by Debbie Mason
Meow.
There was a wealth of meaning and emotion behind that meow. It was as though Simon had just asked if she’d lost her marbles at the same time telling her it would be a cold day in hell before that came to pass.
“All right, so perhaps a wedding might be pushing it. But mark my words, those two are meant to be together. I have a gift, Simon. I know these things. And the one thing I know for certain is…” She trailed off as she turned her attention to Julia. The rest of what she was about to say was interrupted by the shocking development happening right before her very eyes. Paul Benson joined Julia at the romantic table for two and reached for her hand, bringing it to his lips.
“For the love of all that is holy, what does the chief think he’s doing? Julia is young enough to be his daughter.” That was the problem with being tied to the manor: For the most part, Colleen had no idea what was going on outside her little world or how to impact it. She shot a look at Aidan, who’d gone from frowning to scowling, and smiled. “There it is, Simon. Right there is proof that I’m right. Though he’d best get off his tuchus and intervene.”
Colleen’s body practically vibrated as someone walked through her. It was a stout, bald man with a briefcase in hand. He headed straight for Aidan’s table.
“What’s Harper up to now?” Colleen wondered aloud as she recognized the Gallagher family attorney. She’d known from the very beginning it would never work out between Aidan and his ex. Her great-grandson had made the mistake of marrying too soon after the death of his mother and sister. The loss of Mary and Riley had changed him, as had his marriage. He wasn’t the same sweet boy Colleen remembered. He’d become hard and cynical. His mother would be sad to see the changes in her son.
Colleen made her way to the table, assuming her old friend and attorney must have taken it upon himself to advise Aidan on his custody battle with Harper. Thankfully, Aidan’s sisters-in-law had daily meetings at the manor and the topic of their single brother-in-law came up often so Colleen had some idea what was going on.
After Erin had taken their order, Wilcox reached in his briefcase and took out a copy of her will. He handed it to Aidan. “As you can see, your great-grandmother gave a lot of thought to this. The Gallagher legacy was important to her, Aidan. She hoped that you and your cousins, given time, would come to feel as she did. It’s why the sale of shares to an outside party is prohibited prior to a unanimous decision being reached by you and your cousins.”
Colleen watched Aidan as he read the document, panic tightening her chest. Her great-grandson was smart, too smart. If anyone could find a way around the clause, it would be Aidan.
He lowered the paper to look at George. “I’ll sell my share to one of my cousins, then.”
Aidan’s brothers and their cousin Michael had signed up for the Save Greystone Team, but the rest of her great-grandchildren were wildcards. They could go either way. She had to stop this now.
Her gaze shot around the dining room, looking for someone to intercede. Rosa DiRossi had just walked into the dining room. With her dark, shoulder-length hair and exotic features, the seventy-something woman still managed to turn heads in her black dress and black leather knee-high boots—including that of the man who stood up to greet her. Dr. Bishop. He kissed Rosa’s cheek and then held out her chair.
Colleen’s night had gone from bad to worse. Or it would if her daughter-in-law Kitty happened to walk by the dining room and spy the couple together. Kitty and Rosa had been feuding over Kyle Bishop since last summer. It wasn’t the first time the women had been involved in a love triangle. And knowing how badly it had ended the last time…
“I have a good mind to dump Kyle Bishop’s wine on his head. What is he thinking meeting Rosa here?” Colleen muttered to Simon as she looked from Aidan back to Rosa and Kyle, trying to decide which situation was most urgent.
Simon meowed. Like the rest of the diners, Colleen turned as an elegant woman with white-blond hair and blue eyes entered the dining room. It was Kitty.
“Simon, find Jasper!” Colleen said, hurrying to Dr. Bishop’s table in hopes of staving off a battle royale. She hadn’t completely mastered the art of haunting, but at times she could move things and make her presence known. All she had to do was scare the bejaysus out of the three of them so they would leave before making a scene.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noted a tall, lean fellow wearing a black suit shoo Simon from the dining room. It was Jasper. She saw the moment he realized why Simon had been trying to gain his attention.
