Undercover Christmas

by BJ Daniels

  “I felt so awful about running into him that he asked me to dinner. At dinner, something just clicked between us,” Marni said, condensing Elise’s account. “The rest is history, as they say.”

  “How long did you date?” Jabe asked.

  Date? “We spent four days together.”

  He lifted an eyebrow at that. Marni couldn’t say she blamed him. Only Elise could fall in love over dinner and think four days constituted a lifetime commitment.

  “In August I realized I was pregnant.”

  “I’m surprised Chase wouldn’t use protection,” Jabe said.

  Marni was surprised this conversation had taken such a personal turn, and had it been her who was pregnant she would have told him it was none of his business. But if there was a chance of getting Jabe on Elise’s side—“We always did, except for one night in a hot-springs pool near Yellowstone,” she said, lowering her gaze, wondering why she felt embarrassed when she hadn’t even been there.

  When he said nothing, she continued. “Chase called me in August to say he couldn’t see me anymore. He said it had to do with his family and was very complicated.”

  Jabe looked confused. “Why didn’t you confront him in person before this?”

  Her chin went up defiantly. “I decided to have the baby on my own.” Not unlike what Marni herself would have done in the same situation.

  “What changed your mind?” Jabe asked.

  “I wanted to be sure this was Chase’s decision and not yours,” she said truthfully. Well, as truthfully as she could, all things considered.

  “I see. You think I have that kind of control over my son?”

  “I don’t know,” she replied. After meeting Chase, Marni wondered just how much control anyone could wield over the man. “Do you?”

  He shook his head ruefully. “Chase is his own man, I assure you. But I know my son. If you’re carrying his child, he’ll accept responsibility.”

  She wished she was as convinced of that as he seemed to be. Could Elise have been wrong about Jabe Calloway? Could he be an ally rather than the diabolical family patriarch? That would mean, though, that Chase was the louse Marni suspected he was. In her heart of hearts, she’d hoped there would be a good explanation for Chase’s denial of Elise and her baby. Marni was a sucker for happy endings.

  “When I called yesterday, Chase pretended not to know me and told me not to call again,” Marni said. “That doesn’t sound like a man who accepts responsibility.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Chase.” He frowned as he studied Marni openly. “I’m sure you’re aware that Chase has had some…problems since the accident”

  Accident? “When he broke his leg,” Marni said with a silent groan as she realized her mistake. She should have shown more concern for his injury or at least asked about it. Elise would have. “It looks like he’s getting around fine now. Did he break it skiing?”

  “You haven’t heard then?” Jabe asked, sounding surprised. “I just assumed that you had and that was why you were here.”

  He made her feel guilty. And that made her mad. “I would have sent a card, but Chase wasn’t even taking my calls.”

  “That was my fault,” Jabe said. “I was the one who told Hilda to turn away your calls. I was afraid you were trying to take advantage of my son because of his injury.”

  “Take advantage of his broken leg?” she asked.

  “You don’t know about Chase’s memory loss?”

  Memory loss?

  “Chase suffered some temporary memory loss because of the accident.”

  “I’m sorry, what accident was this?” she asked, wondering if he really believed she was buying the memory loss.

  “A hit-and-run driver,” Jabe said. “Chase saved my life.”

  Marni felt a good shot of repentance. Chase had been injured saving his father’s life and she’d thought Jabe was lying about Chase’s memory loss.

  “Right after the accident, he couldn’t even remember his sisters-in-law,” Jabe said. “Now it’s just gaps in his memory, he says.”

  Wait a minute. What was he saying? “You think El—I might be a…gap…in his memory?” she asked incredulously. Wasn’t that a bit too convenient?

  “Fortunately, his memory seems to be coming back. What do you do in Bozeman?” Jabe asked, changing the subject.

  Without thinking, she said, “I own a boutique. With my sister.”

  “Really? Is it profitable?”

  Oh, so he thought she’d gotten herself pregnant to get the Calloway money. “Very,” she said, then reminded herself she was supposed to be Elise, and added, “My sister runs the shop. I’m a theater stage designer.”

