The Best Christmas Ever

by Cheryl Wolverton

  “I want to talk to you, too.” He caught her hand. “Come in here.”

  The phone rang, stopping him, for which she was thankful. She turned once again to go get her notes. That was when she saw Justin’s face darken.

  Looking up at her, he said, “Can you hold this until I go into the other room?”

  She nodded and went over to where Justin stood. Lifting the phone to her ear, she planned to wait until she heard the click of the extension. She was distracted when Mickie came barreling down the stairs with her doll. Sarah covered the receiver and asked Mickie to close the door.

  When she lifted the receiver back to her ear, she got the shock of her life.

  “Okay, Drydan, what do you want?”

  Drydan Watson was on the line. Her stomach dropped to her toes and she felt ill. Put the phone down. You’re invading his privacy, her mind screamed, but her heart kept the phone to her ear.

  “I want bygones to be bygones. My son is back in town and I finally found out what was going on between those two.”

  “This really isn’t any of my business, Drydan.”

  “But it is when she’s tried to ruin my reputation. You see, my son found out she was infertile and trying to marry him for his money…”

  The sound of a car door penetrated Sarah’s hypnotic haze and she lowered the phone. She stood staring at the receiver, dizzy with pain. She had wanted to tell Justin. Drydan would make her sound guilty. She knew how manipulative he was.

  She had to tell Justin her side of the story.

  Panic gripped her heart and she forced herself to take first one step, then another, toward the library. She would go in there, explain that Drydan was a liar, tell Justin everything: that she was infertile—or at least, they were ninety-nine percent certain. No, she would be honest. There was no way she could have kids. The chances were less than a million to one, as far as her doctor was concerned. She would tell Justin that and explain that she was just afraid.

  Her heart beat loudly in her ears, sounding like someone pounding on wood.

  Sarah’s head whipped around. No, someone was knocking. She hadn’t been able to distinguish the sound over her own thudding heart.

  Who in the world could it be? Now, right when everything was caving in on her, who could be knocking at her door?

  She hesitated, thought not to answer it, but then, feeling her courage drain in the face of what Drydan had had time to tell Justin, she turned and ran to the door as if she’d been tossed a lifeline. Maybe it was Bill. Maybe it was Marcy or maybe…

  “Oh, no…It can’t be!” she whispered when she opened the door. She grabbed the wooden structure for support and gripped it as her knees gave out.

  “Sarah? We need to talk.”

  André stood there, his hair ruffled from the breeze, a look of seriousness in his eyes that boded ill will.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “May I come in?”

  Sarah swallowed hard. “Yes.”

  When she just stood there, André took her elbow and escorted her to the couch. Sarah’s mind was numb. All she could think was that Justin was in one room talking to Drydan and her whole present was about to fall apart, while André had just shown up at her door to rehash the past.

  “Sarah. Did you hear me?”

  “Huh?” she focused on André. Dear, gorgeous André, who had his whole life ahead of him now that he’d gotten rid of his little problem. Namely her.

  “I said, I can’t believe what my father did. I meant what I said when I told you I was taking some time off to think. My father had no authority to have you fired. You were my legal assistant. He took too much upon himself.”

  Forcing herself to concentrate on André, she was surprised by his words. “Look, André, you were dumping me. What did it matter?” All she wanted was to get to Justin and explain.

  “Dumping you?” André shook his head, shock evident on his face. “Sarah, I told you I needed time to think. That’s what I did. My father is the one who was behind the rest.”

  Sarah didn’t understand, but he certainly had her attention. “What are you trying to say, André?”

  “I love you. I still want to marry you. Look, I know my parents put you through the ringer, and I’ve had a long talk with them. They won’t interfere again. I was especially furious when my father told me you were working as a housekeeper! A housekeeper, with your experience.”

  “Well, it wasn’t as if I could get a reference from your father,” she said sarcastically, her pain and anger coming out against this man.

