A Nantucket Christmas (12 page)

Nicole lifted her hand to smooth down her hair. “Right now, at this particular moment, I’m not in the mood to be benevolent.”

Sebastian swayed back, surprised. Nicole seldom spoke in this way. He apologized, “I’m sorry I didn’t carry out the garbage. I know the bag was heavy.”

“I’m bushed,” Nicole told him, and it was true. She was at the end of her rope, which allowed all sorts of demonic phrases to pepper her mind, filling her with dark thoughts.

I’ll leave. I’ll go to Jilly’s and let you have your perfect wife and family all back together again.
Those words were on the tip of her tongue, but she knew they weren’t rational, she was simply overemotional and overwhelmed. Sebastian had not done anything to make her doubt his love for her. He had stepped away when Katya tried to paw him. He had put his arm around Nicole. She had to tamp down her temper.

“I’m going upstairs to lie down,” Nicole said. “I need a rest.”

Her heart lightened when Sebastian said, “I’ll come with you.”

They lay side by side on their backs on the bed. Nicole stared at the ceiling.

Sebastian reached for Nicole’s hand. “I’m sorry Katya showed up like this. She’s never been considerate of other people.”

“She wants you back,” Nicole stated bluntly.

Sebastian rolled over and put an arm around Nicole, pulling her close to him. “I am married to you. I am in love with you.” He nibbled her ear. “You and I are a team, Nicole. In a couple of days, everyone else will be gone, and you and I will have our house and our lives back to ourselves.”

“Yes, but when Kennedy has her baby, you and Katya and James will be with her and I’ll be exiled.”

Sebastian took a deep breath. “Exiled is putting it a bit strong.”

Nicole didn’t speak.

“What can I do?” Sebastian asked. “It’s what my daughter requested. And Katya and I are the biological grandparents.” After a moment, he continued, “Give Kennedy a break. She’s a good person, deep down. She’s not thinking clearly. I think she’s pretty overwhelmed by pregnancy hormones.”

Nicole turned on her side, away from Sebastian. Truly, she was fed up with shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, not to mention pretending that Kennedy’s little act with the photo albums hadn’t wounded her. And the worst was yet to come. If Katya stayed for Christmas, how would that work? Everyone was aligned to Kennedy except Nicole, who was left out. And what about the cooking and cleaning up? If Katya didn’t help, Nicole would feel like her maid. If Katya
did
help, Nicole would be painfully aware that Katya had cooked in the kitchen for years.

Tears were pressing against her chest and her eyes. “I w-wanted this to be a wonderful Christmas,” she managed to stutter.

“What can I do to help?” Sebastian repeated. “There must be something.”

Why couldn’t Sebastian just
know
? Nicole struggled for an answer. “Be with me,” she told him. “Don’t let Katya touch you. Don’t respond to her flirting. Make it clear that this is
our
house now, your house and mine.”

Sebastian cuddled her against him. “I’ll do that. And remember, Nicole, Katya and I were estranged even before the divorce. She pretty much lived in the Boston house while I preferred to live here. I was relieved when she ran off with Alonzo—but I’ve told you all this before.”

Reassured by the warmth of his arms and his words, Nicole agreed, “Okay. I can do this. If you’re by my side.”

“Don’t worry, I’m right here.” Sebastian hugged her tightly.

Yet Nicole knew that, for her, Christmas was ruined.

Kennedy could not get comfortable on the living room sofa. She had eaten too much of Nicole’s amazingly delicious food. Rubbing her hands over her swollen belly, she closed her eyes and tried to relax, but thoughts of her mother stirred through her emotions. As much as Kennedy had hated it when her mother divorced her father, she had been glad for Katya whenever Katya was with Alonzo, because this new love had made Katya glitter in ways Kennedy had never seen before. Katya had acted silly, hugging and smooching Kennedy with a carefree, spontaneous enthusiasm that was entirely new.

Now Alonzo and Katya were over. Kennedy could tell her mother was hurting more than she let others see. The fact that Katya wanted to take a nap?
Whoa
. Katya had never taken naps before.

James was outside, shoveling the walk and the drive. The sound of the blade hitting the bricks made Kennedy grit her teeth. Couldn’t he wait?

If only Nicole would just
leave
. Then Kennedy’s father wouldn’t have to behave so dutifully to his new wife. Sebastian would be free to gaze upon Katya with clear eyes, he would see that they belonged together, he would take her in his arms, and everyone in the house would belong.

