Home with My Sisters (34 page)

CHAPTER 36

“Well, that was a waste of time,” Joy said. They had checked all the lodging in town and no sign of their mother. They stood at the corner of Main Street watching shoppers come and go. Hope was really starting to worry about Carla. She gravitated toward drama, not away from it. It wasn't like her to disappear.

“At least we managed to spread the word of our Christmas Extravaganza,” Faith said. The managers of the inns seemed excited about the invitation. Several of them mentioned how generous of a man Rupert had been; nobody commented on Yvette.

“How much are we going to charge per person?” Joy asked.

“We're not charging,” Hope said.

“Of course we are,” Joy said.

“No,” Hope said. “We're giving back. For Christmas.”

“We can give and take at the same time,” Joy said. They piled in the car and were headed back to the estate.

“Faith,” Hope said. “Would you like to jump in here?”

“We're not charging,” Faith said.

“Thank you,” Hope said.

“Harrison is going to make donuts and I'm going to make coffee, and we're selling those,” Joy said. “You can't stop us.”

“You're entirely missing the point of the season,” Hope said.

“We might need the reward money to find Mom,” Joy said.

“See?” Faith said. “There's the selfless Joy we know and love.”

“Who's buying me a coffee truck for Christmas?” Joy said.

Hope glanced ahead as they were approaching the estate. The gates were open and everyone was standing outside. She was thrilled to see Austin among them. He turned as their car pulled up and Hope smiled. He smiled back, then stepped to the side, revealing none other than their mother. Carla Garland was wearing a hot-pink trench coat, her highlighted hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. She was holding court with Josh and Brittany, flapping her arms in high animation. Yvette was to her side, scowling. “She's alive,” Hope said. “Thank God.”

“I didn't know they sold winter coats in Miami,” Faith remarked.

“She looks like a flamingo,” Hope said. The two of them laughed.

“Mom!” Joy said. “Looks like I get to keep the reward money.” She had the car door open before it had even come to a stop.

“Wonder if she's seen Dad yet?” Faith said. Hope had been wondering the same thing. They quickly scanned the grounds, but their father wasn't in sight. The girls barreled out of the car and ran to their mother.

“There you are,” Carla said. “Some welcome.” They gave their mother a group hug.

“We were looking all over town for you,” Faith scolded.

“I see you didn't tell me that my only granddaughter was crippled,” Carla said the minute the hug was over.

“I'm not really crippled,” Brittany said.

“Like Tiny Tim!” Josh said.

“Where's Roger?” Faith said.

“Don't call him that,” Carla said. She turned to Yvette. “How dare you.”

“Thank God,” Joy said. “We got here just in time for the good stuff.”

Faith stepped forward. “Not in front of the kids,” she said.

“Why is Grandma so mad?” Brittany asked Faith.

“Why is the sky gray?” Faith answered.

“You know what?” Austin said. “I was thinking of taking the kids downtown.”

“Yay!” Brittany said. “I can practice my crutches.”

“There's still a lot of ice,” Austin said. “We'll take the sled just in case.”

“That's what got her into this in the first place,” Faith muttered.

“Not downhill this time,” Austin said with a wink. “Just down the sidewalk.”

“Can I have some money, Mom?” Josh asked.

“Sure,” Faith said.

“How come that never works for me?” Joy said.

“Because you're not my child,” Faith said.

“Where's Harrison?” Joy asked.

“He's out in the woods chopping firewood,” Yvette said.

“What has this place done to him?” Joy said.

“I need to see
Roger,
” Carla said. She drew the name out and glared at Yvette, then headed for his cabin.

“Not so fast,” Yvette said, lunging forward and grabbing a hot-pink sleeve. “We have to talk.”

“You've had years to talk,” Carla said. “Too little and much too late.”

“Mom, please,” Hope said. “She's right. We do have to talk. All of us.” Carla's eyes flicked to Faith. Hope cringed. She would never be seen as a decision maker.

“I second,” Faith said. Hope and Faith looked at Joy. For a second Joy seemed startled that they included her. Then she straightened up and looked Carla in the eye.

