Christmas Is Coming

by Shelley Munro

  “You?” her mother said faintly. “You caused this horrid publicity for your sister? Why would you do that?”

  “Jealousy,” Gran said.

  “I’m not jealous of Gaby. Why would I want to emulate her?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Gaby said. “As long as you stop, I’ll forget the column ever happened.”

  “What about the consequences?” Gran asked, full of indignation. “She hasn’t only hurt you, she’s caused problems for Fletch and Liam too. She’s practically ruined their business and their good names.”

  “Fancy Free has received free publicity,” Elsa said snidely. “Besides, from what I hear Liam managed to bring this trouble down on his own head by refusing to marry Rachel.”

  “Enough,” her mother snapped. “I’m sorry, Gaby. We might not see eye to eye about many of your choices, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I don’t tell you I love you often enough.” She glanced at Gran, her face softening for an instant. “It’s not as if I didn’t have a good example. Excuse me. We’ll let you enjoy your morning coffee in peace.” She grabbed Elsa’s forearm and dragged her away to the far side of the cafe.

  “Well, I didn’t expect an apology,” Gran said, staring after her daughter and other granddaughter. “I didn’t think Elsa had the gumption to sell out her own sister.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Gaby said, but the betrayal did trouble her. Her sister had sold her out, happily causing tension and a public backlash. A swift glance told Gaby her mother and sister were leaving. She waited until they exited the cafe and stood. “Coffee all round?”

  “I’ll take a latte,” Gran said. “And one of Ruby’s Christmas mince tarts.”

  “A latte is fine for me,” Alice said, a sympathetic smile on her face. She’d faced down a spate of gossip when she’d first arrived in Sloan and lived to tell the tale. Maybe Gaby could do the same.

  Gaby headed for the counter, ordering three lattes, a mince tart, a savory scone plus some shortbread.

  “Is your eye sore, love?” the elderly woman behind the counter asked. “I heard about the tomato throwing. Terrible business.” Ruby made a clucking sound behind her teeth. “Although I’m thinking the UFO sightings last night will probably take precedence today. Saw the UFO myself, I did. I took the dog out for a final toilet stop before we went to bed.”

  “A UFO,” Gaby said in a faint voice. UFOs were a hot topic in Sloan for a while but there hadn’t been much activity for the last year.

  “Yes, I saw the UFO as plain as day. A silver disc floated above Sloan then drifted over Ted’s wheat fields before disappearing over the hills. I watched the UFO for about five minutes.”

  “Did anyone else see it?” Local rumor said Ruby and her husband liked to drink homemade wine. Perhaps she’d been imbibing last night.

  Gaby handed over a fifty-dollar note and waited for her change.

  Another customer rushed up beside her. “Did you see the UFO last night? I did. It was amazing and just as I imagined a UFO. People all over Sloan are talking about the sighting.”

  Gaby grinned and accepted her change. With any luck, the UFO sightings would bury her private life under public speculation about little green men and the usual Christmas mayhem.

  “What put the grin on your face?” Alice asked.

  “Everyone is bursting with news about a UFO sighting last night.”

  “I heard someone mention sightings,” Gran said. “I didn’t realize it was last night.”

  The cafe door opened and closed, attracting Gaby’s attention. “Great. Just great,” she muttered on seeing the new arrival was Rachel.

  “I’m surprised she has the balls to appear in public,” Gran said, surprising a laugh out of Gaby. Of course, her chuckle attracted Rachel’s attention. The woman froze in place for seconds, her face blanching when she met Gaby’s gaze.

  Rachel’s breasts rose and fell when she took a deep breath. Then she surprised the hell out of Gaby by heading for their table. “I’m sorry about last night. It was my fault,” she confessed rapidly, her gaze flickering over Gaby’s black eye. “I threw the first tomato. I…I’m sorry.” Rachel turned and fled.

  “It seems a black eye works on guilty consciences.” Alice winked at Gaby. “Now that we’ve done the true confessions, can we start work on the float plans? I’m thinking of doing a Santa’s workshop. We can tie that into our new product plans and use our Christmas is Coming slogan without being too in your face and upsetting people.”

