Jingle Bell Blessings

by Bonnie K. Winn

His throat clogged. “We have the best people in the world right here at Mitchell Stone.”

  “And the most diversified.”

  Emotion was clouding his brain. “Diversified?”

  “Like Chloe. Who knew we’d have a former legal secretary doing our filing?”

  Legal secretary? Wainwright’s legal secretary? Evan searched his mind, trying to remember if he’d seen her name on any of the correspondence. Chloe said she was an estate representative. He frowned. She’d also made that comment about not having the funds to keep her mother at home like he could.

  Evan had believed from the beginning that Chloe accepted the assignment strictly for money. But then she’d broken past his initial misgivings, proving to be more than just some moneygrubber. Was he wrong about that, too? Had she been lying to him all this time?

  “I really like her,” Viola added just before she left.

  Shoving aside the invoices, he strode to the file room. Empty. The away button flashed on Chloe’s phone. Her desk calendar was askew. Nearing close enough to make out the letters, Evan read her notation. Slowly raising his eyes, he couldn’t help wonder. Had Chloe been reporting to Wainwright each day? From Evan’s own office?

  Disappointment flooded him. And betrayal. But what had he expected? He had betrayed Robin.

  Worse, he’d allowed himself to believe.

  The wheels were in motion. Chloe had extracted all the information she needed on Mitchell Stone from the records and accounting files. Mr. Wainwright agreed it was a sound proposition and that he would present it to the loan committee. And, since Mr. Wainwright held a lot of sway in the private corporation, the odds of getting the financing were excellent. Her hopes were high, but she hadn’t yet told Evan. She feared what might happen if the plan didn’t work out.

  Now she sat next to Grace in the school auditorium, watching the kids rehearse. Grace’s daughter, Susie, was playing a sheep in the scene right after Jimmy’s.

  He only had a few lines, but Jimmy practiced them over and over each afternoon and evening, wanting to be sure he remembered each and every word on the big night. By now Chloe, along with Thelma, Ned and Gordon, also knew Jimmy’s lines since he practiced on all of them. Everyone agreed to come to the performance and Jimmy grew more excited as the play approached.

  “Could they be cuter?” Grace asked in a quiet voice, watching her daughter.

  “Thanks for keeping an eye on Jimmy. Knowing you’re here makes it easier to leave him at school each day.”

  “I haven’t done anything, really. And I intended to help you get settled in. It’s sort of a Rosewood tradition.”

  “I don’t know how long I’ll be here,” Chloe admitted.

  “If Evan sticks to his decision, I’ll be taking Jimmy back to Milwaukee. Of course, I’m hoping Evan will change his mind.” She tried to keep her voice steady. “In any case, I’ll be going back.”

  Grace looked at her searchingly. “Haven’t you found a pretty good reason to stay?”

  “Am I that transparent?”

  “Evan’s a good man. It’s going to take time, but he’ll get past what happened. I don’t believe he wants to be alone forever.”

  Chloe wished it didn’t matter so much. “Even if he could…I have to go back and take care of my mother. I’m all she has.”

  “Families make adjustments all the time.”

  “Not that kind of adjustment. I don’t know if I told you, but when I go back, I’ll be attending law school. Marquette, if I can get in there.”

  “Wow.” Grace absently rubbed the scar on her hand. “I didn’t picture you pursuing another career. I kind of thought you were ready to tackle raising a family.”

  Chloe hadn’t confided in Grace. She’d promised Mr. Wainwright she would keep his secret, that she would only tell the whole story when it was necessary. Chloe needed a friend, someone to discuss her confused feelings with, but she wasn’t accustomed to breaking promises.

  The financing matter, however, wasn’t a promise. “I did something. And I’m hoping it’ll help Evan’s business. Now, I’m also hoping he won’t be mad since I didn’t consult him first.”

  “It would be easier to give an opinion if I knew what you were talking about.”

  Chloe outlined the basics. “When I had the idea, I didn’t really think about any resentment Evan might have that the money would be coming from Mr. Wainwright’s bank. I just wanted to help.”

