'Tis the Season: A Collection of Mimi's Christmas Books (68 page)

Belle’s heart dropped from the weight of her shame. She hadn’t thought about how her going missing would affect her father. She took his clenched hand in hers, threaded their fingers like she used to as a little girl and hung on tight. Her eyes begged him to understand as she opened her heart. “Dad, I promise, my staying away today had nothing to do with you. I really didn’t mean to be gone so long. Truly, I’m very sorry we didn’t invite you to come along.”

Harry’s eyes glistened and he had to clench his jaw to stop the telltale quivering. “Let me tell you, I was heartsick thinking I’d forced my way in where I wasn’t wanted.”

“Don’t ever talk that way, Dad. I do want you and Yaya’s thrilled to have a… a gwampa.”

He threw a wobbly smile her way. “She’s a miracle. Says we have to go out after dinner and take that crazy mutt for a walk. Guess the snow is calling to her.”

“Truth to tell—me too. I love walking in the snow. So, let’s worry about cleaning up the kitchen later and get ready now.”

Before Belle could make it clear to him that she’d like to keep the trip between her, Layla and her father, Harry clinked his glass with his spoon to get everyone’s attention.

“We’re off for a walk in the snow. Anyone else want to join us, beside Sam?”

Belle wasn’t surprised when a short time later they were all wrapped up in mittens, scarves and warm jackets trudging along on the residential street through the growing banks of snow.

Even Marilyn had changed into slacks and had accepted Belle’s ski jacket to wear in place of her expensive coat. She seemed to get into the spirit and acted very happy when Yaya had taken her hand so they could walk together.

Flakes as large as quarters fell from the sky in a never-ending cascade of white and silver, enough to delight both the child and the puppy. And truth to tell, it thrilled the adults too who soon began to act like children themselves.

At one point, Marilyn, looking particularly young and beautiful, decided to show Layla how to make snow angels. While the rest of the adults stood watching them and laughing, the two dropped to the ground where the snow lay pristine.

Jesse, being such a boy, threw snow on them and slipped when he tried to get away. Arms flailing, he landed beside them. Marilyn rolled over him, shouting. “Stop being a pest.” Handfuls of snow landed on his laughing face. “We’re being angels and you’re being a little devil.”

Layla, loving the fun, crawled close to his face to give him instructions on how to be an angel too. “Jesse, just put your arms out and wave them. Up and down.”

He grabbed her and cuddling her close, he sat up, threatening with her with a cold nose rub. Loving the play, Sam leapt into the fray and tried to lick all three faces at once.

Standing nearby, arms entwined with her father’s, Belle watched their fun with envy and sorrow battling against her good nature. Lost in thought, she didn’t notice that Jesse had snuck toward her. Reaching up he had her in his arms, lying over his knees while the other two were busy again making their angels.

In a voice filled with laughter, he whispered, “You don’t have to make like an angel. It’s just who you are.” Before she could stop him, he rubbed his cold nose against hers and then hugged her close.

Tears flooded and had to be choked back. Her body couldn’t seem to stop from convulsing and, not being a complete idiot, Jesse soon picked up on her distress.

She felt him pull back so he could see what was wrong. His expression scrambled her brains and she didn’t know what to think. Protecting her heart, she looked away and refused to look back. He muttered, his voice rough with resolve. “Okay, that does it. We need to talk.” He held her head so that she was forced to return his stare.

She swiped at her cheeks. “Not now. I couldn’t bear it.”

“Tonight. After the rest are in bed. We’ll sneak away and talk, Belle. Promise?”

“Okay. Yes.” Belle wrenched away from his arms and rolled over so she could get to her feet. He wanted to talk, did he? What could he say? That he wanted another woman? Sweet Jesus, she already knew.

Chapter Forty-four

On their way back to the apartment, Layla firmly riding Jesse’s shoulders like a princess who accepted her just dues, was in her element.

Happy for her baby, Belle refused to think about what had just happened in the snow. The mixed signals she’d gotten from Jesse threw her into a tailspin and she didn’t know if she could deal with any more emotion without a breakdown.

Feeling physically better didn’t mean her mental state had recovered completely. The strength of will she’d relied on to get her to where she was today had deserted her since her illness and it hadn’t quite recovered. Now, she wobbled between right and wrong. It was right that Jesse find his happiness. But it was also right that she find hers. Too bad it wasn’t something they could do together.

Back at the apartment, they all pitched in and had the kitchen cleared in no time at all. Marilyn produced the fancy box of chocolates she’d brought with her to be added to the Christmas goodies.

Meanwhile, Belle helped Yaya decorate a tray with the cookies they’d baked together. Next, they displayed the works on the coffee table in the livingroom.

Harry decided he made the best hot chocolate and that they all needed to taste his creation. So a tray of Christmas mugs appeared and were soon passed out, marshmallows decorating each drink.

Jesse, being hounded, finally agreed to play Christmas music and the glowing tree and twinkle lights threw a wonderful radiance of holiday spirit around the room.

