by Leger, Lori
He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “It’ll be sleeting in hell the day you’re done with me.”
She pulled away, ignoring the frisson of awareness his nearness caused. “In your dreams.”
“Yours too, I’d wager.”
She turned haughtily and went to find a chair at the huge table where two extra chairs had been placed to accommodate all of the adults. When Red motioned for Drake to sit next to her, she grabbed her plate, filled it with her favorites and stood up. “I’ll sit with the kids today. It’s not as stuffy in there.”
“Annie.” Vivienne spoke quietly.
She locked gazes with her mother, who gestured with a single hand motion for her to sit and remain seated. Obediently, she obeyed, knowing her mom would not tolerate any such form of rudeness at the Christmas meal. Unable to resist, she cast a look at her neighbor.
Drake winked at her and gave her that crooked grin that made her want to attack him on the spot.
“Stuck with me,” he whispered.
She did her best to ignore him as the conversations became decidedly more animated. Drake joined in the joviality, as well as his father and Leah, all three obviously delighted at being included in this festive occasion. She fidgeted nervously, nibbling occasionally at her food. Suddenly tired of pretending to eat, she gave up and shoved her plate away.
Drake leaned in close. “What’s wrong?”
“I seem to have lost my appetite.”
“Are you ill?”
“No, I’m sure it’s only the close proximity to you.”
“Maybe you’re nervous about the duet.”
“Should I be? Can you even play?”
“I can.”
“How well?”
Thankfully, Drake spoke low enough to keep his response private. “Oh, about as well as I can make out on a dance floor with you.”
Annie watched as his lips curled up into a smirk that made her want to slap it right off of his face. She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m glad you find this so amusing, Marcus.”
He put another slice of turkey breast in his plate. “I have to admit that I do, Nicole, but we really do need to practice together. I know I won’t have a problem. I mean, I wrote the damn thing. I just don’t know if you can handle a duet, since you’re so insistent on spending the rest of your life solo.”
“Bite me.”
His lips curved upward in a lazy smile as his voice lowered to a tantalizing decibel. “Now that’s the best suggestion you’ve given me all day. Do I get to choose the spot?”
Annie turned away from his sexy brown eyes, but not before a shiver ran through her. “Arrogance,” she snarled quietly, before leaving the table.
Once the scrumptious meal was over with, the younger adults pitched in to clean the kitchen. When Daniel and Leah asked if someone would show them the barns and stables on the ranch, Pete and Vivienne were more than happy to oblige.
With the two couples out of sight, the musicians made quick work of setting up their instruments. Drake placed his keyboard next to Red’s piano and warmed up, feeling Annie’s gaze on him.
Annie warmed up a little, flexed her fingers, and waited.
The piece began with Drake’s piano part and Red singing his stanza in his soulful baritone, while everyone else sang harmony in the background. When he was done, Tiffany sang her part in a strong, clear voice accompanied by Annie on the piano as well as the other instruments. The last verse and final repeat of the chorus culminated in the merging of all singers as well as the instruments. The result was such that those who weren’t participating remained motionless, obviously captivated by the piece. As the last notes played out, the room was filled with an overpowering silence.
Finally Sienna sniffed loudly. “That was amazing.”
Miranda, who was hearing it for the first time, nodded. “They are so going to love this performance.”
“Did anyone hear anything that needs adjusting?” Red asked.
“Nope, it’s perfect the way it is. That piano duet is truly breathtaking.” Miranda looked out the side window. “Hey, they’re coming back everyone.”
“Are we good, then?” Red asked. “Annie, Drake—do you need another practice run?”
“I’m good,” she said quietly.
“Me too,” Drake agreed.
“All right then, everyone stay where you are and we can get this thing over with as soon as they come back in.” He looked over at his wife. “Hey Doc, you were wonderful.”
“Thanks Babe.” Tiffany leaned over to accept his tender kiss then pulled him closer to deepen the kiss right in front of Annie and Drake.
