Promises to Keep (16 page)

He turned to watch her sleeping. Her long eyelashes fluttered
just a tad. She turned, causing the blankets to slip from her shoulders. He
pulled them up again, making sure not to wake her as he rested them gently
against her body.

To celebrate the hurdle, he was going to creep down
to the kitchen and make her breakfast. He slid out of bed and pulled on his
jeans. He sneaked out of the room, closing the door as softly as he could. When
he got to the bottom of the stairs he noticed a couple standing outside on the
front step.

He walked to the door and opened it. The cold air
hit him.

“Can I help you?”

“We’re hoping you have two rooms for three nights.”

“We certainly do. You want to step in here out of
the cold?”

He thought about waking Hayley but guessed he could
take care of business while she slept in.

“What a cozy place,” said the woman, looking all
around.
“And the gorgeous Christmas tree.
Are you the
owner?”

“No, it’s actually my—”

What was Hayley?

“It’s my girlfriend who owns it.”

There he’d said it. It was official.

“I’m letting her sleep in this morning. She’ll need
to handle the paperwork, but I can get you your keys and show you to your
room.”

“That would be perfect. We’ve traveled through the
night from Colorado.”

An older couple carrying suitcases joined them.

Cole looked at the keys hanging on the wall and
remembered Hayley had told him ones beginning with B were the doubles. He
pulled two sets off the hooks.

“If you’d like to follow me.”

As he walked up the stairs he had to admit he sort
of liked doing this.

“There you
go,
room thirty-four,
and thirty-six is next door.”

“Thank you so much.”

Cole couldn’t wait to tell Hayley the good news, but
first he had to get her some coffee and breakfast.

****

Hayley stirred when she heard Cole’s voice. She
opened her eyes and realized she’d overslept. The sun was peeking through the
gap where she hadn’t closed the drapes completely last night. She smiled when
she saw Cole holding a tray which contained a mug of coffee and a plate with
scrambled eggs and bacon.

“Wow, you know how to spoil a lady,” she said,
sitting up so he could place the tray on her lap.

“And I’ve got good news for you.”

“You’ve vacuumed and dusted all the rooms?”

“No, but I did book two rooms out to guests.”

“Oh, Cole, you’re an angel.”

“Not me, they were already in the parking lot when I
arrived downstairs. Seems like they’d been driving all night and found this
place before anywhere else in Casper.”

“Maybe that’s the answer. Get them in here before
they find any other accommodation in town.”

“Yeah, good luck with that.” He picked up a slice of
bacon and began to eat it.

“I thought that was mine.”

“I made extra.”

She began eating the eggs.

“Did you do this sort of thing for Amanda?”

She was sorry she’d asked, but it was too late to
take it back.

He simply nodded. She wanted to grab his hand and
apologize but thought that might make it worse. Last night they’d taken a huge
step in their relationship and she didn’t want to ruin it.

“I told the guests you’d need to see to all the
paperwork, registration, and credit cards, because I don’t own the place, but
my girlfriend does.”

Had she heard correctly? Had he just referred to her
as
his girlfriend
?

“I guess that makes you my boyfriend.”

“You think we’re a little too old for those terms?”

“You speak for yourself.”

He smiled. “I think significant other is the
terminology.”

****

Sadie hadn’t slept all night. She hadn’t even been
to bed. She’d paced up and
down,
sure she’d worn away
the carpet in the motel room where she’d been staying. The initial plan was for
her to stay with Brad and Lucy but after she’d broken the news to them, and
knowing they were probably in shock, she’d told them she was going to check
into a motel where she’d wait for their call.

She hoped they did call and not turn her into the
police for child endangerment.

And her next hurdle would be breaking the news to
the Board. She’d been warned about taking a mortal to the Other Realm. She
hadn’t given it any thought that one as young as Presley could be affected by
the trip there.

There was a knock on the door. She walked toward it
and opened it back to see Brad standing there in his jeans, ski jacket, cowboy
boots, and hat. No wonder Lucy had fallen head over heels for him. She was such
a lucky girl having this handsome man as her spouse.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

“Yes, please do,” she said, stepping aside to let
him in.

She tried to gauge whether he was angry or what was
going on in his mind. She loved this couple like they were her own children,
and she never wanted them not to be the best of friends.

Brad took off his hat and held it in his hands.
Sadie wondered why Lucy hadn’t come along as well.

“Is Lucy angry with me? Are you livid with me?”

She had to know as soon as possible.

Brad took her hand and led her to the chair by the
window. He encouraged her to sit and then he pulled out a chair beside her and
sat too.

“Lucy is very upset, but she’s not angry. I guess
that about sums up my feelings, too. We love you, Sadie. Without you we
wouldn’t have found one another and we both know it’s the best thing that ever
happened to us. I not only got the best wife in the world but the perfect
mother for my baby girl.”

Sadie patted the back of his hand.

He took a deep breath. “Last night, well that came
as a shock to both of us. Not only about the whole business with our daughter,
but the fact that you’re a witch. For one terrible moment Lucy thought that
maybe she and I were only together through some sort of spell and that you
could pull as apart at any time.”

Sadie shook her head. “Like I told you we’re not bad
and I’m a good one…well, most of the time, except for when I do impulsive
things like take babies to the Other Realm.”

