Mistletoe and Magic (6 page)

Apparently sensing she was being watched, she looked up and their eyes made a connection. He smiled as a punch of emotion rippled through his stomach. The more he was around her, the more he wanted to be around her.

“So what kind of ornaments do you want, Mr. Miller?” Lacey said, pulling him away from his trance.

“I don’t know. I guess the normal kind.”

“You’ve never decorated a tree before, have you?”

“Well, it has been a very long time. So I’m going to rely on your help. What do you say?”

“Yeah, but if you don’t know the first thing about decorating, then how are you gonna know what to put where?”

“And I have that covered, Lace.”

She grinned. “My dad always called me Lace.” She sighed and continued to walk down the aisle, shoving ornaments in the basket. “Now, you tell me if you don’t like what I’m putting in the basket.”

“I will.”

“Do you know that the smaller ornaments go on the top of the tree and work their way down to larger ones as the tree’s shape increases in width?”

“No,” he chuckled. “I didn’t know that. But it’s okay because I’ve hired your mom to decorate the tree, but I’ll try to remember it for the next time.”

“Yeah? You hired my mom?”

“I did. I believe she’s going to decorate it tomorrow…at least that’s what she’s hoping.”

“And where are you going to be, Mr. Miller?” Jenny snapped.

Mallory, who’d snuck up on the trio stared blankly at her daughter and pulled her arm. “Excuse us, AJ. I’ll be right out to help.”

“Thanks, Mal.”

Jenny started to say something, but Mallory squeezed her arm as she led her into the back storeroom.

“I’m appalled by your behavior. I’d like to remind you that Mr. Miller is a paying customer, and we need all the business we can get right now. I want you to apologize to him and mind your manners.” Jenny was rolling her eyes and impatiently shifting from one foot to the other as her mother spoke. “I’ve never seen such bad manners. What’s gotten into you?”

“You think I don’t see the way you two look at one another? Is that why you fought with Daddy? So you could have another man in your life?”

Mallory could not believe her ears. Clearly rattled by Jenny’s behavior, she pointed to a chair. “Sit in this chair and do not move out of it until it’s time to go home.” She began to walk away. “And don’t think this discussion is over because it’s not!” Mallory could feel herself shaking. Why was Jenny doing this? She shook her head. Dr. Bean came to mind and she promised herself she’d call for an appointment as soon as things settled down in the showroom.

She smiled at the chatter between Lacey and AJ.

“Are you okay?” he asked her when she walked up to them.

Mallory shook her head, the tears filling the corner of her eyes. “Lacey, will you go over and help Mrs. Bell now? She doesn’t seem to be able to find what she’s looking for.”

“Sure, Mom.” She turned to AJ. “Do you mind if I help her now, Mr. Miller?”

“Not at all, sweetheart. Your mom is here now so she can pick up the slack.”

Lacey giggled. “Yeah, Mom, pick up the slack.”

She smiled seeing Lacey walk up to Mrs. Bell and offer her help.

“Want to talk about it?” he asked.

“I can’t. I’m too upset now.”

“I understand.” He showed her the two baskets filled to the brim with ornaments. “So what do you think? Do I have enough?”

“I think you have too much, but let’s play it by ear. Assuming we don’t have another major snowstorm, I’ll come by tomorrow to decorate the tree and whatever we have left over, I’ll bring back to the shop.”

“Okay. That works. Any idea what time?”

“Not at the moment. I need to talk to Dina to find out what time she can be here. But if you’ll give me your phone number, I can let you know.”

“Another great idea.”

CHAPTER NINE

The end of the day hadn’t come soon enough for Mallory’s taste. Making her way to the back, she found Jenny sound asleep and curled up in the fetal position on the sofa in her office, covered with her down-feathered coat. She watched Jenny’s chest rise and fall and wondered how she was going to reach her. Jenny had been an angelic, sweet and innocent baby and toddler, but her personality had become more moody over time and ultimately turned sour because she blamed her mother for Mitch’s death. She sighed. Maybe shielding the girls from the arguments she’d had with Mitch wasn’t such a smart thing to do after all.

Dina came up behind and pulled her out into the showroom. “Are you okay?”

