The Christmas Wish (23 page)

Tyler looked down at the potato in his hand. “I’m still pretty pissed at him.”

“And you should be, but here’s the thing—your little brother has never been in love. Lust yes, but not love. He still sees relationships as a game. He reminds me of your father’s younger brother.”

“Uncle Mike?”

“Your Uncle Mike was kind enough to tell your father my nose was too big for my face and that my hips were too wide, and just within earshot of me. You can best believe there was as scene very similar to the one between you and Kent. Someday Kent will fall in love and he’ll understand what an idiot he’s been, but until that happens, it’s our job to try to keep him in line. I know he feels bad for what he did, and while you don’t’ have to forget it, Tyler, you do have to forgive him. He’s young and stupid.”

“You talking about Kent?” Tyler’s dad stood at the back door, his head and shoulders covered in snow.

“How’d you guess?” Mom pulled the dough from the glass container and sprinkled flour onto her marble counter.

“Luck, I guess. Anyway, I got your butter, your cream, and your extra bag of ice, though with the weather the way it is, not sure why we needed ice. Could have just gotten one of those icicles hanging from the roof.” Roger walked into the pantry.

“Grandpa!’ Squeals and the patter of little feet as the girls ran through the kitchen. “We’re having a Christmas tea party in the playroom—will you come?’

“Well of course! A Christmas tea party, how could I miss that?” He pulled his boots off and followed the girls.

“Ladies, after I get these cookies baked and cooled, we’re going to decorate. Got it?”

“Got it, Grandma!” Ashley called.

She and Grace each pulled at one of Dad’s hands while Charlotte pushed him from behind. They all exited the kitchen.

“I tell you, I couldn’t be happier that you two are home and I couldn’t be happier about you and Brinn.”

“Charlotte loves her too.” Tyler leaned forward and pulled an envelope from his pocket. “You know about this, right?”

Tyler slid the letter across the counter to Mom. She unfolded the paper and put on her reading glasses.

“Oh, my precious girl. So smart. So sweet.”

“A wish for her mommy and a wish for me, that I keep Brinn because she makes me so happy.”

“What about Charlize? Anything?”

I’ve called and e-mailed and I’ve gotten no response. I’m pretty pissed off.”

“Tyler.” There was a warning note in Mom’s voice.

“What? She’s not only blown off her daughter for six months, but she just canceled a trip that Charlotte has been looking forward to since her mother canceled the trip last summer. It’s been nearly seven months since Charlotte saw her mom, and now who knows when she’ll see Charlize? Right? I mean. come on. I have a right to be pissed.”

“Sweetheart, the Dumont family has never been known for being touchy-feely. They are beautiful people to look at, but crazy and cold on the inside. At least Charlotte has you, and now she has Brinn and she will always have all of us. It’s more than a lot of children get. It’s not perfect, but what is? I mean, you’re here and she’s surrounded with love. Do I wish she could see her mother too? Of course. But I know she’s going to have the best Christmas that you, me, and the entire family can give her.”

Tyler stood and took the pot of potatoes and put them on the stove. He turned toward Mom. “I love you, Mom.” He pulled her into a hug.

“I love you too.” She squeezed him tight. “Now get out of her before I start crying. Go to that Christmas tea party in the playroom. Those three little girls will be happy to have you.”

*

“I just can’t get my head wrapped around your dating Tyler Emerson.” Deborah, Brinn’s younger sister, sat on a tall stool beside the giant table in the center of the bakery’s kitchen. Ma, Dom, Alison, and Brinn swirled around Deborah like elves at the North Pole.

Brinn walked toward the oven with the final tray of sugar cookies that she would bake today. The bakery would close for Christmas Eve in about two hours; however, she wanted to bake and decorate one final batch. These sugar cookies were special—they were princesses. She was going to decorate one for Charlotte, Ashley, Grace, and Deborah’s daughter Lucy, who was with Nonna.

Deborah was not known to be a hard worker. She was more of a display piece. She was pretty to look at, but with little to no function other than to brighten a room with her knockout good looks.

“Well, we are dating.” Irritation at her sister’s comment flamed through her. She shut the oven door a little harder than necessary.