“Pooh!” Maddox struggled through the back yard, following the bumpy path through the snow toward the garage. “Pooh! Where are you?”

The snow reached the top of his boots. The wind pushed at him, and snow swirled up his nose. Fear burned his heart, shame sliced his belly. He should have brought the puppy some food this morning. If Pooh had run away because he thought Maddox had abandoned him … Maddox sobbed aloud. The sound flew away in the storm.

It wasn’t quite dark yet. Lights from the house fell over the yard, and as Maddox went around the side of the garage, his heart exploded with gladness. There he was! The little terrier was standing on his hind legs, trying to push over the heavy garbage container, which rocked but did not fall.

“Pooh!”

The dog turned, saw Maddox, and, yelping jubilantly, bounded through the few feet between them, throwing himself at Maddox with delirium. Maddox put his arms around the animal. Pooh was shivering. Pooh whined with ecstasy, licking Maddox’s face with an icy tongue.

“You’re going inside with me,” Maddox told the animal.

He tried to pick Pooh up in his arms, and he did manage it, but the dog’s weight made Maddox almost fall over backward. Heroically, Maddox toiled forward, one step at a time, through the mountains of white. The dog rested his head on Maddox’s shoulder. It was the most wonderful feeling. Keeping to the jagged path he had broken through on his way out, he managed to labor his way right up to the steps to the back porch. Here, he collapsed, out of breath.

“Pooh,” he gasped, setting the dog down next to him.

Pooh squeezed as close to Maddox as he could. They were both quaking with cold.

Maddox stood up. His snowboots were warm, but they were heavy. He’d be glad to get them off. Resolutely, he climbed the wooden steps.

“Come on, Pooh,” he called. The dog leapt up the steps, right alongside Maddox.

Maddox reached way up to turn the doorknob. He shoved the door open. Warmth flooded out from the mudroom.

“Come on, Pooh,” he called again.

Pooh didn’t hesitate. He bounced across the porch and into the house. Maddox pulled the door shut. In the bright light, he saw how each individual hair on Pooh’s body was crusted with snow. It frosted poor Pooh’s nose and the tips of his ears. Maddox seized his own navy blue coat with the red plaid lining and wrapped it over the dog, holding him tightly.

“Maddox!” Suddenly Grandmama Katya loomed in the doorway, looking cross and even kind of mean. “What is
that
?”

Snix nestled his head on the boy’s shoulder, savoring this surprising moment of belonging. He was wanted. He was
chosen
. He was very nearly warm.

And he’d bet the little boy would feed him any minute now. His stomach rumbled hungrily. He hoped the boy could feel it.

The boy’s arms tightened around Snix when the thin blond woman came into the mudroom. Snix felt him tense up. He could smell the woman’s scent, much like cat pee, and the boy’s anxiety. Snix stayed still, sensing it was a good time to be invisible.

The woman kept saying
Maddox
. Maddox must be the boy’s name. Good to know.

“Santa brought him to me,” Maddox told the woman.

She laughed, but the sound wasn’t lighthearted. “Maddox, Christmas isn’t until tomorrow,
darling
. Besides, dogs aren’t allowed in the house.”

Maddox’s arms were trembling from supporting Snix’s weight. Squatting down, he put Snix on the floor. He removed his coat from Snix’s body. “He’s just a
little
dog,” Maddox pointed out.

Snix tried to squeeze himself small. He lay down on the floor—the soft rag rug felt good against his belly—and put his head between his paws.

“I don’t care what size the animal is. Dogs are not allowed in this house.”

“Excuse me?”
Another woman entered the mudroom. This one didn’t smell like cat pee. She smelled wonderful. She smelled like food. “Oh, Maddox, who is this?”

Food Woman knelt next to Snix. Snix lifted his head hopefully. Food Woman slowly reached out to let Snix smell her hand, a true courtesy, then gently scratched him behind his ears.

“Hello, cutie-pie. What’s your name?”

In reply, Snix licked her wrist, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically, but it was ringed with the slight aroma of melted cheese.

“Pooh,” Maddox told Food Woman. “I’ve named him Pooh.”

“Well, Pooh, you appear just a tad bedraggled. I’ll bet you’d like something to eat. Perhaps a nice bowl of warm milk and a bit of—”

“Don’t tell me you intend to feed that creature!” Blond Woman was indignant. “If you do that, you’ll never get rid of him.”

“Santa brought him!” Maddox protested, getting to his feet. “He did, Nicole!”

