All I Want For Christmas (11 page)

“Isn't that sweet. My goodness, this is marvelous news. Tina Morrell, creative director. I love the sound of that.” G. G. rubbed her hands together. “It won't be long until you're running the whole company.”

Tina bit her lip. “If you're still this sick on Sunday…Well, we may need to bring in a nurse.” Guilt-ridden, she hung her head. Caring for G. G. was
her
responsibility. “I know you don't want that, but…”

“For your career, I'll deal with it,” G. G. said. “I wonder if my insurance will cover the costs.”

That she gave in so easily only highlighted how important Tina's promotion was to her. “If you let me pay for it, I'll feel less guilty.”

“I wouldn't want that. Let's check to see what the insurance covers.”

“Okay, but I'll fill in any gaps. All right? I'll get on that right away, but it
is
the night before Thanksgiving, and I may not get answers until Friday.” She'd call G. G.' s insurance agent on the way to see Dr. Lomax Friday morning. Tina hoped the doctor worked a miracle.

“Shall we announce your promotion at dinner tomorrow? Or do you want to tell people now?”

Tina thought about how happy Kate, Jefferson and G. G.' s neighbors would be. Then she thought about Ryan and Maggie. For some reason, she dreaded telling them, though she couldn't have said why. After all, Ryan had assured her more than once that she'd get this promotion.

This news was too important to share over the phone, but she didn't dare stop by his house tonight. Especially now, when Maggie was in bed.

All too vividly she remembered what had happened the last time she and Ryan had been alone there. With her strong feelings for him, that was too dangerous.

She'd tell him when he came here for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, she decided. That seemed far safer.

“I'll let Kate know now,” she said. “Everyone else can wait.”

J
ust before three o'clock on Thanksgiving Day, balancing a sweet potato casserole in one hand and holding on to Maggie with the other, Ryan headed out his door. In previous years, he and Maggie had shared the feast with friends in L. A.—usually at a restaurant. This would be his daughter's first Thanksgiving in someone's home, and she was impatient to get there. Ryan looked forward to a home-cooked meal with friends.

With Tina. It had only been two days since the kindergarten field trip. Yet knowing that in a few minutes he'd be with her…He was every bit as eager as Maggie.

Way too hot-blooded. He frowned.

“Daddy, come on.” Maggie tugged his hand, and Ryan realized he'd come to a stop in his own front yard.

Today was for family and friends, not wayward desire. Equally important, this was a chance to reinforce the message that Tina would leave on Sunday. Once she left the island, he knew he'd be able to forget her. He only hoped Maggie would, too.

This afternoon he would enjoy himself. No lusting after Tina, and no worries about his job. Yet as his daughter pulled him forward, he couldn't help recalling his recent conversation with Bernard Beale.

“I have a great team and they're doing a damned good job,” he'd told Beale when he'd finally reached him on the phone. “What they need now is some recognition for their achievements. If you'd send out a more positive e-mail I'd appreciate it.”

“You'll hear from me on Monday,” Beale had replied.

Whatever the hell that meant.

As soon as he and Maggie crossed the street, Ryan let go of her hand. She skipped up G. G.' s walkway, hopped onto the front stoop and rang the doorbell.

An instant later Tina opened it, wearing an apron and a pretty blue dress.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Tina!” Maggie bubbled. “Look, Daddy let me wear my princess dress again!”

“Let you?” Ryan rolled his eyes. “You refused to wear anything else.”

Tina laughed. “Well, I happen to love that dress. You look beautiful, sweetie.”

So did Tina. The rich color of her outfit made her eyes look as blue as a spring sky. Ryan's heart gave a joyous kick, and he realized that standing here looking at her he was way too happy.

He held out the casserole. “This needs to be reheated in the microwave.”

“No problem,” she said with a sideways look that he couldn't decipher. “Please, come in.”

His daughter bounced through the door. “Where's G. G.?”

“In bed in the den,” Tina said. “Jefferson's there, too, and they're waiting for you.”

“Goody!” Maggie raced off.

Ryan stepped inside and closed the door. Delicious aromas filled the air, making his mouth water. “Smells great in here. So G. G.' s really in bed?”

“I'm afraid so,” Tina murmured, casting a worried look toward the den. “She's in way too much pain to sit at the table.”