  “Very enterprising,” Jabe said, eyeing her even more closely. “You build sets locally?”

  “I just returned from a theater tour in London,” she said smugly, proud of her sister’s talents and her success, completely forgetting she was suppose to be El. “I’m not after your money, Mr. Calloway. I am more than capable financially of raising this child alone if that becomes necessary. I came here to give your son one last chance to decide whether or not he wants to be part of this baby’s life. It would appear, he’s already made his decision.”

  Jabe Calloway seemed to flinch at her candor. His blue eyes took on a remote look. His face contracted in pain. For a moment, she thought he might be ill.

  “Are you all right?” Marni asked in concern.

  He blinked at her as if he’d forgotten she was there, took a bottle of prescription pills from his pocket, popped two in his mouth and washed them down with a glass of water on the table next to him.

  “I’m fine. Just allergies. What did Chase tell you about my relationship with him?”

  Another test? Marni met his gaze, wishing he hadn’t asked. “I know the two of you have never gotten along.”

  “Did he tell you why?”

  Marni looked at the older man, sensing something far more complex than what Elise had told her about Chase and his father. “He said you were a hard, uncompromising man who cared more about money than people and that you use your money to extract a high price from your sons.” She could see that the words hurt him, but also that they must have rung true. “I’m sorry.”

  Jabe Calloway looked away for a moment and when he turned his gaze back to Marni’s, his blue eyes glistened. “Do you love my son, Ms. McCumber?”

  “Very much,” she said, remembering the look on El’s face when she’d talked about Chase. “And I believed he loved me.”

  Jabe nodded slowly, and with a visible effort pushed himself to his feet. “You will join us for dinner.”

  “Thank you, but I have to get back—”

  “I insist,” he said, cutting her off. He must have seen the look in her eye. He quickly softened his tone. “If you would be my guest for dinner, I’ll arrange for you to have a chance to speak with my son again without any interruptions.”

  “I can’t see that it would do any good,’ Marni said, sounding as discouraged as she felt.

  “You might be surprised,’ Jabe said. “My son is a reasonable man. Right now he’s extremely frustrated by his immobility and his inability to remember everything. He hates being cooped up. Especially here.”

  “All right.” What could one dinner hurt? She owed it to El to at least give Chase a chance.

  Marni worked her body out of the couch’s soft cushion and let Jabe usher her to the family dining room.

  “Set another place,” Jabe ordered as he swept Marni into the room. “Next to me. Elise McCumber will be our dinner guest.”

  Marni figured the latter part was addressed to the family now seated around the huge slab of an oak table. While they might not have a choice, they didn’t pretend to be happy about it. Especially Chase. He met her gaze with an irate scowl. Marni got the impression he would have gotten up and left, but someone had moved his crutches out of his reach, which no doubt added to his irritation.

  At the foot of the table, Vanessa’s express
ion was one of shocked disbelief. For a moment, Marni thought the woman would raise an objection.

  Instead, she brushed back her perfect pageboy and said, “Cook says the roast is going to be overdone.”

  “I like my roast overdone,” Jabe said, pulling out the chair the housekeeper procured for Marni before taking his place at the head of the table.

  Vanessa snapped, “Hilda, you may serve dinner now.”

  The moment Jabe sat down he began the introductions. Starting on Marni’s right, he went around the long rectangular table. “Lilly is my youngest son’s wife.”

  Marni recognized the heart-shaped face and large dark eyes from earlier when she’d seen the woman peeking out the window under the third-story eave. A petite, pretty woman, Lilly wore a pale pink dress that hung from her frail frame. Her white-blond hair was pulled severely back into a knot at her slim neck and the only color in her face was her eyes.

  She murmured, “Nice to meet you,” and drained her wineglass with a trembling hand.

  “Lilly, you’re hitting the wine a little hard tonight, aren’t you, dear?” Vanessa asked too sweetly.

  “I’m worried about Hayes,” Lilly said as she motioned the housekeeper to refill her glass.