She really didn’t feel the need to explain to Deb Tyler’s reasons for dating her. Her own sister couldn’t see all she had to offer a man? That said a lot about Deb and how Deb truly viewed her older sister. A raw ache claimed Brinn. She’d been through this with Ma and Tyler’s brother Kent, and she simply didn’t want to go through having to defend who she was to her sister too. What was wrong with these people? She was an entrepreneur, a hell of a woman, and really kind of hot. Definitely not a Barbie doll, but a real woman with curves and a warm smile.

“It’s just Tyler always seemed to have a type. You know, kind of like…” Deborah’s voice trailed off as though she couldn’t say the name.

Brinn turned to her sister. “Charlize? You can say her name. Doesn’t bother me. She was Tyler’s high school sweetheart, his first wife, and she’s the mother of his daughter. They’ll always have a relationship. They have a child together. I get it. But you know what, Deb? She’s pretty to look at, but the woman has some problems. She hasn’t seen her daughter in nearly seven months.”

“Oh my God. Seven months? That does not sound like the Charlize Dumont I was friends with.”

Brinn held her tongue. Charlize’s behavior might be unfamiliar to Deborah, who had been a JV cheerleader and had idolized Charlize’s varsity and older-girl status, but to Brinn? Charlize’s behavior fit perfectly with the girl she remembered from high school. Unless you lived in the upper crust of the high school social strata, Charlize was cold and aloof, only able to think of herself and her own wants.

“Hey, Brinn,” Alison called from the front of the bakery. She stood in the doorway, her hair a bright Christmas red peeking out from beneath the Santa hat on her head. “There’s someone her to see you.” Alison’s gaze landed on Deborah, who was lounging on the stool drinking her coffee. “You know, Deb, we’re slammed out front. I could really use your help.”

“No problem.” Deb flashed her brilliant smile. “Be there in a minute.”

Alison looked at Brinn and Brinn shrugged. What could she say? Deb was pretty, but she definitely didn’t know a thing about hard work.

Brinn passed through the doorway and into the front of the bakery. “Who’s here?” Her gaze went from Alison to the front counter. Her heart bounced in her chest and her lips pressed into a thin line.

Really? Not the person she wanted to see, but probably a necessary part of her Christmas Eve.

“Hi, Brinn. Do you have a minute?” Kent Emerson smiled that cocky smile that he’d always used to get himself off the hook.

“Sure, but just barely. You know Christmas Eve is our busiest day of the year.”

“Oh.” Kent looked around the bakery, as if realizing for the first time that there were things going on around him. A giant line, workers bustling. “Yeah, sorry. Probably not the best time.”

“Nope.” Brinn walked out from behind the counter and toward a table in the far corner. She pulled out a chair and sat.

“I came by to apologize.” He sat at the table across from Brinn.

“Okay.” Brinn waited as Kent tilted his head. Did he believe that simply saying those words was enough? That he didn’t need to say anything more? That his presence and attempt to be repentant should assuage Brinn’s hurt feelings?

He squirmed under her gaze. Had no one ever expected anything from Kent before? That he act like a decent human being. Had he truly skated through his entire life on his good looks and the good will of his family name in Powder Springs? Yeah. Probably. Wow, very similar to the woman now lounging in the kitchen beside the oven on the busiest day of the year.

“Riiiight. What I said the other night at the family dinner. I don’t think I meant it the way you took it.”

“Really? You didn’t mean to say that I was a Volkswagen bug and Charlize was a Maserati?”

Kent sat back in his chair. “No, well… That’s what I said, but… but what I meant was that I was just surprised that after marrying Charlize, Tyler would choose you.”

“This is your apology?”

“What? I was, I am. I mean, it’s just hard for me to get my head wrapped around it. Not because I don’t think you’re nice, and probably really good for Charlotte and you obviously make Tyler happy. But come on, Brinn. You and Charlize? Completely different types of women. You’re utilitarian and she’s high maintenance.”

“I can’t believe they let you out of the house with that mouth.” Brinn’s voice contained no anger. How could you be angry with stupid, which was just exactly what Kent was.

“Kent!” Deborah rushed toward him and gave him a big hug.

“Deb, babe, you look great. Long time! So good to see you.” He circled her in his arms. Brinn rolled he eyes toward the ceiling. Yes, of course, here she was standing on the outside of the beautiful people.

“Have a very Merry Christmas.” Kent flashed Deb his pearly whites and walked toward the door.

“What was that about?”