Drake watched her reaction, a rolling of the eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but caught sight of Drake and closed her mouth, seeming to think better of it.
“What, no comment?” Red asked.
She shrugged as if it didn’t have any effect on her. “I guess I’m getting desensitized.”
Red grinned at his sister. “Yeah, I’m sure that’s it.”
“I thought Jackson and Giselle were going to be here today,” she said, desperate to change the subject.
“They went to Carrie and Sam’s for lunch, but they said they would be here around three o’clock to see everyone. We might have to perform this one more time.”
“Good, Julia and Jacob should be here by then,” Chad added, speaking of his estranged wife and their son. “I’m sure they’d like to hear this.”
When the two older couples re-entered the house, Chad’s daughter, Miranda, escorted her grandparents into the living room. They sat, front and center, waiting and wearing curious expressions.
Red approached his parents. “Mom and Dad, we know you don’t like us to do anything special for your anniversary, but we thought it’s time we showed you how special it was for all of us to grow up with your wonderful influence in our lives. We were fortunate to have parents who truly love each other and weren’t afraid to express it. My beautiful wife and I wrote this song for you and my talented brother-in-law, Drake, composed the parts for the pianos. This is from all of us, to you.”
Vivienne snuggled close to her husband as he placed his arm around her. After several moments, the ensemble began to play and sing the beautiful song that had been composed in their honor. Sienna handed Vivienne some tissues when she began to cry silently. There was no other noise in the room as every man, woman, and child who wasn’t part of the musical group listened attentively. By the time it was over, there wasn’t a dry eye left in the room among the adults and older grandchildren.
Vivienne, who had struggled to keep control over her emotions, began to cry openly. Pete held her closely and pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his own eyes and try his best to comfort his wife. Vivienne finally scanned the room, seeking out her children and anyone else who’d participated in the song. “This is absolutely the best gift you’ve ever given us. That was beautiful, and we love you all so much.” She turned and buried her face in her husband’s broad chest.
Pete smiled as he held his wife. “Your mother’s right. It was wonderful, and we couldn’t ask for a better group of children. I know you’re all adults now, but to your mother and me, you’ll always be our babies. Just wait,” he said, giving them a hearty laugh. “You’ll see one day.”
Vivienne wiped her eyes with a tissue. “Oh, wait until the Garden Club hears about this. I know none of them have ever had a song written and performed for them.” She placed a hand over her heart. “You kids are the best.”
Annie hugged her mother. “If we are, it’s all thanks to you and Daddy. And, and as much as it pains me to admit this, I’m beginning to enjoy seeing you two act all ‘lovey-dovey’.” She glared at the astonished faces of her siblings. “As long as you don’t overdo it,” she added.
Daniel approached Drake and slapped his shoulder. “That was played beautifully, Son. I knew you played, but I had no idea you composed. And you,” he said, turning to his daughter. “I had no idea you had such a gorgeous
singing voice. You get that from my side of the family, you know.” He beamed with pride.
“Do you sing, Dad?” she asked him.
“Well, sure. I sang in a band to earn extra money when I was in college, but nothing close to what I heard from you just now. That was beautiful. You sound just like my mother.” Tiffany gave her father a big hug as Drake watched in approval.
Around three, Tiffany made a huge pot of coffee and asked who was ready for dessert. “We have banana pudding pies, lemon meringue, and pecan pies.” She turned to Drake. “Wait until you taste Vivienne’s goodies, Drake. Pecan pralines, fudge, and divinity like Melinda’s. She could sell it and make a killing, I’m not kidding.”
Drake’s eyes widened. “Yeah, I remember you flaunting that in my face for Thanksgiving. Lead me to the good stuff.”
As soon as everyone had been served dessert and coffee, the doorbell rang. Giselle burst through the door with her family. “Are we in time for dessert?”
“Absolutely, and Merry Christmas.” Tiffany hugged her friends.
Within moments, the doorbell rang again and Red walked in with Julia and Jacob in tow.
Chad and Miranda met them and Julia hugged her daughter tightly, while Chad did the same with his son.
