Mistletoe Bay (30 page)

Dorothy looked away. “If I thought it would solve this problem, I'd go tomorrow. Felicity says she likes it here now.”

It took all her willpower not to say the obvious to that one. “Okay, second thought; what about you buying your own house, just for the two of you again, in town?”

“Maybe.” Dorothy snapped the lid on the storage container. Tonight had been lasagna, Felicity's favorite, and the girl had barely touched her plate.

“I can check in with the zoning authorities to see if I can sell you a small piece of this property. You could build your own home and have us for neighbors.” She was sincere and selfish. She didn't want Dorothy and Felicity moving back to Augusta or even into town.

“You would do that for us?” Dorothy looked like she was ready to cry.

“Name the day. The boys and I would miss your cooking, and Fred would miss Felicity, but we'll survive.” She walked over to Dorothy and gave her a big hug. “Think about it. It's not a decision to make lightly.”

“I'll think about it.”

“Good. Now can you do me a favor and keep an eye on the boys? I think it's time for me and Felicity to have a little talk.”

“Maybe you should wait.”

“For what? A lot of Felicity's problems were caused by me and the boys. I need to talk to her, to get it all out in the open. Then maybe a solution or two might become clearer.”

“Okay.” Dorothy wrung out the dishcloth and started to wipe down the table. “Good luck.”

Three minutes later Jenni was standing outside Felicity's bedroom door knocking.

“Come in,” Felicity called.

She stepped into the girl's room and closed the door. Felicity was flopped across the bed listening to some horrible-sounding music. The history book beside her wasn't even open. So much for studying. “Hi. Can we talk?”

Felicity shrugged, so Jenni took that as a yes. She sat down in the overstuffed chair next to the bed and resisted the urge to straighten something up.

“You're partly right, you know.” Jenni had no idea how to talk to this angry young woman. This was not the sweet little girl Ken had introduced to her nine years ago. “While no one purposely ignored you or forgot about you, you were the silent one that fell through the cracks.”

“So if I acted like Tucker, I would get more attention?” Felicity rolled her eyes.

“Is that what you want, attention?”

Felicity shook her head.

“Living together as one large family means you are going to have to speak up for yourself.”

“And if no one listens?”

“Speak louder.” Jenni grinned at the girl. “I have one hundred percent faith that you can make us listen—not that we'll approve of what you're saying, only that we will listen.” She leaned forward in the chair. “This is a major adjustment for us all, hon. I'm not used to living with your mother and you, just like you're not used to living with me and boys.”

“Don't forget Fred.”

She smiled. “How could I ever forget Fred? He missed you.”

“I was only gone one night.” Felicity glanced around the room as if the green reptile would be poking his head out from behind something any minute now. “He's in his cage, isn't he?”

“Last I saw him, he was sunning himself under his heat lamp. I do believe he was naked so he doesn't get tan lines.”

Felicity cracked a smile.

She liked seeing the smile back in Felicity's eyes. “So we have an understanding? You talk to me if something the boys or I do is upsetting you?”

“Yes, I'll talk, scream, and kick my feet if need be, to get someone's attention.”

“Good.” Now for the hard part of this conversation. “What about your mother. Doesn't she deserve some happiness in her life?”

“What are you talking about?” Felicity sat up on the bed, and that stubborn, mulish tilt of her chin was back.

“Haven't you noticed how happy your mother has been since Eli showed up on the scene?”

Felicity sat up straighter and looked away.

“Don't worry, Felicity, she sent him away. Your mother chose you over Eli. It wasn't even close. You won hands-down.”

“It wasn't a contest.” Felicity's lower lip pouted. “Eli is Sam's father. My boyfriend's father. Don't you understand how yucky that is, Jenni? It's freaky and disgusting, and a thousand other things.”

“It's none of those things. It is strange and a highly unusual situation, but running away wasn't the way to solve it. If you want to be treated as an adult, then you have to act like one. Mature, responsible adults don't run away from their problems, they talk them out.”

“What's to talk out? I saw them kissing in the kitchen the other night.”

“Your mother is an adult, Felicity. If she didn't want Eli kissing her, she would have said no.” She tried to hide her smile. Felicity wouldn't see the humor in this for years to come.

“It looked like she was the one doing most of the kissing.” Felicity sounded disgusted.

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning. “Eli's an adult; he could have said no.” She wanted to cheer Dorothy on. “So what has you so upset, that she was kissing a man? Or that it was Eli she was kissing?”

Felicity hesitated.

“What do you think is going to happen to your mother when you go off to college in two years, or get married, or even move out on your own? Is your mother supposed to stay single and lonely while waiting patiently for you to stop in and visit her? Doesn't she deserve a life?”

“Mom will always have you and the boys. She won't be lonely.”

“What if I meet someone special, fall in love, and get married? What happens when the boys grow up? Why must your mother's life revolve around everyone else? Don't you think she should have a life of her own? It won't mean that she will stop loving you, or me, or the boys.”

Felicity cracked a smile. “Is that someone special Coop?”

She couldn't answer that question without giving away the fantasy running through her mind. Coop was indeed that someone special, but she hadn't gotten around to telling him yet. She didn't want this conversation to be about her. It was all about her sister-in-law. “What about Sam?”

“What about him?”

“Have you talked to him today?” She had heard Felicity's cell phone going off all day long. Not once had she seen the girl answer it.

