by Sam Crescent
What was going on? Kent kept confusing her. She knew he’d stopped sleeping around and that he spent more time with her than he did with any other woman.
Stop thinking about it and enjoy Christmas.
****
Kent moved to his room, but Tonya was standing in front of his door. Her arms were folded across her chest as she waited for him.
“You took long enough,” she said.
“What do you want?” he asked, moving around her. Tonya followed him into his room without an invitation. “I asked what you wanted. I didn’t give you permission to come into my room.”
She shrugged. “This place hasn’t changed a bit.” Tonya picked up one of his old teddies and cradled it against her chest. He remembered many times when she came to visit him. Not once in all of those years did he think she was in love with Seth.
“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Tonya asked.
“That’s not your place any more.” He warned her without looking at her.
“Whose place is it, Kent? Are you going to spend the rest of your life judging me because I loved your brother more?”
They never spoke about the past. Tonya was married to his brother, and they were happy. Kent never came into it.
“I don’t care about it, Tonya. I moved on.”
“Bullshit. You never moved on. I know you, and you’ve always been a resentful little prick. We were friends, and because I didn’t return your feelings, you blamed me. Fine, it’s all my fault. I loved Seth, and I never should have dated you. I made the mistake of thinking I could make myself love you the way you wanted to be. I loved you as a friend. I still love you as a friend,” Tonya said.
“I’m not in the mood for this.” He threw his jacket on the bed and walked into the bathroom.
You’re in love with Lana.
Kent stopped and turned to Tonya. It was time to get it out. “Yeah, I had an issue with you. I thought you were my friend, and then I felt you were nothing more than a gold-digging whore.” He watched as she flinched. Kent didn’t get anything from the distraught look in her eyes. At his revelation, she looked broken. “I hated you and Seth. When you went with him I lost my girl and my friend. I loved you, but I’ve come to see I didn’t love you like I thought I did. You were my friend, and I wanted more.” He stopped as the revelation of his words woke him up. “I love Lana, and I’m happy for you. We’ll never be back to how we used to be, but we’ll be civil. At this time that’s all I can offer you,” he said.
“I see.”
“Could you leave? I want to get ready.”
Tonya looked like she wanted to say something more. When he didn’t give her chance to respond, she turned away and left.
Letting out a breath, he made his way into the bathroom. He took a quick shower and tried to process her words. For the longest time he’d blamed her because he’d thought he was in love with her. The way he felt for Lana was completely different. He loved her for the woman she was. Lana was strong, kind, and confusing. Kent smiled as he thought about how confused he got when he was around her.
Once his shower was finished, he moved into his bedroom. He dressed quickly and made his way downstairs. Lana wasn’t downstairs when he made it into the sitting room. The commotion calmed down the moment the children were in bed. He found his mother in the kitchen stirring hot chocolates.
“Have you seen Lana?” he asked.
“She’ll be down in a moment. She forgot her toothbrush and came to ask for one. Don’t worry, son. I know you’re worried about her,” Penny said.
He let out a sigh and sat down. “She’s never had a Christmas like this. A part of her is broken. I see it in the way she watches us. Sometimes there are tears in her eyes, and I hate seeing it. I figured all families were like ours.”
The only person he could confide in was his mother. His dad would go and talk to Lana and probably scare her.
“Has she spoken about any of her family?” Penny asked.
“She’s spoken about her mother, but I don’t have a name or anything. Her past is a mystery. She works two jobs to make ends meet, and she hates mess. Her apartment is always pristine. When we were wrapping the gifts, she was throwing all the little bits away straight after.”
“Some women don’t like mess.”
“With Lana I think it has to do with her past. I watched her freak out by a red stain on her shoe, Mom. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Penny moved away from the stove to stand behind him. She put a supporting hand on his shoulder. “We spoilt you kids when you were growing up. Your father and I had the support of our parents when I came home pregnant at such a young age. Having children isn’t easy. There are families who are far worse off. All you can do is give Lana the love and support she needs. You love her, Kent. I’ve seen it.”
He placed a hand on top of hers. “I love you, Mom.”
“Of course you do. I’m full of wisdom. Lana’s a nice girl. She’d make a fine wife and an even better mother. You’re not getting any younger. I want to enjoy my grandbabies from you.”
“Mom, I’m forty-five.”
“And the receding hairline will come, along with the pot belly.” She tapped his shoulder.
“Dad doesn’t have any of that.”
“I know he’s got a good woman to keep him in shape. It takes two people to make a marriage work, Kent. Lana will be good for you and your health.”
Kent chuckled and paused when he saw Lana stood in the entrance of the kitchen. “I didn’t know where everyone was.”
His mother winked at him before returning to the stove. Penny knew everything about him even though he tried to hide his feelings from the woman. There was no hiding his love for Lana from his mother.
Chapter Fourteen
Lana woke up to the screams of children. It was Christmas morning, and she rolled over to see it was still dark outside. The clock on her bedside table read after five in the morning.
“Lana, is there any chance you’re still asleep?” Kent asked.