  “Evan will no doubt realize that. After all, he helps people all the time. It’s in his nature.”

  “Maybe you’re right. I didn’t think about it that way.”

  “I’ll pray for you, Chloe, and for Evan and his employees.”

  Chloe sensed she would need Grace’s prayers and all of her own.

  Evan stood by the window in his office until he saw Chloe park out front. He waited, giving her time to reach the file room before he walked down the hall. She stood midway between the incoming table and her desk, looking around.

  “Expecting more information?”

  She whirled around, her brow furrowed.

  He took one step inside the now immaculate space. He had removed all of the loose filing, the papers that told the tale of Mitchell Stone’s situation.

  “What happened? Did Melanie come back?”

  “You’re good. I’ll give you that.” Evan walked closer. “The innocent look, the nearly convincing confusion.”

  “Apparently not that good. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Haven’t you been talking to Wainwright lately?”

  The truth flashed across her face. “I was going to explain—”

  “That you’ve been reporting to him ever since you got to town?”

  “Well, of course, I’ve checked in, but—”

  “Like a good secretary.”

  The color drained from her face. “Mr. Wainwright didn’t think you’d take me as seriously if—”

  “So you’ve been lying since we met.”

  Chloe drew in a shaky breath. “I did as Mr. Wainwright instructed. I work for him, yes. As his private secretary. But, when I agreed to bring Jimmy, my position changed.”

  “To a far more lucrative one?”

  Indecision flashed in her clear eyes. “Let me explain—”

  “I don’t understand why you want all the inside information on the business. That piece doesn’t fit. Wainwright can’t blackmail me into taking Jimmy.”

  Chloe looked genuinely appalled. “Blackmail? With what?”

  “With whatever you’ve gathered that you emailed to Wainwright.”

  Chloe’s gaze flickered back to her laptop sitting on the desk. “You went through my personal computer?”

  “What are you really doing here, Chloe?”

  She blinked. “I thought I was helping.” Pain darkened her eyes and she bit down on her lip. “That was my intention. But you’re right. Mr. Wainwright did make me an offer that, as they say, I couldn’t refuse. If I got you to agree to be Jimmy’s guardian, made sure that he was happy here, Mr. Wainwright promised to raise my salary and pay for law school. I wouldn’t have to work any longer, but getting paid, I could make it through law school in the normal three years.” She pushed the hair off her forehead. “Obviously, I have nothing to do here any longer. I’ll leave my laptop so you have enough time to read everything you want. I do need it back, though.” Pausing, she took another breath. “And I’ll need your final decision about Jimmy.”

  Before Evan realized her intent, Chloe pushed past him, running down the hall and out the front reception area.

  Viola walked up behind him. “Is something wrong?”

  Everything. Absolutely everything.

  She couldn’t breathe. Having no place to run, Chloe had driven to the school, then remained in her rental car. Had she just blown Jimmy’s future? Why had she told Evan in such a clinical manner?

  Because his words hurt so badly.

  Leaning her head against the steering wheel, she felt
the tears roll down her face, wetting her shirt. How would she tell Jimmy?

  Horrified, another thought hit. What if Evan wanted them gone before Jimmy could play the little shepherd boy?

  She’d ruined everything. And, Evan didn’t even know the truth. Deep in her heart, Chloe couldn’t regret asking Mr. Wainwright to help Evan. It was the right thing to do. But the price was greater than she’d expected.

  Someone knocked on her window and she jumped.

  Seeing it was Grace, Chloe rolled down the window.

  Grace took one look, then opened the door. “Come on.”

  “But—”

  “My kids are in the library for the next hour. Let’s get out of here.”

  Chloe stumbled out of the car and Grace gripped her arm. “My car’s right over here.” With the kindness of a sister and the sternness of a mother, she got Chloe seated in the car. Leaving the school, she drove to the café on Main Street. “It’s quiet this time of day. Most everybody’s already eaten breakfast and it’s too early for lunch.”

  “Grace, really, it’s not necessary.”

  “You’re the color of a shucked oyster. It’s necessary.” Grace guided her inside, choosing the farthest booth in the rear. She grabbed a paper napkin from the holder and passed it across the table.

