Circle on Home (Lost in a Boom Town Book 5) (29 page)

More tears started to flow, these accompanied by hiccups. “I’m so sorry, Noah. We didn't know what to do. Devin had been making good money in the oilfield, but when he got laid off, we got desperate. We wanted to keep that level of income, and he talked about how some of the guys in the fields liked to use Keta to party. I didn't take the whole bottle the first time, so you didn't notice. Then we got greedy. I'm sorry, Noah. You’re a good boss, but we had bills."

“Did he threaten you?" Noah asked, hating that he didn't know that detail about one of his employees.

"He doesn’t. He's a good husband, a good father. We just got desperate.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry this happened, Kayla, but you know I can’t keep you on. I’m not going to press charges because you have kids and I don't want to see them without both of their parents.” He knew firsthand how hard that was.
 

Her sobs deepened. “I loved my job. I’m so sorry, Noah. I swear I’ll never do it again. I need this job to take care of my kids if he goes to jail.”

He choked, damn it. He didn't want her to be destitute. But she had been the one to betray his trust in her. “I’m sorry, Kayla. I’m sure you’ll find something.”
 

Before he could cave, he stepped out of the office and closed the door behind him, giving her a chance to pull herself together. Janie was watching, wide-eyed, and he gave a pointed look to the waiting room. He would have to tell her and Lisa, but he'd rather do it without witnesses. Bad enough Kayla was going to walk out of here crying. 

At least, he hoped that was what she did instead of tearing the place up. 

But he waited near the reception desk, and a few minutes later she walked out, head bent, her steps dragging as she passed him, as if hoping he'd change his mind, before she walked out the door and drove away.

*****

Still reeling from the scene after work, Noah walked into the kitchen of Miranda’s house to see, well, a mess. The table was filled with flour-coated cookie sheets and bowls, the counter was covered with cookies, some iced, some still bare. There was flour on the floor, on the oven door, on Miranda’s ass. He stepped forward, tempted to dust it off, and braced his hands on his hips instead.

“I’m thinking you aren't done?”

Miranda looked up and he saw a bit of strain lining her face, but she smiled, and he bent to kiss her briefly on the lips.
 

“I may have bitten off more than we can chew here. We still have a couple dozen cookies to go into the oven, and the decorating, well, all I can say is that Riley is a goddess. I never could get the icing right.”

He gave into the urge to dust the flour off her butt, more for an excuse to touch her than anything, then stepped back. “What can I do to help?”

Miranda pushed her hair back from her forehead with a sigh and looked around the disastrous kitchen. “Maybe some organization would help.”

“Okay. Are you still mixing?”

“No. God. No.”

“Then let’s do this. We’ll put all the cookies that need to be decorated on the table, that way we can sit down to decorate them. The ones that are already decorated…” He grimaced when he caught sight of them. “The ones that are already decorated, we’ll put on the counter. Then, what, are we going to box them up in those tins you bought the other night?”

“Once the icing is dry.”

“Why don’t you go pick up dinner at the Coyote and bring it back here while I help Selena?” he asked, sensing the frustration that Miranda was trying to hold back.
 

“I can’t leave you with this mess.” She raised her hands and let them fall back to her sides.

“I’m pretty sure I’m partly responsible for it,” he said with a smile.
 

“No, of course you aren’t. I just don't have the supplies we needed. And we wanted to bake enough for your family, my family and the Coyote people. Rolling, cutting, and then the icing.” She stepped back from the counter. “Maybe, you know, going to get supper is a good idea. Why don't we all go?”

“I don’t want to leave this mess. Your roommates won’t like it. You go, we’ll get everything organized.” He kissed her forehead, his hand resting on her hip. When he glanced down, he saw she was near tears, and he frowned. But she took another step back, and picked up her purse from the hanger at the entrance of the kitchen. “What would you both like?”

“Just bring back some barbecue. Anything that’s not sugar, right?” He smiled at his sister.
 
“And wear a coat. It got cold again.”

By the time she returned, he had the place, well, less of a disaster, and had swept up the flour, boxed up some of the cookies, cleared a spot on the table so there was room to eat. Selena was painstakingly squeezing icing out of a pastry bag, and he had to admit, her later cookies were pretty.
 

“You’d better watch out,” Miranda said, looking over Selena’s shoulder. “Riley might snatch you up to work at the bakery.”

“Oh, I’d never leave the Coyote!” Selena promised, setting the pastry bag down, her eyes wide. “I love it there.”

“You can love doing more than one thing,” Miranda said as she set out the carry-out trays on the table.
 

“What do you love?” Selena asked, washing her hands before joining the table.
 

“I love a lot of things,” Miranda said.

“Like Noah?”

Miranda snapped her gaze to his, and a blush colored her cheeks. “I like your brother very much. But I was talking about things you can do.”

Noah lifted his eyebrows at her, and her blush deepened at his hidden meaning.
 

“I like to organize things. I guess I got that from my mom. And I like to play with Skipper and I think I like to decorate.”

“You think?” Noah asked, waiting until Selena sat before he did.

“I never really got to decorate places before,” Miranda said, taking the chair across from him. “I mean, I lived in places but none of those places were my own. This isn't either, but I guess now I have a little more time and money to do what I like. And my office is the first place ever that’s only mine.”

