Trouble With Christmas (9781455544066)

by Mason, Debbie

  Madison groaned. “Don’t tell me, the weekend edition of the Chronicle is online?”

  “Got it in one.” Vivi laughed. “That man is so hot I’d almost be tempted to let him slide down my chimney if I had one and I hadn’t sworn off the jerks. And for a girl who doesn’t like Christmas, I’d say you’ve had a change of heart. Because it looks like you really like Santa. Cute costume, by the way.”

  “Oh, God, does it look like I like him, or that I like him like him? Vivi?” she said when the silence dragged on.

  “Yeah, I’m here.”

  “What’s wrong? You sound weird.”

  “Madison, you’re not in love with him, are you?”

  She heard the worry in Vivi’s voice, and given her best friend’s current frame of mind, decided to lie. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I’m not. How could I be in love with the man? I’ve only known him for a few weeks, and we haven’t… you know.”

  Vivi sighed. “I wish I hadn’t.”

  Madison wished she had. But considering the state her best friend was in, maybe it was a good thing they hadn’t. She heard the rattle of pots and pans from the kitchen below. “I’ve gotta go. Nell’s up. Talk when I get home.” She disconnected, relieved to end the conversation.

  Her relief faded when she realized she had to break the news to Nell. Opening the bedroom door, she called down the stairs. “Give me fifteen minutes, Nell. I’ll be down to get breakfast.”

  Twenty minutes later, the smell of bacon wafted past Madison’s nose as she stood on the landing at the top of the stairs. She sighed. Just this once she’d wanted to make breakfast for Nell. The last breakfast they’d spend together for a while. Madison had a seat on the red-eye out of Denver that night. It was better this way. No long, drawn-out good-byes.

  She took a step, and the stair creaked. No turning back now, she thought, forcing a smile on her face while quickly going over her speech in her head. With Nell, it was best to be prepared. Madison didn’t want to think about what she’d to say to Gage.

  “Good morning,” she said as she entered the kitchen, her voice a little too over-the-top chipper.

  “What the Sam Hill has gotten into you this morning?” Nell stood at the stove frying bacon. Her gaze flicked to Madison, taking in her ill-fitting New York suit, and a frown deepened the lines on her brow. Slowly she rested the tongs on the side of the pan, then turned off the burner. Hobbling to the kitchen table, Nell lowered herself heavily in the chair. “You’re leaving.”

  Unable to meet her eyes, Madison self-consciously smoothed back a strand of hair that had escaped her bun. Something else that felt oddly uncomfortable rather than natural, just like her ugly suit. A heavy weight settled in her stomach, taking her carefully rehearsed speech down with it.

  “I have to go.” She sat in the chair across from Nell. “I, um, Harrison fired me. I’ve got to get back and clean out my office, start looking for a job.”

  Nell gave a pained grimace, then rubbed her shoulder. “It’s my fault you lost your job. I never should’ve—”

  Unable to handle Nell’s guilt-ridden expression, Madison interrupted her, “No, this has been a long time coming. Harrison has wanted me gone since the day he arrived at Hartwell. With Joe stepping down, there was no one to stop him from getting rid of me.”

  Nell paled, and a sheen of perspiration broke out on her forehead.

  “I’ll be fine, Nell. And I’ll be back to visit.” Madison tried to reassure her.

  “What about the pageant, your plans for Grace, your plans for Christmas?” She was agitated, her expression anxious.

  “Nell, the resort is going to go through. You’re getting what you wanted.”

  “So you’re giving up? You’re going to let Harrison…” Groaning, she bent over and clutched her chest.

  “That’s not funny, Nell. Stop it. I know what you’re doing, and it’s not going to work this time. I can’t stay.”

  Nell slumped forward then fell on the floor.

  “Nell!” Madison rushed to her side. As she carefully turned the unconscious woman onto her back, a terrifying thought raced through Madison’s mind: this time, she really had killed Nell.

  Chapter Eighteen

  No, she didn’t kill Nell, Millie. Ms. Lane saved her.” Since Madison and Stella had been shown into the hospital waiting room twenty minutes ago, Nell’s neighbor had been doing her best to spread the news of Nell’s heart attack to the entire population of Christmas.