  “No. And for that I’m sorry. Why didn’t you call me? I left my number with…”

  His voice trailed off and she couldn’t resist asking, “Your father?”

  He sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. “Yes, my father.” He growled. “I’ve been an idiot. I thought I needed time alone and found all I could think of was you. Only you.”

  He stood and began to pace, pushing his coat back so he could slide his hands into his pockets. “It doesn’t matter if we have children or not. I’ve let my father dictate my life too long. It’s you I want. I understand you were hurt and didn’t have anywhere to go and your ex-brother-in-law took you in. I just hope he hasn’t taken advantage of the situation.”

  “André!” Sarah said, shocked.

  André turned back to her. “I didn’t mean that. I’m still upset over the fight I just had with my dad. Can’t you understand? I love you. I want you back. Are you planning to work here the rest of your life?”

  Sarah thought of the applications Justin was supposed to bring her. “No, André,” she said wearily. “I don’t plan on staying a housekeeper.”

  “Good. I’m setting up my own practice. I want you to work for me. You won’t have to worry about my father again. What do you say?”

  “That sounds like a good idea, Sarah. Maybe you ought to consider it.”

  “Justin?” She whirled around to find him standing near the foot of the stairs at the entrance to the side hallway.

  He sauntered into the room. His features were masked, but there was something roiling in his gaze. Anger? Disillusionment? Hurt? Pain? “I said André has offered you everything back. Sounds too good to pass up. You ought to consider it.”

  Just like that her hope died. Justin had talked to Drydan and Drydan had carried through on his threat. He had told Justin about her infertility, plus who knew what else. And Justin saw this as the perfect way to get rid of her. She wouldn’t have believed it of him.

  Of course, she didn’t have any right to be upset. She’d told herself she’d give him the right to choose. And he chose a better life for his daughter than her being an only child.

  She was glad for the numbness right now. It would help her deal with everything. But later—oh, yes, later—she would grieve what she was losing. Because she realized she didn’t love André at all. No, it was Justin she loved—deeply. And she doubted she would ever love anyone again as much as she loved Justin.

  Forcing herself to swallow, she nodded. “Thank you, Justin. If you don’t mind, I’ll leave now.”

  “You don’t have anywhere to live,” Justin reminded her.

  “I’ll see she has a place,” André said, not unkindly. “You can’t expect me to allow her to continue to work as a housekeeper here, though.”

  “No, I don’t suppose I’d like it, either,” Justin said.

  Sarah noted the way the two men talked over her. Normally, she would be spitting mad, but she still didn’t feel anything.

  “I’ll send someone for my things,” she said, and without looking back walked to the door. “Tell Mickie—” the pain in her heart broke through the numbness and she gasped “—tell her goodbye.”

  “Sarah…” Justin said.

  But she didn’t stop. She felt André’s hand on her, escorting her to his car. She was grateful.

  “I’ll take you to my house and—”

  “Take me to Bill’s.”

  “Now, Sarah,” he beg
an.

  “Take me there or I’ll walk.”

  “As you wish,” André said reluctantly.

  Sarah laid back her head and closed her eyes. Only then did she finally allow the pain to engulf her, and the tears to silently flow down her face.

  “What a fool,” Justin berated himself, going back into his office and sinking into his chair. “Why did you let her go like that?”

  But Justin knew. Oh, it wasn’t because of what Drydan had said.

  He knew that Drydan had not told him the truth. Sarah wasn’t a manipulative person who tried to marry André for his money.

  No, Sarah had loved André. And for some reason, André had left her. Probably because he’d found out she was infertile.

  Justin wondered if Sarah had planned to tell him. He was still reeling over that. Why hadn’t she told him? Was she worried he’d be angry? Or maybe she was worried he’d kick her out? After all, he’d taken her in off the streets.

  But he wouldn’t have done anything like that, because he loved her.

  He’d gone out to confront her, and had heard André saying his father had been behind everything.

