by Debbie Mason
Ava slid her arm behind Lexi’s back. “Up you go. Take Finn for a walk.”
“Are you crazy? I’m having a baby. I’m not getting out of this bed. Go torture the perky redhead down the hall,” Lexi said in a whiny, sullen voice.
“The perky redhead delivered her baby ten minutes ago. The walk will do you good. It’ll help move things along.” Ava managed to get Lexi into a sitting position. Then she looked to Griffin for help.
He was watching them with a muscle pulsating in his clenched jaw, his arms crossed over his powerful chest. Which was better than listening to him crack his knuckles like he had been for the past hour, but obviously she wasn’t getting any help from him.
“Maybe the baby’s not ready. He’s three weeks early, you know.”
As she planned to do with Griffin, Ava said something guaranteed to unleash Lexi’s temper. “The doctor told you that, given his measurements, your dates were probably wrong. So maybe he’s as lazy as his mama.”
“You didn’t just call my baby lazy.”
“Yes, and you too. Now move your hard ass off this bed,” Ava said, doing her best to hide her triumphant smile when Lexi got up and waddled to the wheelchair. “There, doesn’t that feel better now?”
Lexi flipped her off. Ava closed the door behind them and turned to Griffin. “I’m not some fragile piece of glass. I won’t break because you yell at me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know you’re mad at me for not telling you about Lexi’s cancer. Get it off your chest, yell at me, do something because this silent act of yours isn’t helping.”
His eyes narrowed, and his muscles flexed, and then he looked away. “I’m not fighting with you.”
She walked over, cupped his cheek in her hand, and drew his gaze back to her. “It was Lexi’s choice. I had to respect that. And so do you.”
“She chose the baby’s life over her own.”
“Yes, she chose to hold off treatment because she wanted this baby, your child, her child, to have a fighting chance. She’s forty, Griffin. Between her age and treatment for the cancer, this might be her only chance to have a baby. You out of anyone know how important that is for her.”
He scrubbed his face with his hands, looking at her over his fingertips. “I don’t want to lose her. I love her. She’s my best friend.”
Ava sat on his lap, and his arms went around her. “She’s mine too. We’re not going to lose her. She’s strong. She’s a fighter.”
“But what if it’s a fight she can’t win?”
“Then we deal with it. Together.” She lifted her hand and tapped her engagement ring. “None of us know how long we have. So let’s make the most of every day, store up the memories and the moments. Don’t let your fear over losing Lexi take away from today. In less than a couple of hours, you’ll be holding a tiny miracle in your hands. Yours and Lexi’s little boy.”
His hand curved around her neck. “I love you, sweet face. You know that, right?”
She nodded, smiling as his mouth came down on hers.
“I should have known why you wanted to get rid of me, mouse,” Lexi grumbled, shoving Finn’s wheelchair into the room.
“Jesus, Lex, watch where you’re going. You knocked my leg on the door.”
“Oh, stop your complaining. It was a little tap. Come talk to me when you’ve been in labor for a freaking day,” Lexi said, waddling back to the bed.
Ava smiled at her. “Griffin and I were just talking about names. What do you think of Alphonso?”
And just as Ava had hoped, the name game broke the tension in the room. Kitty, Colin, Sophie, Liam, and Aidan arrived a few minutes later, and it continued with much laughter and some good-natured ribbing. Three hours later, baby Gabriel Gallagher made his debut, weighing in at a healthy nine pounds, six ounces.
The past three days had been great. It was like Lexi’s room had become a cocoon, keeping the world out. Their tiny, confined space had only room for warmth and laughter and precious moments with his son and family. But reality had set in today, the words breast cancer and treatment ripping off the blanket. Griffin didn’t know how Lex, Ava, and Finn did it. Discussing the pros and cons of surgery, chemo, and radiation in matter-of-fact voices. As though Lex’s life weren’t on the line.
“Please tell me you were able to pull some strings,” Ava said to Finn.
