The Christmas Cradle

by Linda Warren

  “You will be. Ellie adores you already.”

  She remembered a time when she’d adored her own mother.

  “What is it?” Colter asked, seeing her sad expression.

  “I was thinking about my parents—especially my mother.”

  His arms tightened around her. “Our future’s together, but what kind of future can we build on bitterness and resentment? I want more for Ellie.”

  “Me, too.” She idly caressed the firm muscles in his arms. “I never thought I’d see the past from my mother’s point of view. But I’ve had these insightful moments ever since that night you wondered what you’d do if Ellie had my talent and got pregnant at seventeen. I couldn’t really answer. And tonight the incident with Jarred opened my eyes even more. She did the things she did because she loved me. She just didn’t know me. I don’t want to make that mistake with Ellie.”

  She snuggled close to his body and a comfortable silence enveloped them both.

  The future was so bright she could almost touch it. But as Colter had said, what kind of future could they build if she continued to harbor bitterness and resentment toward her parents? She knew what she had to do, and it wouldn’t be easy.

  He kissed the top of her head. “You can do it.”

  She looked up at him. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “Because I’m thinking the same thing. You’ve been through hell, but you’re not going to be completely happy until you talk to your parents.” His lips took hers again, and they forgot everything but each other.

  Sometime toward morning, Colter placed a gentle kiss on her lips and slid from the bed.

  “Colter,” she murmured sleepily.

  He tucked the covers around her. “Go back to sleep. I’m going to my own room so Ellie won’t find me here.”

  “I love you.”

  “Love you, too.” He found his clothes and quickly left.

  Marisa turned over, feeling lonely without his warmth. She glanced at the clock—5:00 a.m. Soon Ellie would be bouncing on her bed. Soon they’d tell her they were getting married. Soon they’d be a real family.

  First, though, she had to see her parents. Without forgiveness, there could be no happiness, and she wanted true happiness for Ellie, Colter and herself.

  But could she actually forgive them for taking her child?

  Chapter Nineteen

  “Mommy, wake up! Mommy.”

  The precious voice tugged at her brain and Marisa slowly opened her eyes. “Morning, baby.”

  “Morning, Mommy,” Ellie said, and crawled in beside her; predictably, Sooner, too, jumped onto the bed, and Marisa stroked his sleek fur. “Did you sleep good?”

  Better than I’ve slept in years. Colter’s touch, his kiss, was still with her.

  She pulled Ellie into her arms. “Yes, and how about you?”

  Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know. I fall asleep and I don’t remember anything. I just wake up.”

  Marisa kissed her good-morning. “Is your father awake?”

  “Yeah. He and Tulley are drinking coffee.”

  “Then let’s join them.”

  “Okay.” Ellie scrambled off the bed.

  Marisa reached for her robe. She didn’t want to take time to dress, she just wanted to see Colter.

  They hurried downstairs and she paused in the kitchen doorway, her eyes on Colter. He was smiling as he noticed her, and she was, too. They couldn’t seem to stop.

  Ellie slid onto Colter’s lap.

  “What do you want for breakfast?” he asked Ellie, his eyes never leaving Marisa.

  “I don’t…”

  As Marisa pushed her hair behind her ears, her diamond ring caught the light—and Ellie’s attention.

  “What’s that, Mommy?” Ellie pointed.

  “Yeah, what’s that?” Tulley asked, grinning.

  Marisa and Colter exchanged a secret smile. “Well, you see, angelface, last night I asked your mother to marry me and she said yes.”

  Ellie’s mouth fell open and then she jumped off Colter’s lap, shouting, “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, this is big—bigger than Christmas. I gotta call Aunt Becky, Aunt Jen and Lori. Golly, this is the best Christmas ever.” Sooner barked in a frenzied manner as Ellie bounced around the room.

  Colter finally grabbed her by the arm. “Okay, baby girl, calm down.”

  “I can’t, Daddy. I’m too excited. My mommy’s gonna live here forever. I’ll never be without a mommy again.”

  She ran to Marisa and threw both arms around her waist. Colter came to stand beside them, sliding an arm around her shoulder.

