Misfortune: Christmas With Scrooge (21 page)

CHAPTER 9

The men came through the front door carrying
the large table Laura's father stored in the shed out back. She
directed them to the back wall of the dining room where they
unfolded the legs and set up the table.

Outside a huge banner hung over the now
completed attic walls announcing “Grand Re-opening”. Adell came up
with the idea to hold an opening celebration party. It would help
with the publicity and raising of funds.

With the little bit of money from her
father's annuity, she treated herself to a new outfit for the
occasion. It was a rather sharp jump suit in scarlet red but the
silk blouse under it gave it a more soft appearance. Her dark
chestnut hair looked stunning in contrast as it flowed like satin
down her back.

Guests started arriving shortly after, many
faces new to Laura, others very familiar. Tears of happiness almost
spilled over when Poppy and Jane came together. Hugs were exchanged
along with cries of joy as the girls declared how much they had
missed Laura and wanted to know if they could come “home” before
Christmas. It was too much, the tears rolled down her cheeks
unabashed.

“Your room is upstairs just waiting for you.”
She told them.

She had hurried the renovations along in the
hopes of being done before Christmas which was only a week away.
For Laura, there would be no greater gift then to spend the
holidays in her own home, surrounded by those she loved. Her heart
shone at the unexpected realization that the girls were her family
now, they always would be. No matter if their faces changed from
month to month, Laura realized these girls needed her. Out there
were lost young souls who needed to be loved. With a start, she
knew she had plenty of love to give. She needed those girls, it
seemed, as much as they needed her.

Ignoring the annoying null occupying the
other half of her heart, she took a deep sigh of contentment and
sat back listening to the music playing over the old turntable on
her father's stereo. Embellishing on such things as the latest
compact discs, Laura could not afford, so her father's collection
from the seventies and eighties made do for the night. However at
that moment, her heart sang along with Gloria Gaynor’s lyrics to “I
Will Survive”, and she was quite happy with the moment.

The evening flowed nicely along and far too
quickly in Laura's opinion. Everyone sang along with the music and
even moved some furniture to create a dance floor. Faces smiling
and laughing filled the small house. Adell's husband even showed up
later in the evening for he had been sustained back at the
office.

Walking over to the buffet table where she
laid out sandwiches, vegetables and other delicious finger foods,
Laura picked up a triangle-shaped sandwich of pink salmon. Leaning
back against the table she watched Adell and her husband float onto
the dance floor, arms encircling each other, their faces glowing of
love and adoration.

Something painful pierced her heart and she
recognized it immediately as envy. She hated the way she felt
especially toward a woman who had only been caring and supportive
toward her. But she couldn't stop the emotion. What Adell had,
Laura craved with all her being. Someone to love her with such
depth and sincerity, for just being her.

She smiled as they danced passed her. Adell
was the sweetest most wonderful person she ever met, if anyone, she
certainly deserved to have love like that.

She raised her hand and was about to bite
into her sandwich when she froze. Standing across the room, under a
colorful streamer, Dexter stood staring across at her. Her heart
stopped beating until she noticed the angry glare in those hazel
eyes of his. Not sure she wanted to find out where his anger was
directed this time, she turned her attention elsewhere. This was,
after all, her night; no one would ruin it for her, least of all
Dexter O'Reilly.

In a few long strides he shortened the
distance between them, brushing angrily at a balloon in his path.
Laura decided it might be best to remove herself from his path of
vexation. She headed quickly for the kitchen, her footsteps moving
faster as he swiftly moved in closer. Too late, he gripped her arm
and spun her around.

“What the devil is going on?” he barked, his
eyes spitting flames of angry darts.

Her back stiffened. “We humans call it a
party?”

He ignored her snide remark. “Dammit, Laura,
when will you start to listen?”

“What are you talking about?” She attempted
to free her arm, unsuccessfully.

“What does it take to get through your thick
head? Another fire, maybe this time not so easily fixable.”

“I'll ask you to mind your own business.”
Again she attempted to shrug her arm free. “Since it seems to be
the only thing you're good at.”

