Trouble With Christmas (9781455544066)

by Mason, Debbie

  “You took off so fast, honey, I thought there must’ve been a shooting,” Sheena McBride said with a sultry twang as she closed in on them.

  A distinct possibility, Madison thought, as her stomach twisted in a disappointed knot. She loved when Gage called her honey, but to hear the endearment slip so familiarly from the other woman’s glossy red lips, it was obviously one the couple shared.

  Lily let go of her mother’s hand to take Madison’s. “Mommy, this is Maddie. She’s Daddy’s girlfriend. They’re going to get married.”

  “Aw, hell,” Gage muttered, nudging Madison aside.

  Before Gage intervened, Annie said, “That’s not true, and you know it, Lily. Take it back! Mommy and Daddy—”

  “Annie, that’s enough,” Gage said sharply.

  From the expression on her face, Sheena McBride found the idea that Gage was involved with Madison laughable. Since Madison figured she looked like something the cat dragged in, she understood why.

  “Funny, your daddy hasn’t said anything to me about… Sorry, what’s your name?”

  Madison felt like crawling under a chair, but instead offered her hand. “Hello, Mrs. McBride. I’m Madison Lane.”

  Gage slanted her a censorious look. What did he expect her to call the woman?

  Sheena ignored her hand and frowned. “I’ve heard your name before.” Her eyes rounded. “You’re the woman who killed the resort deal. The Grinch, isn’t that what they call you?”

  Holly and Hailey saved Madison from having to respond by loudly announcing, “It’s time for practice. Everybody, go get your costumes on.”

  “Lily, Annie, get a move on. We’ve held everyone up long enough,” Gage said with a pointed look at his ex-wife. Oblivious to the tension, Lily skipped away, but Annie hung back.

  “Mom,” she said, tugging her mother’s hand, “you’re going to stay and watch us practice, aren’t you?”

  Sheena gaze moved from Gage to her daughter. “I think your daddy and I have a few things to discuss, precious. Besides, I’ll see the pageant on Christmas Eve.”

  Gage went to say something, but Annie interrupted him, “You should stay and take over the choir, Mom. Maddie has an awful voice and—”

  Madison gasped, feeling like she’d been sucker punched.

  “Annie,” Gage ground out, “you apologize to Madison right now.”

  Annie flinched, ducking her head.

  “Oh, Gage.” Sheena wrapped an arm around Annie. “You’ve embarrassed her. And of course, I’ll help out. We want the pageant to be a success, don’t we?”

  “Holly, Hailey, and Madison have it covered. And you’re under doctor’s orders to rest your voice.”

  “You’re sweet to worry about me, darlin’, but I’ll be careful. Unless Ms. Lane isn’t comfortable with my offer.” Sheena raised a perfectly penciled brow.

  “I’m sure the kids will be thrilled to have you lead the choir, Mrs. McBride,” Madison managed to say despite the emotion clogging her throat.

  “Maddie,” Lily shouted, waving her costume. “I need help.”

  At least someone wanted her around. “Excuse me.”

  Gage reached for her as she went to walk away. “Madison.”

  She held up her hand and shook her head, unable to look at him, desperate to get away before she embarrassed herself further.

  Her bottom lip started to quiver as she hurried across the room to where Lily stood. What was she so emotional about, anyway? It was just a stupid Christmas pageant. And she didn’t even like Christmas. Bowing her head, she surreptitiously wiped away a tear. Hailey, crouched beside Billy, took one look at her and shot to her feet.

  “With me. Now,” she snapped, frog-marching Madison to the doors. “You—” she shot a finger at Gage, who looked up from the conversation he was having with Sheena and frowned at Madison “—do something useful, get Lily in her costume. I need Madison to help with… something.” She grabbed her purse off a chair, shoving Madison through the doors. “In here.” Hailey ducked in front of Madison. Opening the door with her hip, she pushed Madison inside the four-by-four washroom.

  Hailey leaned against the door, reaching back to lock it before rummaging in her purse. She handed Madison a wad of facial tissues. “They’re clean.” She glanced at her watch. “Go ahead, you can cry now. But we’ve only got four minutes, so make it fast.” Hailey took a tube of lipstick from her purse, setting it on the sink’s ledge.