  Chloe wiped her cheeks. “I’m not usually this weepy.”

  “I’m guessing you have good reason.”

  Biting her lip, Chloe nodded.

  “Did Evan overreact?”

  “In a way.” Chloe repeated her exchange with Evan. “I didn’t even get to tell him why I was calling Mr. Wainwright.” Her voice started to shake. “But when he accused me of blackmail…”

  A waitress approached. “Two hot teas, strong please.”

  The woman disappeared and Chloe tried to pull herself together. “And I didn’t explain why the money’s so important.” She told Grace about her mother’s illness, the cost of the care facility.

  Grace leaned forward. “Tell me more.”

  And Chloe did, detailing her financial situation. “I can’t believe I acted so stupidly. I thought about myself instead of Jimmy. I was indignant for both of us, but I could have handled it better, not alienated Evan. Oh, Grace, what if Evan makes us leave before Jimmy’s play?”

  Grace covered Chloe’s hand with her own. “Evan is not an unkind man. You’ve seen how he protects the people he cares about. He wouldn’t deliberately hurt Jimmy. He may not have thought about the play in the last few days, but he can’t forget about it completely. He got corralled into moving the boulder during the performance.”

  “I don’t think reminding him about that will improve his mood.”

  Grace smiled gently. “There are a lot of reasons for having friends.”

  “Yes.”

  “One of them is to divert the knight so you can slay the dragon.”

  Chloe blinked.

  The waitress brought the tea, caught Grace’s expression and disappeared.

  “Let me talk to him first,” Grace explained. “Right now you’re both raw, in pain. I’m not. I won’t fall apart if Evan loses his temper, says something he’ll regret. And I won’t hold it against him.” She picked up her cup. “Now, drink your tea while it’s hot.”

  Chloe reached for her cup. “You never impressed me as being the bossy sort.”

  “Only with people I care about.” Grace sipped her tea.

  “I’m going to need this. Dragons can be scary.”

  At the end of the work day, Evan sat in his office. Chloe hadn’t returned. Hadn’t called. He sighed, mentally going over her words for at least the hundredth time. Hearing a soft knock, he looked up.

  “Evan?” Grace Brady stood in the doorway.

  He stood. “Come in.”

  “Do you have a minute?”

  “Sure.”

  She sat in the chair opposite his and folded her hands. “I know it’s been a rough day.”

  Evan lifted his eyebrows. She did?

  “And I’d like to talk to you about Chloe.”

  Instinctively he stiffened, his defenses kicking in.

  “When Chloe told you about Mr. Wainwright’s offer today, she didn’t tell you why she accepted.”

  “It’s pretty obvious.”

  “You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Grace’s gentle manner was deceptively unnerving. “But did you question why Chloe needed the money so badly?”

  “Same reason everyone wants money, I suppose.”

  Grace leaned forward. “She’s not like everyone. And she doesn’t want the money—she needs it. Has Chloe told you about her mother?”

  Evan frowned. “She’s in a nursing home.”

  “No. She’s in an extended-care facility because she has severe chronic pulmonary disease and can’t be on her own.”

  “Okay.”

  “Have you thought about how Chloe pays for the home?”

  “I assume she’s paid well.”

  “Not that well. It takes every penny she makes to pay the facility and their rates are constantly rising. Evan, Chloe lives in a cheap one-room efficiency because she refuses to allow her mother to be placed in a state-run facility. Chloe’s out of choices. Mr. Wainwright’s offer is the only option she has. Her father’s dead. Her younger brother barely makes enough in the military to support his young family. So, her mother’s care is completely on Chloe’s shoulders.”

  Evan listened.

  Grace met his gaze, her own imploring. “What would you do? What if you were the only one Gordon had to count on?”

  “That doesn’t explain why she’s passing on all our financial information to Wainwright.”

  “No.” Grace unfolded her hands. “It doesn’t.”

  When she didn’t say more, Evan prompted her. “So?”