  Stella had arrived in Nell’s kitchen at the same time as the paramedics. Madison hadn’t noticed. She’d been too busy performing CPR on Nell while frantically praying she was doing it right.

  Ted and Fred, who’d arrived for their morning coffee as the ambulance pulled out of the driveway, sat on the uncomfortable molded blue chairs on either side of Madison.

  She anxiously watched the bustle of activity at the nursing station across the hall. “Don’t you think someone should’ve come to tell us how Nell is by now?”

  “Nell’s going to be just fine, you hear?” Ted said gruffly, patting Madison’s knee.

  “Sure she is. Our Nellie’s a tough old gal,” Fred said.

  Madison wanted to believe the two men, but they hadn’t seen how Nell looked lying on the kitchen floor. Madison inhaled deeply, trying to relax the viselike grip fear had on her chest.

  Ethan and his mother rushed into the waiting room. Ethan, looking like an ad out of GQ magazine, shook Ted’s and Fred’s hands, then crouched in front of Madison. “How are you doing?”

  “Better, now that Nell’s here.”

  Liz patted her shoulder. “Nell’s lucky you were with her and that you knew how to perform CPR.”

  “I hope I never have to use CPR again. I don’t think I could live with myself if—” She broke off, remembering how, in her panic, her mind had blanked, and for a couple of terrifying seconds, she couldn’t recall what she was supposed to do.

  “You did good, girlie.” Ted squeezed her knee.

  “Darn right, she did,” Fred added.

  Madison wondered how they’d feel when they found out she was the reason Nell’d had the heart attack in the first place.

  Ethan took her hand in his. “Why don’t I get you a cup of tea?”

  What she needed was to walk off some of the nervous energy that had her wound so tight.

  Fred and Ted, stiffening on either side of her, glowered at Ethan. He rolled his eyes. “Don’t get your shorts in a knot, boys. I’m not asking her out on a date, just if she wants something to drink.”

  “Sure you are,” Ted grumbled. “Where’s Gage?”

  “There’s a hostage situation over in Summit Ridge. Gage was called in early this morning,” Ethan said, then listened with growing amusement as the two men rhymed off a list of Gage’s accomplishments. They made him sound more like Superman than a small-town sheriff.

  News of the hostage-taking didn’t surprise Madison. She’d overheard Gage talking to one of the paramedics on the radio. And she’d fought the urge to grab the radio from the paramedic’s hand to hear Gage tell her that Nell would be okay, that Madison had done everything right.

  “Mr. Mayor—” Stella waved him over “—can I use your phone for a minute? My battery died.”

  Liz held out her hand. “Come on, Madison. We’ll go down to the cafeteria. Does anyone want anything, Ted, Fred?”

  Madison stood to follow Liz at the same time as a large group of women, including Nell’s friend Mrs. Tate, walked in. It took another five minutes before she managed to escape their well-intentioned questions and the now-overcrowded waiting room.

  Gage’s father, wearing a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck, looked up from the chart he perused. At his side was a beautiful redhead in pink scrubs. The nurse gave Liz a condescending up-and-down look. Madison had never met the woman before, but from her reaction to Liz, she’d lay odds this was Dr. McBride’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, Karen. They looked like they were in their on-again ph
ase.

  “Madison.” Gage’s father set the chart on the desk, stepping forward to take her hands in his. “I’m sorry you had to go through that this morning, but I’m very glad you were there for my aunt. If you…” He shook his head and squeezed her hands.

  Liz rubbed his arm. “Nell’s going to be fine, Paul.” Their eyes met and held. Madison wondered if they were remembering when it had been Liz’s husband and Paul’s best friend who’d had the heart attack. He hadn’t been fine.

  Madison shuddered at the thought.

  The redhead cleared her throat, loudly. “Dr. McBride… Paul.” She glanced pointedly at the chart. He released Madison’s hands. Liz let her own fall to her side.

  “Madison, I’ll wait for you in the cafeteria. Paul. Karen.” With a curt nod, Liz headed for the elevators at the end of the hall.