He clamped his lips firmly in a straight
line, as he took her insult with rancor. “If you turn your home
into a shelter again, you're asking for more trouble than you think
you already have.”

“Words of wisdom from a man who claims he
doesn't give a damn.”

Her foul language must have startled him, for
he went silent. It surprised Laura as well. Normally, she did not
reduce herself to that degree of anger, but where Dexter O'Reilly
was concerned lately, it only seemed appropriate.

“Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll get
myself some punch.” This time she was successful as she freed
herself and made her way into the kitchen.

Undeterred, he followed, and along with him
came the lyrics from a Marvelette’s song playing on the turntable.
“
I don't want nobody who don't want me
.”

“If you took the actual time to use the brain
you were given—” he spat at her.

“
I don't love nobody who don't love
me
.” The song kept taunting her.

“When you begin loosing again, don't come
crawling to me.”

“
Because there too many fish in the
sea
!”

Laura's spine stiffened at last, and she spun
on him with determination. “Why don't you just stay out of my
life?”

Her voice had risen over the music, stunning
both Dexter and the surrounding gathering.

They stood staring at one another, on the
verge of another verbal battle when his mother and Norton
approached. “Dexter, what are you doing here?”

“Trying to knock some sense into this woman's
head,” he barked, thrusting an angry finger in her direction.

The temptation to bite it off was too great;
Laura clenched the edge of the kitchen table and bit down hard on
her lower lip.

“Dexter, don't be angry,” his mother pleaded.
“Be happy, this is a wonderful thing Laura is trying to do—”

“Happy?” He sounded incredulous. “She's
digging herself another money pit. Because that's what will happen.
And guess who has to bail her out yet again!” This last sentence he
spat at her, slamming his chest in exaggeration. Laura’s eyes
narrowed in fury.

“Don't worry, Adell.” She attempted to
control the anger in her voice. “Dexter doesn't know what the word
happiness means. He's been against my shelter from the beginning.
He would do anything to see it fail. Including crashing the opening
party.”

“But I'm sure he didn't mean too.” Adell's
eyes began to grow with concern.

“Oh, I'm sure he did.” Her anger was well out
of control. “There's a few hard facts you should know about your
son, Adell. He's a callous man lacking in normal human feelings and
emotions.”

“Laura, stop, you don't understand.” His
mother tried to interfere.

“The only emotion he carries is a heartless
attachment to money. He doesn't care who he hurts or misuses as
long as it benefits his bottom dollar.”

“Laura, please don't.”

“I sicken at the stomach from the simple
reminder he once held my regard.”

“Oh Lord.” Adell closed her eyes.

Dexter remained stone silent until that
moment. “Then, I take it I know longer hold your esteem?”

She snorted. “Not if the Pope himself made
you a saint.”

“Then at least I have accomplished some good
tonight.”

Laura winced inwardly. “Then, for the first
time in your life, Dexter O’Reilly, you must be very happy.” Her
sarcasm had the right amount of sting to it. “Because you certainly
have accomplished that.”

He paused, then without another word, turned
and left. Just like that he was gone. And this time, Laura was
fairly certain it was for good. Taking a deep breath, for she
hadn't realized she had been holding it, she looked at Adell. For
the first time, she noticed the horrified look on her face, and
suddenly felt intensely horrid. Her anger was directed solely at
Dexter, but inadvertently she had wounded her friend.

“Oh Adell.” She reached out to her, but the
woman turned away.

“Laura you shouldn't have said those things.”
Her large hazel eyes, identical to Dexter's, looked painful. “You
didn't really mean them, did you?”

She opened her mouth but nothing came out.
She felt miserable inside.

“Norton, get my coat. I suddenly don't feel
very well.”

“Adell, please,” Laura begged, pleading for
understanding. “Please.”

When the other woman looked up, her eyes too
pleaded with their own type of understanding. “I'll call you
tomorrow.”