  It was then that he realized why Sarah hadn’t been able to voice her love for him. She was still in love with André. And knowing Sarah as he now did, he understood that she wouldn’t have told him, would feel guilty for leading him on.

  It had broken his heart to know she was coming to him just as Amy had.

  But he wouldn’t let her do it. Not just for him and Mickie, but for her, too. That’s why he’d told her she might want to try going back to André.

  And she hadn’t even put up a fuss; she’d jumped at the idea.

  He’d thought he hurt when Amy died, but he knew he was hurting again—a wound he wasn’t sure he would get over this time.

  He scrubbed at his eyes, trying to erase the images his mind conjured up of Sarah. But it was no use. She was there, would be there—

  “Daddy, where did Aunt Sarah go?”

  Justin’s head shot up.

  Mickie was standing in the doorway, holding her doll, staring at him uncertainly.

  What could he tell Mickie? How could he tell her?

  “She moved out, honey,” he said.

  “Moved out? But she didn’t tell me goodbye. She promised she’d always tell me goodbye.”

  Justin didn’t know what to say. Angry at Sarah and himself for putting his daughter through this, he vowed never again to get involved with a woman. He held out his arms. “I’m sorry, pumpkin.”

  In a flash she was across the floor and climbing into his arms. Little sobs shook her body, and he rocked her, his own tears silently falling down his face. Why, oh, why, had he allowed the woman such a place in his heart?

  He didn’t realize his daughter had stopped crying or that it had gotten dark out. He did feel the touch of her small hand on his cheek and hear her whispered words.

  “It’s all right, Daddy. She’ll come back. Don’t you worry.”

  Looking down at the small child who was trying to comfort him, he hugged her close. Kissing the top of her head, he said, “What say we go make a chocolate coconut cake with extra coconut?”

  “That sounds good,” she said. But though she replied positively, her little eyes were far too serious.

  Justin realized then that he’d have to push Sarah from his mind and concentrate, instead, on the life he had right in front of him. In time, he and Mickie would heal. Someday they’d be happy again.

  Wouldn’t they?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Sarah, it’s Bill.”

  Sarah glanced toward the front door of the garage apartment Bill had leased to her. Bill had pushed open the door and was peeking inside. Seeing him, his head covered with snowflakes, she motioned to him. “Come in,” she said. “I was just finishing up my résumé for the job I’m applying for Monday.”

  “Marcy sent me over. It’s Christmas Eve. She wanted to know if you’d come over and share dinner with us.”

  Christmas Eve? Already. An entire week had passed and she hadn’t realized it. In another way, it seemed that an entire lifetime had passed since she’d walked out of Justin’s life. “I don’t know, Bill. I have so much to do—”

  “May I ask you a question?” Bill sat down on the couch across the room from where Sarah sat at the table.

  Sarah avoided his gaze and went back to typing. “Sure. Shoot. After all, you rented me this place without any questions. I’m sure you’re entitled to a few.”

  She knew that was a low blow, but she really didn’t want him asking questions.

  “Good try, Sarah,” he said. “But I don’t run when you get nasty.”

  “I’m sorry, Bill,” she said, and looked up at him, only to see his compassionate gaze. “Don’t,” she warned.

  “You’re gonna drive yourself into a grave. Every time I glance over here I see the light on. You’ve done more this past week than anyone should do in a month. You need to slow down.”

  “I’m just trying to find a job.”

  “If that’s so, why didn’t you take the one Justin offered?”

  She stiffened.

  “I see,” he said at last when she didn’t comment. “What happened, Sarah? I don’t understand why you’re here. Justin loves you.”

  “Yeah, sure,” she finally said, bitterness slipping into her voice.

  Bill looked surprised but said, “So it is Justin. I’d wondered.”

  “Bill, don’t bring it up. Please.”

  He ignored her. After going over to where she sat, he forced her around and took her hands. “I don’t know what happened, Sarah. But I do know one thing. Justin loves you. Whatever’s the matter can be worked out. You’ve got to try.” When she didn’t comment, he asked, “Does this have to do with what you told him—that you were infertile?”

