may go ballistic and I don't want to ruin the holidays for everyone."
Cecelia thought about that. She wasn't sure if it was a wise decision, but she wasn't about to voice any negativity—not with Mac having come this far.
She reached Mac's house and climbed the steps. Inside, he and Sean sat in the living room conversing and sipping hot chocolate with marshmallows. They both grinned at her and she thought, Maybe Sean will do well with his dad's revelation.
*
Sean walked into the living room ready to leave for the Christmas party at Toby's house. He glanced between his dad and Cecelia. They'd been making eyes at each other since the day after Thanksgiving. He'd been waiting for his dad's attitude to turn sour, but so far it hadn't happened. Cecelia had even decorated the living room with a small tree and lights and his dad hadn't complained. Even now, Mac couldn't stop smiling at her.
Cecelia glanced at Sean. "I'm ready, if you are." She looked at Mac and added softly, "Sure wish you were going."
Sean saw a look pass between them that he couldn't discern. His dad said, "Not yet."
Cecelia said brightly, "Okay." She turned to Sean. "Sean, I've been looking forward to this Christmas party ever since we were invited. Sarah and Sage are wonderful people who do so much for the community. Of course, you've already made friends with Preston and Toby, which is terrific."
While she opened the door she continued to rattle on and Sean gave his father a little salute as he stepped outside.
Mac said, "Have fun, son."
Sean got that lump in his throat whenever his dad was acting like a dad. Maybe the guy wasn't so bad after all. Maybe his rotten attitude had been because of the pain after surgery. Still, Sean wanted to know what was behind the locked door and he was just waiting for the opportunity to pick the lock.
Cecelia talked happily the entire drive to Lazy M Ranch, and when she turned off the road and past a huge opened gate wrapped with Christmas lights, Sean was impressed. They followed a long drive with several bends in the road to the main house. Finally, it came into view and Cecelia gasped and pounced on the brakes. Both she and Sean sat entranced.
Sean said, "There must be a million lights."
Cecelia responded, "More like two million."
Sean moved his gaze from one end of the property to the other. The barn was covered with sparkling green lights; next to it, a building with people wandering in and out of it, twinkled with white lights, and further away, the main house blinked with red lights."
Cecelia pointed to the building with white lights. "That's the dorm. It's where they're having the party." She put the car in gear and as they came closer, they got a better view of mechanical figures in front of the dorm. Frosty the Snowman winked; Rudolf, his red nose blinking and his front legs moving, led reindeer pulling Santa in his sled. In the sled Santa held his belly and called intermittently, "Ho. Ho. Ho." And circling the entire
scene was a large train with elves sitting in open cars.
Cecelia parked beside the other vehicles and neither she nor Sean moved to open their doors. She laughed, "Now I know why Sarah hasn't had time to visit the coffee shop lately."
Sean had to agree. "Yeah." He moved his gaze to the main house where a manger scene with life-size figures took center stage—baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, and angels. Above the manger a star hovered and twinkled and Sean tried to figure out how it was hung. He finally saw the line tied from the house to a power pole.
A rap on the car's hood startled both of them and they jumped to attention.
Harris came around to Sean's door and opened it. "Howdy, Sean. Howdy, Aunt Cecelia. If you think the outside is crazy, wait 'til you see the inside."
Cecelia responded, "I had no idea Sage and Sarah got so elaborate for Christmas."
"Oh, yeah. They get crazier every year. Come on in."
Cecelia asked, "Is your mom and dad inside?"
"Yep. Dad's giving the little kids rides in his wheelchair and Mom's helping Sarah fill the stockings with goodies."
Sean followed Cecelia and Harris as they entered the dorm. He wondered if Tessa was already there.
Toby yelled from across the room, "Hey Sean!" Preston was nearby, but didn't call a greeting. Toby rushed over. "Come on. I'll show you around. We got some new stuff this year. Dad finally got the train set with the Christmas village."
Harris excused himself when one of the little kids called his name. Cecelia got motioned over by Julie Hackstetter.
Sean followed Toby past a gigantic tree in the center of the room. It was so tall it nearly touched the ceiling; and the ceiling was way up there. Lights of every color twinkled and illuminated bulbs hanging from every branch. A huge star on top blinked on and off. Gifts tumbled from beneath the tree—presents stacked on top of presents. When Sean paused beside the tree, Toby said, "Yeah, my mom and dad go all out for the kids."
Toby walked to the back of the room and the entrance to a hallway. Against the wall on a large table, a little train puffed around a village. Toby started pointing out all the buildings, "There's the general store and the livery and the church and the dressmaker and the sheriff's office," as if Sean couldn't figure it out for himself. "And there are the people's houses."