Holiday Kisses

by Anna J. Stewart

  “Would you like to come inside and get warm?”

  The woman blinked again. Two large tears spilled from her blue eyes and plopped onto her cheeks. “I need to find my brother.”

  “Yes, I know.” Calliope looked at the woman’s backpack and noticed a jacket tied through the straps. She pulled it free and draped it around her shoulders. “Xander’s your brother, isn’t he? Xander Costas.”

  She nodded. Calliope could hear her teeth chattering as she clutched at the jacket. “He’s going to be so mad. I just left. I didn’t know where else to go. I couldn’t go home.” Her chin wobbled as she turned pleading eyes on Calliope. “I couldn’t stay at school. Everyone’s going to be so mad at me.”

  “Your family loves you...” Calliope searched her memory for a name. Three sisters. Ophelia, Dyna and...the baby of the family. “Alethea. That’s correct, isn’t it?” She put an arm around her shoulder. The sorrow inside of Alethea reached out and seized Calliope’s heart. Oh, this poor girl. “Let’s get you to your brother, Alethea. Come on.” She picked up the bag, held out her hand and led the young woman away from the ocean.

  As she and Alethea headed toward the stairs leading up to Main Street, Calliope’s anxiety grew.

  Patience, she reminded herself, even as she wished for time to speed up. When she felt the tiny flicker of threadbare life dancing along her palm, she relaxed. Calliope held out her arm.

  “Look,” she whispered to Alethea as she displayed the monarch butterfly balancing on her finger. “That’s a good sign. A sign you’ve found the right place.”

  A tiny flicker of a smile illuminated Alethea’s face. Calliope glanced over her shoulder. The grey cloud began to dissipate.

  “How about we send him ahead?” Calliope said as they rounded the corner and on up the hill. “Go ahead. Blow on his wings, very, very gently.” She grinned at Alethea as the young woman did as she suggested.

  The insect flittered a moment, scratched its infinitesimal legs against one another and then pushed off into the late-afternoon sky toward Xander’s cabin.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  XANDER HAD KEPT his word and called Antony back within the two hours. But with nothing new to convey and no ideas other than to file a missing-person report, the conversation had not gone well. The fact that Antony believed Xander was wasting his time out here in California didn’t help matters. Nor did the revelation that one of the firms offering to buy Costas Architecture had just upped their bid. As if money was the answer to everything. This was about the family, their grandfather’s legacy. Xander’s legacy.

  Besides, even if he did go home, what good was he going to do there? He’d just be worrying in a different location and arguing with Antony in person. Not to mention that if he left Butterfly Harbor now, before submitting a revised design, he’d be abandoning their best chance to save the family firm.

  But this was Alethea. His baby sister. How would he ever forgive himself if he didn’t do everything possible to find her and bring her home? If it was a choice between business and family, he knew which to choose. Because there was no choice.

  Which was why he began throwing his clothes into his bag while on hold with the airline to change his flight.

  Something knocked against his bedroom window. The sound was dull. Low. So low he thought he might have imagined it. Just the weird weather, he told himself as he hustled into the living room. He grabbed his pencils and notepad, tossed them on the coffee table beside the unopened Christmas ornaments for the tree.

  He heard it again. And again. Against the main window this time. Irritated, he walked around the table and sofa and found a solitary monarch butterfly battering itself against the glass.

  “What on earth?”

  He’d never seen such a thing. It was as if...but no. Butterflies didn’t knock, did they? He pulled open the front door and was about to step onto the porch when he caught sight of Calliope in all her colorful wonder, pushing open the iron gate to the cottage’s yard. And beside her was the only thing that could make his heartbeat steady again.

  “Alethea.” His knees went weak with relief. She was safe. She was...here.

  He dropped his phone and raced toward them, barely noticing the tears on his sister’s face before he locked his arms around her in a hug so fierce he was afraid he’d hurt her.

