Once Upon a Christmas (9 page)

She put Amie down for a nap, ignoring the cries “I want my mommy.” I want your mommy, too, but not for the same reason. Why couldn’t she put you ahead of the drugs? You poor, poor, baby. She sat on the edge of the bed, patting Amie’s back and crooning until she finally dropped off to sleep.

One-thirty and no word from Thane. She cleaned up the kitchen, put away the things in the bathroom. One-forty-five. No Thane.

The clock inched past two, then two-thirty.

“For crying out loud, he has a cell phone, why doesn’t he call?”

Matty looked at her, looked at the door and whined.

“Sorry, girl, you’re going to have to hold it.”

Amie woke up, cranky and whiny.

“Sorry, child, but the dog needs to go out. Let’s get your jacket on.”

“No.”

“Don’t you know any word but no?” She stuffed Amie’s arms in the sleeves and pulled the jacket in place. “Here we go. Where’s the leash?” Where would Thane keep the leash? She checked the coat closet and the cabinet where the cleaning supplies were kept. “For crying out loud, Thane, where do you keep the leash?”

“In der.” Amie pointed to a drawer in the pantry.

Voilà, a leash. “Thank you, Amie, what an observant little girl you are.” Blythe snapped the leash on a dancing Matty and, taking the little girl by the hand, headed out the door. What if it locked? No key. Matty whined, straining at the leash. Blythe closed her eyes, the better to think. Okay, if someone breaks in while we’re gone, I will not be held responsible. She set the dead bolt out, rested the door against it and headed for the elevator.

Three-fifteen, but who was counting? It would take her half an hour to get to her meeting.

Three-thirty and they were back in the condo, no break-ins or things missing. She hung up Amie’s jacket, put away the leash and took three deep breaths to calm herself. If she didn’t hear from him by four, she’d have to call and cancel. Hopefully they could reschedule for sometime later this week. Four hours, he said. I know there’s probably some emergency but he could at least call.

Her client was less than happy. “It wouldn’t be a problem usually, Blythe, but I’m going out of town early tomorrow and I needed to send this off with the rest of the package—before I leave.”

“Is there someplace we can meet tonight? Could I take it by your house?”

“Let me think. I’ll be here until six if you can make it by then.”

If I had a car seat, I could take Amie with me. No car seat, no drive. “I’ll try to make that.” Surely Thane would be back by then.

Amie dragged out her blankie and Pooh Bear, sniffing again and looking about to cry. “Unca Dane.”

“I know. He’ll be back soon.”

“Crackers, chips.”

“You’re hungry?” Of course you are, you didn’t eat any lunch.” She checked the cupboards. No crackers, no chips. He’d not really done much shopping yet. “Cheese?”

“No, no cheese.” She threw herself on the sofa, crying again.

“Bread and peanut butter.”

“Chips.”

I can’t do this. Blythe sat down on the sofa. “Amie, there are no chips here, so if you are hungry I will fix you another sandwich.”

“Mommy, Mommy.” The cries grew louder.

Blythe picked up the child, set her in her lap, along with blankie and Pooh Bear, and rocked. It would have been easier with a real rocking chair but this would have to do.

Darkness fell early but she kept on rocking.

She glanced at her watch when she heard Thane’s key in the lock. Five-fifteen. She could still make it.

“I’m sorry, the bridge was backed up and my cell phone wouldn’t work.”

“Fine.” She handed him the child, grabbed her purse and tore out the door.

“Where are you going?”

She paused at the elevator, then threw over her shoulder. “I have to deliver something.”

“I’ll take you.”

“No.” She hit the exit door running and continued so to the bottom. Four flights wasn’t that bad. A drum started up in her temples. If I never have an afternoon like this one again, it will be too soon.

T
he picture in his mind remained.

With the child in bed, asleep, Thane finally took time to close his eyes. His recliner kicked back,
Pachelbel’s Canon
on the music system and Matty by his side, he let the scene return in full color. Blythe sitting on the couch with Amie, blankie and all, on her lap, held close. Would that he could come home to that scene every day.

She cares for me, I know she does. You can’t have attraction as strong as we have without caring. At least I can’t and I don’t think she can, either. But—there always had to be a but. But she continually shied away from talk of children. But she had cared for Amie all afternoon and the house was all of a piece when he got home.

However, that was anger pure and simple that he saw on her face as she ran out the door. She’d said she had a meeting at five. He’d tried his best to get back, but when you are stuck in the middle of the Bay Bridge with a major accident ahead, there is nothing you can do but
wait. And want to kill your cell phone that, for some inexplicable reason known only to cell phones, died. He almost got out of his car to ask someone else to call her for him. He should have. Or, plan B, he could have left her the car seat, not that taking Amie to a business meeting would have worked either, but she would have had more options.

He rested his glass of milk on his chest and let the music flow over him. Getting sleepier by the moment, he drained the glass and set it on the floor. At least he’d been successful at Cymex. He glanced at the clock. Eight-thirty. Time to start trying to reach Blythe. To explain what all had happened—and find out if she made it to her appointment.