  Jabe frowned at the empty chair next to Lilly, then at Vanessa. “Where is Hayes?”

  “He had to go to Bozeman,” Vanessa said.

  “What is he doing in Bozeman?” Jabe demanded.

  “I certainly wouldn’t know. He only told me he planned to be back before dinner. I can’t imagine what could have detained him.” She looked over at Lilly as if Lilly knew but just wasn’t telling out of meanness.

  Jabe sighed and continued his introductions. “My wife, Vanessa.” He skipped over her quickly. “And this is my middle son, Dayton.”

  Dayton Calloway had his father’s blue eyes and a head of dark hair that he’d had meticulously styled, unlike Chase’s more unruly soft locks. A dark mustache curled across Dayton’s upper lip like a thin mean caterpillar. While no way near as handsome as Chase, he was good-looking in a petulant, dark sort of way. Marni got the immediate impression that he didn’t like her for some reason.

  He didn’t get to his feet as Marni was introduced. Instead, he just nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, Marni saw Jabe scowl and mutter something directed at his wife about bad manners. Vanessa frowned and glared at Marni as if it were Marni’s fault.

  “Felicia is Dayton’s wife,” Jabe continued. A sharp-featured brunette with green eyes, a more than ample chest and a bad disposition sat between Dayton and Chase. Marni knew about Felicia’s bad disposition the same way she knew the price of the expensive ethnic-print maternity dress and matching jewelry the woman wore. Marni had sold it to her at her Bozeman boutique—last week.

  “You look familiar,” Felicia said, eyeing her suspiciously.

  The truth seemed the best approach. “I believe you trade at the boutique I’m part owner of in Bozeman.” She looked at Chase to see if he registered any shock to hear she owned a boutique. Chase didn’t look up; he sat turning the thin stem of his wineglass in his strong fingers, showing no sign that he was paying the least bit of attention to any of this.

  Felicia’s gaze narrowed. “Yes, I remember now. But when I saw you last week you weren’t pregnant.”

  Marni laughed. It sounded hollow even to her ears. “You probably have me confused with my sister. We look a lot alike.” Boy, was that putting it mildly.

  Felicia didn’t appear convinced, but lost interest as Hilda served dinner a beef roast the size of Montana, followed by huge bowls of mashed potatoes, brown gravy, fresh green beans, another of hot homemade dinner rolls and butter.

  Marni felt famished, having not taken time all day to eat. She ladled gravy over her beef and potatoes, buttered a hot roll and slathered butter on her green beans. Her love of food was one of the reasons she’d never had Elise’s slim model-like figure.

  Hilda brought Vanessa broiled chicken, cottage cheese and crudit#233;s, and Felicia a plate of what looked like Chinese food. Lilly seemed to be the only Calloway woman who didn’t ask for a special-order meal. She took a spoonful of everything that was passed to her then hardly touched the food she’d put on her plate. But she polished off the remaining wine at her end of the table, ignoring Vanessa’s reprimanding looks. Marni declined wine when Hilda came around to fill her glass, needing all her wits about her. It wasn’t until later that she realized pregnant women weren’t supposed to drink alcohol and she was a pregnant woman, by all appearances.

  Everyone ate in silence, not that Marni minded. She concentrated on the food, rather than the strange family dynamics. The roast was excellent, not in the least overcooked. Halfway through her meal, she glanced up to see Chase staring at her, his expression unreadable. But she noticed he hadn’t touched his food any more than Lilly had.

  “I enjoy a woman who likes to eat,” Jabe said, smiling at Marni.

  “This is delicious,” she said, a little embarrassed by her appetite.

  “You’re eating for two,” he said. “It’s healthy to eat even if you’re not expecting.”

  Vanessa mumbled something under her breath and pushed away her diet plate in what could only be described as disgust. The room grew painfully quiet.

  Marni finished her roast beef, thinking about El and the baby. At least she knew her sister wasn’t going hungry or not following doctor’s orders. By now, Mary Margaret McCumber would have Elise at the family farm. If anyone could get El to do as she was told, it was Mother, Marni thought with a smile.

