Grimacing at the stench, she used a shovel to carry the dog pile to the garbage can in back. Then she scrubbed her mat, wondering what she was going to do with the lonely day stretching before her. The town was busy enough. There’d be last-minute Christmas shoppers clogging the drugstore, and little old ladies with blue hair trading holiday recipes at the deli counter at Finley’s. But the hustle and bustle and smiles all around—which most often turned to frowns when she caught someone’s eye—would only make her feel worse. She’d planned to spend these days searching for her father, but the way she’d been treated by Garth Holbrook and Dave Small made her glad she hadn’t been able to locate Eugene Thompson.
“Thank God for small favors,” she muttered and considered flying to Washington for real. When she’d called them, her brothers had muttered the same obligatory invitation they extended every year. She could go. But now that they were married, Lucky didn’t want to intrude on the peace and tranquility of their Christmas. She didn’t know their wives very well, and the emotional baggage she carried made her brothers uncomfortable. Invariably they’d disagree over something. Or she’d want to have a meaningful conversation they couldn’t handle.
Still, seeing her nieces and nephews held significant appeal….
Picking up the phone, she dialed Sean’s house.
“Who is this?” a small voice instantly demanded.
Lucky laughed. “It’s Aunt Lucky. Who’s this?”
“Trisha.”
Her five-year-old niece. “Hi, Trishy. You sound as though you’ve been up for a while.”
“I always get up early.”
“I’ll bet. Are you all ready for Christmas?”
“Yep. I sat on Santa’s lap at the mall.”
“What did you tell him you wanted?”
She listed several items she was hoping he’d deliver, none of which was a Barbie.
“Did you get my present?” Lucky asked, wishing she’d opted for the board games and books she’d almost purchased.
“Daddy made me put it under the tree. He said I can’t open it until Christmas, but I told him you wouldn’t mind. Can I open it early, Aunt Lucky? Can I, huh? Pleeeese.”
“Um, I’ll see if I can talk your daddy into it, okay? Is he around?”
Trisha squealed and dropped the phone. Lucky was sure she’d have to hang up and call back and was about to do so when her brother finally answered.
“Lucky?”
“Hi, Sean.”
“How are you?”
Her answer, of course, had to be fine. He didn’t want to hear anything else. “Good. You?”
“Great.”
For all she knew, he could have lost his job, and his wife, and be suffering from a terrible depression, but his answer was as predictable and meaningless as hers.
“I’m glad. You off work for Christmas?”
“I’ve got five days. It’s kind of nice, having time with the kids.”
“It would be.”
“What’s happening in Dundee? Are you finished fixing up the Victorian?”
“Not yet. My contractor has another couple of weeks once he starts again in January.”
“So have you decided to sell the house?”
Lucky thought of Mike, which wasn’t difficult since he was on her mind most of the time anyway. As much as Morris meant to her, as much as part of her longed to keep the house, she knew she couldn’t hold out indefinitely. If Mike wanted the house that badly, she’d let him have it. “Yeah, probably.”
“Good.”
Sean might have added that there was nothing for her in Dundee, but she knew he’d steer carefully away from any comment that could be taken as a lead-in to a subject he’d rather avoid. Namely, anything to do with their mother, their childhood, the welcome or lack of welcome she’d received in their hometown. “Did you get your tree up?” he asked.
Carrying the cordless phone, she walked into the living room to stare at her Christmas tree, with all its mismatched ornaments. Mike had given her that tree, all the ornaments and the expensive, beautiful angel on top. His gift was the best thing about her return. “I did. It’s perfect.”
“So…” He cleared his throat. “Are you coming out here or…what?”
The obvious reluctance in his voice made Lucky’s decision easier than she’d expected. After what she’d experienced here, in Dundee, she couldn’t bring herself to crash his Christmas, not if he didn’t really want her.
“No, actually I was calling to let you know I’ll be joining some friends,” she said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.
“There aren’t any soup kitchens you can help with in Dundee.”
“Not that kind of friend.”
“Really?”
His surprise helped her lie more convincingly. “Really. I met a divorced woman and her roommate at the hardware store a few days ago.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“I’m excited about it. Will you be spending the day with Kyle and his family, then?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Well, have a good time and give everyone my love.”
“I will. We’ll miss you.”
In a way, they probably would miss her. She was their baby sister and she’d never doubted that they loved her. She just wished they had more in common.
“I’ll miss you, too.” She almost hung up, then remembered her niece’s plea. “Oh, let the kids open the presents I sent, will you? Since I’m not going to be there, I don’t see the point in making them wait.”
“Will do. Did you get my card?”
“Not yet.”
“It’s coming.”
“Okay. Merry Christmas,” she said and hung up.
At least now she had something to do, she told herself. She had to go shopping and buy enough groceries and supplies that she wouldn’t have to go out again, so she could pretend to be gone for the next several days. She didn’t think anyone would be paying much attention. The Smalls had already made their point and Mike would be too busy with his family and his own Christmas to notice what was or wasn’t happening next door. But she had to be prepared, just in case. She didn’t want him, of all people, to know she’d be spending Christmas alone.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“DID YOU LET Fernando go early or something?”
Standing at the copy machine, Mike turned to see Josh enter their office from the back. “It only seemed fair. Tonight’s Christmas Eve, and the office staff have been off for days.”