I have to tell him that I can’t see him anymore. Blythe heaved a sigh that ripped from the soles of her feet and blew out strong enough that Harley raised his head, ears cocked. “You don’t need to worry, there’s nothing outside.”

He laid back down, soulful gaze still on her.

Amie is a sweet child. Liar. She’s about as sweet as half-ripe lemons. Interesting, needy, cute, but not sweet. All right, so start again. Amie needs a mother, misses her mommy something dreadful. She has an uncle who will lay down his life for her.

Why couldn’t she be a couple of years older? Out of the danger stage.

“I need to call Thane and apologize for my hasty flight. But I made it and that’s all that counts.” No, that’s not all that counts. The people in your life are far more impor
tant than getting the work done. Once a commitment is made, you live up to it.

He’ll probably have his answering machine on. Silly, he’s not the one screening his calls. If psychiatrists got a hold of me and learned of the voices arguing in my head, they’d use me as an example of multiple personalities for sure. At least her headache had quit.

And it wasn’t really Thane’s fault he was late. The bridges could be snarled for hours at a time. She’d heard about the accident on the evening news, a bad one, two dead, multiple vehicles.

So, call him.

He should call me. Oh, don’t hide in the past. Just call him and get this sorted out.

Could they be friends? Just friends. Anytime she heard a friend say that about one of the opposite sex, she knew love was on the way. Or had already arrived. Or was over. Scary thought.

She picked up the phone to dial. No dial tone.

“Hello?” Talk about a familiar voice.

“Thane? I never even dialed. I was calling you.”

“Well, I dialed but it never rang.” Their chuckles danced together over the wires. “So, did you…”

“Thane, I…” They stopped since they were talking at the same time.

“Okay, ladies first.”

“I’m sorry I yelled at you like that.”

“Forgiven. Did you make your delivery?”

“Yes, just. He’d have been in real trouble if he’d not gotten it today. A lot of other things depended on it.”

“I’m so sorry to cause you problems like that. Can you forgive me?”

“Forgiven. Did you get the emergency taken care of?” Tell him. Go away.

“Yes, and I was so excited, I was on my way home in plenty of time and then the bridge locked up.” Even the silence felt good. “How did you and Amie do?”

“I’d say she could be called a strong-willed child.”

“Like her mother.”

“Anyone else in the family come to mind?” She waited through a not so comfortable silence.

He sighed. “Me?”

“If the shoe fits…?”

“I’ve had to be strong-willed enough for both of us or LynnEllen would not be alive now. And where would I be in the business world if I were a wimp?”

A note of testiness on his part made her smile. “Besides, it takes one to know one?”

His chuckle eased the tension. “I wasn’t the one who skipped the traditional and delicious family Sunday dinner to work.”

‘But I’ll bet you’ve missed more than a few.”

“Touché. So, back to my question regarding Amie. Did she cry all the time I was gone?”

“A good part of it. She’s one observant little girl though. Matty had to go out, so I was looking for the leash and she showed me where it was.”

“Good. I should have left you a key—and the car seat in case of emergencies.”

The word emergencies sucked the joy right out of the
conversation for her. “Thane, I have something very important to tell you.”

“Uh, oh, be right back.”

Blythe waited. She could hear Amie crying in the background.

Thane picked up the phone again. “I gotta go. She’s having nightmares a lot, poor baby.”

“Good night, then.” After hanging up the phone, Blythe sat curled in her favorite chair. What was the matter with her? She’d wanted to throw her clothes back on and go help him. Was there a chance she could keep a small child safe? Would love be enough?

The next afternoon she received an e-mail. “Sorry for the interruption last night. I have found a sitter. Can we go to dinner tomorrow night? Just the two of us.”

She checked her calendar and hit Reply. “Yes, what time and where?”

“Benjamin’s. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Good, I’m looking forward to it.” She sat back. Interesting that he used e-mail rather than the phone. And it worked. She went back to moving clip art around to get the right effect.

Deep purple slacks, violet silk blouse and dangley earrings of brilliantly hued parrots. A matching pendant hung from a short chain. She checked out her reflection in the full length mirror. Harley barked. Thane was right on time.

“Hi.” She opened the door and invited him in. “Let me
get Harley his chew and we’ll be on our way. Harley, down, you know better than that.”

Thane patted the dog, then gave her a funny look.

“What?”

“I have news, you decide if it is good or bad.”

She lifted her coat off the hanger in the closet. “What is it?”

“The sitter bailed.”

“So…?”

“So we have Amie and we’ll go somewhere child friendly.” His gaze implored her to understand. “You look lovely.” He stepped back out to wave to Amie in the car seat.

What could she say? No? “Why didn’t you call me?”

“I just wanted to see you and this seemed the only way.” He checked on his charge again.

“You go on out there, I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Guess the serious talking will wait for another time. She fetched Harley’s treat and tossed it down the hallway. His scrabbling nails on the hardwood floor as he chased the dried pig’s ear made her smile. She shrugged into her coat and locked the door behind her.

They waited only a few minutes at Marie Calender’s, which was a miracle in itself.

“What a cutie you have there,” the waitress said as she led them to a table. “You want a high chair or a booster seat?”

