One More for Christmas(77)

“Because you like your work? That doesn’t make you like your mother. From what you’ve told me, your mother virtually cut herself off from personal relationships. You spend your weekends playing with your niece. You’ve supported your sister for all of her life. And you’re running a company with a small team who all love you and have been with you from the beginning. Do you know how unusual that is?”

“How do you know so much about my company?”

“If you want the best job done, you choose the best people.” He cleared his throat. “And I might have talked to—er—Charlotte a few times.”

“You talked to Charlotte? About what?”

“An astonishing array of subjects. She’s very chatty.”

Samantha laughed. “She is. Clients love her. I love her, too.”

“I can understand why. And Amy is adorable. She sent me a photo.” He pushed her plate back toward her. “Eat. It’s cold out there. You need food. I shouldn’t have finished your fries.”

He’d remembered the name of Charlotte’s daughter.

“I’m not that hungry. Talking about my mother reminds me of all the things that can potentially go wrong while we’re here.”

“There’s always a possibility that your mother really has changed.”

“You think people can change?”

“Maybe change is the wrong word. I think people have an ability to adapt to different circumstances. I hope they do, or I’m not sure how my mother will cope.” He finished his burger and wiped his fingers. “I think she’ll be fine as long as she is living here, in familiar surroundings, along with all the memories of my father. I’m determined to make that happen. It would be easier if I wasn’t fighting my sister.”

She badly wanted to help, and not just for professional reasons. “Let’s talk numbers.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a notepad and pen. “Let’s figure it out together. I’ve seen enough to know what you have to offer, and I have a good idea about what people will pay. You know what you need. Let’s bridge the gap. If you can present facts to your sister, she might find it easier to accept. Maybe she’ll be able to adapt to new circumstances, too.”

And she should probably follow her own advice.

Being with her mother at Christmas was definitely going to require some adaptation, on everyone’s part, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t going to work.

Talking to Brodie had reminded her that all families were complicated, even apparently functional ones.

Perhaps everything would be all right after all.

Of course it would help if she could stop imagining Brodie naked.



Ella


“Where are we going?” Ella stifled a yawn as she grabbed her coat. She was still feeling the effects of jet lag. “And what did you do all day yesterday? You were back so late we didn’t have a chance to chat.”

“I was working.” Samantha gathered up all her outdoor gear. “Did you have fun?”

“Mmm.” Ella wasn’t sure how to answer that, so she ignored the question. “What’s the plan for today?”

Michael had shut himself in the bedroom with his laptop and two brimming mugs of coffee, dealing with a work emergency so it was just her, Samantha and Tab.

“We are going on a trip and you need to dress warmly.” Samantha was on her knees next to Tab, zipping her coat and tugging her hat down over her ears. “Where are your gloves?”

“In my pocket.” Tab produced them with the drama of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. “Are we going on a secret trip?”

“It’s a secret trip.”

“Will we see Santa?”

“Better than Santa.” Samantha scooped her up and swung her, and Ella wondered what had happened to her sister, because something had happened, she was sure of it.

“You’re raising expectations. Where are we going?”

“Patience. You’re worse than your daughter.” Samantha helped Tab with her snow boots and rose to her feet. Her hair slid smooth and silky over the shoulders of her white jacket. She was energized. Glowing.

Intrigued, Ella tugged her sister to one side. “What is going on?”

“I’ve told you, it’s a—”

“I’m not asking about the trip. I’m asking about why you’re glowing inside. It’s as if someone has changed your batteries, or—or—rebooted you. And where were you last night? You and Brodie didn’t come back for dinner.”

“He was showing me the area. We ended up at the far end of Loch Ness, so stopped for something to eat.” Samantha tilted her head. “Am I glowing? I’m excited about this place. My clients are going to love it.” She was smiling, and Ella was smiling too even though she had a suspicion that it wasn’t thoughts of her business that had put her sister in such a good mood.

“You’re not angry with me after yesterday?” She glanced at Tab, but her daughter had gone in search of Bear, who was her new best friend. “I thought maybe you were planning on burying me in a snowdrift after the hurtful, tactless thing I said.”

Samantha reached for Tab’s scarf. “You didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”

“None of it was true. I was upset about the whole Mom thing, and I felt you were judging me for overreacting about Tab, and—I don’t know. I don’t know what made me horrible.”