He wouldn’t make it in time to avert the disaster. Kitty was almost at the table. It was up to Colleen to stop the drama that was about to unfold, although she was surprised the fight hadn’t already broken out. Colleen’s hand passed through Kyle as she reached for the glass of water on the table.
“Kitty, my dear, you look as beautiful as always.” Like he’d done with Rosa, Kyle kissed Kitty’s cheek and held out a chair for her.
Jasper slowed his approach, looking as confused as Colleen felt. What the bejaysus was going on?
“Thank you.” Kitty took her seat, giving her once childhood best friend a regal nod. “Rosa.”
Rosa unfolded her napkin and then greeted Kitty. Her dark eyes moved to where Jasper now unobtrusively stood with his hands behind his back at the window, overseeing the dining room, and she pursed her lips. She wasn’t Jasper’s biggest fan. Little did Rosa know how much she owed the man or the price he’d pay if word got out about what he’d done to protect her.
“I’m honored you both agreed to join me. At our ages, we can’t afford to hold grudges. And I certainly don’t want you fighting over me,” Kyle said. Yet his smug tone indicated he was more than flattered by the attention. “I was also hoping to continue our friendships, if you know what I mean?”
Colleen was afraid that she did. Behind her, she could practically feel Jasper’s blood boiling.
Rosa’s eyes narrowed. “With me or Kitty?”
“With both of you, of course. I thought we could agree upon some sort of schedule. One week with you, Rosa, and one week with you, Kitty. Unless you’re interested in—”
Both Rosa and Kitty picked up their water goblets at the same time and leaned over to dump them on Kyle’s head.
Colleen grinned, happy the two women weren’t so desperate for love and affection that they’d let themselves be treated that way. Jasper instantly appeared at the table to defuse the situation. Just because Kitty and Rosa were calm at the moment didn’t mean they’d stay that way. Especially Rosa.
“Dr. Bishop, if you’ll come with me, I’ll have your car brought around to the front. Ladies, Erin will set you up at another table,” Jasper said.
“Why? We’ll stay here. He’s wet. The table isn’t,” Rosa told Jasper.
That moment earlier when Colleen had felt her heart was about to explode from her chest was almost worth it to see Kitty smile and agree with Rosa. They’d stay and have dinner together, the feud forgotten once more.
Colleen didn’t have time to enjoy the moment though. If Jasper hadn’t shooed off Simon and the darn cat obeyed, Colleen would have had him draw Kitty and Rosa’s attention to Aidan and his dinner companion at the other side of the room. Both women were intent on saving the manor and keeping the estate in the Gallagher family. Somehow, Colleen had to clue in Kitty to what was going on. She’d need her help to stop Aidan from selling out.
As Colleen hurried to her great-grandson’s table, she noticed Julia looking Aidan’s way. She should have thought of that from the very start. This was a job for the Gallaghers’ fairy godmother. And Aidan had just given Colleen the perfect opportunity to set it in play. Frowning at his grandmother’s table, Aidan said something to the attorney and got up to check on Kitty. The older man followed him, leaving the paper on the table unattended.
Colleen got eye level with the table and blew with all her might, pleased when the paper fluttered to the floor. Going down on her hands and knees, she blew it a
ll the way across the room to the side of Julia’s chair. The girl didn’t give it a passing glance. Colleen tugged on the linen napkin on Julia’s lap. It took several tries before the white cloth fell onto the floor.
“Thank the good Lord,” she said when Julia finally leaned over and picked up both. The girl frowned at the sheet of paper and then her eyes went wide. “Paul, I have to use the restroom and return a call. I won’t be long. If Erin comes before I’m back, just order me a Caesar salad with chicken, please.”
“Julia, is everything all right?” the chief asked.
“Fine. Perfectly fine,” she responded, intent on her phone, speed typing as she walked toward the stairs.