They’d found a doctor, a renowned oncologist, who both Finn and Ava believed was the best specialist to treat Lexi. Because he was the best, they’d been informed by his office that he wasn’t taking on any new cases at this time. Ava and Finn had tried everything short of bribery to even get Lex on a waiting list.
“No one has an in with him that they can think of. We need someone with major clout.” Finn had spent the morning on the phone with everyone he knew in the medical field, locally and abroad.
“I think I might know someone,” Ava said, and walked over to the window with her phone pressed to her ear.
Griffin had to get out of there. He leaned over the bassinet and scooped his son into his arms, tucking the blue blanket around him and then fixing the knitted hat on his head. “I’m going to take Gabe for a walk. He’s a bit fussy, and it’s a beautiful day.” Gabe was sound asleep.
Ava turned and gave him a soft smile. Whenever he held the baby, Griffin would look up to see her watching him with that same smile on her face. It’d been bittersweet the first time Ava had held Gabe in her arms. She got a faraway look on her face, as though remembering the day the nurse had laid their son in her arms. But that was the only time he’d seen any sign of her sorrow. Now every time she held the baby, she was either singing to him, rocking him, or trying to make him smile. It annoyed Lexi to no end that Ava was the only one who could get him to stop crying. Ava took great pleasure in reminding Lex of the fact every chance she got.
Griffin walked through the exit doors of the hospital, smiling down at his son, whose blue eyes had popped open. “Don’t you worry, little buddy. Your Auntie Ava and Uncle Finn are doing everything they can for your mommy.” Griffin might not have the same connections they did, but he could do his part. He walked to the bench near a weeping willow and sat down. And then he did something he hadn’t done since his mother and sister died—he prayed.
Finn found him there two hours later. His brother maneuvered his wheelchair beside the bench. “Guess who just left Lexi’s room and is taking her case?”
“Dr. Samuels?” She’d been Ava and Finn’s second choice.
“Nope, we got numero uno, big brother. Or I should say Ava’s contact did. The guy arrived within an hour of Ava making the call. To hear him, you’d think the sun rises and sets by this woman. Probably some high-society broad with a wing named after her,” Finn said with a scornful twist of his lips. Griffin wasn’t surprised by his brother’s reaction. He’d been complaining about people with big bucks getting preferential treatment and serving on hospital boards since medical school.
“How does Ava know her?” Griffin asked.
“No clue. She’s being tight-lipped about it. I’ve never heard of her. Name Olivia Davenport ring a bell with you?”
“No, but it sounds like we owe her. Did the doc seem optimistic about Lexi’s prognosis?” He steeled himself for his brother’s answer.
“Somewhat optimistic. Which in doc speak means it’s looking good, big brother.” He smiled, then his brow furrowed. “Uh, just one thing. Since Ava kept interrupting him to ask questions, he wanted to know what her relationship to Lexi was. She told him they were sister wives.”
Almost two months to the day since the doctor had taken on Lexi’s case, she sat on the bed in Colleen’s suite grumbling as Ava tried another wig on her bald head. Ava stood back. “Ladies, what about this one?”
Arianna turned from zipping up Sophie’s mint-green bridesmaid dress. “No, I liked the blond one better.”
“I think she’d look good as a redhead. It’ll go perfect with her maid-of-honor dress,” E
rin piped up as she helped Helga into her dress. Both women were standing up for Ava too.
When she’d told Griffin how many women were in her bridal party, he’d stared at her openmouthed, then shook his head with a laugh and kissed her. He was being a good sport about it since he’d been hoping for a small, intimate wedding.
“Dana, do you have another wig like the one you have on?” Ava asked. It was because of Dana that Lexi was being treated by the world-renowned oncologist. Less than an hour after Ava had made the call to Dana asking if she might know someone who could help, Dr. Wilson walked through the doors of Lexi’s hospital room. So Ava’s suspicions that Dana had money, and lots of it, seemed to be right. She couldn’t help but wonder what she was running from. But as someone who’d kept her own secret for more than a decade, Ava didn’t question Dana. She wanted to, especially lately. For the past week, she’d noticed that glazed, vacant look in Dana’s eyes again.