“Not yet.” Felicity started to bite one of her fingernails. “I'm not sure what to say to him.”

“You hurt him. When you ran from this family, you ran from him too.”

“I didn't mean to hurt him.”

“Then you'd better talk to him. Call him, or at least answer his calls.” She stood and stretched the tension out of her neck. Their talk had gone better than she had dared to hope. “Hon, I have known you for nine years and love you like a sister. Never once in all that time did I ever think you were spoiled or selfish, until now. Think about it.”

She left Felicity sitting on her bed.

Coop glanced around his apartment and tried not to laugh. It looked like Santa's workshop, and he was one of the elves. He had only himself to blame for that one. It had been he who insisted on putting together not one but two bicycles. He had argued with Jenni not to pay the extra forty-five dollars on each bike to have the store assemble them. How hard could putting a bike together possibly be?

The room filled with parts gave him his answer—impossible. The instructions were written in five languages, and one appeared to be English but he'd be damned if they made any sense to him.

“Are you sure I can't help you with that?” Jenni stopped wrapping a present and smiled over at him.

“I've got it covered.” She didn't have to know he was definitely dropping Corey's bike over at his dad's on the way to work tomorrow morning for his father to put together. His father would love the challenge. Tucker's bike was scattered everywhere and if he was lucky, it might be together by Christmas Eve. “Remember our agreement—I'll do the bikes, you do the bows.”

“The way you were frowning at the instructions, I thought maybe you had a problem.” Jenni took a long gold ribbon and wrapped it around the box. She knotted the ends and then proceeded to make a perfect bow.

“How did you do that?” He stood up and walked into his kitchen. Rolls of wrap, tape, tags, and ribbons were everywhere. “I still remember my mom making me stick my finger on top of the knot to keep it tight.”

“Ribbons improved the last decade.” Jenni grinned. “I appreciate you letting me store all the kids' presents here, Coop. You have no idea what Tucker is capable of when there are presents in the house.”

He chuckled. “No problem. I don't mind sharing my bedroom with them.” All the wrapped presents were stored on the floor between one side of the bed and the wall. He no longer could get out on that side of the bed. “Of course, I'd rather be sharing it with a certain someone.”

“Oh yeah, who?” Jenni wrapped a silver ribbon around his neck and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “Naughty boys don't get anything in their stockings for Christmas. How naughty have you been?” Jenni playfully nipped at his lower lip.

“That's it. I'll show you how naughty I can be.” He swept her up into his arms, carried her into the bedroom, and dropped her onto the center of the bed. He followed her down and let his arms take his weight. Jenni was a tiny thing. “How long can you stay out?” He felt like he was a teenager again and his girlfriend had a curfew.

“Eleven or so.” Jenni tugged on the ribbon, bringing him closer. “Felicity's watching the boys tonight for me.”

He nuzzled the side of her neck. “Remind me to buy her something special for Christmas, like a BMW.” His hands started unbuttoning Jenni's blue, silky blouse. “Did I tell you today how beautiful you are?” His lips caressed warm, smooth skin as they followed his fingers. He could feel Jenni trying to tug at the buttons on his shirt.

“Twice, and one of those times was in the action-figure aisle of the toy store.” Jenni pushed her hands in between their bodies. Giving up on his buttons, she reached for his belt. “You nearly gave the stock boy a lesson he shouldn't be getting until at least the twelfth grade.”

Jenni's fingers weren't playing fair. “Who's being naughty now?”

“Me,” purred Jenni. “I already got what I wanted for Christmas—you hard and wanting me.”

“That was your Thanksgiving present.” His eyes crossed as her fingers started to stroke his zipper. With a flick of his fingers, he undid the front clasp of her bra. His gaze feasted on two perfectly formed breasts. He swirled his tongue over one extended nipple, then gave the other one the same treatment. He smiled at the way Jenni's hips arched up. “Now be a good girl and tell me what you really want for Christmas.”

“You, I want you.” Jenni's fingers wrapped around him, and he was the one to arch his hips this time.

“You already have me.” Christmas was four days away, and he hadn't gotten her a gift yet. He had been to the mall twice, but nothing seemed special enough. He had haunted three jewelry stores with big-haired and bigger cheesy–smiling clerks, looking for that special gift. At all three jewelry stores he had ended up at the same spot, in front of the engagement rings.

How could he ask a woman he'd just met on Halloween to marry him? It was too soon. Jenni hadn't once said she loved him, even though he was positive that she did. He could see it in her eyes.

Jenni's fingers tightened. “I don't have you where I want you, Coop.”

He smiled against the gentle swell of her breast. “And where would that be?” His fingers got busy on their own, unsnapping her jeans and tugging them down. He groaned when Jenni released him to help.

Coop rolled onto his back and started to yank off his own clothes. Since Jenni was already half undressed, she was naked before him. Her hands were strong and sure as they pulled his shirt over his arms and tossed it on top of the presents. He grinned. This was his Jenni, so wild, sweet, and wanting him.

Jenni captured his hands and straddled his thighs. Her grin was sexy and hot as she stared down at him. “I'm going to put you where I want you, Coop.”

His breath slammed out of his lungs as he tried reaching into the nightstand drawer. “There is a Santa Claus, and he delivered early.”

Jenni slowly shook her hair as she lowered her mouth toward his. “Santa won't be here for another four days.” Silky dark hair teased the sides of his face. “It's just me and you.” Jenni's breath played across his waiting mouth.