And like her son, she was gone. Laura stood
there feeling every ghastly emotion rip her heart apart. With a cry
of despair, she ran for her bedroom where solitude awaited. She
collapsed on her bed and allowed herself to cry her heart out. She
hated Dexter O'Reilly even more. Why had he drawn her anger? He had
said himself he accomplished what he came to do. But why?

The answer came swiftly. He wanted her
connections with Adell to be severed. And he knew exactly what to
do. She remembered the words spoken the night when she first laid
eyes on him. “He was a man only his mother could love.” Adell loved
her son dearly, faults and all. Dexter knew it and allowed Laura to
step right into his scheme.

* * *

The following day showed no sign of contact
from Adell, which hadn’t surprised Laura too much. Considering the
hateful words she had spat at Dexter, she wondered if Adell would
ever come to forgive her. Appalled at her behavior the night
before, she wanted instantly to call her and apologize. No matter
what her feelings toward the woman's son, she should have
considered Adell's feelings. All she had done for her came from the
core of the woman’s sincere heart. She never had a truer friend
than Adell Cameron and how did she treat her, with disgrace.

For that matter, Laura conceded grudgingly,
she owed Dexter an ample reserve of gratefulness as well. Whether
he acknowledged his part in the restoration of her family home or
not, Laura understood the significance. She wouldn’t have her home
back if it weren’t for Dexter. Evidently, she required to express
her regrets and sorrow not only to Adell, but her son as well.

At the reminder of the words she spat at him,
she wondered if he even wanted to ever see her again. Today was a
new day to put faults behind and make amends. First thing first,
she would call Adell and apologize. As soon as she found a moment’s
break during the day, she did just that.

“Hello? Cameron residence.”

“Adell, it's me Laura.” She plunged on, in
fear the woman would hang up. “I want to apologize for last night.
I was way out of line and I shouldn't have said what I said.”

“Laura, I'm glad you called.” She sounded
earnest. “We need to talk but I'm afraid right now is not a good
time. I’m hosting a Christmas Eve party on Friday night for a few
close business acquaintances of Norton's. Come and I'll find some
time we can escape somewhere private and have a talk.”

Christmas Eve? Already? She could hardly
believe it had snuck up on her so quickly. She had been so busy
with reopening the shelter, she hadn’t even had the time to wallow
in self-pity at the prospect of spending it alone.

“Yes, that sounds fine.” She stopped and bit
her lip. “Will-will Dexter—?” Knowing she had to apologize did not
make interacting with the man any better. She would pay her
apologies, then hopefully, stay out of his life for good.

“No,” she quickly assured her. “He never
makes an appearance at Christmas functions.”

“All right then, I'll see you Friday
night.”

They bid farewell and hung up. Laura felt
slightly better having talked to her older friend, but she could
hardly wait till Friday night. She would feel a lot better.

* * *

She wore the only dressy outfit she owned to
the party; the red jump suit would have to make do for another
evening. Thankfully, her mother's jewelry had not been damaged in
the fire, allowing Laura to wear her most treasured piece. An
eighteen-inch gold necklace formed into rows of miniature hearts
and matching earrings.

Nervously, she twisted her hair into a
sophisticated braid against the back of her head then applied a bit
of makeup. She wasn't sure why she felt any anxiety. Adell was an
understanding and caring individual. Her heart was too forgiving to
hold any grudges. Being honest with herself, Laura realized the
gnawing at her stomach was due to her shameful behavior from the
other night. She was almost too mortified to show her face in the
woman's presence.

As she hurried through the front sitting
room, her eyes fell on a tiny cottage perched on her fireplace
mantel. Stopping, she smiled to herself as she took the piece into
her hands. It arrived earlier that day via courier. Wrapped simply
in beige courier paper within a huge manila envelope, she found the
small parcel engulfed in bubble protection. After unwrapping it,
she gasped in delight to find a hand-made sculptured cottage. She
was instantly reminded of the cottage she shared her first
experience in love-making, then swiftly brushed the memory aside.
She would not allow herself to think about that night. His
rejection still stung.