Mallory’s tears came more freely this time. Thankful the shop was closed, she didn’t have to hold anything back.

“I had no idea you were having this much trouble, Mal. Why don’t you let her stay with me for a while?”

“Thank you for offering, Dina, but I need to face this problem. It won’t go away until we can work it out.” She leaned against the wall, her arms across her chest. “I can’t live like this anymore.”

“What are you going to do then?”

“I called Dr. Bean this afternoon and scheduled an appointment for family counseling. Letting her control my emotions with her sharp tongue is draining every ounce of strength I have. I wake up sobbing, afraid I’m just not going to make it.”

“Listen, you need to pull yourself together. You didn’t cause Mitch’s death. Mitch did. He was like a teenager in a forty year-old man’s body. Stop beating yourself up over it.”

“But my sweet daughter believes I caused his death because we argued. There’s nothing further from the truth.”

Dina leaned in and hugged her. “It’ll all work out. You take as much time as you need to resolve this. I’ll increase my hours, and you come in when you can.”

“I can’t pull you into this.”

“We’re family, Mal, and that’s what family does.” The two exchanged a long pained look. “When is your appointment?”

“Tomorrow at one o’clock. I was scheduled to decorate a tree for AJ tomorrow, but I’ll reschedule.”

“I could go for you.”

“Thanks, but he made a special point of saying he wanted me to decorate.”

“I think he’s sweet on you, Mal.”

“And that’s the last thing I need right now.”

“That, my dear sister, is exactly the way Jenny wants you to feel.”

~~~

The ride home was silent, except for the swooshing of the slush against the tires and the sound of salt jetting out from the spreader behind the snowplow ahead. Lacey sat in the passenger’s seat, while Jenny pouted in the back. Mesmerized by the flashing orange light on the truck, Mallory was deep in thought, wondering how to act without creating more drama. Snow was piled so high on the sides of the road, it was like a shield blocking out anything behind it. Cars moved slowly and deliberately to avoid the patches of black ice. Mallory rubbed her temple, her head pounding with a headache that could rival an uneven load of clothes on spin cycle. She made the last right turn and eased her way down the road to her driveway, pushed on the remote for the garage door and pulled inside.

“What’s for supper?” Lacey asked.

“English muffin pizzas,” she said walking up the steps into the house.

“Oh yum,” Lacey said. “I love EM pizzas.”

“I don’t,” shot out of Jenny’s mouth, but Mallory refused to buy into Jenny’s ploy to start another argument.

“Then eat cereal,” Lacey said, sticking her tongue out at her. “I don’t like you today,” Lacey shot back.

“Yeah, well, I don’t like you very much either.”

Mallory placed her arm on Lacey’s shoulder. “Please don’t.”

“Okay, Mom. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, sweetie.”

Once inside the house, Jenny rolled her eyes in disgust and tromped off to her room slamming the door behind her. Mallory walked to the medicine cabinet and pulled out the bottle of aspirin. She popped two pills into her mouth and swallowed them with a glass of water.

“Mom,” Lacey said, “can I make supper tonight?”

“Oh, Lacey. You’re a lifesaver. I don’t want you to use the oven though. Use the toaster oven instead, but you must promise to be careful. Use oven mittens.”

“I promise. Thanks.” Lacey dropped her coat on the sofa and took off for the kitchen. She walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the ingredients and placed the items on the counter. Lining up the muffin halves on the tray, Lacey spread the sauce, covered them with cheese and tossed them into the toaster. When the bell signaled they were done, she called out to Jenny. “Supper’s ready.”

Jenny didn’t respond. Lacey walked down the hall and banged on her bedroom door. “Supper’s ready,” she repeated.

“I told you, I’m not hungry,” Jenny snapped.

“Good! More for us,” she said, walking back into the kitchen. She reached for a plate in the cupboard. “Pizza’s ready, Mom.”

Mallory entered the kitchen. “Boy, it sure smells good in here.”

Lacey rushed to the table with her plate. “Want a soda?”

“No. I just want to eat and then go to bed. My head is killing me.”

“I’m sorry Jenny’s being such a poop, Mom.” She turned to look at Mallory and leaned over to give her a tight hug. “Maybe my cooking will make you feel better.”

CHAPTER TEN

Mallory jolted to an upright position sensing she’d overslept, yet it was still dark in her room. Her heart was racing from the sudden shock. A quick glance at the clock on her nightstand gave her relief when she realized it was actually earlier than she normally started her day. Relieved, she flopped back down on the pillow, closed her eyes and willed herself back to sleep. When the delicious aroma of coffee seeped into her room, she was out of her bed in a flash and padding down the hall. Had she left the coffee pot on the burner? It smelled too good to be burnt coffee. Turning the corner into the kitchen, she was shocked to see Jenny standing at the stove flipping pancakes on the griddle.

“Good morning, Mom,” she said as though nothing had happened between them. “Are you hungry?” When Mallory didn’t respond, Jenny turned to face her. “Want some coffee?”

She nodded. Jenny’s Jekyll and Hyde personality was driving her crazy.

Jenny filled the mug and brought it over to where Mallory was sitting. “So what’s on our agenda today?” she asked.

“School until lunchtime, then Dr. Bean’s office for a one o’clock appointment.”

“Okay,” she said, then walked back to the stove and piled a plate high with pancakes, leaving Mallory astounded. Jenny placed the plate down on the counter. “Your breakfast is ready.”

Mallory wasn’t sure what to make of it, so she said nothing about her peculiar change in personality in anticipation of their counseling session today.

The shuffle of feet caught their attention as Lacey barreled into the room, dressed and ready for school. “Do I smell pancakes?”

“You do,” Jenny said. “Here’s your plate.”

Lacey stood staring at her. “Whoa! What happened to you? Did you fall out of bed and hit your head on something?”

“That’s not very nice,” Jenny retorted.

Mallory tightened her lips. “Please, girls. Can we please have one peaceful morning without the drama?” She gave Lacey a stern look. “Now eat your breakfast and thank your sister for making you a special treat. After you’re done, you can clean up the kitchen until the bus arrives.”

After finishing her pancakes, Mallory turned to Jenny. “Thank you for breakfast,” and headed down the hall back to her bedroom.