  Gran stared in the direction of Rachel’s departure. “Her baby bump is bigger than I’d expect.”

  They paused while a young girl delivered their coffees and food.

  “I like the idea,” Gran said, shifting her attention to her mince tart. “We can have a Christmas tree. Get Ben or Joseph to dress as Santa Claus.”

  “Get some children to dress up as elves,” Gaby suggested.

  Alice nodded. “Exactly my thoughts. Nothing too expensive or difficult to put together. I’d like to toss some sort of favors to the crowd. Any suggestions?”

  “Tomatoes,” Gaby said promptly. “They’re the perfect Christmas color. I volunteer to toss them.”

  Alice made a choking sound while her Gran cackled with delight.

  “Good one, Gaby,” Gran said, wiping tears of mirth from her face.

  “All right, what about chocolate coins? You know the ones that come in gold-colored foil?” Gaby asked.

  “They might melt if it’s a hot day,” Gran said. “I vote for candy canes, preferably in the red and green colors we’re using in our promotion.”

  “Why don’t we toss off some numbered discs and redeem them for special prizes? We could do a couple of adult prizes and some for the kids.” Gaby chuckled without warning. “I’d like to stick it to the locals and rub their noses in condoms and sex toys.”

  “I love it,” Alice said, smirking back at Gaby. She jotted rapid notes on a page of her notebook. She made one final note and closed her book, placing it inside her handbag. “That was easy.”

  “I keep telling you the men are a distraction,” Gran said tartly, although her brown eyes twinkled.

  “Liam and Fletch are making toy trains to sell at the farmers’ market. Maybe they would lend you some to use on the float,” Gaby said.

  “That’s a great idea. Maybe they could give us some pieces of wood so it looks as if our elves are building toys,” Alice added.

  “I’ll ask them,” Gaby said.

  “Are you going home again?” Gran popped a bite of shortbread into her mouth and chewed while she regarded Gaby.

  “Of course I’m going home. I was tired and upset last night. I needed to think.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Gran said. “I like those two boys. They’re decent young men and you’ve seemed happier lately. You need someone outside of Fancy Free. Marc wasn’t right for you.”

  “You knew?” Gaby asked in a faint voice.

  “About Marc? Of course. I’m old not stupid.”

  * * * * *

  Fletch pulled up in front of Robert Saunders’ house. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  “Nope.” Liam patted Fletch’s thigh, smiling at Fletch’s sharp intake of breath. “But I’m sick of hiding out. Let’s do this.” He climbed out of Fletch’s SUV and marched up the path leading to Robert’s imposing house. He leaned on the doorbell, hearing the faint echo of a classical song inside.

  Robert answered the door. “What do you want? Have you come to your senses at last?”

  Robert’s smug tone made Liam want to hit him. Fletch’s solid presence at his side calmed Liam and he forced his anger aside. He needed to remain calm to get through this conversation. “Can we come inside?”

  Robert stood aside to let them both inside.

  It was an imposing entranceway with high ceilings. A spotlight highlighted a large bronze sculpture of a Madonna figure while a vase of pink peonies lent their delicate fragrance.

  Robert led them into a fo
rmal reception room, no doubt meant to intimidate them. A tasteful seasonal arrangement sat on a low table, but that was the only concession to Christmas. While it wasn’t what Liam was used to, he knew Fletch would feel right at home, making Liam calm by extension. He sucked in a slow breath and waited.

  “Take a seat,” Robert said.

  “Thanks, but this won’t take long.” Nerves swirled through him for an instant. What if Robert still didn’t believe him? He’d already damaged their business and if it wasn’t for Gaby’s suggestion to make toys and do up furniture they’d be struggling to pay their bills. He glanced at Fletch. His lover gave an imperceptible nod, his calm demeanour lending Liam strength.

  There was no easy way to say this, so he decided to just spit it out. “I’m not going to marry Rachel, no matter how much pressure you put on me.”

  “You’d let a child of yours grow up like you did?” Robert mocked. “Without two parents?”

