Trouble With Christmas (9781455544066)

by Mason, Debbie

  Sheena glanced over her shoulder to where they sat twenty feet away. Probably judging how far and how fast she’d have to run if she decided to defy Brandi. “Yes, Brandi. I’ve got it.”

  “Way to go,” Madison murmured.

  “Gotta stand up to the bullies. Isn’t that what you told my son?” She slid Madison a sidelong glance, then returned her gaze to Sheena. “She used to sing at the Penalty Box before she was discovered. Sometimes she forgets where she came from. You didn’t answer my question. How you doing?”

  “Fine. Why?”

  She held up her phone. “Trent texted me, said you were upset. He thought you might need some backup.”

  Madison blinked. “You came for me?”

  “Yeah. Why do you look so surprised? You’re one of us now. We look after our own.”

  Hailey marched over. “Do not tell her you like her.” She looked at Madison, then sighed and pulled another wad of tissues from her pocket.

  Brandi frowned. “I thought you were supposed to be tough, a hard-ass. What happened to you?”

  Madison took the tissues and sniffed. “I am. I was. And then—” she waved her hand at the little kids in their costumes, the room, and everyone in it “—you all got to me. Christmas got to me.” She stifled a sob behind the tissue.

  “So the Grinch has a heart after all.” Brandi grinned.

  Hailey stopped laughing when her sister sidled up beside her. “This isn’t going to be pretty,” Holly said.

  “What?” Madison blew her nose.

  Holly glanced at the stage, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. “Annie’s number is next.”

  Madison frowned. “Annie’s got an incredible voice. Sheena will be busting with pride when she hears her. I was, and I’m not even her mother.”

  “And therein lies the problem,” Brandi murmured. “Mommy dearest is not going to like the competition or comparisons.”

  “Yeah, Sheena never sounded half as good as Annie when she started out,” Hailey said.

  Unbelievably, they were right. Annie had barely started to sing when her mother stopped her, shaking her head over some imagined note her daughter didn’t hit. By midpoint in the song, and at least eight reprimands later, the kids shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. Lily was practically wringing her hands, and Trent’s were balled into fists. Madison, just as upset, dug her nails into her palms, but she didn’t think Annie would appreciate her interference. Unable to take it any longer, she was about to leave when Annie lifted her head. She looked directly at Madison, her eyes tear-filled and pleading.

  Madison shot from the chair.

  “Thank God,” Brandi, Hailey, and Holly exhaled from behind her.

  Clapping her hands, Madison walked toward Sheena. “Come on, guys, let’s give it up for Ms. McBride. Thanks so much for all your help, Ms. McBride.” She encouraged the kids to join in.

  “But I’m not finished,” Sheena looked around, seemingly confused.

  “Yes, you are.” Madison kept her voice low. “You can sit in your car or go somewhere for a coffee. I don’t care what you do, but I want you out of here. Now. Practice will be over in thirty minutes. You can come back then.”

  Still clapping her hands, Madison walked past her. “Okay, Mrs. Ellis, we’ve gotta loosen these kids up. Maybe a little rock ’n’ roll. What do you say, Billy?” He looked past her, shuffling his feet.

  Madison turned. Sheena hadn’t moved. She stood there tight-lipped and furious. “You have no right kicking me out of here. Those are my children, and their performance reflects on me. I—” She broke off as Madison strode toward her.

  “You don’t want to mess with me, Sheena. Nell messed with me, and I ran her over. Ask them if you don’t believe me.” She jerked her thumb at the three women who were struggling not to laugh as they moved toward Sheena.

  “It’s true. You better do as she says.” Holly said, taking Sheena by the arm to lead her away.

  Madison turned back to the kids, clapping and wiggling her butt. “What do you say, Billy? Can you give me a moo?” He grinned and started wiggling and mooing. “What about you, Lily?” And before long they were all laughing and getting down to Mrs. Ellis’s rendition of “Great Balls of Fire.” Madison caught Annie’s eye and winked. Annie smiled, then started to shake it up with Trent.

