Patchwork Family

by Judy Christenberry

  Molly knew exactly what Pam was talking about. Each year the Chamber of Commerce held a huge party at the Timberlake Lodge, the most exclusive place in Tyler, well, actually, outside Tyler. All the movers and shakers attended.

  All local businesspeople received an invitation. Molly had gotten hers last week, but she’d put it away, knowing she wouldn’t be attending. She wasn’t going to leave her daughter alone on Christmas Eve.

  “Yes, I got it, but I’m not going,” she told Pam.

  “Why not?”

  “Sara and I are going to wait for Santa together.” She tried to add a chuckle afterward, but she wasn’t sure it came out right. She hadn’t been in a laughing mood since Saturday.

  “Here’s my idea. Grandma Martha takes Jeremy each Christmas Eve. He spends the night with her at Worthington House. They play games and read stories and he eats way too much candy. Then she tucks him in. We pick him up the next morning after Santa has come, and we come to the house and open presents. It’s Jeremy’s favorite thing, and he’s spoiled rotten by Martha and her friends.”

  “How nice of Martha. Her energy is amazing, isn’t it?” Molly had no idea where Pam was going with her story, but she wasn’t listening closely. She had too much on her mind.

  “Yes. But this year, Jeremy wants Sara to come with him.”

  Molly realized she should’ve paid better attention. “Oh, no! That’s too much for Martha. I wouldn’t want—”

  “I’ve already talked to Martha. She thinks it’s a great idea. It will be even more fun for Jeremy to have Sara there. He considers her to be his sister.”

  “I know they’re close, but she shouldn’t horn in on his family traditions.”

  After a silence, Pam said, her voice serious, “You know, I worry about Jeremy being an only child. But since you moved to town, he doesn’t feel that way. I think he’s adopted Sara. And it’s made him a better person, to have someone besides himself to consider.”

  Molly remembered the child’s response about the ornament.

  “He’s a wonderful boy, and his friendship is important to Sara.”

  “So let her come with him. In the morning, you can pick her up and have Christmas. I heard you’re going to the Spencers for Christmas dinner.”

  If Quinn didn’t call to tell her to stay home. Which was a possibility.

  “All right. If you’re sure it won’t be too much for Martha.”

  “She’s looking forward to it. So Patrick and I will pick you both up at six-thirty. Martha would like us to come in and show the ladies our fancy dresses. What will you wear?”

  “I wasn’t planning on going. I think maybe I should stay home.”

  “Don’t you dare. The more people you talk to, the more likely they’ll be to remember your business when they have visitors coming to town. Or mention it to friends who express a desire to get away. You can even write off the cost of your gown for taxes.”

  But Quinn would be there.

  Suddenly she straightened and drew in a deep breath. If Quinn couldn’t love her and Sara, it was his problem, not hers. She wasn’t going to skulk in the shadows of life because he was too stupid to know what was good for him.

  “You’re right, Pam. How dressy do they get at this thing?”

  “Very dressy. The sky’s the limit.”

  “Does Gates Department Store carry anything that will work?”

  “Oh, yes, and they keep track of what everyone’s bought. They won’t sell you a duplicate. I’m so glad you’re going! We’ll have so much fun.”

  “Thanks for asking me, Pam. You’re a terrific friend.”

  After Molly hung up the phone, she sagged in her chair. The moment of determination had faded, and she wondered if she’d made a mistake. Then she straightened her shoulders again. No, she hadn’t. She was part of the community to stay, whether Quinn Spencer was here or not.

  She’d survived the past. She’d survive the future.

  With her chin in the air. And the best darn dress Gates Department Store had to offer on her back.

  She’d show Quinn Spencer.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Quinn’s head was no clearer a week later than it had been the night after he’d helped decorate Molly’s tree.

  He kept his distance from the charming house on Ivy Lane, and its tempting occupants. They’d stayed in his head, of course. He’d even bought several presents for Sara to go under his father’s tree.

  He’d bought nothing for Molly.

  How could he? He seemed on the verge of something and one false move would throw him over the edge. He didn’t know what would await him, and he was afraid to find out.