  Sarah tried to run away, but he wouldn’t let her. “Does it? Are you telling me he went crazy over that? Well?”

  She struggled against his hold, then stopped fighting. Her voice a broken whisper, she finally admitted, “I never got the chance to tell him.”

  Bill stared at her for only a minute, then let go of her hands and took a seat next to her. “Then what is all this about?”

  Tears brimming her eyes, Sarah said, “I didn’t get a chance to tell him because Drydan did.”

  He shook his head. “Wait a minute. You want to run that by me again? You said nothing about Drydan going over there that day.”

  Sarah sighed and dropped her head to her chest, her shoulders feeling heavy with the truth of that day. Finally, she said, “You remember your advice about notes? Well, I did it. I’d decided to confess everything. I went downstairs, planning on just that. But when I got. down there, the phone rang. Drydan was on the line. He told Justin all kinds of things. Enough that when Justin came out he sent me home with André.”

  “Why didn’t you try to tell him that what Drydan said was wrong?”

  Sarah looked up helplessly. “I don’t know. André was telling me he still loved me. Justin was telling me it’d be best if I went with André. And I was still in shock from what had happened. Honestly, I didn’t think of anything until I was in the car. Then I had enough sense to demand that André bring me here.”

  “Which explains what Marcy was saying about a strange man driving you here and her hearing an argument before you came into the house.”

  “Yeah,” Sarah replied. “André didn’t want to leave me. I didn’t mean to hurt him, but he had to understand I didn’t love him and wasn’t taking the job he offered. I think maybe he realized that I had become his courage to face his father. It was a step he needed to take to finally grow up. But it wasn’t love. When it came out that Drydan had just called Justin, I don’t think he believed me.” She shrugged.

  “Oh, Sarah, honey.” He reached out and touched her shoulder, then drew back his hand. “Go to Justin. Explain. I know he loves you.”

  “How? How do you know?”

&
nbsp; Bill looked her straight in the eye. “He told me. I don’t think he’d honestly care about your infertility. If nothing else, think what you’re doing to Mickie in all this.”

  Sarah knew she looked stricken, but that was one of the reasons she hadn’t been able to sleep. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye to her.”

  “Oh, Sarah.” Bill sighed. Then he stood and grabbed her by the hand. “Come on. Whether you want to or not, we’re going over there.”

  “I can’t. Bill, you don’t understand. I don’t think he wants me over there.”

  Bill wouldn’t take no for an answer. He pulled her toward the door until she reluctantly followed. “I’ll make you a deal. If he gives you any problems, I beat him to a pulp for you.”

  Sarah laughed, though not out of amusement but excess nervous energy. “I just don’t know…” She hesitated. “I don’t want to make things worse.”

  “Bill! Bill!”

  Marcy’s frantic voice reached them. Bill threw open the door and Sarah saw Marcy running up the stairs, which were now covered with snow.

  Bill immediately released Sarah and ran to Marcy. “What is it, sweetheart? The baby?” His hand went to her abdomen.

  “No. Justin called. It’s Mickie. She’s missing.”

  Justin paced his house, frantic for any word. Where was she? Where had Mickie gone? She’d been away three hours now.

  He’d tucked her in, then come downstairs to work. At one point he’d gone out back to stand in the fresh snow, thinking of all that had happened since Sarah had left, remembering her wish for snow on Christmas so she and Mickie could build a snowman.

  He and Mickie were both miserable. They both wanted her back. He’d been praying, trying to decide if her returning would be the best course.

  Then he’d gone in and taken a hot shower to warm up. Before getting into bed, he’d gone to check on Mickie. It wasn’t until he found her coat and backpack missing that he realized she’d run away.

  The pounding on the front door had him racing to it. Bill, Marcy and Sarah stood there.

  “Have they found her yet?” Marcy asked, going to him and giving him a hug.