  Low blow. Fletch stiffened at his side and Liam shot him a quick glance to let him know he was okay. It was true. He was the product of a teenage pregnancy, except his mother hadn’t had the same support as Rachel would have from her family. His mother had done her best but she’d resented him.

  “I wouldn’t wish my upbringing on any child,” Liam said. “If this is my child, I will support him.”

  “If?” Robert barked, his face turning red. “You slept with my daughter.”

  The front door opened and closed and footsteps approached them.

  “Daddy—” Rachel broke off abruptly when she noticed Liam. She swallowed, one hand creeping up to hold her belly.

  Liam stared, and he felt Fletch tense beside him. Jesus, her baby bump was huge. He calculated swiftly in his head and frowned.

  “Daddy, I have something to tell you,” Rachel said.

  “Can’t it wait?”

  Rachel shot another glance at Liam and edged toward her father. “No.”

  “Liam’s not gonna hit you,” Fletch said in disgust. “He would never strike a woman.”

  “Liam isn’t the father of my baby,” Rachel blurted.

  “What?” Robert demanded.

  Sheer relief hit Liam and he turned to grin at Fletch. Fletch moved closer and tugged him into a quick embrace.

  “You lied?” Robert demanded again, this time hoarsely as if the fight had escaped him. “You lied about a serious matter like a baby?” His words built in pitch, almost hitting a roar.

  Rachel flinched but, to her credit, stood her ground. “I’m sorry.” She turned beseeching eyes on Liam. “I’m really sorry, Liam. You’ve always been decent to me. I was scared.”

  Robert glared at his daughter. “Who is the father?”

  “Bryce Scott.”

  “That no-hoper,” her father spat.

  Rachel flinched again and, for an instant, Liam felt sorry for her.

  “We’ll go,” Liam said.

  Fletch scowled at Robert. “We expect you both to make sure Liam’s name is cleared.”

  “Of course,” Robert said. “Send me your quote and I’ll take a look at it.”

  “I don’t think so,” Liam said.

  Robert gave a nervous laugh. “Don’t be like that. This was an easy mistake to make.”

  “You didn’t have to behave like an ass,” Fletch shot back. “You had us blackballed.”

  “I’ll fix that today.”

  “We’d appreciate you spreading the word.” Liam grabbed Fletch’s arm and dragged him from the reception room.

  Outside, Fletch shook off Liam’s grasp. “We’re not doing any building work for that asshole again.”

  “No argument here. Once he puts the word out, we should be right for work again. Although I’d like to keep up with the toys and furniture we’ve been doing. I’ve enjoyed the change.”

  Fletch nodded, and despite their location, he took Liam into his arms and gave him a quick kiss. ”We make a great team. Now all we have to do is get Gaby back.”

  “Things will be easier now that Rachel has owned up to the truth.” At least that’s what Liam hoped.

  They drove home, a sense of relief filling Liam.

  “I feel like celebrating.”

  Fletch indicated a right turn. “As long as I’m included in the celebration.”

  “Always. Both you and Gaby.” He glanced out the window and let out a startled curse. “Fuck, am I seeing things?”

  Fletch peered in the direction he pointed. “If it was night, I’d think I’d drunk too much,” he said, screeching to a stop on the side of the road.

  They both climbed out of the car and stared at the silver disc flying over Sloan. From their position above the town, they could hear the quiet whir of the motor or whatever flying saucers used to propel themselves through the sky. The UFO circled the town once before heading over Ted Morrison’s wheat fields and disappearing from sight.

  Fletch turned to Liam, a huge grin on his face. “Somehow I think a UFO might knock our personal lives off the pages of the Sloan Gazette.”

  “You’re not wrong. What say we try our hand at some UFO toys to sell at the market? They’ll sell like hotcakes.”

  * * * * *

  Gaby arrived home early evening after helping Alice and James start to decorate the flatbed truck for the parade. By the time she left, their float appeared sparkly and Christmaslike with the Christmas tree and the toy theme. The local kids would love their version of Santa’s workshop. A final hour of tweaking and the pine tree added, the float would be ready for the parade in two weeks’ time.