  “I believe in Santa Claus—don’t you, Mommy? Daddy?”

  “Ellie,” Colter sighed.

  Marisa smoothed Ellie’s hair, gazing into Colter’s eyes. “Oh, yes, I believe.”

  Looking at her, he believed in the unbelievable, the impossible. “Daddy believes, too,” he said.

  Tulley stood and scooped up his hat. “If that don’t beat all. I’m beginning to believe myself.”

  Ellie giggled as Tulley ambled out the door.

  They ate breakfast with Ellie asking a million questions. She couldn’t sit still for one second—up and down, up and down, until Colter said it was time to feed Beauty. Marisa and Ellie changed into jeans and boots and headed for the barn. Colter tagged along, unable to stay away from them.

  Marisa prepared the milk and poured it into the bottle. Beauty was walking around in her stall, hardly resembling the fawn of two days ago. Ellie fed her the bottle, and Marisa knelt in the hay applying ointment to the sores still evident on the small body. Happy and content, Beauty curled up on the hay and went to sleep.

  Marisa then helped Ellie tend to her horses. They filled buckets with horse and mule feed and carried them to the long troughs in the pasture. Dandy and Sassy immediately galloped toward them. Marisa pulled a chunk of carrot from her pocket, which Dandy ate from her hand.

  Colter observed all this with a sense of wonder. She seemed at home here on the ranch and with the animals. She was nothing like the frightened young girl of eight years ago, but she had the same big heart, the same innocence and beauty he’d never forgotten. And never would. This time she was in his life to stay.

  But he saw the sadness that lingered in her eyes. He’d thought he would never forgive Richard and Vanessa Preston, but love had miraculous healing powers. Now Marisa had to find the strength to do the same, and he would be right beside her.

  “Mommy.” He heard Ellie talking. “I’m gonna put on my new outfit and ride Dandy. Please fix my hair in a French braid with a red ribbon. I’ll look so cool.”

  Marisa sat on a bale of hay and pulled Ellie to her side. “Mommy has to go into Dallas for a little while.”

  “Why?”

  “I’d like to go see my father.”

  “Oh.” Ellie twisted on her boots. “When will you be back?”

  Marisa caught her hands. “About lunchtime, and then I’ll fix your hair and watch you ride Dandy.”

  “Okay,” Ellie said, but she didn’t look up, and Marisa knew something was bothering her.

  “Mommy?”

  “What, baby?”

  “Is your daddy gonna be mean to you?”

  “Oh, baby, no.” She gathered her child in her arms. “He loves me.”

  As she said the words, she knew they were true. For days she’d been telling herself that her parents had to love her to do what they’d done, but she hadn’t fully believed it until now. She’d grasped it intellectually but not emotionally. Until now. She knew her parents would never intentionally hurt her. They’d sheltered and protected her from the world; and at seventeen she’d had no clear idea of what was out there. Their decisions had been wrong for Marisa. They’d had no way of knowing that, though, because communication was not a strong suit in their family.

  Thank you, baby. It took her child to make her fully understand—and accept—the past.

  Within the hour she was dressed and ready. Colter wal
ked her to the car holding her hand. Ellie was riding her bicycle, completely competent at stopping and turning after her Christmas Day lesson and this morning’s practice.

  “If you wanted me to, I’d go with you,” Colter said, “but I know you have to do this by yourself.”

  She touched his face, loving him all the more for realizing that. “Yes, I do.” She went into his arms and he held her for a second, then she got in the car and drove toward Dallas.

  Colter watched until the car was out of sight. He felt as though the sun had just stopped shining in his world. It wouldn’t shine again until she was back.

  Hurry home, Marisa.

  MARISA TRIED NOT TO THINK about the meeting ahead. She didn’t even know if her father was home. Her mother had gone on a cruise, and she didn’t have a clue to where Reed was. He had said he’d call over the holidays, but so far he hadn’t.

  She picked up her cell phone and called Cari. They talked until she turned in to Highland Park. Cari was thrilled to hear that she and Colter were getting married, and Marisa could hardly contain her own excitement. But as she pulled up to the gates, all she felt was apprehension.