  “Liz,” Dr. McBride called after her.

  She stopped, gave a slight shake of her head, then glanced at him over her shoulder.

  He cleared the obvious frustration from his face. “I, uh, I had to leave Annie and Lily with Gage’s neighbor. I was wondering if you’d—”

  “You left them with Mrs. Gunter?” Liz interrupted him, scrunching her nose.

  Paul grinned, looking almost boyish. “Yeah. Would you mind staying with them for a few hours until we know what’s happening with Nell?”

  Her expression softened. “I’ll head over now and take them back to the ranch with me. Madison—”

  “No, you go ahead. Don’t worry about me.” Madison would have offered to look after the girls herself, but she couldn’t leave the hospital until she knew Nell was going to be okay.

  “Paul, there’s no need to impose on Mrs. O’Connor.” Karen’s patronizing tone made it sound like Liz was eighty. “I’ll look after the girls. I’m finished my shift in fifteen minutes, and you know how much I love spending time with them.” Gage’s father looked like that was news to him. His gray eyes pleaded with Liz to intercede.

  Liz held his gaze, then responded to Karen, “It’s not an imposition. Annie and Lily are the closest thing to grandchildren that I have. Besides, I have to get them to try on their costumes for the pageant.”

  Karen waited for Paul to say something, but he busied himself making notations on the chart. She sniffed and tossed her long hair. “Fine.” Grabbing the chart from his hands, she strode down the hall.

  Paul winced as he watched her walk away, then returned his attention to Liz. “Thanks. Lily and Annie aren’t overly fond of Karen, and they’re upset about Nell. I feel better knowing they’re with you, Liz.” He studied her. “They won’t tire you out, will they?”

  Liz went toe to toe with him, twisting his stethoscope between her fingers. “Stop treating me like an invalid. There’s nothing wrong with me. I might not be in my thirties like your girlfriend, but I’m not old! And for your information, there are still a lot of men out there who think fifty-nine-year-old women are hot.”

  “Liz, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… Who thinks you’re hot?”

  Madison winced. Paul McBride had just proved that even smart men could be stupid.

  Liz made an annoyed sound in her throat, pivoted on her heel, and stalked to the elevators.

  “I don’t know what’s gotten into her lately,” he said, staring after her with a confused look on his face.

  Madison hadn’t set much store by Nell’s belief there was more between Paul and Liz than friendship, but after what she’d just witnessed, she decided Nell was right.

  “Dr. McBride, I’m going to get myself a cup of coffee. Would you like one?”

  “I thought we’d agreed it’s Paul, remember?” He gave her a tired smile. “And no on the coffee. I’m good, thanks.”

  She started to walk away, then hesitated. “Maybe I should wait until we hear something about Nell. We should know something soon, shouldn’t we?”

  “They’re running her through some tests. Once we have the results, we’ll have a better idea what we’re dealing with. Excuse me for a moment,” he said when his cell rang.

  It was Gage. His father updated him on Nell’s condition then handed the phone to Madison. “He wants to talk to you.” Paul McBride smiled as though he’d just won Matchmaker of the Year.

  Madison lifted the phone to her ear. “Hi.”

  “Why aren’t you answering your phone? I’ve been trying to reach you for the last twenty minutes.”

  She frowned and took the phone from her jacket pocket. Her screen was blank. “Sorry, there’s something wrong…” And then she realized what that something was. “Harrison must’ve canceled my service. I’ll have to pick up another BlackBerry.”

  “Why would he cancel your phone?”

  “As of this morning, I am no longer an employee of Hartwell Enterprises. Harrison fired me.” Funny, the words didn’t have quite the same earth-shattering impact as they did earlier.

  “That’s bullshit. He can’t fire you.”

  “Yes, he can. He’s taking over from Joe.”

  “I don’t care if he is. Joe should damn well go to bat for you.” He blew out an aggravated breath. “I’m real sorry about this, Madison. You’ve had one hell of a morning, haven’t you? Are you okay?”