  Madison’s sob turned into a choked laugh. “It’s okay. I’m not going to cry.” And she wasn’t going to until she realized that Hailey, who didn’t like her, had saved her from making a fool of herself in front of Gage’s ex-wife. A hot tear rolled down her cheek. “Nice… that was so nice of you to do for me. Thank you,” she warbled.

  “I’m not nice. I don’t even like you, remember?”

  “I know. You don’t even like me, but you saved me from making a complete idiot of myself.” Madison hiccuped on a sob, trying to get ahold of herself.

  Hailey’s lips twitched. “I guess you’ve grown on me, because I kind of like you. But Miss Fancy-Ass McBride, I’ve never liked her. She always thought she was too good for this town.”

  Madison dabbed at her eyes. “You really don’t like her?”

  “No, I don’t.” Hailey eyed her. “Are you done?”

  “Yeah, I feel better now. Thanks.”

  “Good. Splash cold water on your face.” Someone knocked on the door. “Occupied,” Hailey barked.

  “It’s me.” Holly’s voice came through the door.

  Hailey opened it an inch. “Whatya need?”

  “I want to check on Madison.” She pushed her way in, tugging on her purse when it got caught on the knob. Hailey shuffled closer to the toilet. “Are you okay?” Holly asked.

  At the look of concern in Holly’s eyes, tears pooled in Madison’s.

  “Oh, come on, I just got her to stop crying. Tell her you don’t like her.”

  Holly’s brow furrowed. “But I do like her.”

  “Really, you like me? I like you, too.” Madison nodded, then blew her nose.

  “Thanks.” Holly smiled.

  “Okay, you can go back and help—” Hailey began.

  Holly cut her off with a shake of her head. “Gage got the rest of the kids into their costumes. Mrs. Ellis is warming them up now. At least she’s trying to, but Miss Fancy-Pants McBride keeps interfering.” Holly made a face. “She said something about whipping them into shape.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Madison splashed cold water on her face. “They’re just little kids. They’re supposed to have fun.”

  Hailey scowled at her in the mirror above the sink. “Yeah, and that’s why you should’ve said thanks but no thanks. It’s not her place to waltz in here and take over.”

  Patting her face dry with a paper towel, Madison said, “You can’t blame Sheena. Annie asked her to take over.” And she couldn’t blame Annie, either. She knew how much she missed her mother. Madison just wished she’d been a little more considerate of her feelings.

  “What Annie did to you was downright mean. She’s acting like a brat, and her father’s letting her get away with it.”

  “It’s because he feels guilty,” Holly said knowingly.

  “Gage doesn’t have anything to feel guilty about. He’s an amazing father.” Madison crumpled the paper towel and tossed it in the wastebasket.

  The sisters exchanged a look. “Yeah, he is,” Hailey agreed, “and he’d do just about anything to ensure Annie and Lily’s happiness, including sacrificing his own. So don’t you find it interesting that the one thing he wouldn’t do is move to Nashville? If he did, he and Sheena would still be together.”

  “He was worried about his dad. It hadn’t been that long since his mom died. Besides, Sheena was touring and Gage had a good support system in town. Not to mention his job,” Madison defended him, repeating what Nell had told her. “And he tried to make it work, but long-distance relationships aren’t easy.
”

  “She’s got it bad,” Hailey said to her sister.

  “Yeah, I know.” Holly smiled, then maneuvered herself behind Madison, tugging the elastic from her hair.

  “Ouch.” Madison put a hand to her head. Holly ignored her and turned on the hand dryer on the wall, shoving Madison’s head under it.

  “Holly,” she protested.

  “Shush, listen to Hailey.”

  Hailey bent down to look Madison in the eye, raising her voice to be heard over the dryer. “Tell me this. You’re in love with Gage. Are you going to do the long-distance thing or are you going to move to Christmas?”

  “Denver,” Madison admitted.

  “Aha, you just proved my point.”

  “But I’m not Sheena McBride, country singer extraordinaire. It’s easier for me. I’ve lost my job, and the company I’m applying to is located in Denver.”