  Maybe they’d be okay after all.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  As Gage pulled into the parking lot of the Rocky Mountain Diner, he figured dealing with his ex-wife and daughter should be a piece of cake after the last hour he’d spent with his aunt. The better Nell felt, the higher the likelihood she’d follow through with her threat to check herself out of the hospital. She was riled up about the vote on Monday. Something Gage meant to talk to Madison about. He didn’t need to be dealing with a riled-up citizenry at the moment—he had enough on his plate dealing with Sheena.

  And the last thing he wanted was for Madison to be hurt if the vote went the way he expected it to. It’d been tough enough watching her reaction to Annie asking her mother to take over the practice. He hadn’t helped. For the last eight years, his world had revolved around his daughters. And today, in trying to protect Annie, he’d hurt Madison. He hated knowing he’d made her cry. Somehow, he had to find a way to balance her needs with his daughters.

  He pressed the lock button on his keys and headed for the diner. Beneath the red-and-green glow of Christmas lights, Ethan stood on the top step of the log building with a to-go bag in one hand, texting with the other.

  “Have you ever thought of tossing that thing?” Gage nodded at the phone. He knew he had.

  “Only every hour or so, but then Nell would be harassing you instead of me. Never say I don’t have your back, buddy.” He grinned, shoving his phone in the pocket of his sheepskin jacket.

  “Thanks.” Stalling, Gage rested one foot on the bottom step and leaned on the banister, careful not to dislodge the pine bough. “What’s Nell bugging you about now? Is she trying to talk you into breaking her out of the hospital?”

  “No, she’s chapping my ass over the announcement not making the paper on time, and… Hey, Harlan,” Ethan said, making room for the other man to get by.

  “Mr. Mayor.” Harlan flicked the brim of his John Deere cap, a warm gush of grease-filled air and chatter following him out the door. “Mighty fine family you have, Sheriff. Better get in there before the boys make a move on your pretty wife.”

  Gage opened his mouth to tell him the boys were welcome to her, then closed it. Like Harlan, most of the citizens of Christmas chose to ignore the fact that Gage and Sheena were divorced. They liked the idea of having a real-life celebrity attached to one of their own and planned to keep it that way, no matter what Gage said. “Have a good night, Harlan.”

  “And that would be the subject of Nell’s latest text,” Ethan said as the other man lumbered off to his truck. “She suggested Sheena move in with me for the duration of her visit.”

  “Interested?” Gage asked, even though he knew his ex wasn’t Ethan’s type. His best friend liked his women smart, refined, and reserved—the perfect politician’s wife for the career he hoped one day to pursue.

  “In Sheena? Not a chance. Wish I could help you out, but the last thing I need is everyone up in arms because your ex is shacking up with me.”

  Gage rubbed the back of his neck. Ethan was right. And if the citizens of Christmas got wind that Gage and Madison were together while Sheena was in town, they’d make Madison’s life miserable.

  “She’s only staying for a couple of days, right?”

  “I think so.” Gage hoped so, for his sake and Madison’s. But Sheena had arrived with four overstuffed Louis Vuitton suitcases that said otherwise, and a crapload of anxiety about her throat condition having the potential to end her career. And what she’d do if her career was over worried him the most.

  “I hate to break it to you, buddy, but Sheena being in town is going to be the least of your worries.” Ethan came down th
e stairs. “I got a call from Harrison Hartwell while I waited for my order. He wasn’t happy I’m allowing a vote on the resort. Offered to do whatever’s necessary to make it go away.”

  “He tried to bribe you?”

  “Not in so many words, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he paid Rick to keep the announcement out of the paper. Dane’s back is to the wall financially.”

  Everyone knew Rick was a month or so away from declaring bankruptcy. He’d spent the last year coming up with one get-rich-quick scheme after another—a couple this side of the law. Gage would’ve felt sorry for the guy if he wasn’t such an asshole. But he’d been on Gage’s shit list since the day he’d figured out Rick was the one who sold photos of Lily and Annie to the tabloids, along with information that was nobody’s business but theirs. Dane hadn’t even bothered to deny it when Gage confronted him.

  “I take it the announcement got up in time or we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

  “Oh, yeah, Nell took care of it by posting it on the town’s website and Facebook page. She’s probably tweeted about it, too.”