  Gage was the one person she didn’t have to pretend with. Walking a short ways down the hall, she turned to face the wall for some privacy. “No. But being fired is nothing compared to having Nell collapse in front of me. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I wasn’t sure if I was doing everything I was supposed to. I wasn’t sure if she was already…” Her breath caught on a sob as she struggled to contain her emotions.

  “Aw, honey, I wish I could’ve been there for you. And you did everything right. If Nell had been alone, there’s a real good chance she wouldn’t have made it. Look, we’re almost done here. I should be at the hospital within the hour.”

  She glanced down the hall to where Paul spoke to Ethan and lowered her voice, edging closer to the wall. “You don’t understand. It’s my fault Nell had a heart attack in the first place. I told her I was leaving tonight, and she… Gage, I thought she was faking. If I would’ve realized sooner that she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have fallen off the chair and hit her head.”

  “You’re leaving… today?”

  “I was, but I can’t now, not until I know Nell is going to be all right.”

  “Were you planning on saying good-bye or were—”

  “I don’t understand you,” she interrupted him. “I just told you it’s my fault Nell had a heart attack, my fault she hit her head, and all you can ask is if I was planning on saying good-bye.”

  “Come on, you’re a smart woman. You know you didn’t cause Nell’s heart attack, and given what she pulled on you after the town hall meeting, it’s no surprise you’d think she was faking it. But in the end, you saved her life, Madison.” His voice was tight, his words clipped.

  “Why are you so mad at me? I don’t get it.”

  “Sorry, it’s been a tense couple of hours here. I’m not mad at you… I just thought you’d give me a few days’ notice before you took off, that’s all.”

  “Well, I’ve had a pretty crappy day, too. And after last night, I didn’t think you’d care one way or the other if I was leaving.” It wasn’t entirely true, but she needed to hear him tell her she was wrong without asking him flat-out. She didn’t want to come across as a needy, love-struck woman. She wasn’t needy. Love-struck… probably.

  His long, drawn-out sigh held a heavy dose of frustration. “You’re kidding me, right? I was so damn hot for you I couldn’t keep my hands off you. What part of me having my hands up your top and my tongue down your throat made you think I wouldn’t give a damn if you took off without a word?”

  “No, not then.” She cleared the husky quality from her voice and tugged at her turtleneck, feeling a little warm at the memory of their steamy supply-closet encounter. “I may not be very experienced with this kind of thing, but I’d lay odds you’ve made out with lots of women an
d didn’t spare them a second thought the next day.”

  “I’ll be right with you,” he said to someone in the background, then lowered his voice. “Just so we’re clear on this, you’re not like any of the other women I’ve been with. I care about you—a lot.”

  For the first time that day, Madison smiled, until she remembered… “But you were mad after Rick took our picture. You said you’d call, and you didn’t.” Okay, now she sounded needy. If she added a pout, she’d be one of those women she’d promised herself never to become.

  “I was angry at Dane for refusing to delete our picture, not at you. You have to admit that photo wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for a guy who holds public office. As for not calling, Lily got sick. By the time I settled her in for the night, it was late.”

  “Your dad never said anything. Is she all right?”

  “Yeah, too much sugar. I’ve…” An angry shout came from the direction of the waiting room. “What’s going on there?”

  Madison glanced over her shoulder. Ethan escorted Coulter Dane from the waiting room while Gage’s father tried to calm down Ted and Fred. “I have as much right to be here as they do,” Mr. Dane said to Ethan as they walked toward the elevators.

  She repeated the exchange to Gage. “Don’t ask,” he said when she started to. “It’s a long story. You’ll be at the hospital when I get there, right?”

  “Of course. I’m not going anywhere, not until I know how Nell is.”

  “Good. Because once we know she’s going to be okay, you and I are going to find somewhere quiet to talk and figure out where we’re going with this.”

  “This?”

  “Us.” Someone called his name. “Gotta go. See you in a bit.”

  As Madison wondered how their conversation would play out, Matt Trainer, Dr. McSteamy’s look-alike, walked over to where Nell’s friends gathered in small clusters outside the jam-packed waiting room. From his expression, she tried to gauge whether the news was good or bad. She couldn’t, and her stomach heaved.

  “Listen up, folks. Unless you’re family, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”