  He told himself he wanted Molly. In his bed.

  But that was all.

  He knew he was doing what he’d done all his adult life: He was retreating from commitment.

  He yanked the tie he’d just tied to start again. What was wrong with him? He could tie a tuxedo tie in his sleep. It was almost time to leave for the Christmas Eve party and he wanted to get there so he could come home at a decent hour.

  “Concentrate, Spencer!” he snapped to himself.

  All week long, that had been his problem. Fortunately, no one expected much work to be accomplished the week before Christmas.

  The real problem was he was at war. His heart wanted Molly in every way. But his brain kept telling him he had no business taking her and Sara into his life. He wasn’t husband or parent material. He might actually take after his mother. He might walk away.

  How could he do that to Molly and Sara?

  “Damn!” he muttered, and started doing his tie again.

  When he finally reached the Timberlake Lodge, he sat in his car for several minutes. Elegantly dressed couples were entering the massive building, its history as a hunting lodge in sharp contrast to the long gowns and tuxedos. But even before Eddie Wocheck came home to Tyler to purchase the lodge as part of his hotel chain, the place had been the center of social life in Tyler.

  Judson Ingalls, the previous owner, now way past the age of retirement, had done a lot of entertaining. Quinn knew he and his wife Tisha, owner of The Hair Affair, would be inside, greeting all arrivals, as if they still lived in the majestic building.

  With a sigh, he got out of the car and headed for the front door, hoping to slip in unobtrusively.

  Fat chance. He laughed silently at his unreal hopes. He was greeted, as he’d known, by Judson and Tisha. They were amazingly active for their ages. Even Tisha’s heart attack a few years ago hadn’t slowed her down. It was Tisha, always forthright, who noted his lack of a date.

  “Quinn Spencer, what are you doing here by yourself? Don’t tell me you couldn’t find a date!”

  “I was too tired to look for one, Tisha. Amanda’s working me too hard.”

  “Probably because of her baby. Well, don’t worry. We’ll be on the lookout for a lady for you.”

  He silently groaned but moved on to greet the Wochecks. Eddie’s wife was Alyssa Ingalls Baron Wocheck, Judson’s daughter. When Eddie had come back to Tyler, he’d discovered his old love, Alyssa, was alone, and he’d promptly married her. Her daughter was Amanda, Quinn’s partner.

  Though Alyssa raised an eyebrow when she realized he was alone, she only said, “Your brother was across the room talking to Jeff the last I saw. Since Brady’s alone, too, I suppose you can hang out together. Though why two eligible bachelors like you don’t have women all around you, I don’t know.”

  Since Jeff was a doctor at Tyler General, as well as being Alyssa’s son and Amanda’s brother, Quinn wasn’t surprised. He and Brady worked together.

  “Thanks,” he said to Alyssa with a smile. “I’ll head in that direction.”

  “Don’t forget to dance with all the single ladies.”

  “Darn it,” he told Alyssa with a grin, “I was planning on dancing with Cece.”

  Alyssa grinned. “You can try, but Jeff’s pretty protective.”

  Cece, Jeff’s wife, was an old fr
iend because she was the nursing supervisor of Worthington House, providing care for his favorite ladies.

  A sudden protest rose in him at that description. Of course Martha and her cohorts were his favorite ladies, he assured himself, but he knew there was a part of him he hadn’t convinced.

  He suddenly wished he’d invited Molly to come to the party with him. He’d thought about it, but with the rumors already spreading from the meeting when they held hands, he knew better.

  “Hey, Quinn,” a man called, and he turned around to see Johnny and Anna Kelsey.

  “Hi, Johnny, Anna.”

  “Good job the other night. You and Amanda had your bases covered.”

  Anna leaned closer. “Where’s Molly?”

  Quinn pretended to survey the crowd. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen her. Is she here?” He was pretty sure she wouldn’t be. It would mean leaving Sara alone on Christmas Eve.

  Anna looked shocked. “I thought— I mean, we just got here. I’ll keep an eye out for her.”

  Quinn excused himself and continued on just as the orchestra began to play.