“Third,” Joy said. “I third.”

* * *

It took a lot of whiskey and repetition, but Carla finally heard what they all had to say. They were huddled on the sofas in front of the fireplace, tucked under blankets, as if trying to squeeze out any bit of comfort they could. Tears were pooling in Carla's eyes and running down her cheeks. Streaks of black mascara ran down her cheeks. Hope handed her a tissue. She clutched it, then looked at Yvette.

“You still should have told us,” Carla said. “He was my husband. Their father. We loved him.”

“I know that now,” Yvette said. “And I'm sorry.”

“So what? We just pretend he's not Thomas?” Carla looked to the girls for an answer.

“At the least we need to speak with his doctor,” Faith said. “It's obvious he's not the dad we knew. But he functions and seems relatively happy. I couldn't forgive myself if we made things worse.”

“Me neither,” Hope said.

Harrison entered the house. Joy ran to him and jumped into his arms. Carla looked him over.

“Hi, Mrs. G,” Harrison called.

“Hi, Harrison.”

“You two know each other?” Faith said.

“We're Facebook friends,” Carla said.

“Top friends,” Harrison said, putting Joy down.

“Lovely to meet you in person.” Carla unfolded herself from the sofa and wiped the mascara off her cheeks. Then she sauntered over and hugged Harrison. Their mother. The eternal flirt.

“Was Roger with you in the woods?” Carla asked, eagerly scanning the windows. Hope found herself doing the same thing. They were going to have to watch Carla or she was going to go rogue.

“For a bit. He went back to his cabin,” Harrison said.

“Do you think he saw me?”

Harrison was sporting a grin, but it faded slightly as he frowned. “I don't think so. Why?”

“He's my father,” Joy said. “Her ex-husband.”

Harrison looked behind him as if expecting someone to jump out. “Who?” he said. “What?”

“Not ex-husband,” Carla said. “Husband. I never had him declared dead, and we never divorced.”

“I'm lost,” Harrison said.

“Roger, the caretaker, is our father,” Joy said.

“Funny,” Harrison said.

“Not joking,” Joy said. She pulled Harrison aside and began to quietly fill him in. A few seconds later he was hugging Joy, wrapping her into his arms.
I really like him,
Hope thought. She never imagined anyone who could calm Joy down like that.

“You're still married,” Yvette said slowly, turning to Carla. “I never even thought of that.”

“It means whatever decisions get made for him are mine,” Carla said.

“I'll change my will. The girls won't get the house. Is that what you want?”

“Let's all calm down,” Hope said. “It's Christmas.” She walked up to Yvette, took her hands. “You can leave the house to whomever you want. You won't get your way by hanging that over our heads anymore. We actually like you now. We're not just here for the inheritance.”

“I second,” Faith said. They turned to Joy. Joy stared for a long time.

“Third,” Joy said finally, albeit in a dejected tone.

“How is that possible?” Yvette said. Her tone still had an edge to it, but she looked hopeful, as if she wanted to believe them.

“We like you,” Joy said. “It's a Christmas miracle.”

“I don't like you,” Carla said.

“Mom,” Hope said. “You will not start pushing your weight around.”

“Wouldn't do any good,” Carla said. “I've been on the South Beach Diet. I've barely anything to push. Not that anyone noticed.”

Hope faced her mother. “You have to agree not to say anything to Roger until after the holidays and after we've talked to his doctors.”

“Why don't we talk to his doctors right now?”

“We can make an appointment,” Hope said. “We were waiting for you.”

“Fine,” Carla said. “Call them right now.”

“I'm on it,” Faith said. The door opened and Austin and the kids piled in. Stephen followed them in.

“I heard you were here,” he said to Carla. “I wanted to say hello.” Carla practically flew over to his side and enveloped him in a hug.

“Don't you look handsome?” she said. Hope could only imagine how she was going to react to the news about Faith and Charlie.

“That was a quick trip downtown,” Faith said.