She chuckled, climbed out of bed and went to the door. He stood in a robe and slippers. His blond hair was mussed. This was the first time she’d seen him just rolled out of bed. He looked more handsome like this than in a business suit.
“Morning,” she said.
“This is ridiculous, but the kids are ready to open presents. Come on down.” He stood outside her door waiting for her. She grabbed a robe and headed out.
Everyone was in the living room camped out on the sofa. Derek was sitting by the tree. The older man rubbed his hands together as he started dishing presents out to the kids. Once they were finished and left to unwrap more presents, Derek started handing out gifts to the adults.
Lana found herself growing more excited as the event went on. When Derek handed her several packets she was speechless.
“Happy Christmas, dear,” Penny said.
She slowly unwrapped each gift marvelling at what lay before her. Penny had bought her a dress along with a new handbag and shoes. Sophie had bought her a collection of cookbooks, and others gifts ranged from clothes to books to equipment for her apartment. She smiled when she saw a gift voucher for a huge television. Lana turned to Kent.
“Nothing to do with me. My family buy whatever the hell they like.”
When a small box was handed to her, Lana’s heart jumped inside her chest. She opened the box, and there lay the ruby entwined with a serpent. The same necklace she’d admired in the jewellers.
“I saw how much you wanted it. You deserve it.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she said. The others faded into the background as she looked at him.
“No words are necessary. Put it on.”
He helped her place the necklace on. She stared down at the ruby. “This is perfect. Thank you so much.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. The sound of Derek clearing his throat interrupted them. Her gifts to Kent consisted of a pen she’d had embossed with his name, a briefcase, an
d a picture of his whole family in a picture frame for his desk at work.
“This is amazing, Lana,” he said, staring down at his family.
“I noticed you didn’t have many family photos. I thought this would be nice on your hard days. You’ll see them and know what you’re working toward.”
Tears were in his eyes as he gathered her up in his arms.
She gasped at the strength inside him. “You’ve got to let me go. I can’t breathe.”
Kent released her. “You’re such a special person.”
“Thank you.”
Lana didn’t say anything and waited for the rest of the adults to finish. Once all the gifts were unwrapped they went into the kitchen to eat breakfast. Lana settled on cereal while Kent had a full cooked breakfast from Penny.
She’d never experienced a Christmas so full of joy. Lana didn’t want it to end and wished she could call them her family.
After breakfast she excused herself to go and get dressed. She sat on the bed with the cell phone she’d been given as well. All of their personal numbers were inside the memory. She stared at the phone as tears filled her eyes. The loving family reminded her of everything she didn’t have in her life.
A knock sounded at her door, and Tonya stuck her head around the door.
“Is this a bad time?” the other woman asked.
“No.” Lana wiped the tears from her eyes and stood. “I’m fine. Come on in.”
Tonya leaned against the door staring at her. “He’s in love with you,” Tonya said.
Lana looked behind her. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do.”
Lana stood and went to the drawer where her clothes were stored. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Kent’s in love with you.”
Lana froze at the words. Her hands hovered over a pink sweater. “Don’t start. We both know who Kent’s in love with, and it’s not me.”
“No, he was never in love with me. He thought he was, but when he looks at you I see who he loves.”
Lana turned toward her. “Why are you doing this? It’s Christmas morning.”
“Because I know you don’t see the truth. Kent looks at you the same way Seth looks at me. The earth moves for him, Lana.”
“Even if I was to believe you, which I don’t, why are you telling me?” Lana asked. There was no way Kent was in love with her. They were friends, nothing more.
“I’ve hurt him in the past, and it has taken him to find you to finally get over it. We’ve all been waiting for him to bring a woman home. He never has. He’s forty-five years old, Lana, and besides me, you’re the first woman he’s brought home, and I don’t count.”
“Why don’t you count?” Lana asked. Her throat felt tight at Tonya’s words. Lana had been in love with him since the first moment she saw him. That love had grown as she grew to know him. Biting her lip, she looked down at the floor. She kept her feelings locked up because she knew he’d be disgusted by her past. She was nothing like the Andersons and never would be. Her mother had taken care of that.
“I was his friend long before I was his girlfriend. I love Seth. I’ve always loved Seth, and I hurt Kent because of it. I don’t want him to be hurt again.”
Lana understood what she was saying, but she didn’t know what she could do to prevent heartache. Kent was better off without her. She didn’t have this kind of life, and there was no happy ever after in her future.
****
Kent spent one of the best Christmases with Lana. She stayed by his side throughout it all. Her smile and the way she shone around his family cemented in his heart where she was supposed to be. His family adored her as much as he did. She was where she was supposed to be.
He sat with her at the dinner table that was laden with two turkeys and so much food none of them were going to go hungry in the next couple of weeks. Kent rested his arm along the back of her chair, playing with a few strands of her brown hair. She wore her glasses, which he’d started to see as cute. The contacts she usually wore hurt her eyes whereas the glasses she wore for comfort.