  “I’ll leave that for her to tell. When Chloe wondered about you, we, all your friends, surrounded you with a wall of protection. Now, Chloe deserves the same wall.”

  “Because she has something to hide?”

  “Did you have something to hide?”

  He didn’t reply.

  “Of course not. Evan, consider the woman you’ve grown to know. Does she have any of the qualities you think you’ve discovered? Is she uncaring? Selfish? Does Jimmy mean nothing to her?” Grace rose. “I know you have a lot to think about and I’ll leave you to it. Just remember, you’re not the only one who’s hurting. And certainly not the only one who’ll be hurt if you do something rash.”

  An image of Jimmy’s eager face flashed in Evan’s mind. As quickly, he thought of Sean, how he would have done anything to spare him pain.

  But what was Chloe hiding? And why did her deceit cut so deep?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tied in knots, Chloe waited for the other shoe to drop. That night at dinner she sat next to Jimmy, ready to protect him if there was an outburst from Evan. Gordon looked at her oddly, but didn’t say anything. To her relief, Evan didn’t make an appearance. She really didn’t want to play out the entire scene in front of everyone.

  After dinner she read to Jimmy until he was sleepy, then tucked him in, ferociously guarding his room through the night. She didn’t even change into her pajamas and robe, wanting to be prepared.

  By morning, bleary-eyed, her throat gravelly, she braced herself.

  But nothing happened. Again, Evan was absent.

  On nervous autopilot, she drove Jimmy to school, then waited until Grace’s free period. Digging in her purse, she found Grace’s cell number and phoned. They agreed to meet in the empty auditorium.

  Watching anxiously, Chloe was relieved to see that Grace was smiling as she slipped into the closest seat.

  Grace’s concern filled her face. “How are you holding up?”

  “I guess I’m not really sure. I haven’t seen Evan since the…since we talked yesterday.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  Chloe’s brow furrowed. “Really?”

  Grace searched her eyes. “In spite of wha
t happened yesterday, you know what kind of man Evan is.”

  Looking away, Chloe gripped the handle of her purse. “And now he knows what kind of person I am.”

  “You can’t go down that road. If Evan understands anything, it’s family. Your reasons for taking on this job are honorable. And, I’ve seen how you are with Jimmy. He’s not an assignment anymore—you care for him like a mother.”

  “This is so silly,” Chloe wiped away the sudden tears.

  “I haven’t cried this much in years. Now I’m the Trevi fountain.”

  “Love does that to a person.”

  “I do love Jimmy,” she admitted. “Just Jimmy?”

  Chloe met Grace’s steady gaze. “I’m certainly not the kind of woman Evan wants in his life.”

  “You’re so sure?”

  “I told you before. Even if he did, I have to go home. Besides, right now I’m the last person in the world Evan wants to see.”

  Grace remained quiet a few moments. “I’m guessing you don’t want to go back to his office to help out anymore.”

  “The welcome sign’s been removed.”

  “Would you like to volunteer here? The younger grades can always use adults to help with reading, that sort of thing. Or in the library—even grading papers would be appreciated.”

  Chloe thought about it. “I do need to stay busy.”

  “Let’s get some coffee in the teacher’s break room, then why don’t you stick with me today?”

  Glad for the reprieve, Chloe agreed. “Oh, Grace. Was Evan furious when he found out why I’d contacted Mr. Wainwright?”

  “Guess you’ll find out when you decide to tell him.”

  “You didn’t?”

  “He needs to hear it from you. I just told Evan that he had the wrong idea about the money Mr. Wainwright offered to pay you.”

  Absorbing her words, Chloe rose, following Grace from the auditorium. So, she still had to face Evan. Something told her he wouldn’t be any happier about the second portion of her news than he’d been about the first.

  In the spring, Lark’s meadow was a stunning mix of bluebonnets, bright orange paintbrush and golden coreopsis. Now it stood fallow, the wildflowers tuckered down for the winter, the grass withered, yellowing. Yet, to Evan’s way of thinking, it was still beautiful in a different way, standing solid, nestling the seeds of the perennial flowers. It was in its keeping mode. Just as he was.