by Diane Bator
Silence. She was sure she’d caught him in a lie, until he groaned. “Thanks for the faith. For the record, Shelley’s doing everything she can. She says there are a lot of questions that need answers and her new best friend Leo’s intimidating enough to get them.”
That was a start. “Is he still there?”
“Leo? I’m not sure. He spent the morning yelling at me and making me feel like dog poo then yelled at my lawyer and left. That guy has some serious anger issues.”
She couldn’t picture that. “Do we know the same Leo?”
“Oh, I doubt it. I think he’s got a thing for you though. A big thing, judging by the size of his feet.” Brady mused. “He’s definitely not one of my biggest fans or Shelley’s. She, for the record, thinks he’s a hot lunatic and hopes he’s single.”
Christina had to admit, that about summed up Leo Blue. Particularly the hot part. “I’m glad you’re having fun. Just try to remember why you’re in jail to begin with and that you are safer on the outside than on the inside.”
Brady sighed. “I know, Rosie. That’s true for most people, but I’ve made a few enemies who can’t reach me in here. For once, I actually do feel safe and so should you. Where did you say you were again?”
“That’s sad, Brady.” She sighed. “Really, really sad.”
“Maybe, sweetie, but if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay wherever you are.”
Her stomach churned. “What do you mean by that?”
“Bye, Rosie. It’s been a slice.”
Shaken and sad to her core, Christina closed the store at five o’clock, tired of serving cookies and gingerbread cake to customers so cheerful they made her teeth ache. She shrugged into her coat and snuck out through the back door, determined to avoid the Christmas party that echoed down the alley from the street out front.
With one hand on the railing, she climbed partway up the stairs to her apartment then paused. Clancy would pound on her door the moment he realized she was missing. He’d drag her down to hand out hot chocolate and candy canes with Lucy and her kids and force her to be festive.
Crap. She tugged her scarf tighter around her neck and dug her gloves out of her pocket. If she had to face the holiday season, she’d do so on her own terms. She didn’t need her brother or anyone else to show her how to celebrate. Maybe she’d close the bakery and run off to New Mexico where she could spend the rest of her life painting in total anonymity.
The snow crunched beneath her feet on the sidewalk that led to Main Street. When she rounded the corner, she paused, dazzled by the lights and the carolers who wove between the throng of window shoppers and children.
“Merry Christmas.” A small, stooped man patted her arm. Father Sam. The former priest had retired from the church long before Christina had left Packham. There were many euphemisms used, but the basic story was he talked to a plastic statue that resided on his lawn year round.
“Merry Christmas,” she said, more out of respect than anything.
“Hope you’ve been a good girl this year.” His blue eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I’ll bet Santa has a great surprise in store for you.”
What was she supposed to say? Sorry Father, I’ve had some personal problems and I need a do-over this year.
“I’m so sorry about your mom, my dear.” He took her hand, his fingers icy and red. “She was a true gift from God. I miss her smile and her hot cross buns.”
“Thank you.” Christina grasped his fingers then gasped. “Where are you gloves, Father? You’re freezing.”
He blinked. “Oh, somewhere. Probably at home.”
She pulled her gloves from her pocket and slid them onto his hands. “Take mine. I’m still warm from being in the bakery all day anyway.”
Father Sam stared, first at her then down at the gloves. “Bless you, my dear. You have always had a good heart, just like your mother, bless her precious soul. I promise I will get these back to you very soon.”
“No rush. Just stay warm.” Christina walked away, her heart heavy.
Daisy had loved this night. The lights, the music, and the commotion were all right up her alley. Christmas was her favorite time of the year and she told the same stories every year about growing up poor and how she got one special gift Santa left on the end of her bed every year since her family never had a tree.
She stopped at Java Jo’s to grab an eggnog latte and blinked back tears. The drinks were a ritual she and her mom had clung to every year. The cup warmed her bare hands and brought back a surge of good memories.
“Hey, babe. I came by to get cookies, but the shop was closed.” Leo Blue was the last person she wanted to see.
Christina gripped her cup tighter. “Yeah, I’m not there.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Couldn’t resist the lure of the bells, huh?”
“Couldn’t stand another happy customer. See you later.” She pushed past him through the crisp December air. He’d never let her wallow in her Christmas memories or in self-pity for the night. He’d force her to face the past, which was one thing she wasn’t ready for just yet. Instead, she wove her way through the crowd, past singers, jazz musicians, and lighted trees toward town hall. She needed to spend some time alone.
The thirty foot tree in front of the old brick town hall stood covered in white lights. She and her mom sat on a nearby bench every year to drink their lattes and dream about the coming year. Christina stood in front of the tree and sighed.
“Why so glum?” Leo stopped beside her. “Isn’t Christmas about good cheer? Glad tidings? Miracles?”
She cleared a spot on a snow-covered bench near the tree and sat, back to the tree, to watch the revelers. “That’s what I’ve heard.”
He sat in the thin layer of snow beside her. “It’s not rubbing off on you though. Must be some pretty thick armor you’ve got on.”
“Two inches of stainless steel. Teflon coated.”
Leo patted her thigh. “Nothing sticks and nothing gets through.”