  The door to the dining room swung open and a man in western attire rushed in, apologizing for being late as he took the chair next to Lilly.

  “Hayes,” Lilly said, lifting her wineglass to him in a less than sober salute. “We were so worried about you.” She didn’t sound as if she meant it in the least.

  Clean-shaven, Hayes Calloway also had his father’s blue eyes, a little lighter version of Chase’s hair color and a softer, gentler, more handsome face than his brother Dayton.

  Hayes seemed to eye his wife warily before brushing a kiss across her pallid cheek. Then he spotted Marni and looked startled to see that they had a guest Marni got the impression the Calloways didn’t have many dinner guests.

  “Hayes, this is Elise McCumber,” Jabe said. “She’s a…friend of Chase’s.”

  Hayes stumbled to his feet, his eyes widening in surprise. “Hello.”

  “Why are you so late?” Jabe demanded.

  He looked past Marni to his father. “The roads are covered in ice and the visibility was so bad I hit a deer on the way home.”

  “Are you all right?” Vanessa cried, although he obviously was fine.

  “What about the damage to the truck?” Jabe asked.

  “The truck?” Hayes asked, anger flickering in his gaze as he sat down and began to dish up his plate. “The truck is repairable.”

  “The truck is the least of our worries,” Vanessa cut in, sending a look at Jabe.

  He grumbled but returned his attention to his meal.

  Marni watched Chase pick at the food he’d put on his plate. He looked as uncomfortable as she felt. She caught both Hayes and Dayton stealing curious glances at her. But then, why wouldn’t they be? They had to wonder who she was, what she was doing at their dinner table, seven months pregnant, and why she was sitting next to Jabe as if part of the family.

  What was she doing here? More and more she felt she was on a fool’s errand. What possible good would it do to talk to Chase after he’d already denied even knowing her. And now it sounded as if the roads were probably getting worse by the minute. But she had to give it one last try with Chase. For El’s sake.

  “I hate to eat and run,” Marni said pointedly to Jabe.

  He nodded, letting her know he remembered his promise, but then said, “We couldn’t possibly let you leave with the storm as bad as Hayes says it is. Not in your fragile state.”

  Fragile state indeed. “You don�
��t understand. I have to work tomorrow.”

  Jabe shook his head. “By now the road out of here will be impassable.”

  “He’s right,” Hayes said. “It’s much too dangerous. Especially in your…condition.”

  Marni started to argue that she’d driven icy roads all her life, having been born and raised a Montanan, but to her astonishment it was Chase instead of Jabe who cut her off.

  “It’s settled,” Chase said, slamming down his wineglass. “You’ll stay the night and leave first thing in the morning after the roads are plowed and sanded.”

  Marni groaned inwardly, but knew there was no point in arguing. She’d leave in the morning. After she’d finished her business with Chase. What was one night in a haunted house with people who hated her, anyway?

  In the deathly silence that followed, Vanessa signaled for Hilda, who hurriedly cleared the dinner dishes and brought in a bottle of champagne on ice and a huge cake with one large pink candle and Congratulations! scripted across the white icing in bright pink.

  Marni stared at the cake. She had a strong feeling it wasn’t for her and Chase. In fact, she suspected she’d put a damper on a family celebration by showing up when she did.

  Vanessa irritably motioned Hilda away the moment the housekeeper had poured the champagne and lit the candle. “We have something to celebrate tonight,” Vanessa announced. Her smile looked strained as she glanced almost warily at Jabe.

  Jabe appeared surprised. And maybe a little worried.

  “Felicia and Dayton have an announcement,” she said and took her seat again.

  Dayton got to his feet. “Felicia saw her doctor today and it’s a girl,” he announced without preamble.

  If Marni thought the news would be met with cheers, applause or even halfhearted congratulations from the rest of the family, she was mistaken.

  Lilly let out a startled cry, spilling her wine, then rushed from the room. Hayes looked to Marni as if he felt he should say something on behalf of his wife, then hurried out after her. Following their departure, a hush fell over the room. It was Chase who broke it.