by Girard, Dara
Noreen folded her arms, uncomfortable by his scrutiny. “Yes, I suppose if you ignore the glasses, the clothes, the career, the house and her vivacious personality, my sister and I are exactly the same.”
“Ouch,” he said with good humor. “I guess I deserve that.”
“I didn’t mean to be rude.”
He grinned. “Somehow I doubt that, but you made your point. You’re two different women.” He leaned forward. “Noreen, I won’t waste your time. I want to ask your opinion.”
“Go on.”
“I’ll come out and say it. I came to you because you and your sister are close and I know you’d know what she needs. I want to ask your sister to marry me. Do you think it’s too soon?”
He wanted to marry her? Noreen’s heart filled with joy then shattered when she remembered he was referring to Arlene. She looked at him, unable to form any words.
She heard the front door slam shut. “I’m back,” Arlene called out. “I bet you were afraid I’d buy out the store.” Arlene came into the room, carrying several grocery bags.
Michael jumped to his feet. “Hello, Angel. You look more beautiful than I remember.”
Arlene stared at him. “What?”
Noreen rushed over to her, grabbed some bags and took her arm. “Excuse us.” She pushed her sister into the kitchen.
“Who’s that? He’s gorgeous. Not in the regular way, but in that I-get-what-I-want-and-I-want-you way.”
“His name is Michael Vaughn and there are a few things I forgot to tell you about my trip. We had an affair and he really likes you.”
Arlene grinned. “Some sisters pick up souvenirs when they travel. My sister brings me back a man.” Arlene put her bags down and headed out the door. “I need to get another look at him.”
Noreen seized her arm. “He calls you Angel because you helped him after he got hit by a car.”
Arlene tapped her chin. “That’s a cute nickname. I like it.”
“This is serious.”
“And I’m seriously listening. Tell me what else I need to know.”
Noreen gave her sister a quick summary of key information so that Arlene could bluff her way through.
Arlene nodded, processing everything. “Does he have money?”
“Yes.”
“Even better.” Arlene patted her sister’s cheek. “Don’t worry, I know how to play this,” she said then started to leave.
“Wait!”
“What?”
Noreen took off the necklace Michael had given her and placed it around Arlene’s neck. “You have to wear this. He gave it to me…um, you, and it’s important to him. He got it from his mother.”
Arlene frowned and held the medal in her palm. “It’s kind of ugly.”
“That doesn’t matter,” Noreen said in a tight voice. “Now let’s go before he gets suspicious.”
Arlene calmly walked into the family room where Michael stood studying a picture of them as little girls. He turned when he heard them enter. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again,” she said with feeling.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner.” He walked over to her. “I wanted to but so many things happened. I thought about you every day.” His voice lowered. “You’re just as I remembered you.”
“Except a little bigger.”
“To me you’re always the perfect size.” His gaze fell to the necklace. “You kept it.” Before she could answer, he drew her close and kissed her.
Noreen turned away, feeling her insides shrivel. She was about to disappear into the kitchen when Arlene said, “Why don’t you stay for dinner?”
“No, I’m sure he has lots to do,” Noreen said.
“I’d like that,” Michael replied at the same time.
They looked at each other and laughed awkwardly.
“I’m sorry,” they said simultaneously.
Michael gestured to her. “You go first.”
“I have a lot of work to do. Why don’t you two go out? There’s that restaurant—”
Arlene shook her head. “No, we’re staying right here to keep you from working to death.” She turned to Michael. “She works all the time. I have to drag her away, but she’s been so good to me.”
“I want to spend time with you, but only if that’s okay with Noreen.” He shifted his gaze to Noreen.
Arlene stood behind him and mouthed “Say yes.”
At that moment Noreen hated her sister. “Of course.” Noreen took a step back. “Are there more bags in the car?”
“Just one.”
Michael released Arlene. “I can—”
“I’ll get it,” Noreen interrupted. She left and opened the trunk of her car, wishing she could just drive away. She was already in her sister’s shadow. Now her special secret was over. At least before she could pretend that he’d cared for her, but now reality was staring her in the face. He treated her just like all the rest. There was no look of interest, no look of anticipated fun. But how could she have expected anything else? He was loyal. Noreen sighed, defeated. Why couldn’t he have stayed away? Then their dream affair would have lasted forever.
She returned to the house and found Arlene alone. “Where’s Michael?”
“Getting more boxes from the garage. He said he’ll help me decorate. Oh, Noreen, he’s wonderful. He’s even better than wonderful. He’s The One. He said he has a place for us on an island.” Arlene ran up and hugged her. “After Clyde and Tyrone I can’t believe I could be this lucky. I won’t have to live off you. He’ll take care of me.” She patted her stomach. “And little me. This is the best Christmas ever. And it gets better.”
Noreen’s stomach clenched from impending doom. “How?”
“He has a friend.”
“So?”
