Trouble With Christmas (9781455544066)

by Mason, Debbie

  “It takes two to fight, Madison, and it felt pretty one-sided to me. You know what your problem is?”

  “Yeah—you.”

  “No, it’s not me.” She felt the heat of his body as he leaned close, his fingers gently wiping the tears from her face. “Your problem is you’re confusing yourself with your mother.”

  She opened her eyes, slanting him a disdainful look. “You’re wrong. I’m nothing like my mother. I’ve spent the last sixteen years making sure I wasn’t.”

  “If that’s true, then why do you believe you can be taken advantage of as easily as she was?”

  “I don’t. I’m not as gullible or as naïve as my mother. And I certainly don’t need to depend on a man for my financial well-being.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m nothing like the men your mother was involved with, and you know it or you wouldn’t be with me. I think you’re scared that maybe you’re more like your mother than you know.” He took her hand. “I love you, Madison, and—”

  “I’m sure the men who used my mother told her the same thing.” She was grasping, she knew that, knew he wasn’t like the men her mother had been involved with, but she was afraid. Afraid that maybe she’d fallen for him so hard, so fast, that’d she allowed herself to get involved with a man who would never be able to truly commit to her.

  His eyes narrowed. “I’m going to let that slide because you’re upset. But just so we’re clear here, if all I wanted was a woman for a good time in bed, it wouldn’t be you.”

  Perfect. Just as she realized she was being unfair to him, he decided he didn’t want her in his bed. “Why, am I not—”

  “You’re a helluva lot of work. You’re stubborn, and you speak your mind without thinking. You’re strong and stand up for what you believe in. And you’re loyal and sweet and so damn smart and beautiful you make my head spin. And I knew the moment I met you that one night with you would never be enough. I want you in my life for the long haul, and that means you’re going to have to get used to the fact it’s not always going to be easy. It’s going to be messy and complicated. I’m a package deal, and no matter how much I love you, Lily’s and Annie’s well-being has to come first. And if you’re not up for it, then maybe you’re right, and we should end this now.”

  It was harder hearing the words than saying them, because deep down she knew hers had come from fear and hurt, but Gage’s came from truth and honesty. She got that Lily and Annie had to be his priority. If she had children, she’d feel exactly the same way. Now she had to pull on her big-girl panties and decide whether she was going to let her insecurities and trust issues get in the way of having a relationship with the man she loved. Or she could head back to New York, find a job to devote every waking hour to, and her life would be pretty much the way it had been for the last five years. It was a no-brainer. “I can do messy and complicated.”

  Elbows on his knees, chin resting on his fisted hands, Gage closed his eyes. His broad shoulders rose on a deep inward breath. He leaned back against the couch, then slowly turned his head. “It took you long enough to decide.”

  “It’s a big decision.”

  “I guess it is. I just thought we were on the same page a ways back.”

  “We were. We are. I love you and don’t want to lose you because of my issues. I’ll figure out a way to deal with your ex-wife.” She rubbed his hand. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like I was comparing you to the men my mother dated. I wasn’t.”

  He tugged her closer, wrapping an arm around her. “I’m sorry about the picture in the paper. I should’ve warned you. But if you look closely, you’ll see I’m not a willing participant. And if it helps, I told Sheena I love you and that this is the last time she’ll be staying at the house.”

  Madison worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “You told her that?”

  “Yeah, I did.” He tapped her nose. “Maybe next time, you’ll give me a chance to get a word in.”

  “Umm.” Embarrassed by the memory of her rant, she decided to move the conversation along. “Maybe you and Sheena could sit down with Annie and explain…” She stopped talking. He was rubbing the back of his neck again.

  “Here’s the thing. Sheena’s afraid her throat problems are going to end her singing career. She’s not in a great place right now. She’s alone and thinking about what she’s given up and wants it back.”

  Madison winced. She sympathized until she realized what Gage said. “She wants you back?”