  “Yeah, and if it wasn’t, I bet you’d still be thinking about relocating.”

  Madison couldn’t argue her point. She would.

  “And I can name you a bunch of singers bigger than Sheena McBride who don’t live in Nashville. If you really love someone, you make it work. Sheena’s all take. She wanted Gage, and she got him, even though she had to get pregnant to do it.”

  That wasn’t something Madison expected to hear. “I didn’t know. But Gage must’ve been in love with her. They got married.”

  “We’re talking about Mr. Do-the-Right-Thing McBride here, Maddie. Of course he married her. None of us ever thought he was in love with her. Lust for sure, but not love. She’s not his type. You are. But he stuck it out because he’s one of the good guys. When Sheena’s career took her to Nashville, he had an excuse to end the marriage. The excuse was his daughters.”

  “You think I’m his type?” Madison hadn’t heard much after that.

  Hailey rolled her eyes. “Why do you think none of us liked you? Of course you’re his type.”

  Holly let Madison up, fluffing her now-dry hair. “Thanks,” Madison said, then turned back to Hailey. “You really believe Gage was looking for an excuse to end the marriage?”

  “I do, not that he’d ever admit it, even to himself. And that’s why he feels guilty about the girls not having their mother around. Why Annie can play him like she does. For your sake, Maddie, I hope you can make him see that or you’re in for a rough ride.”

  It felt like Hailey’d taken a big fat pin and stuck it in the bubble of optimism that had been expanding in Madison’s chest. If today was an example of the ride she was in for, Madison didn’t know if she was up for it.

  “We gotta get of here.” Hailey scrutinized Madison’s face and grimaced. “You finish up with her hair, Holly. I’ll look after her makeup.”

  Madison took in Hailey’s heavily made-up eyes, Holly’s teased beehive, and cringed inwardly. They’d been so sweet and supportive, she didn’t have the heart to say thanks but no thanks.

  Five minutes later, her scalp stinging, her eyes so heavy she could barely lift them, Madison forced herself to look in the mirror. Oh. My. God. “Wow,” she said, “That’s… ah… amazing.”

  Hailey nodded. “Looks pretty good,” she said to her sister.

  “It would’ve been better if we had more time, but you’re right, Hails. She looks good. Oh, wait.” Holly took a can of hair spray from her purse. Before Madison could stop her, she gave her a full hit.

  “Much better,” Holly gasped, choking on the fumes.

  The three of them were coughing, batting away the haze, when Gage’s concerned voice came through the door. “Madison, are you in there?”

  Madison put a finger to her lips and shook her head. She didn’t want to speak to him until she knew her emotions were completely under control. They ignored her and opened the door.

  “If you make her cry again, McBride, I’ll serve you premade burgers for a year.” Hailey pushed past him.

  “That goes for me, too,” Holly said, following after her sister. Behind Gage’s back, she gave Madison the thumbs-up. Madison ducked her head and tried to squeeze by him.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” Gage held on to her and shut the door. Once he locked it, he turned to look at her and blinked. “What the hell did they do to you?”

  “They were being nice. They thought I needed some help competing with your wife.”

  “There’s no competition. I love you just the way you are.” He reached behind her to pull a paper towel from the dispenser, then dabbed at her lips and cheeks with it. “Better,” he said before lowering his mouth to hers. His kiss was gentle yet thorough, leaving her gasping for air when he finally pulled back to look down at her. “Did I really make you cry?”

  “No.” Annie did, but she didn’t want to tell him that. And after what Hailey said, she doubted it would do any good.

  He lifted his hand to her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “But you were crying. I’m sorry Annie asked Sheena to take over. She shouldn’t have done that, but you understand why she did, don’t you?”

  “Sure, I do. She’s proud of her mother and wants to show her off. And she wants to sing for Sheena, make her mother proud of her. Psych 101, Sheriff, not too hard to figure out. But what’s harder to understand is why you”—she thumped her finger on his chest—“didn’t introduce me to your ex-wife as your girlfriend. And why you let Annie deny it without correcting her.” Okay, so maybe it wasn’t only Annie who hurt her feelings.