“Damian didn't let you decorate?” Noah asked.

“Who’s Damian?” Selena asked as she poured herself some tea.

“My boyfriend from New York. I told you about him.”

She had talked to her sister about her ex? That was interesting. And the way Selena crinkled up her nose, well, he figured Miranda hadn't been singing his praises. He’d have to ask later what Miranda had said about him.
 

“So he didn’t? Let you decorate?”

“We had a decorator.” She frowned at the surprise on his face. “We had some input, but again, I was the hick girl from a small town and he was the worldly guy who knew designers and the latest trends. We had people over a lot, and he wanted to make a good impression.”

“So did you plan the parties, since you like to organize?”

“We had a party planner, too.”

“Sounds like you didn't have much control over your life.”

“I’d say that is pretty accurate. But having that life made me know what I wanted, and gave me the means to get it.” She looked at Noah as she said it.

“What do you love, Noah?” Selena asked, missing all the by-play.

“You,” he said, picking up his plastic fork. “And barbecue.”

*****

Selena’s joy in the holiday made Noah mad at himself that they hadn't celebrated in so long, that his father’s return had given them the impetus to make them celebrate it again. Rey had brought home a little tree that would have made Charlie Brown’s tree look lush, and Ben made a big breakfast. Selena almost lost her mind waiting until after breakfast for the presents. She physically dragged Ben from the kitchen into the living room and pushed him onto the couch, then she bounded to the tree and grabbed up the presents. She was glowing when she handed her father his gift, and stood before him to watch him open it.
 

Noah tensed, ready for his father to display his bad manners, to break the heart of his only daughter. Rey opened the present without looking up at her, unwound the belt, ran it through his hands.

Noah’s blood chilled. He hadn't thought of it at the time, when she’d bought it, but damn it, that gesture was too familiar, his father running the belt through his hand before smacking the shit out of him, or their mother. He’d been able to keep Ben and Selena safe, in the past. But he wasn't here all the time now.

Then Rey looked up at Selena, his eyes moist. “This is beautiful. I’ve never seen one so fine.”

“I bought it.”

“I think it’s beautiful. Thank you, Selena.”

Noah had never heard that tone from his father, that gentle, loving tone. But he didn't hug his daughter, or kiss her. Selena didn't seem to expect it, and turned to the tree to fetch Ben’s present.
 

After walking around the store for hours to find this present, Noah hoped like hell Ben appreciated it. He wanted to give his brother a heads’ up and tell him to be nice, but he hadn't had a chance.

Selena put the box in his hands and clasped her own hands as she waited. He didn't disappoint her, tearing into it without delay. He paused for a moment, and Noah held his breath. Then Ben beamed up at his sister. “I always wanted one of these when I was a kid.”

“I know you love Snoopy.”

“I do love Snoopy.” He half-rose out of his chair and kissed his sister’s cheek.

“Time for your presents,” Noah said.

“No, I haven't given you yours yet.”

He wondered when she’d gotten his gift, and and who she’d gone with.
 

He accepted the present from his sister, wrapped as carefully as his father and brother's had been, and he opened it slowly, playing with her, since she seemed so eager at his reaction.
 

"Oh, Selena, wow, I can't believe it." He lifted a desk plate with “Dr. Noah Braun” engraved out of the box, and held it up in front of him. "It's wonderful. Where did you get it?"

"MJ was at the Coyote and I told her what I wanted, and she ordered it for me."

"Wow, how did you even think about this?"

"When I went into your office, I saw you didn't have one, and I thought you should. It’s important.”

"Thank you, Sis." He stood and pulled her against him in a hug that finally had her squirming to get away.
 

"Okay, now your turn." He wished the three of them had gone to as much effort as she had on their gifts. But she loved her new clothes and DVDs anyway, if her expression was anything to judge by. She brought in her sugar cookies. Noah remembered all the work that had gone into the cookies that were reduced to crumbs in a matter of minutes.
 

"Why is there still a present under the tree?"

It was Noah's turn to squirm at Selena's question. "It's for Miranda."

"What did you get her?"

He focused on his sister and avoided the gazes of his father and brother. "Just something she wanted a long time ago that I couldn’t afford to give her then." Something maybe she'd forgotten about, but when Selena had bought that snow-cone maker for Ben, he'd gotten the idea. He'd paid a pretty penny for shipping, more than the bracelet had cost back when they were in high school, but he hoped Miranda would appreciate it.

"When are you giving it to her? Can I come?"

"Maybe tonight, and no. I'm not taking my sister on my date."

"You love her," Selena teased, wrinkling her nose at him. "I knew you loved her."

He did love her, but he didn't know what the future held. She was fresh out of a relationship, was looking for autonomy. He didn't think she was going to want to make a commitment already. But he'd waited this long. He could wait a little longer.

*****

Miranda kicked off her heels as she walked into her house after the late church service. Funny how quickly this house had become her home, so much that she'd had trouble sleeping last night at her mother's. She didn't really know why her mother had wanted that, anyway, because they didn't have presents under the tree, since they'd bought each other's gifts on Black Friday. But she'd indulged her mother, who'd made a big breakfast, served on Christmas plates, before the three of them had attended service together.