“So Michael asked me if he could invite him to join us for dinner because otherwise his friend would be alone. He said his friend’s a really nice guy and I thought about you. His name is…” She squinted in thought. “It starts with a D. Derek or Derwin—”
“It’s Darren,” Michael corrected coming in to place two large boxes down. “I came to spend the holidays with him. He lost his wife a few years ago and I couldn’t have a nice home-cooked meal while he’s left alone with a TV dinner. That just doesn’t seem fair. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No,” Noreen said in a neutral tone, determined not to betray her feelings. “It’s the season of giving. The more the merrier. Let me go get dinner started.”
“Could we have fish cakes, Angel? I’ve been dreaming about yours for weeks.”
Arlene frowned. “What?”
“I’ll make them,” Noreen said quickly. “Arlene’s had a long day. I’m sure she’ll make them for you another time. Let me go and see what I can throw together.”
Noreen rushed into the kitchen and started gathering the necessary items for dinner. So much for the Chinese takeout she’d planned for today. She had to find something. She wanted to hate them both. Feelings of anger would stop her from wanting to cry. She knew Michael cared about Arlene and would take care of her and Arlene needed someone like him, especially now. And she knew her sister would easily fall in love with him, if she hadn’t already. Now she wouldn’t have to worry about her sister picking up another jerk.
As Michael had told her on the island, Arlene lived romance while Noreen just wrote about it. And her sister deserved a happy ending. It was perfect. They belonged together.
But no matter how much she tried to rationalize what was happening, that didn’t stop their laughter from sounding like a knife against glass. The thought of them together made her heart ache. She felt wicked and selfish. Her misery grew when she heard Christmas music coming from her stereo and heard them singing along, their voices blending in perfect harmony.
Noreen listened to the music and groaned. She’d never been a big fan of Christmas and now she hated it. She suddenly felt as if the ghost of Jacob Marley would come and haunt her. Scrooge had nothing on her. How could she think a
nything but good for her sister? Why couldn’t she genuinely want the two of them to be happy? She knew the reason, but didn’t want to answer herself.
Moments later, she heard the doorbell ring and Arlene screamed, “Daddy!”
Noreen swore. Just what she didn’t need. An unwanted father-and-daughter reunion. She hadn’t seen her father in nearly a year. She glanced at the ceiling, her words a fervent plea. “Kill me now.”
Chapter Seventeen
“I just met Arlene’s new man,” Vince Webster said, entering the kitchen. He was a striking man with white hair and dark eyes. “Your sister is glowing.”
“You surprise me,” Noreen said sarcastically. “Now you’ll tell me that ice is cold.”
“Hello, Noreen,” he said with a formal tone.
“Hello, Dad,” she replied in equal measure.
“How are you doing?”
“Fine.”
He shifted then cleared his throat. “She invited me over for dinner, but she obviously didn’t tell you.”
“I don’t care. I’m making plenty of food. Right now I’m not quite sure what I’m making, but I’m sure it will be enough.”
“Careful you don’t cut yourself,” he said, watching her quickly chop several green peppers.
“I will.”
He glanced around the kitchen then looked at her. “It’s good to see you.”
“I’ll be out with snacks soon,” she said, hoping he’d get the hint and leave her alone. “Do you want anything to drink?”
Her father hesitated then sighed and said, “No,” before leaving.
Noreen filled several small glass bowls with nuts and crackers and placed them on the coffee table out in the family room. “Nibble on these until dinner is ready.”
“Come and help us,” Arlene said as she placed an ornament on the tree.
“I have enough to do in the kitchen.” Noreen returned to the kitchen before her sister could protest. She had to stay away from them and keep busy so that she wouldn’t think.
As she checked the roasting chicken in the oven, she heard the doorbell ring again and went into the hallway to answer it. She saw Michael heading for the door.
“It’s probably Darren,” he said when he saw her. “I’ll get it.”
Noreen pushed past him, annoyed with how comfortable he’d made himself in her house. “That’s okay, I’ll get it.” She opened the door ready to hate her new guest, and at first she did when she noticed the attractive older man dressed in an expensive Italian coat and cashmere scarf, but then she looked into his soft brown eyes and her heart softened. This man was genuine. She opened the door wider and offered him a smile. “You must be Darren. I’m Noreen.”
“Thanks for having me,” he said, stepping inside and taking off his coat.
“It’s a pleasure.” She opened the closet and hung up his coat.
“So you made it,” Michael said, patting his friend on the back.
Darren smiled. “Yes, no thanks to your directions.”
Michael laughed. “I was hoping you’d get lost so I could keep these two beautiful women all to myself.”
Noreen turned to him sharply, but he was already leading Darren into the family room. Two beautiful women? Had he really said that? He had to be joking.
She shook her head and returned to the kitchen to make a salad. She ripped up the lettuce with pleasure.
“Are you angry?” Arlene asked, creeping into the kitchen like a child going to the principal’s office.
Noreen turned to her. “You should have told me you had invited Dad.”
“I knew you’d say no, and I want you two to get on. I thought a nice family dinner was in order. It’s the holidays. I didn’t know Michael would show up too. But it’s all working out great. They like each other.”
“Good.”
“So you’re not mad?”
I’m furious. “No.”
“Oh, and isn’t Darren cute? You just want to hug him.”
A reluctant smile touched Noreen’s lips. “Yes,” she admitted.