  “Settle down, tiger. I’ve made it clear that’s not going to happen. But Sheena’s never been one to take no for an answer, and I wouldn’t put it past her to stir the pot with Annie and…” He hesitated, then continued, “There are a lot of people in town who like the idea of a hometown boy being married to a celebrity, and when Sheena’s here, it’s like we never divorced.”

  “And because she stays with you, and you’ve maintained a good relationship for the girls’ sakes…”

  “Yeah. And if word gets out we’re together, it could get ugly for you. That’s why I want to keep our relationship on the down-low. I’m sorry, I know that’s not what you want to hear.”

  She shook her head and tried to ignore the nervous flutter in her stomach. “No, it’s not. But I understand where you’re coming from now.”

  “Hey, look at me. We’re not doing anything wrong, and the people who really matter know that. But with the vote on Monday, and everything else going on, it’s for the best.” He kissed the top of her head. “Maybe this will make you feel better. Annie feels bad about how she’s been acting. You’ll be hearing from her today with an apology.”

  “I’m glad. Thanks for telling me.”

  “You’re welcome, and I’m going to get Sheena in to see my dad and Matt today. I’m sure one of them can recommend someone for a second opinion. She’ll be out of here after the holidays. Trust me,” he said when she went to contradict him. “I know Sheena. She’ll only be able to handle life in Christmas for a couple of days. She’s not a fan of small towns.”

  Madison didn’t share his optimism. After all, who’d hated small towns more than she once did?

  He reached for the paper. “And I’ll deal with Rick.”

  “Good, because he’s starting to get on my last nerve.”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. “Hate to tell you, honey, but I think the feeling’s mutual. It’s becoming obvious Dane wants you out of Christmas.”

  “Tell him to get in line.” She tapped Rick’s byline. “I’d wondered who was working with Harrison behind the scenes here. I should’ve realized it was Rick. He’s the one who approached Hartwell about building a resort in Christmas, and it was Harrison he made contact with, not Joe, if I remember correctly.”

  “And he has the most to lose if the deal doesn’t go through. He’s drowning in debt.”

  “Not good.”

  “No, it’s not, and it gets worse. Harrison tried to get Ethan to disallow the vote. We’re pretty sure he paid Dane to hold back the announcement. He’s flying into town tomorrow to counter your campaign.”

  “I can handle Harrison.” She glanced at the paper and caught the headline beneath the McBride family picture. Her gaze shot to Gage. “I don’t believe it. Did you know about this?

  His brows drew together. “Know about what?”

  She showed him the article. “It says here there’s some obscure bylaw on the books, and we need five hundred signatures by tomorrow at five p.m. or they’ll be able to table the vote on Monday.”

  “I never heard anything about it, but if it’s true… I’m sorry, honey. I know you’ve put in a lot of hours on this.”

  She frowned. “You sound as if I should give up.” And he didn’t sound overly disappointed about it, either. “You want me to back out, don’t you?” He grimaced. “Oh my God, you’ve wanted the deal with Hartwell to go through all along.”

  He held up his hands. “I don’t care one way or another. What I do care about is you and this town, and this has shitshow
written all over it.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Harrison doesn’t win. And if you’d paid any attention at all to my presentation at the town hall, you’d understand why.” Since he’d fallen asleep during the meeting, she recapped the problems and her findings. “So as you can see,” she said fifteen minutes later, “the resort will go bankrupt within its first year. With Harrison at the helm, probably sooner. In the long run, my plan is better.”

  He gave his head a shake as if to clear it. “Oh, yeah, I got that. I also got that nothing I say will change your mind.”

  “No, it won’t. I’m right about this. Now all I have to do is convince the citizens of Christmas.”

  “And that’s exactly what I’m worried about. Remember, just because I love you doesn’t mean I won’t throw you in jail if you cause trouble.”

  “I swear, no trouble, Sheriff.” But just in case, because when it came to Madison and the citizens of Christmas things tended to go awry, she crossed her fingers.