  “You’re okay. Thank goodness, you’re okay.” He started to let go, but she let out a muted sob and clung to him. “Where did you...?” Xander looked to Calliope, who continued to stroke Alethea’s hair. “How did you know?”

  “What does it matter, Xander? What’s important is she’s here. She’s hurting. And she came to you.”

  “Don’t be mad,” Alethea whispered against his chest. “I know I worried everyone. I know I shouldn’t have run off that way, but I didn’t know what else to do. I’m sorry but please don’t be mad.”

  “I’m not mad.” How could he be when he was so completely relieved? “Let’s get you inside. Where are you going?” He called after Calliope when she stepped away.

  “Home. I don’t want to intrude and Paige is watching Stella.”

  “Then you can stay awhile. Please.” He couldn’t explain it, but something about having her here kept him on balance. “I’ll make tea.”

  “You hate tea,” Alethea mumbled.

  Calliope smiled.

  “I’m acquiring a taste.” Xander squeezed his sister hard. “And no tattling when your big brother’s trying to impress a girl.”

  Alethea’s laughter healed his wounded heart.

  “How about you get Alethea settled and I make the tea?” Calliope suggested.

  “What about your messenger?” Xander asked as he brought Alethea inside. “Is it okay?”

  “My messenger is fine,” Calliope said as she closed the door behind them. “It’s not everyone who can see them.”

  “She sent you a butterfly,” Alethea mumbled, and it was then Xander finally looked at her. The dark circles under her eyes, the strained lines on her face. The tiny hint of the spunky, independent, embrace-life little sister he loved and admired so much. “That’s kinda cool.”

  “When was the last time you slept, kiddo?”

  “I don’t think I’ve slept since Talia’s funeral.” And with that, her eyes filled.

  Xander’s heart twisted. Six months. His sister had been falling deeper into despair for the last six months and none of them had done anything to help.

  “How about a long, hot shower?” Calliope suggested, stopping him from pushing Alethea onto the sofa. “Abby keeps lavender sachets in the linen closet. We’ll put that in the showerhead to help you relax.”

  “’Kay.” Alethea’s eyes drooped. “I think I can stay awake for that.”

  “I’ll make certain you do,” Calliope offered. “Xander, why don’t you make up the second bedroom for her?”

  “I can do that, sure.”

  Calliope brushed her fingers over his arm as he moved away. “Xander?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’ll take care of her. Call your family.”

  His family. Antony. “Right. My phone.” He patted his pockets. “Where did I leave my phone?”

  “It’s on the porch,” Calliope told him as she escorted Alethea down the short hallway.

  “Right. Porch.” He pulled open the door and found the butterfly perched on the edge of the railing. He bent down to pick up his phone, but stopped before he stood again. And moved closer to examine the insect more carefully. The intricacy of the wings, the tensile strength housed in such tiny, almost invisible legs. How could something so small, so delicate, command such power? Did they think? Did they feel? Or did they merely exist by instinct? “Thank you,” he whispered.

  The butterfly turned around and faced him. Its wings pulsed a few times before it pushed off and disappeared into the trees.

&nbs
p; “She’s got me talking to butterflies,” he muttered. But it didn’t seem odd. Didn’t feel weird. It felt...right. He focused on the phone and called his brother. “Antony?”

  “You on your way home?” his brother demanded.

  “No.” Until this moment, he didn’t realize he wasn’t ready to leave for reasons other than the project. He glanced over his shoulder into the cabin where Calliope was. “No, there’s no need. Alethea’s here. Somehow she’s out here in Butterfly Harbor.”

  “She’s...what?” Antony’s tone was caught between shock and relief. “Are you kidding me? How...? Mom!”

  Xander pushed up and sat in the chair on the porch, listening to the shuffling and maneuvering as his mother took his brother’s phone. “Xander?”

  “Alethea’s okay, Mom. She’s here.”

  “Oh, thank goodness.”