  Couples took the floor, gracefully moving to the strains of a waltz.

  He caught the eye of Brick Bauer and his wife, Karen, on the dance floor, both members of local police forces. He’d had a juvenile run-in or two with Brick, but they’d become friends as Quinn matured. The man waved to him, and motioned for him to join the dancers.

  Again Quinn silently cursed himself for coming alone. He shook his head to Brick and walked a little faster, looking for Brady across the room.

  Instead of Brady, he saw his father, with Lydia at his side, talking to someone. It surprised him to see it was Caroline, the waitress from Marge’s Diner, chatting with his father. He was glad to see she was all right after that near-disaster with the hot coffee at the diner. But something about that incident still bothered him.

  He pushed it aside as he walked passed the Santoris, including Gina. He didn’t recognize her escort, which didn’t surprise him. The only man she’d ever been serious about was K. J. Eber, a popular cartoonist who’d left Tyler after their breakup a few years ago. At least she hadn’t come alone. He wished he’d been as smart.

  Having reached the other side of the room, he scanned the sidelines, looking for his brother. But he couldn’t see him anywhere.

  “You looking for Molly Blake?” Nora Gates Forrester asked, touching his arm. She and her husband, Byron, were chatting with another couple nearby.

  “Molly? Is she here?” Quinn asked, then regretted his words.

  “Of course she is, and wearing one of my favorite gowns from the store,” Nora replied. She didn’t have to say what store. She was the owner of Gates Department Store, inherited from her Aunt Ellie. But she’d expanded and updated the store into a total success.

  “Actually, I was looking for Brady,” he said stiffly, refusing to look for Molly.

  “Then you can kill two birds with one stone,” Byron said, waved his hand toward the dance floor. “She’s dancing with Brady.”

  Quinn spun around, his hands going to his hips. What the hell was going on?

  Almost as if he’d called their names, Brady and Molly swept by him. Brady was in a tux, of course, but Molly was in an ice-blue satin gown, cut low in front, its small straps almost off her shoulders, the skirt flowing as she gracefully danced by.

  “Isn’t she lovely?” Nora whispered.

  “Uh, yeah. Lovely.”

  He forgot to thank Nora and Byron for their assistance. Instead, his gaze remained fastened on Brady and Molly. He didn’t want to lose track of them.

  When the music ended, he’d positioned himself to greet his brother and Molly as they came off the dance floor. “Good evening,” he said, trying to sound friendly, but his voice was tight.

  “Hey, bro, you made it,” Brady said, grinning.

  “Yeah, I’m here. May I have the next dance, Molly?”

  Before she could answer, the music started again, and he wrapped his arm around her waist and stepped onto the dance floor.

  “I didn’t say yes,” she muttered, her head down.

  “Why not? Aren’t I as eligible as Brady?”

  She jerked her head up. “What does that mean?”

  “As a partner. I meant as a dance partner.” His heart was beating double time, but he didn’t know if it was because of the conversation or because he was finally holding Molly’s body against his again.

  She sighed and he felt the breath move through her.

  “You’re holding me too close,” she whispered.

  He knew he was. He lessened the tension in his arms a fraction, to make her think he was giving her space. Then he whirled her around in a spin and tucked her against him again.

  “Where’s Sara?”

  “She’s with Martha for the night.”

  He looked down at her and realized the view was incredible. The scoop neck of her gown provided a picture frame for her breasts, soft, caressable mounds of flesh.

  “Your gown is, uh, lovely, but a little low-cut, don’t you think?” All he could think about was other men seeing her like that when she danced with them. Damn it, his own brother was one of them.

  She almost stopped moving. “I beg your pardon? After that Clarisse woman’s dress, you can call this low-cut?” she asked, outrage in her voice.

  She had a point. And he could hardly tell her that Clarisse didn’t matter, but Molly did. He’d be over the edge of the cliff with that remark.

  He cleared his throat. “I was concerned that some man might respond in an inappropriate manner.”

  With sarcasm, Molly muttered, “Right, my charms would drive him over the edge. Please, Quinn!”