  “You know what Annie’s like. She just needs time to adjust to the idea…” Madison went to give her opinion on that, and he placed a finger on her lips. “All I’m asking for is a little time. And just so you know, I took Sheena aside and told her we’re involved.”

  Madison narrowed her eyes. “What kind of ‘involved’?”

  “I told her you’re important to me, that I care about you.”

  “You didn’t tell her you loved me, did you?” She got her answer from the evasive look in his eyes. “Have you told anyone that you’re in love with me?”

  “What does it matter what anyone else thinks? You know I love you.”

  It shouldn’t have mattered, but it did. She was beginning to feel like his dirty little secret, and it reminded her of her mother. It wasn’t the same situation, but there were enough similarities to make her nauseous.

  Her reaction must have shown on her face, because he took her in his arms, nuzzled her neck, then brought his lips to her ear. “I’ll tell Ethan and my dad, how’s that?”

  Okay, she was being an idiot. She didn’t want to pressure him into telling people about them. He was a guy; they didn’t go around broadcasting their feelings. “No, you don’t have to tell anyone but me.” With the tip of her finger, she traced the zipper of his leather jacket. “I’m feeling a little insecure with Sheena back in town, that’s all.” She looked up at him, his eyes warm and tender. “It’s just that she’s gorgeous and this big celebrity, and she’s staying with you, and you slept—”

  He cut her off with a long, toe-curling kiss. Cradling her head in his hands, he tried to tunnel his fingers through her hair. They got stuck. He pulled back, making a frustrated noise in his throat. “Don’t ever let them put that crap in your hair again.” Gingerly, he patted the strands back in place, then kissed the tip of her nose. “I adore you, Madison Lane, and you are the only woman I want to sleep with.”

  Then he rubbed the back of his neck. A sure sign he was about to tell her something she wouldn’t like. She braced herself.

  “I know we talked about going to the diner together after practice, but Annie’s made plans for a family dinner. I don’t want to disappoint her. You don’t mind, do you?”

  She felt like a yo-yo. One minute she was up, the next down. With her hand on the door knob, she forced a smile. “Of course not.”

  “Great,” he said with a relieved smile. “Once the girls fall asleep, I’ll come over and spend the night. And when I’m finished with you, you’re not going to have any reason to doubt me again. Now, if you
’re okay, I’ll get going. Dad called and asked me to look in on Nell. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

  “I’m glad you’re checking on her. When I stopped by this afternoon, she was making plans to break herself out.”

  “Good to know.” He followed her out of the bathroom. “See you in a bit.”

  She really did love the man, she thought, watching his confident, loose-limbed stride as he walked away. He looked over his shoulder, caught her ogling him and grinned. “Play nice in there.”

  She flipped him off. He shook his head and laughed.

  The first thing Madison heard upon entering the hall was Sheena’s strident demand. “Water, I need a drink of water. Someone get me a glass of water now.”

  Arms crossed, Holly and Hailey didn’t move from their front-row seats. Madison glanced at Annie: her color was high, her eyes overly bright. Poor kid, she thought, she’s embarrassed. “I’ll get you a glass of water,” Madison volunteered.

  Hailey met her in the small kitchen off the hall. “The woman is a nut job. She’s been snapping at everyone. Mrs. Ellis is so nervous she keeps forgetting which song she’s supposed to play, and Billy started to cry when Sheena yelled at him for singing off-key.” She opened a cupboard. “There’s gotta be some rat poison in here somewhere.”

  Madison laughed. “It can’t be that bad.”

  “Yeah? You wait and see.”

  Hailey was right. It was bad, but Madison was afraid to intervene. What kid would want her leading the choir when they had country star Sheena McBride? And then there was Annie…

  “Again, from the top.” Sheena’s directive was met with muffled groans of complaint.

  Madison remained in her chair, biting her tongue, when Hailey and Holly left their seats to organize the children on stage for the next number.

  Brandi slid in beside her. “How you holding up?” she asked, shooting a thumbs-up to Trent. He grinned and gave her one in return.

  “You there, Joseph, there will be none of that,” Sheena said sharply.

  “Hey, Sheena, Joseph’s mine. His name is Trent, and he can give me the thumbs-up anytime he wants. Got it?”