~~~

“I’ll pick you guys up after lunch at school at twelve-thirty,” Mallory said as the girls rushed out the door to the school bus. “I’ll meet you in the principal’s office.”

Mallory watched the school bus pull away before keying in AJ’s phone number.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said, answering on the first ring. She could tell he was smiling from the tone of his voice.

She didn’t respond to his reference, but the warmth from his comment penetrated to the far corners of her heart. She had to admit he was beginning to get to her, but she knew Jenny’s attitude would only push him away. Resentment ripped through her in a sigh. “Listen, can I come tomorrow instead?”

“Sure. What’s wrong? Aren’t you feeling well?”

“I’m fine. I have a doctor’s appointment with the girls today. I didn’t realize the doctor would take us so soon, and if I don’t take this appointment, I don’t know when she can see us again. It’s not until one o’clock this afternoon, but I don’t want to feel rushed getting your tree decorated. Is that okay with you?”

“That’s fine. Are the girls sick?”

“No,” she said without elaborating. “So I’ll see you at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. I need to wait for Dina to arrive.”

“Okay, then I’ll make lunch for us.”

“Ooh, he cooks too?”

“Of course. And I’m a darned good one in case you were wondering.”

She grinned. “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Or today, if I happen to be in the area. Where are you now?”

“I’m at home, but on my way out to my car so I can head on down to the shop. I have a ton of supplies to put away before I open today.”

“I’ll bring the coffee,” he said, giving her no time to reject his offer.

When the call ended, a flash of excitement sprinted through her body, making her wish things were different in her life.

On the ride into town, Mallory found it difficult to focus on anything except rushing to the shop to see him. “This is absolutely crazy,” she argued. She turned the volume of the radio up to take her mind off of AJ and found herself singing along to
The Power of Love
. Was it possible the gods were trying to tell her something? Mallory shook her head in dismay. On top of everything else going on in her life, these crazy thoughts about a relationship with him were tearing her apart. On the one hand, having someone in her life would make things so much easier. She wouldn’t have to face another holiday alone, sad and lonely. She deserved to be happy, didn’t she? But what if she did get involved, and AJ ultimately walked away? Could she and the girls risk another loss in their lives? Absolutely not!