She sipped her latte. “Don’t you have something better to do than follow me around?”
“Nothing as entertaining.” He nudged her shoulder with his.
“I’m sure Clancy would like a friend.”
“I doubt it, he’s got a date. Actually, four dates.” He motioned to a cluster of people near the empty fountain. “Recognize anyone?”
Clancy laughed with Lucy and her children. They all looked cold, but seemed genuinely happy. Clancy took furtive glances at Lucy, who returned his smile. It seemed he’d fallen fast and hard for the young mom and her kids.
She frowned. “I thought she was your friend?”
“She is.” Leo draped his arm across her shoulders. “Which is why I told her everything I know about your brother and threatened Clancy’s life if he hurts her.”
Christina turned to look at him. “You set them up?”
Leo shrugged. “We were on a case. She lives two doors down from your mom and dad’s house. I guess she and Clancy just clicked.”
She smiled. “He deserves to be happy.”
“So do you.” Leo stood and held out a hand. “Come on, let’s walk. My butt’s freezing.”
Christina raised one eyebrow about to make a wise crack, but held her tongue. Clutching her paper cup, she avoided his hand and got off the bench. “I need to eat dinner and get some sleep.”
“Sounds good to me.” He grabbed her hand.
“Who do you think you are?” She spun around. “Just because you’re friends with my brother, doesn’t mean you’re anything to me.”
“No?” Leo pulled her close. “Can’t I be friends with both of you?”
Her heart raced. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Because of Brady?”
“Because of everything.” She tried to pull away, but he held tight. “I can’t have friends. Bad things happen to them. My ex-boyfriend committed suicide after we broke up. Gage was murdered and my husband killed him.”
Leo shook
his head. “That doesn’t make you the root of all evil.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“Nothing’s happened to me yet.” He kissed her cold knuckles. “Where are your gloves? Your hands are freezing.”
“I guess Santa will have to bring me a new pair.” She tried to tug her hand out of his grip, but he held tight. “Look, for all I know, you’re going to get hit by a bus or have a piano fall on your head on your way home tonight.”
He sighed. “You do know I’m not a cartoon character, right?”
Christina scowled. “You know what I mean. I’m going home. I’m freezing.”
“Not until I show you something.” Leo led her through the crowd to where there were no colored lights or festivities. Just silence and puffy snowflakes drifting from the deep blue sky.
“What’s going on?” She tried to stop, but slid in the snow behind him.
Leo laughed. “If you want a sleigh ride, I could for arrange one. You just have to ask.”
Christina’s face burned. “Leo, I want to go home. What are we doing here?”
He placed his hands on her shoulders and gazed past her. “Turn around.”
From a distance, the lights and crowd of people were like a Christmas card. A musical, vibrant card brought to life for their amusement. She let out a slow breath. “It’s beautiful.”
“Sometimes you need to step back rather than being right in the middle of things.” Leo wrapped his arms around her, his breath warm on her ear. “Look, babe, I need to talk to you about Brady. He really needs to step up and tell the police the truth before things escalate and he’s locked away for life.”
She tried to wiggle out of his grasp. “He told them what he did, isn’t that good enough?”
“The problem is, I don’t think he could kill a spider.” Leo shook his head. “I think someone framed him and he’s going to jail for being stupid and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Is this why you dragged me away from everyone?”
“Partly.” His body warmed her back. “And because you looked like you’d rather stuff jalapenos up your nose than be in the middle of things.”
She kicked at a mound of snow, tears in her eyes. “My mom loved this night. We’d get lattes, sit under the big tree and talk about things.”
“What kind of things?” Leo turned her to face him.
“Life. The bakery. Boys. Whatever.” She closed her eyes, buried her face in his scarf, and held back the emotions. She’d cry in the shower later while she washed the stench from the bakery off her skin.
“Mm. You smell like Christmas.” He murmured. “Sugar and spice and everything nice.”
She slipped her arms around his narrow waist like they’d been together forever. “I had you fooled, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, you did.” Leo smiled, then became serious. “You seriously need to talk to Brady. Don’t let him throw his whole life away. Or yours.”
That he’d brought Brady up again was a splash of ice water to her entire body. “Mine? What are you talking about?”
“I know what you’re life’s been like in the city.” He cradled her face in his hand. “I also know you want something better. You can have it, you know.”
“How? By walking away from Brady and leaving him to rot in jail?” She took a step back. “He’s in trouble and I won’t bail on him now. Thank you for the lovely walk, but I need something to eat and then I’m going home to sleep.”
Leo grabbed her before she could make her escape. “Let’s go grab some curry. My treat. We were supposed to have a dinner date tonight anyway, or did you hope I’d forget?”
“Curry sounds good, but I’m—”
“You don’t want to sit in a restaurant with me.” He sighed. “That’s fine. We could get take-out and go back to my place. I have a great view of the lights.”
Christina was wary. “Where do you live?”
He pointed to a building across the street. “You see that dark window with no Christmas lights or hideous glittering tree? That’s mine.”
“Looks a lot like mine.” Christina winced.
“What a coincidence.” Leo led her back toward the carolers and festivities. “If I look out my front window and press my face to the glass, I can see your place.”