“I don't like the sound of this. If she's that sick we should leave, and you should call Dr. Dove right away. Even if it is Thanksgiving.”

“I know. I even picked up the phone once.” Tina gave a helpless shrug. “G. G. actually
yelled
at me, Ryan.” She cringed. “So I hung up. She's always been so rational, but she sure isn't now.”

“That's weird,” he said. “At least she has that doctor's appointment in Anacortes tomorrow.” He had to know. “If she's still this bad off on Sunday, will you be staying longer?”

“Well…” Her fingers fidgeted with the glass top of Ryan's casserole. “Um, the turkey will be ready soon, and I should microwave this. Could you come into the kitchen? We'll talk there.”

Curious, he followed her past the dining room table, which was set for four. He'd never seen Tina in a dress before. She had slender, shapely legs. Nice.

“If G. G.' s eating in bed, we should eat with her in there,” he suggested.

“That's a great idea—if she'll let us. There isn't much space, but I suppose we can fit our chairs around the bed.” Tina set his casserole inside the microwave and programmed the time. “We'll have to eat from our laps, though. Will you carve the turkey when it's ready?”

“Sure.” Ryan couldn't picture Maggie eating off her lap, but they'd work it out. He eyed Tina. “So, talk.”

“There's something you should know.” She frowned at a spot on her apron, instead of looking at him. “G. G. wants me to announce this at dinner, so pretend you're surprised. Last night I found out that I got the promotion.”

All along, he'd figured she would. Yet for some reason hearing it from her lips was like a sucker punch to his gut. “What'd I tell you?” he said, mustering a smile. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

Tina didn't look as pleased as Ryan had expected her to. She was worried about G. G., he figured. “When do you start?”

“Monday. Before I forget, I'm done with your fax machine. Thanks for letting me borrow it. I set it on the bottom step for you. You asked whether I'm staying longer…” She let out a heavy sigh. “I've hired a nurse to take care of G. G., and I'm leaving Sunday afternoon.”

Ryan knew she needed to go back to work, but with G. G. so sick and not getting better…This only reinforced how important Tina's career was to her. No big surprise.

Since he could think of nothing to say to that, he simply nodded and then turned away. “I'd best say hello to G. G. now.”

H
ALF AN HOUR LATER
, seated in a chair near G. G.' s bed, with a steaming plate on her lap, Tina thought the dear woman looked worse than ever. As gentle as Ryan and Jefferson had been when they'd propped her up in bed, she'd groaned in agony. Tina was too worried to eat. G. G. picked at her meal, which Tina had arranged on a bed tray, and tried to put on a cheerful face. But discomfort shadowed her eyes and bracketed her mouth, and everyone was subdued.

Even Maggie, who knelt in front of her chair and used the seat as a table. Every few minutes she jumped up to hover behind Tina or kiss G. G.' s cheek.

Such a thoughtful, loving child, Tina thought, already wistful. She was really going to miss her. She'd miss Ryan just as much. And maybe after the guests left tonight, she'd call Dr. Dove whether G. G. wanted her to or not.

“We haven't shared our thanks,” G. G. said, clinking her knife against her wineglass, which contained sparkling cider.

“Every Thanksgiving, we all share one thing we're thankful for. I'll start, and Tina, you go last.”

Knowing G. G. expected her to give thanks for her promotion and announce it that way, Tina nodded.

“This year,” G. G. went on, “I'm especially thankful for Ryan and Maggie.” She glanced from one to the other. “The day you moved in was a lucky day, indeed.”

Maggie beamed.

“Ditto,” Ryan said, ducking his head. He was actually blushing! “Maggie and I are darned lucky we moved here. I'm thankful for your kindness to us, and for your warm welcome. This is such a special neighborhood, and we're glad to make our home here.”

Though he didn't look at Tina, she sensed that he was talking to her. She wasn't certain she understood his message, though.

“Your turn, Maggie,” G. G. said. “What are you thankful for?”

“I'm thankful for my teacher, and for Sam and Gina, Mr. Jeffries, and you and Tina.”

She smiled at Tina, and Tina felt both blessed and sad. Sometimes she wished she'd stayed on the island, instead of going to college and grad school. Then, maybe…

Looking fiercely protective, Ryan cupped his daughter's shoulder, reminding Tina that he didn't want a relationship except with Maggie. Which, since she had a career to advance, was for the best.