  He scowled and tugged her hand from behind her back. “Seriously?”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Dressed for another day of pounding the pavement in a puffy white snowsuit that made her look like the Michelin man, Madison stood in Nell’s kitchen debating whether or not to pick up the phone. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Gage hadn’t shown up last night like he’d promised. But then again, he might have phoned to cancel, and she’d been comatose after spending ten hours running around Christmas trying to get enough signatures to get them on the ballot. And Nell didn’t have an answering machine.

  She picked up the phone, then put it down. She didn’t want to come across as the annoying, needy girlfriend. She was being paranoid. Something probably came up with Annie and Lily. And with her big-girl panties firmly in place, Madison ignored the possibility that the something had to do with Sheena.

  No doubt Madison would run into him downtown. She was already late for the strategy session at Grace’s. They were sixty-five names shy of the five hundred required to get them on the ballot tomorrow. And with her street team’s friends and family tapped out, and a 5:00 p.m. deadline today, Madison didn’t have time to waste.

  As a blustery wind pushed her down the walkway to Nell’s pickup, Stella waved her over. “This was delivered to me by mistake.”

  “Thanks,” Madison said, accepting the package. It was addressed to her in Christmas, as if she actually lived there. Odd how something so small resonated. But somehow it made her feel like she belonged.

  Waiting for the truck to warm up, she thought back to her interactions with the shop owners of Christmas the day before. They all seemed to think she’d set up a consulting business and were anxious for advice. Helping Joe build a successful business was the aspect Madison had enjoyed most about her job. And Lord knew if anyone needed her help, it was the citizens of Christmas.

  A nervous laugh bubbled up her throat as she realized she was actually thinking of doing it, of moving to Christmas and setting up shop. The perfect excuse to get in touch with Gage without coming across as a stalker girlfriend, she decided.

  She opened the package—careful not to rip the address—and pulled out the new phone she’d ordered. She sent off a quick text to Skye and Vivi, a little surprised when they didn’t respond right away.

  Erasing her first racier attempts to Gage, in case Annie or Lily would see the message, she settled on “Need to talk. Call me.” She waited, fiddling with the radio stations to kill time. Then she checked the phone to see if it was working before trying again. “Everything ok?”

  Busy, he’s just busy, she told herself in response to the panicked uptick of her pulse. And if the guy on the radio was right—a storm system was expected to move in right about the time Harrison was scheduled to blow into town—she had to get busy, too. Pulling out of Nell’s driveway, she headed downtown.

  As Madison turned onto Main Street, she realized her instincts had been right after all. Dozens of placard-waving people held up traffic as they crossed the town square. She couldn’t see what was on their signs or hear what they were protesting, but she didn’t have to be a card-carrying member of Mensa to know it was about her. No wonder she hadn’t heard from Gage. Probably better she hadn’t. He’d have given her an I-told-you-so lecture.

  She parked a safe distance away. Locking the truck, she took a quick look at her cell—no messages—before stuffing it in her pocket. She went to cross the road.

  An older woman stood in front of Nell’s pickup, wagging her cane at Madison. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  Before she could ask why, the teenager stuffing fliers under the windshield wipers of the parked cars shoved one into Madison’s hand. He did a double take, gulped, and tried to snatch the paper back.

  She jerked it away from him. Bile rose in her throat as she scanned the paper. There was a picture of Gage with Sheena and the girls, and beneath it, one from yesterday morning with Madison wearing the pink velour robe and Gage standing behind her. She looked like she’d just rolled out of bed. Printed above her head in bold black print were the words “Home wrecker.” Gage hadn’t been paranoid after all.

  The protesters now marched around the decorated twenty-foot Douglas fir in the center of the town square, chanting, “Ho, ho, ho, go home. Home wreckers not welcome. Vote for Hartwell.”

