On The Dotted Line

by Kim Carmichael

  Fine, she wanted it as well. Damn, she needed it. She might as well make love to him, he was right at the beginning. They couldn’t stay celibate, it wasn’t natural, and it made sense. “What do you want to do?” The shower boasted a seat in the corner, but she could easily brace herself on the water spigots.

  “Tilt your head back.”

  Unsure of his plan, but up for anything, she complied.

  Rather than answering, he combed his fingers through her hair. The aroma of lavender and lilacs took over the shower as he shampooed her hair.

  She already knew what Randolph could do with his fingers, but she wasn’t prepared for him to expertly massage her scalp, bring her follicles and the rest of her to life. With the strength leaving her body, she leaned back against him.

  After all the back and forth, one part of her finally claimed the winning position. Her body wanted him and for the next several months she wouldn’t deny her desires, but would indulge. Hopefully, the man would prove to be like a chocolate sundae and after feasting for months she would be sick of him.

  He rinsed the shampoo out of her hair. “Are you enjoying Christmas?”

  “I think I’ll never be able to thank you enough for such an incredible holiday.” With her new resolve set, she spun around and ran her hands over his wet, slick chest.

  He tilted her chin up to his face. “I want to tell you something.”

  Her heart sped and she took a breath. “What?”

  “Remember when you asked me if I would have dated you?”

  She nodded but wondered how the topic bubbled up again.

  “The answer is yes.” He stroked his thumb across her lower lip. “I wish I would have asked you out instead of teased you. I wish I’d taken the chance to know you. I wish I would have had the opportunity to wine and dine you and I wish I would have done all of that instead of getting you caught in the middle of my situation.”

  The water continued to cascade over them. Yes, Randolph had changed and she liked it, liked him. Hell, she liked him before though he made her insane. Even if he was hard on her, he tried to be a husband, while she simply fluttered around him thinking signing her name on a marriage certificate was enough when in her heart she knew she faltered.

  Beyond her control, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Though unsure exactly what he tried to tell her, his words raged havoc on her heart. Did she go with the flow or did she fight her feelings? Did she live each day or plan for the end of the year when they parted? Most importantly did she even out her world and step up and act like a wife? “I need to do a reading.” For the first time she wished she really could tell the future.

  * * * *

  “Well, I did not know there was truly such a thing as Figgy Pudding until we had it tonight.” Randolph’s grandmother sipped her tea. “I’m not sure what you have done to my grandson, but I like it. Normally, he spends the holiday staring at his phone or computer.”

  Willow’s cheeks heated, a normal occurrence for her these days. Caught in a food hangover from the amazing Christmas Eve meal and a Randolph hangover from his attention, she didn’t speak.

  “Yes, last Christmas he didn’t even want to open presents. Willow is having quite an effect on him.” Lillian tilted her cup toward her. “You said to leave some of the tea in the cup?”

  She nodded and distracted herself from Lillian’s words by taking in the unique room. While the mansion in Bel Air possessed a million different beautiful rooms, the solarium Caroline took her to was one of the most magnificent places she had ever been.

  Round and entirely made out of glass on half the circle, the little spot presented the perfect picture of the outside view. The evening lights sparkled off all the snow with the only break in the perfect covering where she and Randolph raged their mock war. Her heart fluttered. “I’ve never seen anything like this room.”

  “When Judge and I took over this home, he added the room for me so I wouldn’t miss the California sun.” Caroline nodded. “Something told me you might appreciate it as much as I do.”

  “It’s beautiful.” Maybe along with her mattress, once the year ended she would find a place with a solarium or sunroom. Nan would love it. She wished Nan would have joined them, but the woman insisted she needed to spend time with Caroline and Lillian alone and told her she needed to nap for a bit. The men of the family retired to the library for brandy and to digest before opening their Christmas Eve presents.

  “Well, I am very happy that I could share it with you. Having you here has made the holiday’s extra special.” Caroline patted her arm.

  Her heart both warmed and constricted at the wonderful traditions the Van Ayers allowed her to take part in. Aside from Randolph and Mr. Van Ayers, she was sure no one else knew her time here was only temporary. She swallowed and cleared her throat, wishing she didn’t know either. “I’m so happy to be here.”

  “Are we ready to start?” Caroline set her cup down. “Randolph told me you have amazing talents.”

  Randolph told her that?

  “Oh she does!” Lillian sat up straighter. “She’s so smart, and she can make anything. I am having the most fun showing her off, and her store is amazing. She is everything I could have asked for in a daughter.”

  Daughter? Willow dug her nails into her hand refusing to have any reaction other than a smile. Even Nan didn’t give her that title. She gulped her tea down, swallowing a couple of leaves in the process. “Okay, everyone hold the handle toward you and swirl the cup three times.” She demonstrated and Caroline and Lillian followed her lead.

  “Now what?” Lillian’s voice took on a tone of wonder.

  “We turn the cup over on the saucer.” She showed them and guided them through turning the cup. “Lastly, we tap the cup three times.”

  “Is there a reason?” Caroline seemed to be spending more time watching her than tending to her tea.

  “The gypsies used to say that it called the spirits to the tea leaves.”