They walked through the crowd and onto a side street into a small restaurant where a tall, wiry man smiled and approached them with open arms. “Leo, my good man. Merry Christmas. Who is this lovely lady?”
“Merry Christmas, Guarav.” Leo hugged him, then glanced at Christina. “This is my friend Christina. She runs the bakery.”
“Ah, Miss Daisy’s daughter.” Guarav’s face lit up even brighter. “How wonderful to meet you. Your mom was a wonderful woman. In her honor, allow me to treat you to dinner tonight. You like curry?”
She smiled, her cheeks warm. “Love it.”
“Good. You sit.” He showed them to a seat near the window and hung up their coats. “I get curries, papadams, and surprises. You sit. You eat. You relax.”
“So much for take-out. Sorry. Guess you’re stuck with me and Guarav.” Leo shrugged and glanced out the window. “We even have the Christmas card view.”
She rubbed her arms, trying to stimulate blood flow. “This is cozy. I’ve never been here before.”
“His wife’s the cook. She’s amazing. The only place I’ve had better food is in India.” Leo settled across the table from her and met her gaze. “Now do you want to talk about Brady?”
“Not really.” Christina bowed her head. “I know you’ve seen him. What more do you need to know?”
Leo nodded. “He wasn’t very happy to see me and certainly didn’t give me much help. I thought if you talked to him, he’d open up a little and we could get his sorry butt out of jail faster. It would help if you’d tell me about him.”
She frowned and stared out the window at the lights and frivolity. “I know you’re trying to help, but I’m not sure this is a good idea. That he wouldn’t tell you anything is a surprise. Normally, he talks about himself enough for both of us.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Then I guess it doesn’t matter if you tell me what Brady told you. Let’s start with something easy. How’d you meet him?”
Christina closed her eyes and released a long, slow breath. “He was in my drama class. The first day of classes, he walked in dressed as a drag queen with full makeup, high heels and a killer dress. He was gorgeous then, lean, muscular and flamboyant. He’d already done a lot of modeling and was a talented artist. I loved his sense of humor and the way he made me feel like I was the only person in the room when he talked.”
Leo huffed. “That doesn’t sound like the guy I met.”
She met his gaze. “He got in with the wrong crowd and started drinking. Soon he was taking drugs. I didn’t realize how bad things were. By the end of the semester, he’d lost hair and was bloated. When I tried to talk to him, he shut me out.”
Guarav appeared with cups of tea and an appetizer and gave a slight bow. “Papadams and chutneys. You like?”
“I do. Thank you.” She really hoped they didn’t bother her stomach later.
Leo dug right in to the bread chips and sauces then closed his eyes in blissful contentment until their host left the table. “Back to the story. What happened when you met Gage?”
“Brady suddenly became my best friend again.” She sipped her tea. “Somehow he knew everything there was to know about Gage and encouraged me to model for him, even though I had a boyfriend who didn’t want me to model for anyone unless he was in the room.”
“Was your boyfriend just overprotective or did he know what kind of guy Gage was?”
“A bit of both. He hated artsy people and wanted me to join his pre-law friends at pub crawls and the like.” She paused for a bite of papadam with mango chutney. “I didn’t like those kinds of things. I’d rather attend poetry readings or art shows.”
Leo wasn’t about to let the story end. �
�So, whose idea was Vegas?”
“Brady’s. He and his boyfriend Marty invited me and the guy I was dating. Ironically, Brady and I both had big fights with our boyfriends the same night and ended up drowning our sorrows together.” She frowned and looked away. “I don’t remember much, but somehow we ended up in bed with a couple empty champagne bottles and rings on our fingers.”
“I’ll bet that was a bit of a shock.” Leo narrowed his eyes. “You don’t remember getting married?”
Christina blinked away tears. “No. I saw the picture someone took at the chapel. I was so out of it, I didn’t even look like me.” She paused. “If you think Brady lied about the wedding, I don’t think he’d do that. I think it happened and we’re stuck with each other.”
“Maybe.” Leo didn’t look convinced. “You know there are such things as annulments and divorces.”
“There’s also pity.”
“You for him or him for you?” Leo asked.
Guarav returned with two heaping plates. “You will like this. Chicken curry. Leo’s favorite. I get you more tea?”
“Not for me.” Leo shook his head. “Just water, thanks.” Once Guarav left, Leo glanced at Christina. “What I mean is, you’re not stuck with him, there are ways out.”
“I know.” It was just safer this way. If she was single, Leo would scare her silly. Brady, while not much of a knight in shining armor, made a great shield. “Tell me about your life. Any wives, girlfriends, kids?”
“None of the above that I know of.” He stuffed a broken piece of papadam in his mouth.
“Did you ever want kids?”
Leo grinned. “Are you offering?”
“No.” Her face burned. “I’m married, remember?”
“Believe me, I’m very aware of that. Did you and Brady ever talk about having kids?”
She picked at her curry. “Brady’s gay. We’ve only slept together once that I know of, but I was so drunk I don’t even remember. I don’t think kids are in the future even if I don’t stay with him.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You don’t like kids?”