  Gage shook his head. “You never should’ve given her your password.”

  Ethan quirked a brow.

  “Right,” Gage muttered. He knew better. His aunt had ways of sniffing out information. He probably should put her on the payroll.

  “You might want to warn Madison that Harrison wasn’t happy to hear she’s leading the opposition. And Gage, he’s arriving on the twenty-third to launch a counterattack. Gotta go.” He held up his bag, the smell of fries and burgers wafting past Gage’s nostrils.

  Up until then, Gage had been starving. He walked into the diner. Sheena sat in the booth at the far corner of the room holding court, while Lily and Annie, sitting on the bench across from her, looked dejected. A few days ago, he’d sat in the same booth with Madison and his daughters. They’d looked a whole lot happier and relaxed then.

  “There he is. Gage, honey.” Sheena waved him over.

  For Lily and Annie’s sake, he unclenched his jaw and smiled. The disheartened expression on Annie’s face surprised him. She’d been asking Santa to bring her mother home for Christmas since she was four. Lily smiled up at him, but it wasn’t her usual smile, the one that lit up her whole face.

  As he said hello to the men crowded around Sheena, Gage caught sight of Dane sitting two tables over and made a mental note to speak to him before he left the diner. Gage was beginning to wonder just how deep in Harrison Hartwell’s pocket Rick was.

  Sheena patted the bench. “Sit here.”

  Gage didn’t have much choice but to do as she asked. If he refused like he wanted to, she’d pout and make a scene. And there was already enough attention on their table as it was. The men scattered when Gage parked his butt on the edge of the bench.

  “How did practice go?” Annie’s shoulders went up around her ears at his question, and Lily shot a wary look from him to his ex.

  Sheena stirred her coffee, then sharply tapped the spoon on the rim of the white mug. “I’ll tell you how it went. Madison Lane shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near children, let alone teaching them to sing. I’m going to speak to the ladies’ auxiliary or whoever it was that put her in charge.”

  “Hold up there, Sheena. Madison’s great with the kids and—”

  “Great?” she sputtered. “The woman sings like a cat in heat and had the nerve to kick me out of the practice.” The husky quality in her voice took on a shrill edge.

  Annie looked like she wanted to crawl under the table whereas Lily appeared ready to give her mother a piece of her mind.

  “You’re sure she kicked you out? Maybe you misunderstood.” He knew Madison was feeling insecure, but he didn’t think she’d take it this far. Then again, it was Madison—an emotional and hurt Madison.

  “I did not misunderstand her. She threatened me and had those women forcibly remove me from the hall. I’ve never been so humiliated in my life, and all because that woman is jealous of me.”

  “I like when Maddie sings. She’s fun. She doesn’t make us—” Annie elbowed Lily. “That hurt,” Lily complained, blinking her eyes. She looked down at her half-eaten pizza, then back up at Gage. “Daddy, I want to go home.”

  “Sure, sweetpea, just as soon as Annie—”

  Annie pushed her plate away. “I want to go home, too.”

  Before Gage could ask what the hell was going on, Rick Dane sauntered over. “Don’t want to interrupt your family reunion, but”—he held up his camera—“I’d appreciate a picture for tomorrow’s edition. You have a lot of fans here in Christmas, Mrs. McBride.”

  “Yes, yes, of course.” Sheena preened. “Why don’t you take a family picture, Mr. Dane?”

  Gage was about to bow out when he saw Annie’s eyes light up. Sheena slid across the bench and wrapped an arm around her. “Lily, you go sit beside your daddy. Gage?” Sheena patted the spot beside her.

  Reluctantly, he moved closer, drawing Lily with him. Just before the flash went off, Sheena cupped his chin and kissed him full on the lips.

  Gage cursed inwardly. He should’ve known what she was up to.

  Dane checked the screen. “Great shot. Folks will be pleased as punch to see the McBride family together again. Might even be good enough to get me picked up on the wire.”

