Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold #12.5)(31)

“Fraternal.”

The little girl was waving frantically at Melissa, who scooped her into her arms. “How’s my best girl?” She looked over the girl’s head. “Dakota is a triplet and they’re identical. She’s one of six. Her brother, Ethan, is my stepfather.” Melissa paused. “Is that right? If Liz is my aunt and he’s married to her, then he’s my step uncle, maybe. Whatever. He’s my other dad.”

Dakota picked up her young son and held him. “We have a complicated family.”

“I met your mother earlier,” Gabriel told her, remembering Melissa’s grandmother.

Dakota laughed. “Be grateful we’re all married or she would be talking up her daughters.”

News that didn’t surprise him.

Just before Dakota left, she turned to Melissa.

“You’re not going to miss the tree lighting, are you? Noelle knows about it. She’s closing the store early.”

Melissa smiled. “I’ll be there, I promise.”

Dakota waved and walked away. Melissa looked at him.

“You look trapped.”

“No, I don’t,” he said automatically, although maybe it was true.

“The town is a little intense. I grew up here and sometimes it gets to me. When I talk to my friends at college about what it’s like here, they don’t always believe me.”

“So there’s a tree lighting,” he said. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Yes. There’s a city tree and it’s huge and tonight it’s lit for the first time this season. You may have noticed the storefronts are all decorated.”

“They have been,” he said, remembering the pumpkins and paper turkeys in windows.

Melissa’s expression turned pitying. “That was for Thanksgiving. I’m talking Christmas. We take our holidays here very seriously.”

“I’ve noticed that.”

“Between last Wednesday and this morning, the decorations have all changed. And tonight is the tree lighting. You’re going to be there, aren’t you?”

He could think of a dozen things he would rather be doing. Only he had a feeling that Noelle would want to be a part of things and because of that, he would go with her. Because he liked being near her. He liked her enthusiasm and belief in what was possible. He knew she was wrong, but he respected her position.

“I’ll be there,” he said.

Three women walked up then and started looking at the nativities. Gabriel checked the rest of their stock and was about to make a run to get more bears when he noticed his mother moving toward him.

Tension threatened, but when he saw she was alone, he relaxed. He wasn’t ready to go another round with his father, he thought.

She looked different than she had when they’d first arrived. Happier. She held shopping bags in each hand.

“You’ve been busy,” he said, taking the bags from her.

“Mostly gifts,” she said, giving him a hug. “A few things for Carter. A couple of baby gifts.”

“Who’s pregnant? Felicia?”

“Not that I know of, but she’s made it clear she wants children. I’m planning ahead.” Her blue eyes softened. “She’s going to be a wonderful mother. I’m just so happy for them both.”

He had a feeling tears would be next. He glanced at Noelle and held up both bags. She nodded, understanding he was going to take them to his mother’s car.

They walked toward the front door.

“This time we’ll be a part of things from the beginning,” his mother continued, then looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “What about you? Any babies in your future?”

He swore silently. “No.”

“Noelle seems nice.”

“She’s my friend, Mom. We’re not dating.”

“Oh. I thought you two had a connection.”

They did, but he wasn’t about to discuss the fact that he found Noelle incredibly sexy with his mother.

“Is there someone special?” she asked.

“Not right now.”

An evasive answer, but it beat dealing with the truth.

“I was worried about Gideon,” she admitted as they walked out to the parking lot and she pointed to where she’d left the Explorer. “After what happened to him. Does he talk to you about it? Being held captive?”

“Not really. I know the broad strokes.”

“He hasn’t said a word to me. Your father says I shouldn’t push. That I couldn’t understand what he went through. I suppose that’s true, but I want to be there for him.”

“You should talk to Felicia,” he said. “She knows Gideon better than anyone. She’ll have an idea of the best way to deal with his past.”

His mother nodded. She opened the back of the Explorer, and he put the packages inside. She touched his arm.

“You know I love you, don’t you?” she asked, her gaze intense.

“I know, Mom.”

“I let your father have things his way. I’ve always regretted that. I know he was difficult. It’s just...” She paused. “He’s an honorable man.”

Norman Boylan’s honor wasn’t in question. It was how he’d chosen to deal with his sons that Gabriel had a problem with. And that his mother had let her husband determine all the rules.