“It's been two hours,” Austin said.

“Wow,” Faith said.

“Would you look at that. Time flies when you're also
not
having fun,” Joy said.

“You should see the lights downtown,” Brittany said. “They're so pretty!”

“As pretty as ours?” Hope teased.

Brittany pondered the question seriously. “Well, they have more downtown, but ours are really special.”

“They sure are,” Faith said. She looked at the kids. “Sit down,” she said. “We have something to tell you.”

Josh groaned. “Great. More surprises.” He glanced at his dad.

Stephen held his hands up. “Nothing to do with me this time,” he said.

“What?” Carla said.

“Later,” Faith said. “Guys, we need to talk to you about Roger.”

“What's he done now?” Josh said.

“Oh, honey, he hasn't done anything.” She knelt in front of the kids and gave them the news.

“Our grandfather?” Brittany said. Her eyes lit up. “I knew I liked him!”

“That's weird,” Josh said. He seemed at a loss for words. Silently, everyone turned and looked out the window toward the cabin. Hope wished more than anything that Roger was inside with them right now. Hope turned to Harrison. “Was Mr. Jingles out there with you?”

“Sure was. He went back to the cabin with Roger. I mean your dad. What are we supposed to call him now?”

“Roger,” Yvette said. “He wants to be called Roger.”

Harrison nodded. “Mr. Jingles and Roger are thick as thieves.”

“I'm so happy,” Hope said. She thought about how burdened she felt when that woman dumped Mr. Jingles on her. And here it was meant to be.

Carla lurched forward. “I want to see him. I want to see my husband.”

“She's not getting this,” Yvette said. “She's going to ruin everything.”

“I just want to see him. Say hello.”

“No,” Yvette said.

“It's going to happen sooner or later,” Faith said.

“She ruined his life!” Yvette said.

“Me?” Carla said. “You're the one. You ruined all of our lives.”

Hope sidled over to Austin. “If this doesn't change your mind about how joyful Christmas can be, I don't know what will.” Austin took her hand and squeezed it.

“I have an idea,” he said.

* * *

They stood outside, with every single Christmas light on the lawn aglow. A practice run, Austin called it. He turned on the stereo system from the barn and soon carols played into the night air. A roaring fire leapt and crackled in the fire pit where Josh and Brittany were roasting chestnuts with their dad. Harrison and Joy were putting the finishing touches on a snowman and snowwoman.

“He's a white dude,” Harrison said. “Otherwise, he's fine.” Joy threw a snowball at him and a fight commenced. Yvette refused to come out. She was watching from the windows. Roger had yet to emerge, but Austin insisted on letting him do it on his own. Carla was pacing in the snow, never taking her eyes off the cabin.

“The community is going to love this,” Hope said, gesturing all around her. “Even if we can't.”

“It's not so bad,” Austin said, holding up a sprig of mistletoe above their heads. Hope laughed and kissed him.

Soon they heard the excited barks of Mr. Jingles from the direction of the cabin.

“I'm not sure this is a good idea,” Faith said. “Mom looks like a rocket about to launch.”

No sooner had Faith said it and it happened. Carla bolted toward the cabin, racing across the snow like a madwoman, sending snow flying behind her. From inside the house, Yvette pounded on the windows as if that would be enough to stop Carla. A few seconds later the cabin door opened and Mr. Jingles came racing out, in a direct beeline toward Carla.

“Uh-oh,” Hope said. Mr. Jingles leapt on Carla and tackled her to the ground. Screams filled the air. Everyone but Brittany raced toward her.

“Not fair,” Brittany said, hopping on one foot. “Not fair.”

Hope kept her eyes peeled on the cabin door as she ran. It was closed again. Had their father seen Carla and refused to come out? Did that mean he understood a lot about what was going on, or did it mean he didn't know who Carla was? The sooner they talked to his doctors the better. Maybe Yvette was right, maybe this should have waited. By the time Hope reached her mother, Austin and Faith had already pulled her up. Mr. Jingles was literally running circles around them and barking, as if to herd them in.