  She punched in the code and thought that maybe she should’ve called, after all. With the upheaval in the family, her father might have gone away for the holidays. If so, she’d go back to Colter and Ellie and wait until after New Year’s. She knew she had to do this.

  As she drew closer to the house, she noticed Reed’s sports car parked in front. Had he been in Dallas all along? Why hadn’t he called her? Maybe he’d reconciled with their father and didn’t know how to tell her. She got out and ran to the front door and rang the bell.

  Winston opened it immediately. “Miss Marisa, how nice to see you.”

  “Thank you, Winston. Is my father home?”

  Winston stepped aside. “Yes, ma’am. They’re in the library.”

  “They?” She walked into the foyer.

  “Mr. Reed and Mrs. Preston are here, as well.”

  “Oh. My mother’s back from her cruise?” She could see both her parents at the same time; she hadn’t expected this.

  “She cancelled her holiday plans,” Winston replied. “She spent Christmas with Mr. Preston.”

  “Really?” It was hard to keep the shock out of her voice. For years she and Reed were the only thing that had kept her parents civil. Had they actually managed to spend time together without tearing each other apart?

  Marisa walked toward the library, her mind whirling. Her mother was still here; apparently she’d never left. And Reed was here, too. What was going on? As she reached the library, she heard raised voices. She didn’t want to eavesdrop, but she didn’t want to interrupt, either.

  “Those are my conditions, take them or leave them.” That was Reed and he sounded angry.

  “I don’t like ultimatums, son,” her father warned.

  “And I don’t like how you’ve controlled and manipulated my life. You’ve been grooming me for years to take over Dalton’s, but I’m nothing more than a figurehead. I have no real responsibility or power. Marisa felt the same way.”

  “Have you seen your sister?”

  “No. I’ve given her the time she needs with Colter and their child.”

  “I thought she’d call over the holidays,” Richard said plaintively.

  “Why would she do that?” Reed asked with a touch of sarcasm. “You and Mother have treated her like a porcelain doll, unable to live her own life because of her great talent. Well, you’ve finally shattered her life into so many pieces, I’m not sure she’ll ever be the same.”

  “I’m fine, Reed,” she said, stepping into the room.

  All three looked at her. “Oh, my darling, you’re home,” Vanessa said. She was standing by the fireplace drinking a cup of tea. Putting the cup down, she hurried toward Marisa, but halted abruptly a few feet from her.

  Her father seemed unable to speak.

  Reed came and hugged her, smiling broadly. “How are you doing? You look great.”

  “I am great.” She smiled back. “I have my daughter.”

  “I’m glad you’re home,” her father finally said.

  “I’m not home.” She wanted to make that point clear. “I just came to tell you I’m getting married.”

  “Oh.” Vanessa blinked.

  “So you’re marrying him?” was Richard’s response.

  “Yes. I’ve never stopped loving him.” She looked directly at her mother. “I think you know that.”

  “After I told you the baby was stillborn and you sank into such a deep depression, I felt we’d done the wrong thing. But when you refused to play the piano, I knew for sure that we had. I just didn’t know how to make it right without hurting you even more.”

  “I thought I’d never recover,” she said, wanting to be completely honest. “But Colter and Ellie have made me see things in a new way—well—I’m playing the piano again.”

  “Oh, darling, that’s wonderful.” Vanessa clapped her hands together.

  “Colter had never heard me play and he said he hadn’t realized I was so talented. He wondered what he’d do if Ellie had that kind of talent and got pregnant at seventeen. I really couldn’t answer until yesterday. Ellie was playing with a friend from school and they got into a disagreement and he hit her. I was furious. I wanted Ellie removed from that class. I wanted to get her away from him—that was all I could think of.” She took a breath. “Colter asked me if I’d asked Ellie what she wanted, and I told him she was a child and didn’t know what was best. And I began to understand that was exactly how you felt about me. I was young, so young.”

  “Yes, darling, you were.”

  “Today when I told Ellie I was coming here, she was afraid you might hurt me.”