  Gage hoped to hell not. It was bad enough people in Christmas would see it. And there was one person he knew who wouldn’t be pleased as punch. From the smug smile Dane shot him, he knew it, too. But Gage didn’t have time to deal with Rick now. He had to get his daughters and ex out of there before Sheena did any more damage.

  * * *

  Gage gave up questioning his youngest about the practice. He’d get his answers from Madison. Tucking Lily beneath her pink quilt, he stretched out beside her and retrieved her favorite book, The Polar Express, from the bedside table.

  “Daddy,” she whispered. “Santa wouldn’t bring the present I asked for before Christmas, would he?”

  From the worried look on her face, he went with no.

  She shot him a relieved smile. “I didn’t think so.”

  “Did you send your letter to Santa already?” With everything going on, it was just one more thing Gage hadn’t gotten around to. But he had a good idea what his daughters wanted. They’d started making their lists, complete with pictures, the day after Halloween. He’d ordered most of what they’d asked for by the following week, but Lily had been known to change her mind at the last minute.

  She wrinkled her nose. “Daddy, there’s only three more sleeps till Christmas Eve. Me and Maddie mailed out the letter a long time ago.”

  God, he loved that woman. “So what did you ask Santa for this year?” He breathed a little easier when she rhymed off the contents of the wrapped presents locked away in his closet.

  Until she got to the last item on the list, and he stopped breathing all together. “A mommy. A new mommy,” she clarified, in case he wasn’t quick on the uptake. And if that wasn’t clear enough, she added, “Maddie’d make a good mommy. She likes us, and she’s fun, and makes us laugh, and…” She continued to tick off Madison’s mommy attributes on her fingers. All of which Gage agreed with, even though they were nowhere near that place in their relationship. Lily looked up at him expectantly.

  He knew her well enough to word his response carefully. “You love Madison, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “Do you?”

  Smart kid. “It’d be pretty hard for anyone not to love her. But you know, sweetpea, Madison lives in New York and—”

  “I know. I asked Santa to get her a job here.”

  “Oh. Uh, Lily, did Madison help you write the letter?”

  “Yep.” She smiled. “I think she was hormonals ’cause she cried, but she said they were happy tears.”

  Gage decided it was time to end the conversation and opened the book. It worked. By the time he got to the second page, Lily started to nod off. He placed the book on her bedside table, shut off the lam
p, and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “I love you, sweetpea.”

  “Daddy,” she called out sleepily before he closed her door. “Maybe if you asked Santa for a new mommy for us, it’d help.”

  She was as tenacious as Nell. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  He walked down the hall, tapped on the Keep Out sign, then eased the door open. “Annie?”

  “Yeah,” she said, her voice muffled.

  She tucked whatever she’d held in her hand under her yellow happy face comforter. Like most girls Annie’s age, her walls were plastered with posters. But instead of Justin Bieber’s face staring out at him, it was Sheena’s. He sat on the edge of her bed and brushed Annie’s dark hair from her eyes. “You okay?”

  She shrugged, her gaze flitting away from his.

  There was something going on with her, and he wished she’d talk to him about it. Madison would’ve been able to get her to open up. Well, a week ago she would have. “You know I love you, right?”

  “Yeah, Dad, I know.”

  He smiled at her you’re-so-lame tone of voice. “Good. So you know you can ask or tell me anything, and I won’t get mad, right?”

  He wanted to know what went on with her mother. Because the more he thought about it, about Lily’s comments and Annie’s reaction, he was sure Sheena had somehow managed to upset her. That alone would explain why Madison kicked her out of the practice. He didn’t always agree with how she went about it, but Madison was fiercely protective of those she cared about, and she cared about his daughter.

  Annie nodded. Obviously, he wasn’t going to get anything out of her tonight.

  He tucked the covers under her chin and smiled when she rolled her eyes. “I’m glad you got your Christmas wish.” He kissed her forehead, then went to turn off the light.

  “I thought it was your Christmas wish, too,” she mumbled.

  Aw, hell. He turned. “No, sweetheart. Your mom’s and my relationship was over a long time ago.” Now he wanted one with a beautiful, brainy blonde whose mouth got her in trouble. But he wasn’t sure Annie was ready to hear that.