“We can help too, Ms. Lane.” The leader of the pack, tall with perfect teeth and shiny blonde hair, offered.
Madison smiled. “Thanks, sweetie, but we’re good. If there’s a part you’re interested in, just let Annie and Sara know.” The girls crowded around them.
Lily crooked her finger. Madison bent down. “Make Annie be Mary. She has the bestest voice,” Lily whispered in her ear.
Since Annie had stood in the back row during practice, Madison didn’t know if she could sing or not. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Okay. Can I be a lamb?”
Madison straightened, then ruffled Lily’s hair. “You’d make a great lamb. Tell Annie and Sara to put your name down.”
“If I get the part, you’ll have to make my costume. Daddy doesn’t know how to sew,” Lily said, as she skipped off.
Good Lord, neither did she. Madison called after her, “Lily, maybe you should be a shepherd instead. They’re really cool.” And all she’d need was a sheet.
Lily shook her head and gave an excited wiggle, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. “I want to be a lamb with a soft, furry costume.”
Madison groaned. Gage’s father laughed and patted her arm. “Nell will give you a hand.” His gaze followed his granddaughters, then returned to Madison. “Annie and Lily are crazy about you. You’re all they ever talk about these days. I can see why.”
“The feeling’s mutual. They’re great kids.”
“Yes, they are. And my son’s a wonderful father. But it’s only since you’ve been around that Annie’s come out of her shell. I think she needed a woman’s influence.”
“Gage is a great dad,” Madison said, ignoring the last part. She had Paul McBride’s number now, and there was no way he was drawing her down that road. It had a lot of hairpin curves, and she wasn’t a very good driver.
“He’d make a great husband, too.” He gave her a pointed look, one she couldn’t ignore.
“Doctor McBride, you are as bad as your aunt.”
He laughed, then glanced at the woman who entered the hall. His mouth pulled in a wary grimace when she shot him a disdainful look. “Never met a woman who could hold a grudge as long as Liz O’Connor,” he grumbled.
Madison had heard all about the stunt Dr. McBride had pulled and didn’t exactly blame Ethan’s mother for being upset with him.
Madison had met Liz O’Connor at the warehouse this morning. And like Paul McBride, she looked nowhere near her age. Her toffee-colored hair was cut in a youthful style that fell to her shoulders, framing her striking, oval face.
Coming to stand by Madison, Liz ignored Dr. McBride and handed Madison the garment bag. “You forgot your costume.”
“Thanks.” Madison forced a smile. She’d been hoping no one would notice she’d left it behind.
“Hello, Liz. You’re looking well.”
She lifted her chin. “That would be because I am well, Paul. Healthy as a horse, despite you trying to make me feel otherwise.”
He blew out a frustrated breath. “I was looking out for you, that’s all. And whether you want to admit it or not, you have MVP and that puts you at—”
She raised a silencing hand. “No, I don’t want to hear it. I’m an adult and quite capable of looking out for myself.”
“Yeah, well, I made a promise to my best friend to take care of you, and I plan to keep it whether you want me to or not.”
“Is that right. Well, I made a promise to my best friend to take care of you and the boys, and I don’t see you listening to me.”
Madison broke their silent standoff. “Thanks for the costume. I should go—”
Liz drew her gaze from Gage’s dad. “I’m pretty sure it’ll need to be adjusted. You might want to try it on a few days before the parade so I have time to make the alterations.” She tapped her chin. “You know what, I have a better idea. Ethan’s coming for dinner Wednesday night. Why don’t you join us, and I can take care of the alterations then?” She flashed a smug smile at Dr. McBride, who narrowed his eyes at her.
From Gage’s father’s earlier comments and the ones Liz had made at the warehouse, Madison had a good idea what the two of them were up to. And the last thing she wanted to do was encourage them. But the thought that she could talk Liz into helping with Lily’s costume had her weighing out the pros and cons. The pros won. “Sure, sounds great. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to round up the kids for practice.”
She managed two steps before Paul stopped her in her tracks. “Madison, I’m having my annual skating party next Sunday. We’d love for you to join us. Gage and the girls will be there, of course.”