  Xander hated the sob that echoed in his ear. His mother was one of the strongest people he knew. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d broken down. Not when their father had had his stroke, not when the lawsuits had started flying. Not even when Talia, Alethea’s lifelong best friend and a girl she considered another daughter, had died. His mom was the solid foundation of their family.

  But even foundations had their limits.

  “Can I talk to her?”

  “Tomorrow, I promise,” Xander said. “She’s taking a shower right now and honestly...? She’s wiped out.”

  “Okay, yes. You’re right.” His mother sniffed and he could imagine her pulling herself together. “You left her on her own?”

  “I have a friend with her. Calliope...” Xander glanced over his shoulder and gave silent thanks for whatever force had brought Calliope into his life. “She has a special way with people. Alethea is in good hands.”

  “Good, I’m glad you aren’t alone. That Alethea isn’t alone. Xander, be sure to call and tell me if there’s anything I can do.”

  “I will, Mom. We have to give her the space to work through this her way. Whatever it is. But I’ll let her know whatever she needs, she will get from us.”

  “Good. I should ask Dyna to contact the school and let them know Alethea’s okay.”

  “I’ll call Dyna,” Xander said. “You and Antony need to decompress. We’ll look at things fresh in the morning, but for now, go enjoy your grandchildren and say good-night to Dad for me.”

  “Thank you, Xander. Do you want to talk to Antony again?”

  “No.” He really wasn’t up for another round with his brother at the moment. “We’ll call you tomorrow, Mom. Good night.”

  He clicked off and tried to listen to the calm ocean waves beyond the cliffs. He dialed his sister, Dyna, who sounded just as relieved as Xander felt. She’d speak with the college tomorrow and make sure there was a place for Alethea when she decided to return, but stress that their sister needed an extended visit home with her family. Dyna and her husband would take care of putting all of Alethea’s things in storage and facilitate anything else the college deemed necessary.

  It had felt strange, Xander thought once he’d hung up and headed back inside, not to be handling all the details of the latest family crisis. Despite his living on and off in New York for the past few years, he’d been the go-to brother; the one who could fix anything with a phone call or email. His leave-it-to-me attitude had long been a source of friction between him and Antony, which no doubt was part of his brother’s reaction to this situation. Even when he’d tried to remove himself from the conflict, he’d still been neck-deep in it. It seemed it really was where he belonged.

  He made quick work of setting up the spare bedroom until he found himself standing by the bed debating how many blankets to put on. He stared down at the blue-and-white striped spread as if he wasn’t quite sure what to do with it.

  “You have beautiful hair.” Calliope’s voice drifted through the slightly ajar door to the second bathroom, where she was with his sister. “I can see hints of blue in the curls.”

  Xander dropped the blanket onto the bed and stepped closer. He could hear the movement of a brush and smell lavender in the steam-filled room.

  “Talia used to brush my hair,” Alethea said.“She hated hers. She wanted curls.”

  “We often want what we can’t have,” Calliope said in that soothing way she had. Xander had never met anyone who said so much with so few words. She could lecture without sounding superior or smarter. Just...wiser. Until now, he hadn’t noticed there really was a difference. It made him curious, however, why she always seemed so defensive, so prickly, around him. Then again, that could be a good sign, couldn’t it? “Thank you for letting me braid it,” Calliope continued. “My sister is always suggesting I should watch those online videos. I could use the practice on someone who doesn’t criticize.”

  “Sisters always criticize,” Alethea said. “So do brothers.”

  “I’m sure Xander means well.”

  “Not Xander.”

  Xander’s ears perked up.

  “He’s probably the only one who gets me. Even though I’m sure I drive him nuts.”

  “Isn’t that what younger siblings are supposed to do?”

  “I suppose. But Xander’s different. He listens, you know? He’s never made me feel less important because I’m so much younger than him.”

  Xander selfishly waited for Calliope’s response. “That’s why you came here. Because of Xander.”