Arlene kissed her sister on the cheek. “Thanks for everything. Could we get more nibbles?” She handed Noreen the empty bowls.
Noreen filled them.
Arlene took them from her and looped her arm through hers. “Come and see what we’ve done.” She dragged Noreen into the family room.
“It looks great,” Noreen said, admiring the tree and other decorations.
“Sit down and watch us turn on the lights,” Arlene urged her.
“I really don’t—”
Michael’s voice cut through her protest. “Sit down.”
She stared at him, surprised by his command.
“Please,” Darren said in a softer tone.
Noreen shifted her gaze to him and slowly sank into a nearby love seat, biting back what she really wanted to say.
Arlene smiled and nodded at her father. “Okay, plug it in.”
He did and all the lights came on.
“Beautiful,” Noreen said, jumping to her feet.
Arlene’s smile fell. “Where are you going?”
“If you want to eat dinner, I’d better be cooking.”
“It doesn’t usually take you that long.”
“I don’t usually cook for five.”
“Make a large pizza or something then.”
Noreen’s lips thinned. “A pizza? Why not hot dogs and soda? Silly me, I should have thought of that before I started roasting a chicken.”
“I didn’t expect you to.”
“We could order in if you want,” Michael said.
“And waste the food I’ve already started?”
Michael narrowed his eyes. “We didn’t ask you to make a feast.”
“No, I guess I shouldn’t have made anything.”
“I didn’t mean—”
Darren cut in. “We’re really grateful for all that you’re doing,” he said, his smooth, deep voice calming the argument before it could escalate. “Don’t let us bother you.”
Noreen cooled her temper. “Thank you.” She left and sighed with relief when she reached the safety of the kitchen. She cut the potatoes and put them in a bowl and began to mash them.
“You’re a violent masher,” a male voice said.
She ignored him and mashed harder, wishing she could do the same to the desire welling up inside her.
“Dinner smells good,” he added.
She turned, recognizing the kind voice. “I’m sorry, Darren, I thought you were—”
“Michael?”
She nodded, ashamed.
“Forgive him. He’s used to being in control of situations.”
“I noticed.”
“I think there are a few things about him that you should know. Your sister really is in good hands, but that’s just my opinion and you don’t know me.”
“But I already like you.”
His face lit up with a smile. “That’s good to know.” He rolled up his sleeves and headed to the sink.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you wash up. You’re going to have enough dishes after dinner. You might as well start clean.” Darren filled the sink before Noreen could protest. “You can trust me. I used to help my wife in the kitchen all the time. Sometimes I’d help with the cooking.” A soft look touched his face as he remembered her. “She’d—” He stopped.
“Go on,” Noreen gently urged him.
“She’d find new recipes and we’d cook them together. I’d wash and she’d chop.” He sighed. “They were good times.”
Noreen lightly stroked his arm, touched by his love for his wife. “I’m sorry for your loss.” She laughed bitterly. “I could never get my ex-husband into the kitchen.”
“Then he was a stupid man because I would have come up with any excuse to be with the woman I love.” He placed a pot in the dish rack nearby. “I know times like this are hard. It seems more memories come during the holidays than at any other time in the year.”
/> “Yes,” Noreen said, relieved to meet someone who understood.
“But you can’t live in the past. I loved my wife, but that doesn’t mean I won’t ever love again. She wouldn’t want that for me and loving someone is too precious to ignore.”
“You mean you would get married again?”
“Definitely.” He hesitated. “I don’t know you very well, but from what Michael has told me about your sister, I know she hasn’t had luck meeting good men. I want you to know that your sister is safe. Michael is one of the best men I know.”
“You don’t have to defend him to me,” Noreen said quickly, not wanting to hear anything more about him.
“I think I do, especially after how he talked to you before. It was out of character for him. He’s not usually that abrupt but I think you make him nervous.”
“Me?”
“Yes. See he was basically raised by his cousin Undy—”
“I know, my sister told me about that.”
“Did she tell you that he was a brute?”
“What? No, I thought—I mean she said that he loved him. Idolized him.”
Darren nodded grimly. “Yes, he does for all the wrong reasons. Michael talks about him as if he’s some savior because Michael is loyal and family means a lot to him, but his cousin used him. He started him working at fifteen and Michael didn’t finish college because his cousin worked him so much he was too tired to focus on his studies.
“Undy hid the letters Michael’s father sent to him wanting him to come and visit. He’s mellowed out a little in his older years, but in the beginning he was cruel in ways I can’t tell you. Michael is the one who started his investigation business by accident. For a time, he was working at a high-end restaurant and overheard a woman talking about a necklace that had been stolen. Using his usual charm and his ability to bluff, he convinced her to hire him to find it for her and that was the start of everything. He studied the antiques business and became affiliated with key contacts. He partnered with his cousin because that’s the kind of man he is, but he was the one who made it a success, not that he’ll ever admit that.
“His cousin was a failed businessman who piled up debt, got into trouble with some shady characters and made promises he rarely kept. But Michael doesn’t see any of that because his cousin provided Michael a place to stay and that means everything to him.” Darren stacked the dishes and drained the sink. “Do you know why he puts on the charm?”