  She walked into the kitchen, sniffing appreciatively at the roast chicken scent wafting through the room. As usual, Fletch and Liam were working side by side, although when she paused in the doorway, she caught them in the midst of a kiss.

  “That makes me very hot,” she purred. “I love seeing the two of you together.”

  “Gaby!” Fletch reached her side first. He seized her in a tight hug before passing her over to an impatient Liam.

  Liam ran the back of his knuckles gently over her bruised cheek and peered at her eye. “You’re looking very colorful. Are you okay?”

  “I’m good.” Her lips curled into an impish grin. “People take one look at me and start apologizing.”

  “So they should,” Fletch said with a growl.

  “Who apologized?” Liam asked.

  “My mother. Rachel. Mrs. Lisbon.”

  “Mrs. Lisbon, the school teacher?” Fletch demanded.

  “She apologized on behalf of her teenage daughter. She was mortified when she saw me. Did you hear about the UFO? Everyone’s talking about it.”

  “We saw the UFO this morning,” Liam said, shaking his head in disbelief. “We watched it fly over the town and disappear over the hill.”

  “Never mind the UFO,” Fletch said. “Are you back? Is everything okay with us?”

  “Yes,” Gaby said. “Now it’s my turn to say I’m sorry. I was tired and still in shock last night. I didn’t mean to reject either of you, but I needed time alone.”

  Liam kissed her forehead, smiling gently at her. “We hoped that was the case. We love you. We’re serious about this, about you.”

  “There will be other times when people reject us. Are you gonna be okay with their behavior?” Fletch asked.

  “I came to the same conclusion,” Gaby confessed. “We haven’t chosen an easy road. I’m sure there’ll be times when I’ll become upset and angry because of other people’s reactions. But I’d feel worse without you both in my life. I’ll take the bad along with the good.”

  “Fletch and I want children at some stage.”

  “So do I. We can deal with kids too when the time comes. I figure if we act embarrassed people will have cause to talk. Confidence goes a long way when you’re dealing with idiots.”

  Fletch barked out a laugh. “True.”

  “Rachel admitted she lied about me being the father of her baby,” Liam said.

  Gaby frowned. “I thought her belly was la
rge. Who’s the father?”

  “Bryce Scott.” Fletch walked to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of wine plus two beers. He poured a glass for Gaby and handed drinks to both her and Liam.

  “What about your work?”

  Fletch and Liam exchanged a glance before Liam answered. “Robert said he’d pass around the word and lift the ban on us. He told us to send in our quote and he’d look at it.”

  “The man’s an ass-hat,” Gaby snapped.

  Fletch grinned. “We practically told him the same thing. We won’t be doing any work for him in the future.”

  “Did you tell him that?”

  “Yep,” Liam said with satisfaction. “We won’t give him the opportunity to screw around with our livelihood again.”

  “Dinner is almost ready,” Fletch said. “What do you say to dinner and a movie before heading to bed?”

  Gaby winked at Liam. “Skip the movie part and you’re on.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The day before Christmas

  “Are you sure we can get this tree into the living room, Gaby?” Fletch stared at the pine tree they’d purchased at the farmers’ market.

  “We have high ceilings,” Gaby said. “The tree will fit with a couple of feet to spare.” She hoped. It was a beautiful tree with evenly spaced branches. The pine scent would fill the house, and she couldn’t wait to decorate the tree later that evening. This was their first Christmas together as a committed threesome and she wanted to start making strong traditions.

  Liam grunted as he and Fletch dragged the tree off the trailer. “Did you measure the doorway?” He paused to wipe the sweat off his brow.

  Not surprising, considering they were in the midst of an early heat wave. The pohutukawa trees were in full bloom, their scarlet flowers heralding the Christmas season. The weather forecasters promised a hot and fine Christmas day. She, Fletch and Liam were joining James and Alice and spending the day with Richard Morgan, his wife Hinekiri as well as Luke and Janaya. They’d decided to stop in briefly to visit their families, but to spend the majority of the day with their friends.

  “We’ll have to take the tree through the terrace doors out the front.”