Colleen turned to see Aidan standing at his grandmother’s table. He pulled out his phone, frowned and looked around, and then typed something before excusing himself. As soon as Aidan walked off, Wilcox filled in Kitty and Rosa. It wasn’t as though he was breaking his oath as a lawyer. All Aidan had wanted to know was his rights in regard to her will.
Relieved that her daughter-in-law was now aware of the situation, Colleen followed her great-grandson.
Aidan scanned the lobby as he walked toward the atrium. There were two people at the bar and a couple checking in at the reception desk. “Julia, where are you?” Aidan said, turning in a circle.
A red-wool-encased arm shot out, dragging him behind the artificial Christmas tree at the atrium’s entrance.
“Keep your voice down,” Julia ordered Aidan.
He looked down at her and crossed his arms. “Why? Because you don’t want your boyfriend to know you’re arranging secret rendezvous with other men?”
“You’re not other men, and he’s not my boyfriend.”
“Ah, last time I checked I was definitely a man and—”
“Believe me, I know you’re a man. What I meant was you’re not another man, like someone I’m seeing secretly on the side.”
“Was that supposed to make sense?”
“Yes, and it did. I—” She made a small frustrated sound in her throat. “I don’t have time to play word games with you. What’s this?” She held up the paper.
“None of your business.” He frowned, taking the document from her. “Did you take this off my table?”
Colleen had seen that expression on her great-grandson’s face before, and it didn’t bode well for Julia or the conversation.
“No, I wouldn’t do something like that. I dropped my napkin and it was there, on the floor.”
“I’ll take you at your word, this time. Just don’t let it happen again.”
“I told you… You know what, never mind. I’m not fighting about this when we have more important things to discuss, like the manor and keeping it in the Gallagher family.” She crossed her arms, mimicking Aidan’s stance. “You’re on the Save Greystone Team, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m on Team Aidan and Ella Rose. I can’t afford to be sentimental about this, Julia. My job isn’t exactly a sure thing, and I have a daughter to think about.”
“You don’t have to worry about your job. I was just getting around to explaining everything to Paul. He wasn’t in the mood to listen last night, so I thought I’d bring him here for a nice dinner and smooth things over. I promise, Aidan, I am going to make this right. You don’t have to worry about being shut in an office going through cold case files for the rest of your life.”
By all that is holy, how did that happen? The last thing they needed was for Aidan to look into the deaths of his mother and sister. The members of HHPD were good at their job, but Aidan was better. Nothing got past him. And they couldn’t afford for the truth to come out.
Two weeks after Josh died, Colleen had been at church for a private confession. It’d been late, and she’d heard someone crying in one of the pews. It turned out to be Julia. She’d told Colleen everything that night.
It had been Colleen’s decision to keep the truth from the family. She didn’t see what good it would do. It wasn’t like it would bring Mary and Riley back. After so many years had passed, the family had slowly begun to heal. However, she’d had another reason for covering up the truth. And it wasn’t only because she could use a hand bringing her family together again. The day after Josh had died, someone else had shared their secret with Colleen.
Too many people would be hurt if both truths came out. She wished she could help Julia, but the poor lamb was on her own. And up against the Big Bad Wolf, Colleen thought, looking at her great-grandson’s cross face.
“Are you telling me you asked Benson out for dinner so you could plead my case?”
“Uh, no?”
Colleen didn’t blame Julia for not knowing whether she should lie or tell the truth. Aidan had no idea how intimidating he could be. Even so, Colleen thought his reaction to Julia having dinner with his boss might be a sign that their relationship was heading in the right direction after all.
“Okay, yes, that’s the main reason I’m here,” Julia amended. “So please, can you hold off selling your shares? This isn’t about only your family. It’s about the town, Aid—”
“Julia…” Chief Benson began as he rounded the Christmas tree. His features tightened when he spotted Aidan. “I thought I told you to stay away from her, Gallagher.”