“He said some things at the family dinner that I overheard, and they weren’t kind. Brinn didn’t even want to share with Deborah for fear that she’d agree with Kent.

“He’s always been a douche bag. Even in school I always wondered how such a selfish person could come from such a great family. I guess there’s always one. Except for our family, we’re just lucky that way.”

Brinn smiled as Deborah put her arm over Brinn’s shoulders. “Yeah.” She couldn’t help but love Deborah even if she was completely non-self-aware. “I guess we are.”

“Ooooo, Aunt Brinn, it’s so beautiful!” Lucy squealed. She clapped her little hands together and bounced up and down. She wore a red velvet dress with a black sash and tiny black patent leather Mary Janes. Her hair was dark like Brinn and Deborah’s. She had curls like Brinn, but the beautiful almond-shaped eyes of Deborah.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Brinn, Lucy, and Charlotte stood in front of the Christmas castle, both of the little girls looking like two little princesses in front of their home. They’d met at Nonna’s and immediately fallen into a fast friendship as four-year-old girls could do. Charlotte with her nearly translucent skin and blue eyes and white-blond curls beside Lucy with her light brown skin, dark brown eyes, and black hair—they were near opposites. Both wore red velvet dresses and black patent leather Mary Janes. They now clasped hands.

“Let me show you what Brinn fixed.” Charlotte whispered as though telling Lucy the world’s biggest secret. The little girls walked to the far side of the castle with Ma and Nonna and Dom following them both.

“This is amazing.” Deborah’s eyes traveled up over the giant castle, and she tilted her head back. “I’ve seen pictures of your other Christmas castles, but it’s just not the same as seeing the real thing.”

Brinn smiled. She loved that her sister was impressed with her work.

Tyler pressed his arm around Brinn’s waist and pulled her close. “It’s even more impressive because it’s made from egg and flour.” Tyler leaned forward and pressed his lips to Brinn’s temple.

Damn, she was lucky. Her Christmas was shaping up to be just perfect. She had everything she could ever want.

“I thought Jason was going to meet us here?” Brinn scanned the lobby, looking for her brother-in-law.

“Maybe not until tomorrow.” Deborah hitched her purse up over her shoulder. “He has a big case and jury selection starts next week. He was going to work late, but with it snowing between here and Denver, he said he might just wait until tomorrow to come up.”

Deborah’s gaze darted about the lobby. Her body language didn’t match what she said. It wasn’t like Jason to spend Christmas Eve without the family and Deborah and Lucy.

“Is everything all right?” Brinn took a step closer to her little sister.

“Of course.” Deborah crossed her arms over her chest. “Why wouldn’t it be? He’s just super busy at work. Ever since he made partner, he’s had to spend more time at the office. It’s normal. More responsibility means more work.” Deborah tilted her head to the side. “We’ll get through it.”

“Mama, come see the princesses in the tower Aunt Brinn made. They look just like Charlotte and me!”

“Coming, sweetheart.” A smile played on Deborah’s lips. “Nice job, Auntie, you think of everything. She’s a Christmas princess? What niece doesn’t love that?”

Happiness filled Brinn. The girls had seen the tower with the two little princesses hanging out a window and waving. Deborah hustled toward the girls. Tyler slipped his arm around Brinn’s waist. He bent his head down and his lips pressed to hers. The jolt rushed through her. This was a perfect Christmas Eve. Her family, Tyler, and Charlotte. Every Christmas wish had come true.

*

His parents’ house was madness. The three little girls dashed about the house, hopped up on hot chocolate, candy canes, and sugar cookies. Santa’s arrival was imminent. Chuck and Katherine lounged on the couch. Mom scurried about, refilling drinks and plates and putting out more and more food. Finally, after an hour of conversation and way too much food, Tyler grasped Brinn’s hand and pulled her to the door. He lifted her coat out of the closet. “I have something to show you.” He helped her with her coat.

“A surprise?

“I certainly hope so.” Tyler put on his coat and opened the front door. A soft snow fell slowly from the sky. They walked down the front steps. He held her hand and walked beside her.

“So what do you think of your first Emerson Christmas Eve?”

“It’s loud.” Brinn looked at him. Her cheeks were pink from the cold. “But fun. So much energy and so much food.” Brinn patted her stomach. “First dinner at the Grande and then your mom’s desserts?”