Everyone was in an especially great mood—except for Belle. She worried that her heart, already sore and heavy, had yet to take one more lash of pain when Jesse broke things off between them.

Not that they had anything serious to end. After all, they’d only been together for two nights—albeit two of the most wondrous nights of her life. But then, men didn’t feel the same about these kinds of things.

“Jesse, dance with me.” Marilyn held out her hand and forced him to take it. Being a gentleman, he had no choice and Belle understood it on one level. On the heart level, all she wanted to do was push Marilyn aside and let her know she was messin’ with Belle’s man.

“Sweetheart, wanna dance with your ugly old man?” Returning to the moment, Belle noticed that Jesse had picked up Yaya and had included her in his dance with Marilyn. The pain lessened and she took her dad’s hand.

“I’d love to dance with the handsomest man in the room.”

They both laughed when Jesse let out a roar of disapproval. “Hey, that hurts!”

No one heard the doorbell at first. Not until the song came to an end and the bell rang continuously, annoyingly.

“Who can that be?” Harry questioned Belle and a tiny fear grew.
Maybe Jack? God no!

Jesse went to the foyer and stopped. “Stay here until I find out who it is.”

Belle heard a man’s loud voice overriding Jesse’s and she quickly picked up Layla and hid her face against her neck. She backed toward the bedroom and waited, not being able to leave completely until she knew that Jesse wasn’t in any danger.

A man stomped into sight, a stranger covered in snow and looking half-frozen. She still had no idea who he was until she heard Marilyn speak up.

“Steve? What in the world are you doing here?”

“I’ve come for my wife, is what I’m doing here. You took off and left no address. By the time I figured you’d be with your step-father and found his name in your files, you’d left there also.”

“Why did you follow me?” Marilyn stepped closer, her cheeks bright and her hands shaking.

“To bring you home. I’ve changed my mind, Mari. I don’t care about kids. Without you, kids don’t matter.”

Marilyn’s smile shone with delight. “You’re too late.”

“Aww, Mari. Don’t say that.” Steve hesitated.

“I’ve changed my mind too. I want to have your baby.”

Belle looked from the two in the center of the room to the man who stood nearby, hands in his pockets and a grin on his face.

What in the world? His heart must be breaking and he was covering it up. She couldn’t stand by and watch him lose his love a second time.

She passed Layla to her father, nodded to the other room and waited until they left. Then she went to confront the two who seemed like players on a stage. “I don’t know why you’re here, buddy, but Marilyn has left you. She wants another man now. You have to accept that you’ve lost her and move on.”

Marilyn’s stunned expression threw Belle for a second but didn’t deter her from her goal.

Steve swung her way. “A… another man? What the hell are you talking about lady?”

“I’m not a lady, I’m her sister.” Belle didn’t quite get why Jesse had a grin on his face when she turned to point at him. “He’s her real love.”

“What?” Jesse stiffened, his yell of rage loud against the sound of Blue Christmas playing in the background.

“Are you crazy?” Marilyn swung from Belle to Jesse and back to Steve. Then she shook her head. “Steve, I swear, he’s an old friend. Since we met, there’s never been anyone but you.”

Steve, lost in the moment, pushed past Belle and never realized she’d move forward at the same time. His body shoved hers and she couldn’t get her footing.

Jesse reached her in time to stop her from a bad fall and he scooped her up and moved in front of her. Then he turned to Steve. “Man, you’d better calm down before we have words.”

“There’s nothing to say, man! I’m taking my wife home and you can’t stop me.”

Jesse couldn’t continue let the fellow scare everyone with his out-of-control behavior, nor could he have Marilyn think any the less of the man who obviously loved her. There weren’t that many choices and so he took the one he knew would settle the situation with the best outcome of all.

He lifted the smaller-built guy by the front of his shirt so his feet weren’t quite touching the floor and he started to walk him to the door.

In a really low voice he said, “Steve. Punch me.”

“Are you crazy?” Steve whispered.

“You want your wife back; you fight for her and make it look convincing.”

Steve struggled and Jesse let him go so there would be enough room for the other to take a swing. Still, the man seemed undecided. “Look, I e-mailed you the address. She needs to believe you’re for real and that you want her so much you’ll do anything. Dammit, hit me.”

Who knew the smaller man had such a punch. Jesse saw stars while he massaged his jaw. Then he saw the beloved face of his woman as she raced to his side and cradled him in her arms.

“Hey darlin’, its okay. I’m fine”

Belle knelt beside him with her arms tightly wrapped around his neck, squeezing his sore face but Jesse knew he’d never said anything more truthful in his life.

Chapter Forty-five

After Jesse had taken the blow, and went down like a man with a glass jaw, all hell had broken loose. It seemed like forever before he had the place to himself and Belle.

Once they’d finally settled the misunderstanding, Steve had grabbed at the offer Jesse made for them to use the other apartment and have it to themselves. Seemed appropriate enough, since they had fences to mend and Jesse had a doghouse to get out of.