Red watched as Julia’s gaze settled briefly on her husband’s, but just long to make her eyes blur with tears as she turned away.
“Merry Christmas Julia,” Chad spoke quietly while offering to take her coat.
Julia relinquished her jacket, somehow managing to avoid further eye contact with him. “You too, Chad.”
She stepped into the living room and walked straight into Vivienne’s open arms.
Vivienne held her daughter in law tightly. “I’ve missed you so much, Jules.”
Julia stood holding her as if she wouldn’t let go. “I’ve missed you too, Vivi. Tea and crumpets don’t compare to your good coffee and banana nut bread, or your company.”
Julia felt a firm hand on her shoulder and turned to see Pete standing there. “Mr. Pete,” she said, letting the big man wrap her in his strong arms. “God, I’ve missed all of you,” she sobbed.
“We feel the same way,” Pete told her. He finally let her go, so her sisters-in-law could close in on her.
She beamed when Kathleen walked in the room carrying newborn Brynn. She hugged Kenneth, and finally turned to Red, who’d stood watching it all, waiting patiently to introduce her to Tiffany.
“And Red. Oh, my God. I’m finally getting to meet the woman who has brought this confirmed bachelor to his knees,” she said, laughing. “Tiffany, it is such a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard fabulous things about you.”
Tiffany nodded and smiled. “I’ve heard pretty much the same about you, Julia.” She looked around at her new family. “From everyone here.”
The little ones allowed several more minutes of catching up, coffee, and dessert before complaining they’d waited long enough for gift opening. The four oldest grandchildren were the designated Santa’s helpers and charged with distributing the mountain of gaily wrapped packages to everyone present.
Tiffany cried when she opened a gift from her new motherin-law; a leather-bound book with Tiffany Danielle LeBlanc McAllister and her birthday, February 12th, stamped in gold on the cover. Vivienne had contacted Melinda Dawson Hart, the LeBlanc’s nanny, through Red, and the woman had come through for her, sending dozens of digital files to Vivienne, who’d organized two more books and sent them off as a rush order.
Tiffany stopped at a picture of an infant with a woman who seemed to be about fifty years old. The woman had curly brown hair, large brown eyes, and looked remarkably like Tiffany. “Daddy, who is this?”
Daniel’s eyes filled with tears. “That’s you and your grandmother, my Mom.”
“I look just like her,” she said. “Why weren’t there ever any pictures of her around the house?”
Daniel smiled sadly and patted his daughter’s hand. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”
She nodded, continued for now to flip through the pages to see a few other photos of her with her grandmother and snapshots of her and Drake that she hadn’t seen in years.
“I remember seeing some of these when we were kids. I never realized they were Melinda’s photo albums, but I guess I should have.” She wiped her eyes. “I miss her so much. We invited her to the wedding, but they can’t make it. Greg’s the mayor of the city, and Melin’s got a bakery to run.” Tiffany smiled through her tears and looked up at her brother’s approach. “Drake, you need to take a look at this book.”
“Oh, I almost forgot!” Vivienne said. She walked to the foyer, then back into the room with another large, square, flat box and handed it to Drake. “This one’s for you, Drake. It was delivered late yesterday and I didn’t have a chance to wrap it.”
Drake ripped open the tab and pulled out the leather bound album, identical to Tiffany’s but with the words Marcus Drake LeBlanc and the date July 4th embossed in gold lettering.
He flipped through the first couple of pages and turned to her. “Ms. Vivienne-I-I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe you went through this much trouble for me,” he said, obviously touched by her actions.
“You’re family now, too.” She laid a hand on his shoulder.
He skimmed through the rest of the book then closed it. He gave Vivienne a big bear hug. “I want you to know how much this means to me, but I want to check it out later, when I won’t make a fool of myself,” he whispered.
Vivienne laughed and gave his face a gentle pat. “I understand, Drake. That’s what my boys did, too.”