  Madison’s breath squeezed out of her. Faces blurred in front of her, their voices ringing in her ears. The town square melded into a schoolyard, kids circling, crowding, chanting, and shoving. A snowball hit her in the head, snapping her back to the here and now. Ted and Fred ran toward her, each taking an arm to drag her off the road.

  Customers spilled from the shops onto the sidewalks as Jill, in uniform, a megaphone in hand, ran toward them. “Don’t you dare listen to them,” she said to Madison, then addressed Ted and Fred. “Help Ray keep them off the streets while I get Maddie out of here.”

  “Jill’s right. Don’t you pay them no mind,” Ted said, as he gently brushed the snow from Madison’s hair before turning to Jill. “Do we get badges and guns?”

  “No! Get over there.”

  It was like everything was happening in slow motion, and Madison’s feet were rooted to the cobblestone street. Jill took her by the hand, then glanced over her shoulder. “Brandi, Sophia, back off!” she yelled into the megaphone, waving the two women, who were defending Madison, away from the four older women who threatened them with their signs.

  It was happening all over again, only this time it was Madison’s fault, not her mother’s. She wanted to run and hide. Get away from Christmas as fast as she could. “I’ll go. I’ll leave,” she said in a strangled whisper, tugging her hand from Jill’s.

  “Okay. I’ll…” A shout went up from the crowd. “Fred, Ted!” Jill bellowed, pointing to the decorations raining down on the protesters. “Move them back from the tree.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “We could use the sheriff’s help right about now. Any idea where he is?”

  Even with her emotions frozen in the past, Madison couldn’t ignore the sick sense of worry building inside her. “No, I haven’t been able to reach him this morning. Do you think something’s wrong?”

  Jill held the truck’s door open. “No, I’m sure everything’s fine. He’s been putting in some long hours and probably slept in. I’ll try him again.”

  The crowd now turned on Gage, calling for his resignation, slandering his character, his morals. Caught between wanting to defend him and getting out of there, Madison hesitated with one foot on the running board. She looked up to see Annie and Lily standing outside of Sophia’s shop with their mother.

  Madison wanted to yell at Sheena to get the girls back in the store. They shouldn’t be hearing or seeing any of this. Annie and Lily, looking pale and scared, edged closer to their mother. A wave of protective anger rose up inside Madison, washing away her hurt and embarrassment. She’d had enough of small-mi
nded bullies who didn’t give a damn who they hurt.

  She jumped off the running board and slammed the truck’s door.

  “Madison?” Jill said nervously.

  She snatched the megaphone from Jill’s hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.” Madison ran along the sidewalk to reach Ted and Fred’s truck.

  “Oh, no, Madison!” Jill cried, coming after her.

  “Hey,” Madison yelled into the megaphone. “Your problem’s with me, not Gage McBride. You want me out of town?” She was heartened to hear about thirty Nos beneath the roar of Yeses. “Fine, but first you’ll hear me out. Ted and Fred, you mind if I stand on your truck?” she called out to the two men, making their way toward her.

  They grinned when they reached her, giving her a boast onto the hood. “We were getting worried about you, girlie. Thought you might be listening to these idiots.”

  “Not anymore.” She stood, looking out over the crowd who stamped their feet against the cold, blowing on their hands as they waited impatiently for her to speak.

  “Do you people hear yourselves? What happened to being kind to strangers, loving your neighbors? Isn’t that what all you good Christian folks preach? If you ask me, you’re a bunch of hypocrites.”

  Rick Dane stood off to the side, looking furious as several people slowly lowered their signs. Sophia, Grace, and Autumn smiled up at her from where they now stood with Ted and Fred. Standing behind them, Brandi and Trent gave her the thumbs-up. “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, a time for peace, goodwill toward men, a time for family, a time when little girls should be enjoying the excitement of the holiday and not listening to you slander their father. Did any of you happen to notice Gage’s daughters standing there?” She pointed them out to the crowd, some of whom now looked ashamed. “Gage McBride is one of the most honorable men I’ve ever met, and he’s done nothing to deserve this.”