“Thanks, we’ll take a high chair.” Thane set Amie down in one of the wooden chairs. “You wait while we get our
coats off.” He laid his jacket across the empty chair and helped Blythe out of hers. “Amie, I said, sit still, you can’t stand in the chair.” Amie turned around, hanging on to the back and grinned at the people behind them.

Thane plopped her back down. “I said, sit still.”

Blythe noted the tension in his jaw. This little one was going to lead him on a merry chase. Blythe pulled out her chair and sat down.

“Here you go.” The waitress set the high chair in place.

Thane put Amie in the chair and scooted it up to the table, then took his own chair. “Sorry. I didn’t know this was going to turn into a circus.”

“What can I get you folks to drink?” the waitress asked.

“Milk for her and…” Thane inclined his head toward his niece.

“Juice,” Amie stated.

“Iced tea for me,” Blythe told the waitress.

“I’ll take the same. And juice for Amie.”

Blythe hid her smile.

“Would you like crayons for the little girl?” the waitress asked before leaving to get their drinks.

“Please.”

“You have crackers also?” Blythe asked.

“Be right back.”

The crackers and crayons both arrived, along with the drinks. Thane handed Amie a crayon and a place mat to color on.

“Cackers, please.”

He ripped one pack open and handed her a saltine. “There’s a good girl.”

The waitress returned, giving Thane an extra big smile. “Now, can I take your orders?” She turned to Blythe first.

“I’ll have the chicken with artichoke hearts, salad with ranch dressing and corn bread.”

“You don’t want the salad bar?”

“No thank you, just the dinner salad.”

“And you, sir?”

“I’ll have the steak, medium, baked potato and the house salad also.” He glanced at Amie, who was carefully shredding the cracker on the floor. He took another calming breath. “And she’ll have chicken fingers.”

“Hamburger.” Amie picked up the second cracker, took a bite and watched the broken bits float to the carpet.

“Will she want fries with that?”

“Amie, do you want French fries?”

“Yes.”

“So, how was your day?” His voice sounded more than a little strained.

Blythe smiled at him, as much to comfort as to please. “Good. I got a lot done and I found a B and B for Mom and Dad. Suzanne and I are giving them a weekend in the Gold Country for their Christmas gift.” The poor man had thought having Amie along wouldn’t be a problem. He’s learning.

“They’ll enjoy that.” He took the crayon out of Amie’s mouth. “I should have brought the sippy cup, shouldn’t I?”

Blythe nodded. “It would be a good idea. And a couple of small toys. Suzanne used to bring a baggy of Cheerios, too.”

Their salads arrived. “Would you like pepper with that?”

“No, thanks.” Blythe smiled up at the woman.

“Pepper.”

Thane grinned. “She’s right, I want pepper.” He turned to Amie. “You’re a parrot.”

“She’s sure a live wire.” The waitress smiled and cranked the pepper grinder over Thane’s salad.

Blythe glanced down at the mess on the floor and shuddered.

The waitress stopped at the high chair. “Where did you get that cute shirt?” She poked Amie on the shoulder.

“My aunt Sandy gibbed it to me.”

“Well, you’re a pretty lucky girl to have such a nice aunt.”

Thane froze, then stared at Amie. “When did you see your aunt Sandy?”

Amie appeared to be thinking deeply. “Afore you came to me.” She reached for a piece of Thane’s salad.

Blythe watched Thane’s face. Something was going on here.

The waitress set the dinner plates in front of them. “Here you go.”

Blythe reached over and tied a paper bib around Amie’s neck. “You wait, that might be hot.”

“Not really, we’re careful about that. Can I get you anything else?”

“I don’t think so. Thank you.”

Thane leaned over and cut Amie’s hamburger patty into bite-size pieces. “Now you chew.” He groaned and
clamped his hand over his pocket. “The phone.” He checked the display. “I need to take this call. Excuse me.” He rose and strode from the room, the cell phone clamped to his ear.

“Unca Dane.” Amie cranked her head around to watch him leave.

“He’ll be right back.” Please don’t pitch a fit now. Let’s just get this dinner over with. Blythe took up her fork. “Use your fork, Amie.”

Amie picked up her fork, stabbed one of the pieces and put it in her mouth.

“Good girl.” Blythe cut her corn bread in half and spread the honey butter on both sides to melt in. “You want some corn bread?”

“No.” Amie speared a French fry but when her fork couldn’t pick it up, she used her fingers.

Blythe ignored her and ate part of her own dinner.

“Unca Dane come back?”

“Soon. Or his dinner will get cold.”

“Cold.”

Blythe smiled at the little girl. “You’re a funny one, you know that?” She cut a bite of her corn bread. But before it could reach her mouth, she heard a gagging sound.

“Amie! Spit it out.” She held her hand in front of Amie’s mouth but nothing came out.

Amie coughed and gagged, arms flailing.

Please, God, no, not again.
Blythe jumped to her feet, grabbed Amie and fisted her hands just above the little girl’s navel, beginning to move in the method she’d prayed never to have to use.
Please, God, not again.