  “I couldn’t stay in that dorm room anymore. I could see Talia everywhere, even though all her stuff is gone.” Alethea sniffled. “We’d dreamed about going off to college together since we were ten. Take classes together. How we’d decorate our room. She’s gone, but I could hear her. Laughing or teasing me, or how she used to nag me to get me out of bed in the morning. I felt like I was being haunted.”

  “I have no doubt your friend is still with you, Alethea. The bond you shared, it’s not something that goes away simply because the other person is gone. But you were right about one thing. You should have told someone you were leaving.”

  “I know. I just didn’t want the added drama. The added pressure. When I got to the bus station and saw one going to Monterey, I took it as a sign. Then when my cell died, I took it as another. I was just so tired of the noise.”

  “I expect your brother will want to discuss this with you.” Xander jumped back as Calliope used her finger to push open the door. She arched an eyebrow at him even as her lips twitched. “There. All done. I think what you need is some sleep. How about I go fix you that tea?”

  “Thank you. Calliope?”

  Xander took a big step away as the door swung open completely.

  “Where do you think we go when we die?”

  “I don’t know that we go anywhere, Alethea. I like to think we stay right where we’re supposed to. In the hearts of the people who love us.”

  “I—” Xander began as Calliope left the bathroom. She pressed a finger against her lips and shook her head before flipping the second blanket over the mattress. Xander stood silent, entranced, enthralled by watching her move soundlessly around the room. She waved for him to follow when she headed into the kitchen.

  “Big brother spying on his sister. Really, Xander? Predictable much?” She searched the cabinets until she found the glass container of tea bags and turned the electric kettle on to boil.

  “A better man would apologize, I assume.” He frowned as she chose three mugs. “Coffee would be okay.” He moved behind her for the coffeemaker, but she placed her hand on the back of his.

  “I think we can both agree you don’t need a stimulant.”

  Not with her around he didn’t.

  “Impress me. Try the tea.” Her smile lit the fire in her eyes.

  “Let me guess.” The confidence on her face pushed away the last of the unsettled emotion inside of him. “It’s your own special brew.”


  “I may have supplied some to the inn for their cabins. Lavender and rose hips.” She inclined her chin. “If you’d be so kind as to grab the honey?”

  “Mmm. Liquid flowers. Sounds delicious.”

  Calliope laughed. “It’s very calming. And surely we can all use a bit of calm after today.”

  “How did you know? About Alethea?”

  “I didn’t.” She dropped round tea bags into each of the mugs and poured the water. “Not until I saw her. I only sensed someone was in pain. The clouds. Did you see?”

  “The dark gray one?” He nodded. “That was Alethea?” He tried not to let his disbelief echo in his voice.

  “I only followed what I saw. And felt.”

  “You walked into the storm.” An affection he couldn’t describe or define washed over him. She’d walked into the storm and found his sister.

  “You would have done the same for her, had you known.”

  “But you didn’t know.” Calliope Jones was the type of woman who would walk into the eye of a storm for anyone. “Just how big is your heart?”

  “I’m not sure that’s a conversation you want your sister to hear.” Alethea joined them in the kitchenette. Her hair had been braided snug and long down her back and she wore a worn pair of black yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. “This place is nice,” Alethea said when the silence dragged on. “Cozy and homey.”

  “You just defined all of Butterfly Harbor.” Calliope added a drizzle of honey to the tea and handed Alethea one of the butterfly mugs. “Are you hungry?”

  “Not really. I’m just going to take this in my room if that’s okay?”

  “Alethea.” Xander took a step toward her, rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  “Don’t.” Tears exploded in his sister’s eyes. “I know you’re disappointed in me, Xander. And I know I shouldn’t have left school the way I did without saying anything.”

  “Why would I be disappointed in you?” He wrapped his arm solidly around her and brought her in close. “I wish you’d told us how hard a time you were having.” He wished he’d been paying closer attention. “Losing Talia was difficult for all of us, Alethea. You could have talked to us.”