They said grace, and then the conversation started. He smiled as everyone began talking at once. Lana handed him the potatoes. “How do you keep up?” she asked.
“Years of practice.”
He knew she loved his family. She tried so hard to keep up with everyone. His nieces and nephews loved her as well. Kent had warned his family not to talk about her past. He’d seen how uncomfortable she got around questions of her past. Tonya smiled between the two of them. He wondered what she knew that he clearly didn’t.
After dinner Lana helped his mom clean away the dishes as he followed his father out to the snow. They were all watching the kids. His brothers were stood with him.
“You’re in love with Lana,” Seth said. “Tonya told me last night. She’s convinced Lana feels the same way.”
He turned to his older brother. “What are you trying to do?”
Seth let out a sigh. “I took away your girl. I love Tonya, Kent. I always have, but I regret doing it the way I did. You deserve so much more. I want you to be happy, and I see Lana gives you that happiness.”
Kent turned to each of his family. They all nodded. Even Dawn’s husband and Sophie’s boyfriend agreed.
“Thank you,” he said.
“She’s a good woman, son. I want to see Lana at the house more often than not. As far as I’m concerned she’s an Anderson now. Take care of her, or you’ll have me to deal with.” Derek patted him on the back. His father had always possessed a keen sense of character. He read people at face value, and what he saw in Lana, Derek liked.
There were no words for Kent to say. His family accepted her as one of their own. She and the other women came out to join them. Kent wrapped his arms around her as they stared at the children.
“This is nice,” she said.
“What?”
“I’ve always dreamed of having a big family with a couple of kids.” She’d never spoken about family. Kent paused, waiting for her to speak more of her wishes. “This has been the best Christmas I’ve ever had, Kent. Thank you so much for bringing me along with you.”
He smiled, and they made their way up the porch steps.
“Mistletoe,” Sophie said, shouting the words across the yard. Kent looked up and saw the damning piece of decoration. He glared at his younger sister. When he’d made his way outside he’d not spotted it. Sophie must have hung it on her way out.
Lana’s cheeks blazed as his family started chanting, “kiss, kiss, kiss”.
“Let’s show them how it’s done,” Kent said. He wrapped his arms around her neck and pulled her close.
Her eyes went wide, and her gaze dropped to his lips. She licked her own as her gaze returned to his eyes. “Yeah, let’s.” Her words had to be the hottest thing he’d ever heard. Dropping his head, he brushed his lips against hers. Lana’s lips were cold to the touch but plump. The inviting plumpness forced him to deepen the kiss. He’d never tasted anything so irresistible before in his life. Like at the dinner table, the rest of his family melted away. Nothing else mattered to him other than his woman in his arms.
There was no denying Lana as his woman. He loved her with his whole entire being. His thoughts were possessed by her. Not a day went by when he wasn’t thinking about her. When he woke up in the morning, he was thinking about her. Sinking his fingers into the length of her hair, Kent deepened the kiss. Her eyes closed as he plunged his tongue inside her mouth.
Finally the world came back into focus. The whistles from his family invaded his mind. He broke the kiss.
“Merry Christmas, Lana,” he said.
“And to you.”
They made their way into the house. Lana went into the sitting room while he went into the kitchen. His mother turned to him.
“I need to get myself together before I go in there.”
“Don’t worry about it, Kent.” Penny put the cloth down on th
e counter. “Have you spoken to her about your feelings?”
He shook his head.
“Then you better make it a priority, as otherwise you’re going to ruin a perfectly good friendship.”
His mother patted his cheek leaving him alone in the kitchen. Kent still tasted Lana on his lips. There was no getting away from it. Lana tempted him in the most primal of ways, but she meant the world to him. No woman had ever gotten past his defences like she did. How was he going to survive much longer keeping his feelings at bay?
Kent didn’t have an answer. All he could do was pray for the strength to keep it together.
Chapter Fifteen
One month after Christmas
Lana still hadn’t found a replacement job. No one was hiring new staff. The economy sucked, and the money she’d been paid in a Christmas bonus was running out fast. Her bills had been increased over Christmas, and her cleaning job wouldn’t sustain her for long. Staring down into her safe she saw the bills piling up.
She couldn’t bring herself to think of moving out of her apartment. This place was her home. Lana took pride in where she lived. Moving out was the last thing she wanted to do.
You haven’t got much choice.
Resting her head on the table she tried to bring some reasoning to her thoughts. No matter what she tried to change, there was not enough money for her to live on.
She was collecting all of her papers together when her cell phone rang. It was Wednesday morning, and Kent told her he was busy with loads of meetings. When she saw his number flash on the screen she was surprised.
“What’s up?” she asked, packing the papers away. Her heart raced at the sound of his voice.
“I’m dying,” he said.
“What? What do you mean?” She started to panic.
“I’m poorly, Lana. Come and take care of me. I’ve got man-flu.” She rolled her eyes and checked the time. “Please, Lana, I need you to look after me.”
There had been tension after the kiss they’d shared during Christmas, but that soon fizzled out when they were alone.
“Okay, fine, I’m coming over.”