by Becki Willis
True, Maddy had been through her own trials this past year. Widowed at the age of thirty-nine. Left penniless, thanks to her late husband. Driven from her home and her life in Dallas. Forced to move back home to live with her grandmother. Starting over had been the hardest thing she had ever done, but she had managed. Granny Bert sold her the Big House for a token five thousand dollars, agreed to finance it, and promptly coerced the master carpenter at HOME TV to take on the renovation, all at no cost to Maddy. There was a price to pay, of course—no privacy, public exploitation, public ridicule—but the result was worth it. She and her twins had a home. They had a future.
Part of starting over included opening In a Pinch, a temporary service to fill in where needed and to perform odd jobs around town. A smile touched Madison’s face as she recalled how odd some of those jobs had been! Some had even led to danger. Yet even when her life was threatened, it hadn’t been personal, not really. The perpetrators only meant to stop her from uncovering their own nefarious deeds.
But Genny. Poor, sweet Genny. She had been stalked. Kidnapped. Had her home burned to the ground. Attacked with a knife. The deeds had all been deeply personal, committed by a man who claimed to love her, and a woman who vowed to hate her. Wounds like that left deep scars. Madison didn’t know if she could have recovered the way Genny had. After a brief stint of depression, her friend bounced back from the darkness and was once again her sunny, optimistic self. Genesis Baker was a strong woman, and the best friend Madison could ever hope to have.
“No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to swallow this smile,” Genny confessed. “Someone came into the cafe yesterday and told me this really sad story, and it was all I could do not to break out in song. I’m so crazy happy, it’s not even funny.”
“Your hunk of a fiancé has the same problem. I saw Cutter yesterday, working a wreck, and he had that same goofy smile on his face the entire time.”
“Hey, I resent that!” Genny pretended to sulk. “My smile is not goofy. It’s—It’s… love inspired. Just like yours is, whenever Brash is around.”
Instead of smiling, Maddy frowned. “Yes, well, you may not have noticed, but that hasn’t been all that much these last couple of weeks.”
Genny busied herself, carefully arranging a casual collection of antique ornaments inside a tall glass vase. “And why is that?” she asked.
“He’s been so busy lately, chasing down this gambling ring. It’s almost like he’s obsessed.”
“A man like Brash deCordova is used to success. Look at his past. Star football player in high school. Big shot in college ball. A career in the pros. Successful college coach for two major universities. Now he’s chief of police and special investigator for the county. A leader like that doesn’t take defeat well, and you know he has to see this organized gambling ring as defeat.” She stepped back to critique her work.
Maddy reluctantly agreed. “I suppose. And maybe it’s just as well he’s so busy right now. Things have been a little strained with Bethani lately.”
“I picked up on that.” Genny topped the collection off with a snowman ornament, handblown from mercury glass.
“Ooh, I like that,” Maddy approved. “That looks really good.”
“I’ll put the rest in that cut crystal bowl, put it on the other table, and call it good. Classic and understated, but festive.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
As Genny started the next project, she asked, “So what gives with Bethani?”
Madison placed graceful bows at even intervals among the fireplace garland. The front parlor was the most formal of the rooms in the Big House, and therefore the room she spent the least amount of time in. Still, it needed a touch of holiday spirit, particularly since it spilled into the formal dining room. That, too, was reserved for special occasions, and what occasion was more special than Christmas? She agreed with Genny on how to decorate these two rooms. Less, in this case, was more.
Concentrating on her spacing, Madison spoke over her shoulder. “I can answer that in one word. Annette. Spending time with my mother-in-law is like being exposed to small doses of poison. Over time, it builds in your system and becomes toxic.”
“I can understand Annette spouting her usual nonsense, but Bethani likes Brash. I thought she was okay with your relationship.”
“I thought so, too,” Maddy sighed as she tied the final bow. “But she’s sixteen. It’s an impressionable age. And she adored her father. Going back to Dallas, seeing his headstone, hearing all the sentimental stories Annette told…”
“It’s only natural, Maddy,” Genny reassured her friend. “Holidays are an emotional time of year. Of course, she misses her dad.”
“Last year was so hard, you know? Gray had just been killed, and our world was crashing down around us. We went through the motions of the holidays, but our hearts weren’t in it. Between trying to hold it together and trying to protect the kids from all the sordid details, it felt like Christmas came and went without me even knowing it. I was really looking forward to the holidays this year and now… now this. I feel like I take one step forward, two steps back.”
Genny advanced toward her friend, grabbed her arm, and dragged her along as she stepped off two long, forward paces. “There. Two steps forward, not a single one back. This is going to be an amazing Christmas, just you wait and see.”
Maddy smiled at Genny’s enthusiasm. If anyone could will it to be so, it was her friend.
“We’ve gotten a good start on it,” she admitted. “The room looks great. And I am pleased to say, we are now officially done with our decorating.” She dusted her hands for good measure.
“All the more reason for a lighting party tomorrow night, don’t you think?” Genny asked with an impish grin.
Maddy shook her head in defeat, but she was smiling. “Okay, okay. We can have a lighting party.”