Dana cast a nervous glance at the women gathered in the room. Then, as though she’d made an important decision, she reached up and took the auburn wig off. One question answered, but another one raised, Ava thought, when Dana revealed her own thick, gorgeous, long, blond hair. Ava had assumed Dana wore wigs because she’d lost her hair. Now more than ever she wondered who or what Dana was hiding from.
Which of course Lexi asked. “Why would you wear wigs when you have hair like that? Is there something you want to tell us?”
“No, I just wear them for fun,” Dana said, handing over the wig. She took the other one from Ava. “I’ll be right back.”
“Is it me or does Dana not seem herself these days?” Lexi asked.
Ava was interested in Lexi’s take on it. “How so?”
“Well, she’s always warm and sweet, but she acts cool and aloof when Gabe’s around. She doesn’t ask to hold him or act like a complete loon like you do.” Lexi mimicked the faces Ava made at Gabe when she was trying to make him smile.
“You’re just jealous because he smiled at me first.”
“It was gas.”
“Stop your bickering. Anyone listening to the two of you would think you’re sisters,” Dorothy said, approaching with Ava’s pale yellow wedding gown over her arm.
Lexi and Ava shared a glance and laughed. They’d had fun watching people’s reactions when they told them they were sister wives. Griffin had put a stop to it when he started getting strange looks on Main Street.
“We’re sisters from another mother.” Lexi frowned at the dress Dorothy shook out. “Hey, how come you’re not wearing the gown from the bridal show?”
“Griffin already saw her in it. It’s bad luck,” Arianna said.
Rosa, who’d been leaning toward a mirror putting on her makeup, pursed her lips. “He’s not the only one who saw her in it. The whole town’s talking about Maggie’s painting. Really, cara, it should be hanging in your bedroom, not in the gallery for everyone to see.”
Allowing Maggie to paint the portrait with the wedding dress more off than on had been another step in Ava taking her life back and becoming the girl she used to be. She was proud of that painting and what it stood for. So was Griffin. And so were her friends who’d wholeheartedly supported her.
She’d taken an even bigger step when she’d agreed to be interviewed for Byron’s exposé on Damien. Through Byron, Ava had learned she wasn’t Damien’s first or last victim. No one had seen him since he’d left the manor that night. But with the to-serve-and-protect Gallaghers hunting him down, she had no doubt that one day he’d pay for what he did to her and the other women.
“When my baby bump gets bigger, I’m having one done, Nonna. I only hope it’s half as beautiful as Ava’s,” Sophie said.
“I have my appointment booked with Maggie too,” Dorothy said.
Rosa stared at her friend in the mirror. “What would you do that for? You’re old.”
Dorothy cast Ava a sidelong glance. “It’s a birthday present for Gino.”
Sophie hurried over and covered Rosa’s mouth.
“I’m sure he’ll love it,” Ava said, happy that Dorothy and her father had decided to start dating.
Mia ran into the room. “Uncle Griffin said to hurry up or you’ll miss the sunset.”
Colleen stood on a table in the dining room, trying to get a glimpse of the wedding party. “I tell you, Simon, this being tethered to Greystone can be annoying. It looks like I’ve missed it,” she said, noting the guests making their way back to the manor from Starlight Bridge.
She heard Theo calling orders in the kitchen, and then several waiters filed out carrying trays of hors d’oeuvres. The wedding reception was being held on the patio off the dining room. Dana had done a beautiful job. White lights were strung over the patio and decorated the trees, and the white tablecloths draped over the round tables were dotted with tiny stars that glowed.
The French doors leading to the patio opened. It was Jasper. He looked to where Simon meowed at her and walked over. “I have something you might like to see, Madame.” He held up his phone.
She pressed her hands to her chest at the sound of her great-grandsons singing “I Swear” as the women in their mint-green dresses walked up the path, then stopped to line either side. Ava walked up the path in her beautiful buttercup-yellow gown with her father in his wheelchair at her side. She bent to kiss Gino when they reached the bridge, walking over it alone to where Griffin awaited her. Something in Griffin’s smile said this moment was special to them in more ways than one.