  “May I go first?” Lillian pushed the cup and saucer toward her. “Maybe ask what is the silver box for me under the tree.”

  “I’m sure it jewelry.” Caroline sucked in her cheeks.

  “I hope so.” Lillian pressed her hand to her chest and took a breath. “I’m ready.”

  “I’m going to turn the cup over and we will look for the picture.” She lifted Lillian’s cup.

  All three of them gazed inside.

  “It looks like a dirty cup.” Lillian sighed.

  Willow studied the configuration. “To me it looks like a fireplace.” She traced the outline for them without disturbing the leaves.

  “Well Santa is coming.” Lillian practically bounced in her chair.

  “A fireplace deals with matters related to your home.” Willow returned the cup to her.

  Lillian stared inside. “That’s because my home expanded with you and Nan and little Jeb.” She cradled the dish in her palms. “I have my son back.”

  “What do you mean, Lillian?” Caroline patted Lillian’s arm.

  “Before Willow, all he did is work, I never saw him and he didn’t talk to me. It was as if he was dragging around a 100 pound bag of worry with him all the time.” Lillian put the cup down and fanned her face. “Then he came home with Willow, and he changed. He comes home and he talks and he does things other than stare at that damn phone or computer. She turned him into a husband.”

  She held her breath. Randolph had changed, turned into a husband while she only signed a paper.

  “The Van Ayers wives have a history of turning their boys into men.” Caroline took their hands. “Willow fits right in.”

  Every muscle in her body tensed. With these women’s words, she knew what was wrong, why she struggled. “No.” She shook her head.

  “What’s wrong?” Caroline squeezed her hand.

  She closed her eyes. No wonder her entire world was off balance. She was the weight. While Randolph moved on, went with the flow, became a husband, she f
ought her commitment, focused only on the end, what she wouldn’t do, struggled at every turn. Her husband even went to Sedona and slept in a tent. He helped with her business and even defended her in front of her friends and she soaked it up like a sponge offering only sex in return when she felt like it and avoiding his questions.

  “Willow.” Lillian grabbed her free hand. “What is it?”

  “I’m not a wife.” Her voice cracked. She wasn’t even a year-long wife. “I don’t fit in. I messed up the dinner and I don’t look right. He took my calendar away.”

  Silence took over the room and she opened her eyes.

  Both women stared at her then, as if they were related by more than marriage, broke out into matching smiles.

  “Is the calendar brown leather with gold edges on the paper?” Lillian giggled.

  “I swear they buy them in bulk.” Caroline winked at her. “I think the bank gave them away one year.”

  Willow looked from one woman to the other.

  “When you first fall in love, it’s hard to remember that being a wife also comes with responsibilities.” Caroline’s tone turned maternal, or grand maternal.

  She bit the side of her mouth. Yes, she had responsibilities, ones she neglected. She wasn’t sure about the love. No. She meant she didn’t have the love.

  “Men in the position of the Van Ayers men need a strong woman who can take charge. The job you hold with your husband is just as important as his job.” Caroline continued.

  Lillian nodded.

  “You are part of an amazing history with a lot of tradition.” Caroline stared right into her eyes as if trying to relay a message. “Did you know we can trace your husband’s ancestors back to before the Mayflower and every wife went through the same set of trials and tribulations?”

  Did Caroline know why they got married? She opened her mouth but Caroline’s serious expression and intuition told her not to react, give anything away. Wait. The situation made no sense. They were only in the situation for a year, how did that explain the marriages with the women who sat in front of her? She took a breath. They had the love.

  “Van gave me the worst time when we got married.” Lillian moved her chair closer. “I grew up in the valley, I didn’t know how to do anything but go to the mall.”

  She took in Randolph’s mother somehow finding it hard to believe the woman was anything other than the perfect complement to Mr. Van Ayers.

  “One time we were at his finance meeting and he told me just to stand next to him and look pretty.”

  “My son.” Caroline growled.

  “What did you do?” Not wanting to miss a word, Willow leaned in.

  Lillian sat up and smoothed her hair back, though she was perfectly coiffed, and glanced at Caroline.

  “We gave her a crash course in banking, event planning and getting to know the right people.” Caroline lifted her chin.

  “That was after I showed up to one of his events in dirty dungarees and looking a mess, but managed to tell Van everything I knew about how to split up our finances in the event of our divorce.” Lillian smiled, but covered her mouth with her hand.

  Holy hell, these women were brilliant.

  “I have the book upstairs, I’ll lend it to you.” Caroline patted her shoulder.

  “Did you mess up his reservations?” Lillian asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered as if she wanted to keep the walls from hearing. “I didn’t think it was important.”

  “Why didn’t you ask me?”

  She shrugged. The solution would have been obvious, should have been, but she ignored it like everything else.

  “When we get home I’ll get you a list of the six restaurants that not only are acceptable for a Van Ayers dinner, but all you have to do is say your last name and they will seat you at the best table.” Lillian gave her a huge smile. “Next week we can go visit them so they know you, is that all right?”

  She exhaled. “Thank you.”