Genny’s dimples appeared again. “You’ll see, Maddy. This is one Christmas you’ll never forget!”
***
As darkness settled in over the town, a festive group gathered on the front lawns of the Big House.
“This is going to be so awesome!” Megan deCordova predicted, giggling as only a teenager could do. She and Bethani linked arms as they awaited the big moment.
“You should have seen how they put the lights up on the top gables.” At sixteen, her twin brother Blake was more intrigued by the hydraulic lifts than he was by the twinkling lights. He and best friend Jamil Green launched into a vivid recount of the scene, engaging anyone who would listen. As chief of the volunteer fire department, Cutter Montgomery knew the most about the equipment used. He and the teens swapped stories about hydraulic options and motors, with occasional input from Megan’s stepfather Matthew Aikman.
“Nearly done!” Derron Mullins called to the group.
Before leaving, the tech from By the Yard had assured Madison that everything was set. One touch of the remote, and she would have lights. But there had been an incident after the installers left; the Hadleys’ goat had gotten loose and wandered onto the corner estate. After a light snack of electrical cords and connectors, the goat proceeded to tangle the remaining cords unmercifully. By the time Madison discovered the mess, the lawn and lighting experts were on the other side of the county. She frantically called her part-time employee and friend, Derron, to help her sort it all out. With Brash’s help, they were almost finished.
“Okay, dollface, we have it,” Derron said a few minutes later. “Light ’er up.”
Wanting the twins to be a part of the moment, she motioned them closer. “Blake, Beth, let’s do this together.”
“Okay, everybody, start the countdown!” someone suggested.
The crowd called out as a single voice. “Ten. Nine. Eight.”
Madison gave the twins a quick hug as the numbers fell. She held the master remote, and their hands supported hers.
“Four. Three. Two.”
“This is a new beginning for us, guys,” Maddy whi
spered. “Our future is as bright as these lights.” With hope shining in her hazel eyes, she pressed the button.
The lights were dazzling, but not overpowering. Some twinkled, some burned steady. Thousands of soft white bulbs traced the graceful bones of the old mansion. Electronic icicles fell from the eaves and gables of every porch, every soffit, appearing to drip in the night. More lights traced the silhouette of each turret. Taking cues from the paint pallet, most of the lights were white, but accents of red echoed the house’s cranberry trim. The contrasting colors wrapped around the many porch posts and spindles. The lights lit the dark sky around it, making the house appear to glow like a beacon in the night.
Madison’s heart swelled. This was her beacon.
Another beacon in her life, Brash moved through the crowd so that he stood behind her. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?” he murmured over her shoulder.
“Oh, Brash, have you ever seen anything so beautiful?” Madison breathed the words as she leaned back into his warmth. “I still have moments when this all seems surreal. Sometimes I can’t believe that something so beautiful belongs to me.”
“I know what you mean,” he murmured softly, but his eyes were on her, not the house.
Maddy didn’t notice his double meaning. She was still enchanted with the house. “They did an absolutely amazing job. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it, have you?”
“It’s perfect,” he agreed. “This is how Christmas lights should be done, not like the ones over at the Hutchins’. Theirs are like Santa’s elves on steroids.” He cringed with the memory. “But these lights are perfect. Not too gaudy, not too flashy. Understated elegance, just like the house. And its new owner.”
She smiled at his compliment. “Thank you, but you might be a bit prejudiced.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. Slipping his arms around her, he leaned even closer and whispered confidentially, “I’m in love with the owner, you know.”
A mischievous smile played upon her lips. “Yes, I believe I heard something about that. Of course, my memory is rather sketchy. I might need reminding later.”
His voice dropped to a sexy purr, sending shivers of delight across her skin. “I would love to give you an in-depth demonstration.”
Maddy’s heart quickened with the low timbre of his words. She hugged his arms to her. “We never seem to have any alone time,” she complained.
“I know, sweetheart. Things have been hectic.” He gave her a squeeze. “Our time is coming, sweetheart. I promise.”
“I will hold you to that, Mr. deCordova.”
“I’m looking forward to Christmas with you, Maddy.” She loved the feel of his deep voice rumbling against her. She loved the way her name fell from his lips, the way his low voice made anything sound sensual.
“It’s going to be awesome,” she whispered.
They stood in silence, soaking in the inner warmth that somehow emanated from the lights. After a few moments, Brash’s deep baritone filled the air as he began the first strands of Silent Night. One by one, other voices joined in, but Maddy was one of the last to pitch in. She found her throat clogged with emotion.
This, she thought, is what Christmas is all about. Love, and home, and family.
Before the evening was done, the crowd sang every song they knew the words to, and some they didn’t. Neighbors came out from along the street to admire the house and the impromptu caroling. Maddy invited everyone back inside to finish the refreshments and to partake in some of Genny’s special eggnog.
And just like that, a new tradition in The Sisters was born.
CHAPTER THREE
Madison was surprised when Brash sent her a text, asking to meet at his office the next morning. She pulled into the old train depot turned police station, worrying that something had happened.