“I, uh, don’t know how to skate. Maybe—”
He waved off her excuse. “Don’t worry about it. Gage is a great skater. He’ll teach you.”
Of course he was. But Madison didn’t have an athletic bone in her body. From the determined look on his face, Dr. McBride was not going to give up easily, so she did. “Sounds like fun, look forward to it.”
She went to walk away. Ethan’s mother opened her mouth. No doubt to issue another invitation.
“Madison. Madison Lane!” She never thought she’d be glad to hear that voice calling her name, but she was. She met Hailey halfway, looping her arm through hers.
Hailey jerked back in surprise. “What’s wrong with you? And why didn’t you tell Holly and me you were starting practice early?”
“Long story.” Madison glanced back to see Liz and Paul in a heated exchange. She decided then and there to join forces with Nell. She needed to get Paul and Liz focused on each other, instead of on Madison and their sons. And that was when she knew the citizens of Christmas had gotten to her. They’d sucked her into their madness.
* * *
Gage headed for the church hall to catch the tail end of the practice. When his father volunteered to drop off and pick up the girls today, Gage had gone to the station to catch up on some paperwork. But his father called him ten minutes ago to beg off on pickup duty due to a sudden onset of the flu. If his father had anything, it was a case of matchmakingitis, and it appeared to be catching.
“What are you doing here?” he asked Ethan, who stood outside the closed doors to the church hall. Ethan held up a green garment bag.
“My mother gave Madison the wrong elf costume. I’m here to do an exchange.” With a pained expression on his face, Ethan angled his chin at the closed doors. “What are they doing in there? It sounds like they’re strangling a cat.”
Gage winced when he recognized the voice. Madison had sung along with the music last night, only she’d been quieter, and he’d been distracted by the feel of her curvy body. He must’ve been in a lust-induced coma not to realize just how god-awful she actually sounded.
“It’s Madison. Why don’t you leave the costume with me? I’ll see that she gets it.” He went to take the bag from Ethan, but his best friend tightened his grip.
“It’s okay. I’ve got it.”
Gage let go of the bag, about to ask Ethan what the hell he was up to when Hailey burst through the doors. Madison warbled a high note. Hailey cringed. Shutting the doors, she leaned against them. “Don’t say a word. I need total silence.” She closed her eyes.
After a couple seconds of deep breathing, Hailey turned to Gage. “Arrest her.”
He didn’t need to ask who she referred to. “For what?”
“Are you deaf? For disturbing the peace, that’s what. I think she’s tone-deaf. It’s the only explanation. She actually thinks she has a great voice.” She sighed. “It’s sort of sad. I kinda feel sorry for her.”
“Did you tell her?” Ethan asked.
“No, I couldn’t. She looks like she’s having a religious experience or something. Her face lights up, and she gets this big smile on her face.” Hailey shook her head. “You tell her.”
“Uh, no way. You tell her,” Ethan said to Gage.
The last thing Gage wanted to do was hurt Madison’s feelings, but he didn’t like t
he idea of people talking about her behind her back. “Maybe the kids will tell her.”
“Nope, they think she’s hilarious. They love her.” Hailey pressed her ear to the door. “Thank God, she’s stopped.”
Then, from behind the closed doors, came a voice so pure and sweet it sent chills down Gage’s spine. The three of them reached for the door at the same time and crowded into the church hall. Madison stood in front of the stage, nodding, hands raised, clearly encouraging whoever was singing. The angelic voice rose, crystal clear and powerful. Madison shifted, and Gage drew in a shocked breath.
It was Annie.
“Oh, my, God, she’s incredible,” Hailey whispered.
“Holy hell,” Ethan breathed.
Gage couldn’t speak. All he could do was stare at his beautiful little girl.
Annie hit the last note then self-consciously looked down at her feet. There wasn’t a sound in the room. Gage started to clap, breaking the spell his daughter had cast over them. When everyone joined in, Annie flashed a shy smile before being swallowed up by an admiring crowd.