He straightened up and caught his sister watching the display of affection with tears in her eyes. “I have my own book,” he said with attitude, trying to lighten the mood.
“I see that. There’s no need to get all cocky,” she said, making anyone within hearing distance chuckle.
An hour later, with gift opening behind them and the wrapping paper mess cleaned up, Tiffany turned to her husband and thanked him again for the gorgeous diamond necklace.
“You’re welcome, and I can’t wait to see my gift from you.” He looked at the picture of the beautiful pair of quarter horses she’d asked Leah to acquire for them, along with new saddles and everything they’d need to care for them.
“They won’t be delivered until after we get back from the honeymoon,” she said. “That way we won’t have to have anyone tend to them while we’re gone.”
He pulled her into his arms. “That sounds good. Have I mentioned how much I’m looking forward to our honeymoon?” he murmured into her ear.
Tiffany gave her husband a sexy little smile and kissed him before pulling away. She turned to her father and picked up the receipt for the savings account he’d opened with the name McAllister Grandchild Number One written on the outside of the envelope. “Thanks Dad, this is really generous of you,” she said of the $50,000.00 deposit showing in the book.
Daniel beamed at his only daughter. “It’s just the beginning. My grandchildren will be able to go to any college they want to and not have to worry about it,” he told her. “I just hope they start coming soon.”
“Ah, Dad, be careful what you wish for,” she whispered.
His eyes lit up. “Are you?”
Tiffany shook her head. “Not that I know of, but we’re trying.”
Daniel put his head back and laughed. “Hell, I like the sound of that. I think I should warn you that I plan on being a doting grandfather, you know.” He paused. “When you have time, I’d like to explain something to you about your mother, Tiff.”
She pulled the corners of her mouth down. “Will it make me happy or sad?”
He shrugged. “Maybe both, but it may help you to understand some things.”
“I think I have the time right now, Dad.” She tucked her photo album under one arm, and took his hand. “Let’s go out to the pool house where we can talk.”
Once inside the pool house, he took the albu
m from her and found the page with the snapshot of Tiffany with her grandmother. “You do see the resemblance between the two of you, don’t you, Tiff?”
Tiffany looked closely at the photo. “Yes, definitely…the hair…the eyes…the mouth…as an adult, I’m even shaped like her.”
Daniel smiled and nodded. “From the day you were born, you resembled her. It gave me great satisfaction that you looked like my mom, but your mother—God, it really ate her up.” He shook his head sadly. “She hated Mom. I mean, really loathed her, because she was everything that Monica wasn’t. She was a wonderful mother, a wonderful wife, even though my bully of a father didn’t appreciate her, and treated her badly until the day he died. Mom spent a lot of time with us the first two years of my marriage.”
“Did she live with you?”
“No, I’d purchased a small, but comfortable, home for her not too far from us. We already had Monica’s mother living with us, and she and my mom were like oil and water. Those two clashed something fierce, and my mother never backed down from an argument. Between Monica and her mother, they never gave poor Mom a moment of peace when she was around. But, after you came, she put up with them so she could see you. I’ve already told you how she was responsible for me hiring Melinda. Had she lived longer, you and Drake would have known more happiness as children. She doted on you for a year.”
“Dad, why haven’t we seen pictures of her before now?”
“Monica wouldn’t allow it. She hated when my mother came around. She hated that every day you grew more to look like her while Mom celebrated the fact. You had her big brown eyes, when Monica’s were ice blue. You had a head full of beautiful golden brown curls, when Monica’s hair was blonde and straight as a board. It ate at her, Tiff—infuriated both her and her mother.”
Tiffany gave her head a curious shake. “Why would they care when they obviously felt so little for me? Why would they begrudge an infant someone, anyone who would show it tenderness and love?”
“They couldn’t relate to someone like her. Neither of those women had ever been capable of loving anyone but themselves. Hell, they didn’t even like each other, Tiff. The only time they ever got along was when my mother was around to give them a common enemy. They joined forces just so they could hate her together, because she forced them to see everything they weren’t.”