It was Brad’s turn to pat the back of Sadie’s hand.

“Lucy and I both know you did it to help protect
Presley. You were right she was in danger from her own mother.”

“You know I wouldn’t do anything to harm her, ever.”

“We know that, but we talked about what you
suggested all night…Presley going with you to the Other Realm to be trained
correctly and neither of us feels comfortable with that.”

Sadie stood. “I understand. I mean it’s a lot for
you to accept.”

“Is there any way she could be trained by you, here,
and with us supervising?”

Sadie didn’t know the answer to that. No witch had
ever been trained in magic in any other place besides the Other Realm.

“It’s never been done. I’d have to get permission
from the Board, but I’m willing to give it a try.”

Brad stood and threw his arms around Sadie, hugging her.

“Now, let’s get your things packed up, because
you’re coming to stay with us for the night. Lucy has a huge breakfast waiting
for us.”

One hurdle had been crossed now all she needed to do
was explain the horrible mess to the Board and get their permission to train
Presley here in the mortal world.

Chapter
Nineteen

One more day to Christmas Eve.
He
hadn’t seen Jon or Nina look so happy this time of the year since before their
mother’s passing.
 
The last two
Christmases he’d let the kids go to one of his sister’s houses for the holiday.
He’d never wanted the children to suffer because of his refusal to accept that
it was December. So while they’d gone to relatives, he’d stayed at home and gotten
lost in books and music, anything to make him forget. This year they were going
to get back to normality, and most of it was a result of Hayley.

And speaking of which, he head her car pulling into
the driveway. He looked out to see her and the kids opening the trunk of her
car. He hoped they hadn’t gone overboard with the gifts. However, as he watched
the three of
them
struggle up to the front door, arms
full of bags, he guessed it was too late to mention that little fact.

Cole opened the door before they rang the bell. Jon
was wearing a Santa’s hat with the white pom-pom hanging to one side.

“We had the best burgers in this new restaurant in
the mall,” said Nina, placing two shopping bags on the counter in the kitchen.

“Guess the three course meal I cooked won’t be
needed,” said Cole.

“You did not,” said Jon.

He winked at Hayley.

“We have your gifts to wrap, so I suggest you go
into the living room and put your feet up,” said Hayley.

“You mean I get the TV all to myself? Wow, you guys
have to go shopping more often.”

Hayley opened the fridge, pulled out a soda, pulled
the tab on it, handed it to him, and then smacked him on the butt. “And no
peeking.”

“Yeah, no sneaking a peek, dad,” said Nina.

He retreated into the living room, got cozy on the
couch, and picked up the remote control and flicked the on button.

He smiled when he heard the three of them out in the
kitchen laughing, Nina giggling like she used to when her mother was around.
He’d been selfish. Closing himself off like he had. A woman, besides her aunts
and grandmothers, was what she needed. If he was honest, it was what he’d
needed all along, too.

He flicked the remote and saw The Grinch Who Stole
Christmas was playing. That was him. He’d stolen their last three Christmases
and they could never get them back. He’d make up for it this year and every other
year from now on.

There was another round of laughter, and then he
heard wrapping paper being cut. He was tempted to take a peek, wondering what
they’d bought him. What had Hayley bought him? He hoped she liked the necklace
he’d gotten for her.

Smiling again, he heard the three of them singing
Christmas tunes. Their mother had done the same thing with them when they were
toddlers.

Hayley chose that moment to walk in. He looked up at
her.

“The kids want to wrap my gift, so I’ve been
banished to the living room too.”

He tapped the cushion on the couch beside him. She
sat and snuggled into him.

“So the three of you have fun this afternoon?” he
asked.

She stroked his leg, making him what to carry her
upstairs and make love to her. “We had a blast. Your kids are the best and I’m
not just saying it to please you.”

“Sometimes I wonder how they could have turned out
so great with me going through a fog for the last few years.”

“You’re out of it now and that’s all that matters.”

He leaned over and kissed her. Yeah, he could see
clearly now.

****

Hayley really did want to help with the washing up
at Michelle’s place, but she’d eaten so much she couldn’t move. She might even
have to open the top button on her pants. She’d never seen such a display,
turkey, ham, stuffing…

She fingered the necklace Cole had bought her. It
was the prettiest thing she’d ever seen, and she guessed he’d spent more than
he should have done. She knew he didn’t make much money, but a working class
guy was perfectly okay with her. In fact, she’d take him over the Wyoming oil
man any day.

Looking up she saw a ball of mistletoe hanging over
her head. Cole was standing above her. He leaned over and gave her an upside
down kiss.

“I hope my sisters weren’t too much to handle?”

“No, they’re great.”

“They are, but they ask lots of questions.”

“That’s what sisters are for.”

“Are you always this easy to get along with?”

“Most of the time.
And
I wanted to say thank you again for this beautiful necklace.”

“Nina helped pick it out.”

“Then she has great taste.”

He put his hand on her shoulder. “And thank you for
making Christmas bearable for me and my children.” He leaned over and kissed
her again.

“Sorry if I’m interrupting,” said Eileen.

Hayley knew she was blushing like it was her parents
catching her and her date on the couch.

“We really should be going,” said Cole, standing.