One More for Christmas(17)

She snatched it up. Her sister never phoned during the day. “Sam? If you’re calling to tell me how many sleeps it is until Christmas, we have it up on the wall here. Tab made a chart. We’re checking off the days.”

“I—No. Not that. Have you watched TV today?”

“No. You know I never watch daytime TV.” She picked up a red crayon that had been abandoned on the floor. “Tab and I started our day at Mini Musicians, where she gave a virtuoso performance on the cymbals—my ears are still ringing. Then we went for a walk in the park and came home via that cute fabric shop, where we bought an incredible gold lamé that we are going to make into a dress that Millicent is going to wear to the ball. But first we are making Christmas cards.”

“Millicent? Oh, the doll. I forgot.”

“You were the one who bought her Millicent. It’s her favorite.”

“When your favorite niece asks for a doll, she gets a doll.”

Ella smiled and glanced across at her daughter, shaking her head as she saw Tab about to hide another piece of broccoli. “You spoil her. Trouble is, I do, too.”

“It’s love, not spoiling. And Tab is lucky. Look, I need to—Ella, I need to talk to you.”

Ella walked back to her daughter, gave her a severe look and held up another stalk of broccoli. “Go ahead. And why are you asking me about TV? What did I miss? Did they do something on your company? You found a new Christmas movie for us to binge watch?”

There was a pause. “It’s our mother.”

Ella dropped the broccoli on the floor.

Tab cheered and punched the air.

Ella sat down, keeping the smile on her face so that Tab wouldn’t guess that anything was wrong. “What about her?”

“She’s in the hospital, but she’s fine.” Samantha was calm and matter-of-fact. “I mean, this is our mother and she’s indestructible. I’m dealing with it, but I didn’t want you to see the news on TV and panic. Ella? Are you okay? Say something.”

Ella felt pressure in her chest. “How do you know? Did she call you?”

“Her assistant left a message with my assistant.”

Tycoon telecommunications.

“But she must have asked them to. She must have wanted us to know. How did she even know you’d moved?” Something fluttered to life beneath the layers of anxiety. Hope? “How bad? Was it a heart attack?”

“Accident.”

“Car?”

“She fell off a chair and one of her awards smashed her on the head. Unfortunately she was recording an interview at the time so the footage is colorful. Don’t watch it.”

Tabitha frowned. “Mommy? Your face is looking funny. And a car can’t have a heart attack.”

Ella forced herself to breathe and behave normally. “I’m fine, honey.”

“You look weird. Maybe you need broccoli. Vitamins.” Tab thrust her last stalk toward her and Ella took it.

She felt weak and vulnerable, as she always did when she thought of her mother.

She also felt guilty, because thinking of her mother always induced feelings of guilt.

Guilt that she hadn’t somehow made the most of her life.

Guilt that she’d disappointed a parent who had sacrificed so much for her.

I can’t believe a daughter of mine would make such bad choices.

“Which hospital?” She found a pen and scribbled it down as Samantha told her. “I can be in Manhattan in under three hours.”

She lived in a small coastal town in Connecticut, that was perfect for families. Far enough away from the city that her previous life there seemed distant.

“You don’t have to. Focus on Tab. No sense in us both suffering. I’ve got this. Charlotte’s already booked me onto a flight from Logan to LGA. I’ll be at the hospital by this evening, and I’ll stay the night in the city and call you as soon as I’ve spoken to the doctors and understand what’s going on.”

Ella was about to ask why she was planning on staying the night, and then realized that with the timing, her sister wouldn’t have any choice. And unless she wanted to get a very late train home, she wouldn’t have a choice, either.

Ella knew she had to go, too, but she hadn’t spent the night away from Tab since she was born. Her pulse started to thump a warning. “I’ll come. I just need to message Michael.”

“You will not. First, you don’t need to because you’re not coming. And second, you don’t need to because you’re not coming.”

It was so tempting to simply let her sister take the strain of it, but Ella knew she couldn’t do that. They stuck together. They always had, and they always would. She wouldn’t let Samantha do this alone any more than Samantha would let her do it. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay. If she’s asking for us, we should both go. And we can share a hotel room and make it fun. Hold on one moment—” She held the phone in front of her and typed a quick message. “Okay. Done.”

“After what happened last time—the way she spoke to you.” Samantha’s voice shook a little. “Honestly, Ella. Don’t go.”

“She’s—” Ella glanced at Tab, who was listening intently. “I have to.”

“Why? Because we’re her daughters? She’s more interested in inspiring and lifting up a stranger, than she is in supporting us.”