“You’re a good lad, Jasper, a very good lad indeed for thinking of me.”
“Get down off the table, Madame. I’ll leave the French doors open so you can be part of the celebration. I moved the bridal party’s tables close to the door.”
Touched, Colleen did as he suggested, hurrying to the door as the guests began taking their seats. Mia sat between Sophie and Liam at a table close by. The little girl looked straight at her. Colleen smiled and waved, but Mia kept searching the entrance. She couldn’t see her anymore.
“Ah, well, it was bound to happen sooner or later,” Colleen said, feeling the loss more than she thought she would.
Meow. Simon raised his chin.
“You’re right. I’m glad of your company, Tomcat. I truly am.”
Jasper glanced from Mia to where Colleen stood and then walked onto the patio. He said something to Kitty, who nodded, and he wheeled the baby’s pram inside.
“You figured I needed some cheering up, didn’t you, my boy?” She leaned over the pram. Gabriel was wide awake, looking at her with his big blue eyes. “Oh, and aren’t you a perfect wee mannie. Yes, you are. You are indeed. Can you smile for your GG?” She blinked. “Jasper, did you see that? He’s looking right at me and smiling.”
Jasper chuckled. “Well, Madame, it appears another of your great-great-grandchildren can see you. You’ll be pleased to know I’ve suggested Miss Lexi and the baby remain at the manor instead of moving to one of the cottages, and she’s accepted. At least for now.”
“Did you hear that, little one? You and I are going to have lots of time to get to know each other.” Colleen smiled at the baby, then straightened at the applause. Everyone stood up. “Sit down,” she groused, unable to see over them. They did when the DJ started playing “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri. Hand in hand, Griffin and Ava walked toward the dance floor, staring into each other’s eyes.
Never had Colleen seen a more beautiful or happy couple. They were, and had always been, the perfect match.
Have you visited Christmas, Colorado?
Please turn the page for an excerpt from
Wedding Bells
in Christmas
by Debbie Mason.
Chapter One
Dear Heartbroken in Hoboken: Two years? Seriously, it’s time for you to move on. Stop with the what ifs. Stop trying to figure out what went wrong. This guy has taken up space in your head and heart for way longer than he deserves. You have a job you love, family and friends who l
ove you. Focus on that, embrace that, and start enjoying your life again.
Vivian Westfield stood in the long security line at LaGuardia airport rereading her responses to next week’s letters from the lovelorn. Satisfied that they met her new criteria—the one where she no longer kicked butt but gently smacked it—she sent her Dear Vivi column off to her editor. At least Heartbroken had a job that she loved, Vivi thought as she shoved her iPad in her carry-on.
Vivi remembered the feeling. Oh, how she remembered it. Ten months ago, she’d landed her dream job as an investigative reporter for the Daily Spectator. All the long hours and hard work she’d put in at online newspapers had finally paid off. But she’d had only four lousy months to revel in the sweetness of her success.
While working on her biggest story to date—the story guaranteed to earn her editor’s respect and, more importantly, protect her best friend Skylar O’Connor—Vivi’s career imploded as spectacularly as a sinkhole opening up on Fifth Avenue in the middle of rush-hour traffic.
Looking back, and she’d done so every day since that bitterly cold November night, she realized where she’d gone wrong. She’d let Superman into her life. She should have known that someone who named himself after a comic book hero would turn into an overprotective wack job. In her defense, until that story, he’d fed her information she never would have gotten on her own. And over the months they’d spent texting each other on a daily basis, she’d found herself thinking about him all the time.
As embarrassing as it was to admit, she’d been crushing on Superman, fantasizing about becoming his Lois Lane. Which was ridiculous. She had no idea what he looked like. She hadn’t even spoken to the man. The only thing she knew for certain was that in his misguided attempt to protect her, her sources had dried up overnight. And that’s when her story went sideways. But Vivi was no quitter, and she’d tracked down the woman at the safe house to get the goods.