Chapter Seven
Julia had been trying to ignore her sore throat all morning, along with the sneezing that had accompanied it. Though that annoying symptom seemed to have cleared up, she thought with a sniff. Too bad she hadn’t been able to stop sneezing while writing today’s love scene. She hadn’t exactly been in a hot and steamy mood and had a feeling that when she went over her pages later that night, they’d need major revisions.
She blamed her cold on stress. In less than two days, she’d gone from having only one Gallagher to worry about to having two plus the manor… Oh, and Paul. She couldn’t forget about him.
Until she’d ensured he wouldn’t fire Aidan, she had to continue dating the older man. Given his comments after discovering her with Aidan behind the Christmas tree, she was off the market for the foreseeable future. No biggie, really. Who has time to date anyway? she thought, digging in the white apron she wore over the ankle-length blue dress. She found the zinc lozenge in her pocket and popped it in her mouth.
At least last night’s dinner at the manor hadn’t been a total disaster. Before her assignation with Aidan, she’d managed to convince Paul that, with all the Christmas festivities going on in town, they needed a strong police presence on the streets. She hoped that was enough to guarantee Aidan would be on patrol and not locked in a room with cold case files.
Though after her near panic attack upon reading his text, she’d had time to think more rationally. It had been more than eight years since the accident on the bridge. Knowing the Gallaghers like she’d come to, if there’d been anything to find, they’d have found it by now. But if she had any hope of convincing Paul that Aidan was exactly the kind of officer he wanted working for HHPD, she needed Aidan out and about and not behind a desk at the station.
Just the thought of all she had to do made her want to curl up under the Christmas tree. Between playing the Gallaghers’ fairy godmother, heading up the town’s Christmas committee, running her business at the busiest time of year, and erasing any sign of Aidan from her book, Julia would be lucky if she found time to sleep.
“Thanks so much, Aidan Gallagher,” she muttered, hanging a miniature book cover on the eight-foot pre-lit tree, its branches heavy with fake snow and ornaments. Along with covers of the children’s classics, she’d bought figurines and ornaments that depicted scenes and characters from the books.
They’d cost a small fortune, and she wasn’t looking forward to opening her credit card bill next month. But seeing them on the tree made her happy and excited for the upcoming holidays. The feeling never lasted for long, not like it had years before. Now it seemed like she spent the entire month of December trying to recapture the magic with a new tradition, a new event, something that would
fill her up with that remembered joy.
“How about it, Mrs. Potts? Do you have any words of wisdom for me?” she asked the teapot as she hung it on the branch beside Mrs. Potts’s son, Chip, the teacup.
From behind her she heard a familiar little girl’s voice say, “You should talk to Livy instead of the teapot. She doesn’t think you should be dating the police chief.”
“George!” An elegant blonde wearing a silver-gray padded jacket and matching suede winter boots cringed as she rushed to the side of the little girl with the curly dark hair and big blue eyes. “I’m so sorry, Julia. George joined us at our meeting at the manor yesterday morning, and I guess she overheard us talking… All right, that sounds just as bad and so does my comment about Chief Benson. But it’s not exactly what I—”
“She said he’s too old for you.”
“George,” Olivia groaned, and crouched at the little girl’s side.
Julia looked around the store. There were several people browsing in the mystery and new releases sections. Far enough away that they hadn’t heard George, whose voice tended to carry.
“Sweetheart, you can’t repeat private conversations.” Her cheeks pink, Olivia looked up at Julia. “It all started with me suggesting that we ask you to help with the Snow Ball on Christmas Eve. We thought it would be even more special if we added some entertainment, and I mentioned what you were doing for the Festival of Lights and how it would fit perfectly with our theme. We’re taking George to Kenya to spend the holidays with her mom, so I won’t be here… Anyway, that got us talking about how much we all love you and want to see you happy.”
It didn’t bother Julia that her friends were talking about her. She knew they were coming from a good place. Still, she had to work to keep the panic from showing on her face. She didn’t have the time or energy to play the dating game, and she didn’t know how to say no if Olivia asked her to take over the Snow Ball and organize a performance from The Nutcracker.