  Her phrasing only underlined his difficulty.

  “Did you drive yourself? It might snow again this evening.”

  “I came with Patrick and Pam. I’m sure he’s capable of getting us home. I’ll be fine.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief to know she hadn’t come with a date. Someone who would have the right to hold her, to kiss her, to fall madly in love with her like he— No. He was attracted to her. That was all.

  The music ended. Which meant he had to release her.

  Stepping back, forcing his arms to let her go, he asked, “Want something to eat or drink? We could—”

  “I’d better see what Patrick and Pam are doing.” She turned to walk away.

  He followed.

  “I see you found Molly,” Nora said. “But where’s Brady?”

  Since he’d told Nora and Byron that it was Brady he was looking for, not Molly, Quinn was at a loss for words. “Um, I—”

  “I think he was dancing with Eden,” Molly said with a smile.

  “I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” Nora said, but fortunately, she didn’t wait for Quinn do to the honors. “I’m Nora Forrester, owner of Gates Department Store. You chose my favorite gown from the store and it looks wonderful on you.”

  “Oh, thank you. I enjoy shopping there so much. Not only is the merchandise top quality, but you also have the best sales staff in the world.”

  Nora was pleased with Molly’s remarks and introduced her husband. But Quinn didn’t want to discuss business in Tyler. And he wasn’t terribly interested in sharing Molly with anyone.

  He caught Byron watching him, a knowing look in his gaze, and actually felt his cheeks redden. Before he could find a way to end the conversation, however, Byron interrupted his wife. “Dear, I think Quinn and Molly were looking for someone. Maybe we can visit later.”

  “Oh, yes, of course,” Nora agreed, slipping her hand into her husband’s and smiling at Molly.

  “Come have a cup of coffee with me some morning,” Molly said. “I’ll show you Breakfast Inn Bed.”

  “She’s a terrific muffin-maker,” Quinn added, but he put his hand around Molly’s waist and urged her toward Patrick and Pam standing nearby.

  As soon as they left the Forresters, Molly stepped out of his hold
and turned to face him. “Don’t feel obligated to escort me. I can manage.”

  “I was just being friendly. We are friends, aren’t we?”

  She stared up at him, her blue eyes spectacular with the ice-blue of her gown. “No,” she said, drawing out the word, “I don’t think we are. You finally understood my concerns about you and Sara last Saturday, didn’t you? Little girls love the idea of a daddy. I don’t want Sara hurt, so I think our…whatever we have is over. Thank you for your legal help. I’ll take my difficulties to Amanda from now on.”

  “What about tomorrow? You are coming tomorrow, aren’t you?”

  She blushed. “We’re coming tomorrow because I don’t want to disappoint Sara, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t be so nice to her.”

  Without waiting for an answer, she left him standing there, in shock. She was ending their friendship? She wanted him to stay away? To not be nice to Sara?

  He stared after her, suddenly remembering Seth’s remarks a week ago. He couldn’t bear the alternative of letting Jenna walk out of his life.

  Could he? Could he forget Molly and Sara? Could he never sit in Molly’s warm kitchen, sharing with her and Sara, making plans for the future with the two most important females in the world? Could he cut himself off entirely from that warmth, from those smiles? Could he trust fate to protect the two of them from the evil in the world?

  He had no answers, but his head was starting to ache.

  “She’s a pretty lady,” Brick Bauer whispered in Quinn’s ear.

  He spun around, staring at his old friend. “Yeah.”

  “A lot of the men around here are looking. You staking a claim?”

  Another question he couldn’t answer. “You know I’m not the marrying kind,” he muttered, shifting his gaze back to Molly, who had rejoined Patrick and Pam.

  Brick laughed. “None of us males is the marrying kind,” he assured Quinn with a laugh, “until some angel comes along and convinces us we can change.”

  Quinn turned back to stare at Brick. “Do you think we can change?”

  “Look at your brother Seth. He was as gun-shy of marriage as you and Brady. Now he’s happily married, if that permanent grin is any indication, and has a baby on the way. That’s a pretty big change.”