“And I'm thankful that after Thanksgiving comes Christmas. Santa will come and bring me presents. Yippee!”

Everyone smiled.

“I'm up,” Jefferson said. In honor of the day, he'd worn a coat and tie. “I'm thankful that Tina can cook almost as good as you, G. G.”

Despite her pain, G. G. managed a chuckle, and Tina and Ryan both smiled, grateful for the momentary lightening of their concern for G. G.

“And I'm grateful to be sharing this meal with you,” Jefferson finished.

“Now you, Tina,” G. G. said with an expectant look.

For a split second Ryan's gaze connected with Tina's. She wished she knew what he was thinking, but his expression was unreadable.

“I'm grateful to announce that I got the promotion we all hoped for,” she said.

G. G. couldn't have looked more pleased. “Isn't that wonderful?”

“I knew you'd get it.” Jefferson whistled through his fingers, then applauded.

Maggie clapped, too, even though she probably didn't understand.

Ryan already had congratulated her. Now he did so again, with a stiff nod.

“What's a 'romotion?” Maggie asked.

“Promotion,” Ryan corrected. “What it means is Tina got that job she wanted.”

Maggie's forehead wrinkled, so Tina explained. “Remember when I flew to Seattle and back on that noisy seaplane?”

The little girl nodded.

“I did that to interview for a better job.”

This time Ryan's face was easier to read. He was concerned for his child. “Tina's new job starts on Monday and she's leaving Sunday,” he told Maggie. “That's in three days.”

“Three days? But that's really soon.”

Maggie's stricken look wrenched Tina's heart. “I've been telling you all along that I would have to leave,” she said. “But I promise I'll be back for Christmas. That's only a few weeks from now.”

“Try to be happy for her, Maggie,” G. G. said. “I am, and I'm so proud of you, Tina.”

But she wouldn't be if she knew how Tina really felt—that when she drove away from Huckleberry Hill Road and caught the ferry for home, she'd be leaving part of her heart on Halo Island.

H
OURS AFTER
leaving. G. G.' s, sitting in his own kitchen, Ryan nursed a beer and thought about the day. The Thanksgiving dinner that he'd looked forward to hadn't turned out at all the way he'd expected. Damn, but he wished things were different. For starters, he wished that Maggie understood why Tina was leaving. Because no matter what she'd said before, she didn't get it at all. In her five-year-old mind Tina was leaving the island—and her—because somehow she'd done something to drive her away. Which was ridiculous. At his wit's end, Ryan had tried to explain that she had nothing to do with Tina's leaving. He did it several times in different ways, but still his daughter was inconsolable.

He swore in desperation. And decided that first thing in the morning he'd call Dr. Dove and ask for the name of a competent family therapist. Tonight, feeling helpless and scared for Maggie, he'd read her two funny stories and had stayed in her room longer than usual, until she finally drifted off.

No doubt to suffer through a night of bad dreams. Ryan raked his hands through his hair. Again he'd failed to protect his child. For that, he figured he'd have a few nightmares of his own.

And he'd miss Tina, too. He laughed out loud, a harsh sound that caused him to wince, and tried to ignore the empty feeling in his chest.

How had she gotten under his skin so quickly? Ryan couldn't explain it, but he knew she had, and he'd pay for that. Big-time.

The ringing phone broke through his thoughts. Frowning, he pushed himself to his feet, moved to the counter and eyed his caller ID.
Georgia Garwood.

Since it was after eleven, Ryan figured it was Tina. She'd never called before, and wouldn't unless something was wrong. He snatched the phone from its cradle. “Tina. What's happened to G. G.?”

“You saw her this afternoon. The pain is even worse now. Excruciating. She has a fever, too.” She paused, and he pictured her chewing her lower lip. “Something's very wrong.”

Ryan hid his alarm. “Did you call Dr. Dove?”

“Yes, and we're supposed to meet him at the clinic right away. But I can't get G. G. out of bed, and once I do, I don't know how I'll get her into the car. I could call for an ambulance, but—”

“Forget the ambulance.” Ryan headed for the coat closet to grab his jacket. “Give me five minutes to get Norma over here to stay with Maggie, and I'll be there.”