  “You only need to develop your own style.” Caroline piped in. “Beverly Hills is a hard town, but you have moxie, and I can help. I have been waiting for an opportunity like this.”

  Willow wanted to hug these women.

  “Are you going to give her the vintage gowns?” Lillian’s eyes widened.

  “You were always a Rodeo Drive delight, but our Willow has more of an edge. She’s Melrose and metaphysical.”

  “She’s going to be even more beautiful and the envy of everyone.” Lillian gave Willow a hug.

  Caroline winked at her. “I hated seeing the clothes go to waste.”

  The woman understood. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  “You already did.” Caroline pushed her cup toward her.

  Willow lifted the cup and showed it to both of them. “There’s no surprise with this one. It’s a square, a symbol of peace and protection.”

  The door opened and Randolph entered, staring at his phone. “Did Willow tell you what presents are in your future?”

  “What are you doing on Christmas eve with that thing?” Lillian furrowed her brow.

  “I’m watching Jeb. Junior rigged it so we can see him at the house in California. The staff is fawning all over him.” He smiled and turned the phone around.

  Willow’s heart filled even further. For two hours she listened to the Van Ayers discuss the logistics of bringing Jeb on the trip. Once Lillian found out she couldn’t pretend Jeb was a stuffed animal and bring her on the plane with them, she insisted her husband fix it. Within hours a crew was at the house installing surveillance equipment in what they turned into Jeb’s suite. Honestly, Willow never saw a man move quite that fast to please his wife, except maybe Randolph.

  “Randolph, look I’m a fireplace.” With her cup in hand, Lillian shot up from her chair and showed her son while she watched the live feed of Jeb. “It means family.”

  “Well, we are all family.” He narrowed his eyes at the cup.

  Her stomach twisted at the word family.

  “How on earth did Willow learn how to do all these things?” Caroline asked.

  “She is but a mystery to me. One I had to learn to accept, Gran.”

  “Maybe some mystery is good.” Lillian patted him and headed toward the door.

  What kind of wife wouldn’t even answer a simple question for her husband? Like it or not he was her husband, and she liked it.

  “Come on.” Randolph held his hand out to her. “This is the first time I’ve looked forward to presents since I can remember.”

  Without hesitation she put her hand in his, but before getting up from the chair, she quickly looked under her cup.

  “What did you get?” He leaned over.

  “Spider.” The scent of his cologne swirled around her. She laced her fingers in his and looked up at him.

  “Does that mean your husband will always save you from spiders?” He grinned. “Because I will, you know.”

  “Oh, I hope there is never a spider in the house.” Lillian shuddered.

  “In this case it means good fortune.” She put the cup down.

  “Excellent.” He led her out of the solarium.

  “It also means your wife would save you from a spider as well.” She gave him a playful elbow but hoped he heard her.

  “Also excellent.” He wrapped his arm around her waist. “One day you need to do a reading on me.”

  “When you are at your most receptive.” She left out the part about the spider meaning secretive and hidden things. Her energy needed a major overhaul. Maybe it was time to let him in, return the favors he had given her and at last be a wife no matter if it was only for the year.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Last Christmas Randolph sat in the main foyer of his grandparents’ home and watched everyone open gifts. He received the gratuitous designer ties from his mother, some rare coins or something else of value from his father bought by his mother, and something bizarre from his grandparents, like the ship in the bottle kit that remained in the box.
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br />   He glanced around the couch. A box of ties, some collectable stamps, and an antique clock piled up next to him. However he had a couple of wild cards to make his carbon copy Christmas unique.

  Wild card number one, Willow, held up the scarf his parents gifted her. Only Lillian Van Ayers could pull off getting one of the collectable scarves from that brand at the holiday season. The damn store didn’t want to sell anyone anything. He knew, he tried, and then had to get Mrs. Avery to get his mother’s gift. He took the scarf, folded it for her and put it around her neck using the vintage scarf ring his grandparents gave her to secure the thin piece of silk. “Beautiful.”

  She bit her lip and curled up on his side. Thus far she had given his mother and grandmother custom essential oils she created and named after them, slipped his father a box of his favorite cigars and with a huge smile, handed his grandfather a bottle of cognac. He would have preferred they gave their gifts as a couple, but she never brought the subject up and he didn’t want to push her.

  “Guapo, here.” Wild card number two, Nan, thrust a thin box wrapped in craft paper in front of him.

  “Are you feeling better?” He leaned down to the gifts Mrs. Avery wrapped and gave her his offering.

  “Don’t you worry about me, you have your hands full.” Without waiting she ripped the paper off the small box, tore away the lid and revealed a pair of earrings. The multi-colored stones were made to look like flowers.

  She smiled and held them up to her ear. “What made you get these?”

  Everyone around the room oohed and ahhed.

  “I saw them and they looked like you.” The woman loved her floral prints and the earrings matched her. He took inventory of the presents he doled out. His mother was the easiest for someone with money and was thrilled with anything with a logo, while his father got whatever Mrs. Avery chose from her list. His grandparents were easy as well, a collectable book for his grandfather and anything classy for his grandmother along with a visit from him did the trick. However, he did struggle with Nan and Willow and Mrs. Avery wouldn’t help.