Madison looked over her shoulder. Their eyes met and held, a telling sheen in hers. They shared a smile. His was one of gratitude. If not for Madison, Annie wouldn’t have found her voice, found the courage to sing today. And there was something else, an emotion so strong it scared the hell out of him.
Ethan leaned into him. “You’re in trouble, buddy.”
“More than you know.” And it wasn’t Annie he referred to. At that moment, Gage was imagining what his life would be like with Madison in it.
Lily broke away from the group of kids that surrounded her sister and ran to Gage. “Daddy, Maddie said Annie gets to be Mary in the Christmas pageant. She’s going to be a star just like…” Her face crumpled, and her narrow shoulders slumped.
He crouched in front of her. “What’s wrong, sweetpea?”
Her bottom lip trembled. “I don’t want Annie to move away like Mommy did. I don’t want her to leave us. Don’t let her go away, Daddy.”
He stood up with Lily in his arms and held her tight. “She’s not going anywhere.” But Madison was. She’d never be satisfied with life in a small town, and he’d never let his daughters get attached to someone who’d up and walk away. Not again. They’d been through enough.
What the hell had he been thinking?
Chapter Fourteen
The last place Gage wanted to be was sitting across from Madison in the red-vinyl booth at the Rocky Mountain Diner with his daughters hanging on her every word. It felt a little too close to the fantasy family he’d envisioned only a short time ago. But aside from being flat-out rude, there’d been nothing he could do when Lily and Annie asked her to join them after practice.
He dragged his gaze from their smiling faces to focus on a menu that hadn’t changed since Holly and Hailey’s parents had started up the diner forty years ago. Madison and his daughter’s easy laughter was more difficult to ignore. He released a thankful sigh when Holly arrived at the table to take their orders.
“Hi, Gage, girls, Ms. Lane.” Holly looked at Annie. “I heard about your performance today. I’m sorry I missed it, but someone changed the time without telling me.”
Madison opened her mouth as if to explain, then simply said, “Sorry.” She drew a piece of paper from her purse and handed it to Holly. “I e-mailed you a list of who’s playing who, but here’s a hard copy.”
Lily leaned across Madison. “I’m a lamb. Maddie’s going to make my costume for me.”
“Really?” Holly smirked. “I can’t wait to see it.”
Neither could Gage. Madison might be a lot of things, but Suzy Homemaker she was not.
“Yeah, it’s going to be all soft and furry… like this.” Lily rubbed the arm of Madison’s pink fuzzy sweater, drawing Gage’s attention to the glittery snowflakes winking at him from her incredible chest.
As if he wasn’t having a hard enough time keeping his eyes off her. He took Lily’s hand and placed it on the table. “Time to order.”
Madison arched a brow. He ignored her.
One of the girls from practice approached the table. “Annie, you want to sit with us?” She pointed to a table where a group of girls and a couple of boys sat.
Annie looked at him. “Can I, Dad?”
His gaze narrowed on the boys. He was about to say no when a foot lightly kicked his. He looked up.
Yes, Madison mouthed, nodding.
He scowled at her, but knew she was right. “Okay. Fine.”
Holly, who’d been taking it all in, grinned. “You want your usual, Annie? I’ll just add it to your dad’s bill.”
“ ’Kay, thanks,” Annie said, then trailed after her friend.
Lily went to scramble after her sister. Madison held her back. “Hey, where are you going?”
Arms crossed, Lily pouted. “I wanna go sit with Annie. Can I, Daddy?”
Great idea. Lily’d make the perfect chaperone. He was about to say yes, when once again Madison tapped his foot.
With a subtle shake of her head, she pulled a piece of paper and a pen from her purse. “I’m not sure I know exactly what you want your costume to look like, Lily. Why don’t you draw me a picture?”
“She’s good,” Holly murmured.
Gage sighed. She was.
His youngest looked like she was about to acquiesce when a boy stood on his chair and waved at her. “Lily, wanna sit with me?” he yelled across the diner.