One look at her face, and Brash was quick to say, “I didn’t mean to alarm you, sweetheart. There’s nothing wrong. At least, not like you’re thinking.”
She put her hand to her heart. “You know me, the first thing I think is that something happened to the kids.”
Brash cleared off the edge of his desk and propped a lean hip against it, stretching long legs out before him. “This has nothing to do with the kids. Actually, it’s a police matter.”
Madison had been admiring his long, athletic frame, but his words snapped her gaze to his. “Do I have an unpaid parking ticket I know nothing about?”
“Of course not. From a traffic citation perspective, you are a model citizen, my love.”
“Somehow that doesn’t sound like a compliment. Are you insinuating I’m not always a model citizen?”
“Well,” Brash drawled, “there have been a few issues with trespassing. Poking your nose into police business. Getting yourself into some rather peculiar jams.”
“Hey, none of those have been of my own choosing. They have been a direct result of my clients’ situations.”
“Simmer down now. Don’t get your feathers ruffled. I didn’t bring you here to pick a fight.”
“Then why did you bring me down here?” she asked shortly.
“I want to hire you.”
It wasn’t the first time the police department had retained the services of In a Pinch, but his words still surprised her. “Oh. Why didn’t you say so?”
A sexy grin slid over his face, threatening to steal her breath away. “Because I like to see that fire in your eyes. You’re even more beautiful when you’re all riled up.”
It was difficult to stay aggravated at him when he said something like that, but she gave it her best shot. “That must be why you keep me riled up so often,” she sniffed.
His eyes traveled over her with delicious suggestion. “I certainly try.”
She checked the buttons on her blouse, certain he had undone the top few with just his gaze. “Unless you plan to close those blinds, maybe you should tell me what you’re talking about.”
With a sigh, Brash stood from the desk. His knee popped in protest, a reminder of his days playing football. Madison frowned when she saw his slight limp.
“Are you all right, Brash?” she asked in concern.
“As all right as I can be, seeing as I only have two officers and a growing crime wave on my hands.” He plopped down into his chair and sat back with a short exhale. “There was another break-in last night.”
“Oh no!”
“I’m sure you know by now, the first was at Larry and Vanessa Hutchins’. Someone broke into the house and stole all the wrapped presents from under the tree. Last night, someone broke into Mona and Reggie Carr’s vehicle while it was sitting in their driveway. Mona Carr shopped all day yesterday and hadn’t unloaded the car yet. When Reggie went out to unload this morning, someone had beaten him to it.”
Madison gasped. “You’re kidding! That is terrible!”
Frustration etched into Brash’s face. “This sort of thing just doesn’t happen around here, Maddy. We’re a close-knit, law-abiding community. We look out for our neighbors, not steal from them!”
“Like last night,” she nodded. “That was so awesome, the way neighbors up and down the street came out and joined us.”
“Exactly. I won’t tolerate this kind of unlawfulness in our community.” His voice turned to granite. “We have to shut it down, and we have to shut it down now.”
“I agree. How can I help?”
“In the past week, the Hutchins have had half the community traipsing through their house, which makes the potential persons of interest list a mile long. The guys and I are busy trying to pin down this illegal gambling ring. I would like to hire In a Pinch to check out the people on this list and compare notes on the two thefts. They may or may not be connected. Interested?”
“Of course! I’d like to say I’d do it for free, just to help out, but… I have bills.”
“Of course you do. I would never ask you to do this for free.”
“People assume that since I did the TV show, I must be rich to go along with the f
amous. Yes, I got a gorgeous house out of the deal, but it didn’t put a penny into my bank account. I have bills, just like everyone else.”
“Maddy, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. And you know I would help you in any way I can, if you’d just let me.” He saw the argument on her face and held up a warning hand. “Let’s not get into that discussion again. This is a business proposition, plain and simple. I need help, and you’re just the person to do it. Quality work at reasonable rates. Exactly what the taxpayers want.”
“Thank you for the vote of confidence. I won’t let you down.”
He gave her one of his irresistible smiles. “I know. That’s why I’m hiring you.” He handed her a file. “Here’s the information you need. If you need to speak directly to the Hutchins or Carrs, I can set that up for you. Any questions so far?”
“Only a hundred or so. First of which, do you think this is the work of a single perpetrator, or a gang?”
“I’d have to say we’re looking at two or more individuals. One to act as lookout, one to go in and make the sweep. The first crime was pulled off in a very specific time frame.”
Madison was already jotting down notes. “Do you plan to issue a warning for the public?”
“Not at this time. For all we know, these were two isolated incidents. Someone may have seen opportunity and taken it. There’s no reason to alarm folks at this point.”
“But people need to know to be vigilant. Keep their door locked, their cars secure, alarms set.”
“I would hope they’re doing that anyway. But you’re right; I could ask the newspaper to run some generic reminder for holiday safety. I just don’t want them getting wind of this and making it out to be bigger than it is.”
“So, you do or do not think these are related?”
“Officially, at this point, I have no reason to think they are related. But my gut says differently.”
“Trust your gut, Brash. Isn’t that what you always tell me?”
“I’m glad you’ve listened.”