“Dogs are not allowed in this house,” Blond Woman said, her voice as cold as the wind outside.

Food Woman spoke, her voice low, vibrating with indignation. “May I remind you, you do not make the rules here. This is not your house any longer.”

“Mommy!” shouted Maddox as another woman squeezed her bulk into the room. She was young and pretty and hugely fat.

“What’s wrong? Maddox, what have you done?”

“Mommy.” Maddox babbled, suddenly crouching over Snix. “Santa left me this dog. I want to keep him. His name is Pooh. He won’t eat much.”

Actually
 … Snix thought, almost dizzy with hunger and the enticing bouquet of beef, cheese, and oatmeal …

His thoughts were interrupted. “I’ve told you, Maddox, you can’t have a pet. I’m sorry, but we’re going to have a new baby soon.”

“But, Mommy—” Maddox argued, stamping his foot.

“MADDOX, you are being a very BAD boy!” his mother yelled.

“Then
I’ll
keep him,” Food Woman announced.

“You will
not
!” Blond Woman bristled with outrage. “An animal will ruin this house! The floors will be scratched, the furniture ripped to shreds—”

“As I said,” Food Woman replied calmly, “this is not your house.”

Maddox’s mommy turned bright red and stuck her face into Food Woman’s face. “How dare you be rude to my mother!”

“What’s going on?” An older man came into the room, which made the mudroom crowded.

“Daddy!” the fat lady with the bulging tummy cried.

“Sebastian,” Blond Woman said and at the same time, Food Woman said, “Sebastian.”

Everyone talked at once, which made it possible for Maddox to pick his coat off the floor, toss it over Snix, clutch Snix to his chest, push open the back door, and run back out into the cold.

“Tell her, Daddy,
tell
her!” Kennedy threw herself into her father’s arms. Tears flew from her eyes. “Tell Nicole she is not allowed to make rules for
my
son!”

“I didn’t—” Nicole began.

“Kennedy?” James came into the room. He’d finished shoveling the front walk, and snow topped his wool hat and the shoulders of his coat. “What’s going on?”

Kennedy could hardly remain standing. She was out of breath, overwhelmed by the situation, bent in half by her emotions.

Katya spoke, her voice laced with contempt for Nicole. “Nicole thinks she can tell Kennedy how to run her life.”

“No, I do not,” Nicole disagreed, almost spitting each word.

Kennedy shuddered. “Daddy, make her stop being mean to Mommy.”

“Kennedy.” James stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulder. “Honey, what’s gotten into you? You sound like a whining adolescent.”

Nicole folded her arms in the most
satisfied
way. Kennedy wanted to
slap
her.

“Don’t you speak to my daughter that way!” Katya snapped.

“Why don’t we all calm down,” Sebastian suggested. “Let’s get out of the mudroom and discuss this reasonably.”

“Discuss
what
?” James asked.

“Nicole wants to let Maddox keep the dog,” Kennedy told him.

“What dog?” James asked.

Kennedy shrieked. “WHERE’S MADDOX?”

Silence suddenly filled the mudroom as everyone turned to stare at the place where the boy and dog had been standing. Now there was only a wet spot on the rug and a small pile of melting snow.

Sebastian strode across the empty space, yanked open the back door, and yelled out into the dark night: “Maddox? Maddox!”

Nicole hurried to his side. Stepping out onto the back porch, she called, “Maddox, honey, it’s okay. The dog can come in, too.”

“How dare she,” Katya muttered.

Sebastian took a flashlight from the shelf above the coat hooks and hurried out into the yard. “Maddox? Maddox!”

“Maybe he’s in his fort.” Nicole trotted down the back steps and through the snowdrifts, fell to her knees, and crawled inside the lawn chair tunnel. After a moment, she backed out. “They’re not in there.”

Kennedy’s heart seemed to explode with anguish. “What have I done?” Snatching the first coat her hand found, she pulled it over her shoulders.

As Kennedy wobbled out onto the porch and down the steps, her mother shouted, “Kennedy! You can’t go out in this weather. Not in your shape. You’ll fall! Kennedy, get back in here.”

James brushed past his mother-in-law, rushed out the back door, and caught Kennedy as she reached the bottom step. “Kennedy,” he crooned. “It’s okay.” Taking a moment, he stroked the side of her face with his hand.

James’s caring touch, his concerned gaze, soothed Kennedy. For a second, in the midst of the swirling snow, the world made sense.