  A strangled sob left Vanessa’s throat, but Marisa continued. “I knew then that you didn’t intentionally hurt me. You’ve loved and protected me all my life, yet you’ve never really known me. I hated the long hours of practice and I wanted to be like other girls—having fun. In rebellion I made some bad choices, but I will never regret loving Colter.”

  There was silence for a moment.

  “I want to thank you for giving my child to Colter,” she said quietly. “He’s done a great job with Ellie.”

  Vanessa twisted the pearls around her neck. “He kept demanding to see you. I had to tell him another lie—that you didn’t want anything to do with him or the baby. I could see how much that hurt him.”

  “Yes,” Marisa said, staring down at her hands. “He’s been hurting for a lot of years.”

  “Just like you,” Reed put in.

  “Yes, just like me.” She looked at her father. “Why didn’t you tell me you were there when Ellie was born?”

  His eyes didn’t waver from hers. “I didn’t want you to know,” he said with more honesty than she’d expected. “When Vanessa called, I saw it as a way to get what I wanted—you, back in Texas. I told her I’d help if she didn’t pressure you to stay in New York. She kept her word, and you came home with me.” He drew a long breath. “That doesn’t make me look very good, but you’re being honest and I have to do the same. I’ve always been angry at Vanessa for taking you away, and I saw this as my chance to have both my children with me. But giving up your baby was not an easy thing to do.”

  After another long silence, he resumed. “I grew up poor, as you know. My parents died when I was small and I lived with an aunt and her family. I started working when I was twelve, mowing yards and helping people in the neighborhood, but there was never enough money to go around. I studied hard and got a university scholarship. I was determined to have a better life. I worked in the men’s department at Dalton’s while I went to college. When I graduated, I applied for a management job at Dalton’s and was hired as an assistant to the vice-president of sales.” He walked to the fireplace and stared into the fire.

  “I knew what I wanted, but I wasn’t sure how to get it—until I met Vanessa. Her father doted on her and I set
out to marry her. She was my stepping-stone to the big time. She was home for the holidays, and by New Year’s we were heavily involved. But Vanessa had no plans to marry me. She went back to New York and her career.” He picked up a poker and stoked the fire. “Fate intervened, though. When her parents discovered Vanessa was pregnant, I was called in to Mr. Dalton’s office. He said, ‘Buy a tux, boy, you’re marrying my daughter.’ And that was it. Vanessa and I did the right thing, but we fought all the time. She blamed me for everything that had happened. However, Mr. Dalton took me under his wing and taught me everything he knew—and I learned fast. I had what I wanted. My kids wouldn’t have to work a day in their lives.”

  He turned to look at Reed and Marisa. “I did everything for you, and both of you complain that you don’t have any responsibility. With responsibility come long hours and hard work. I didn’t want that for you. I wanted you to enjoy life—and I was wrong. You have to learn, to grow. You have to experience pain in order to be strong. I tried to spare you all that, but I made a mistake. You have to experience the losses as well as the rewards. That’s what creates character, and Marisa, I’ve never been prouder of you than I am today. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you. I wish you nothing but happiness in your marriage.” His voice wavered on the last word.

  She’d never seen her father so humble and sincere, and she knew he meant what he’d said. “Thank you, Father.”

  Richard turned to Vanessa. “I’m sorry for the years I wouldn’t listen to how you felt, but I’m not very good at sharing and I’m afraid I don’t hear anyone’s viewpoint but my own.”

  Vanessa brushed away a tear.

  “And, Reed, I agree to all your conditions. By the time you’re forty you will be CEO of Dalton’s, and in the meantime, I will gradually ease into retirement.”

  “Thank you, Father,” Reed said. “And maybe you should try to enjoy the life you’ve built.”

  “I’m going to try.” Richard glanced at Vanessa. “Your mother and I are going to New York for New Year’s and she’s going to show me her city.”

  Marisa and Reed were speechless. Their parents hadn’t gone anywhere together that Marisa could recall. She felt as if she’d stepped into some fantasy realm where fact and fiction were closely entwined. But this was completely real. She could look at her parents and see how they’d changed. Ultimately the tragedy had changed all their lives—for the better.