Gage groaned. He always knew he’d have to deal with boys sooner or later, but he’d prefer later, like when his daughters were forty.
“Can I, Daddy? Can I?” Lily bounced in her seat.
Madison fought back a smile. “They’ve just moved to town,” she said. “Billy’s a cow. He’s harmless.”
“He’s a what?”
“A cow. In the pageant.”
Lily ducked under the table to come out the other side. “I’ll have my usual, Holly. Just put it on Daddy’s bill.”
“God, she’s cute,” Holly said, watching as Lily introduced herself to the boy’s parents. One of the other waitresses signaled that Holly had a phone call. “Sorry, I’ll be right back.”
“Stop looking at Billy like that. You’re going to terrify the poor kid,” Madison said.
“Good,” Gage muttered, then returned his attention to Madison, who was biting the inside of her cheek. “It’s not funny.”
“It kind of is. But don’t worry, Daddy, your girls will be fine.” She reached over and patted his hand.
He frowned and turned his hand over to clasp hers. “What happened to your finger?”
“Your aunt.”
“Nell did this to you?” Absently, he stroked her delicate hand with his thumb, trying not to think about how it felt like it belonged in his. “Madison?”
She blinked and drew her gaze from their joined hands. “Oh, right. Nell and my finger. Okay, so I might’ve been the one who hit it with the hammer, but indirectly, it’s her fault. If she hadn’t insisted I work on the floats, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Gage shook his head and laughed. “That’s the kind of logic Nell uses. I think you’ve been spending too much time with my aunt, Ms. Lane.”
“Yeah, me too,” she said, a smile in her voice.
Holly came back to the table and glanced pointedly at their entwined fingers.
“Everything okay?” he asked as he disengaged his hand from Madison’s. He knew from experience that Holly and Hailey didn’t allow personal calls at the diner unless there was an emergency.
“Steve’s in town. He ran into Trent and a bunch of his friends in here. No surprise, Steve had been drinking. He was trying to bum money off Trent. I got him out of here, but the kids started to tease Trent about his father being a drunk and it got out of hand. Trent was pretty upset when he took off. I called Brandi to give her a heads-up. You’ll probably be hearing from her. He hasn’t come home yet.”
Someone had screwed up. Gage was supposed
to be informed the minute Steve got out of jail. His cell rang.
Madison placed their orders while Gage tried to calm Brandi down on the phone. As soon as he disconnected, he put a call into the station, then one to the parole officer assigned to Steve. By the time he got off the phone, their orders had arrived.
“Sorry about that,” he said.
She frowned, putting down her BlackBerry. “Why? You had things you needed to take care of.”
He shouldn’t be surprised by Madison’s easy acceptance of his inattention, but it was a nice change. The women he’d dated in the past weren’t as understanding when their evenings were interrupted. Then again, he and Madison weren’t on a date.
“Yeah, I did.” He tucked into his burger.
“You were great with Brandi. I’m sure she felt better after talking to you.” Madison pushed a piece of lettuce around the plate with her fork.
He studied her, wiping his mouth with the napkin. “Hey.” He nudged her foot with his. “You okay?”
She nodded, resting her fork on the edge of the plate. “Just not hungry.” She sounded tired and a little sad.
He reached across the table, nudging her chin up with his knuckle. Her gaze flitted away from his, as if she were afraid he’d see more than she wanted him to. He pulled his hand back. “What is it?”
“I didn’t know.” She shrugged helplessly. “I didn’t know he’d been bullied. God, I’m no better than they are. No wonder his mother went off on me.”
“You were standing up for Annie,” he reminded her. Holly, who was wiping down the table beside theirs, avidly listened to their conversation. He warned her off with a look, one she pretended not to see.
“No, I wasn’t. Don’t make excuses for me. I was getting back at all the kids who bullied me, the ones who never let me forget my father was a drunk and my mother…” She closed her eyes and blew out a breath before opening them again. “Don’t you see, Gage? I hit a kid who was just like me.” She was quiet a minute then her gaze jerked to his. “His dad won’t hurt Trent if he finds him, will he?”
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