Tell Me What Is Priceless (Siren Publishing Classic) (25 page)

Kale stood in the doorway watching. “Do you want me to do that?”

“No, I’m fine. She has a wicked diaper rash. It’s probably why she is cranky. Do you have any ointment for her?”

“I don’t know if there is any in the diaper bag. I’ll check.”

Blaze supported Clair, letting her bottom soak in the water. She quieted down, her tiny eyes closing. Zar sat down behind Blaze on the toilet. “I guess that helped a little. I didn’t know she would fall asleep in the tub.”

“She likes water. Normally she plays with it and splashes herself. She must feel a little less sore. I hate to take her out. The cold shock is going to wake her up.”

Kale grabbed a towel, quickly wrapping Clair in it to dry her off. She moaned but didn’t wake up. Kale rubbed some salve on her buttock cheeks and put a clean diaper on. “I’m shocked. She has been up half the night. Jenny is so far gone she doesn’t even notice. When she is with Clair, she is wonderful, but otherwise, she is nothing. I don’t know what I would do without the two of you and Nan. You are so great.”

“No problem, bro. I was gonna call you anyway. I have a vision of a big Christmas tree, and I was thinking that you might want to go. We used to do it when we were younger, remember?”

“Yeah, I do. I have that carry thing for the baby, and we can bundle her up. Do you have anything around I could have for breakfast first? There isn’t much in the house. I guess I get to go shopping also.”

Blaze cooked him up some eggs, and they headed out to find a tree. The weather was still nice, but it had gotten notably cooler. By the time they got home, the temperature had dropped. Zar started a fire as Blaze and Kale got the tree in the holder. They had gotten more ornaments, a baby gate, and two containers of eggnog to drink. Blaze called for a pizza, and it was looking as if it were going to be a fun afternoon.

The phone rang, and she answered it, handing it to Zar. “Someone named Rick from the mall in Mass.”

Zar took the phone and asked, “What’s up?”

He listened, his smile fading. “Yeah, all right, I can be there in a few hours.”

Blaze watched as he hung up the phone. “What’s wrong?”

“Son of a bitch. I told them that they were skimping and making the railing bars too far spaced. A four-year-old stuck his head through and got it stuck. The mother is having a nervous breakdown, even though the kid seems to be all right. They had to grease his ears to get him back out. Damn. I have to go up there and see if we can do something about this. It’s not how I wanted to spend today and tomorrow. I’m going to have to take measurements and get a crew up there to fix the bars that are too far spaced. Where was this kid’s mother while he was cramming his head through the bars? It’s going to be a bitch doing this work with all the shoppers walking around. I’m sorry, Blaze.”

Her disappointment was obvious, but she said, “We can do the tree when you get back. No big deal. It will give the dogs a chance to get used to it being there. I can’t promise there will be any eggnog left when you get back, though.”

“I’ll pick some more up on the way home. I’m really sorry. I was looking forward to this, too.”

Kale asked, “Do you want me to come with you? This is the first real problem we have had, and I would like to see how you solve it.”

“What about Clair?”

Kale turned a questioning gaze on Blaze, and she rolled her eyes. “Yes, I will keep her. Make sure Jenny shows up to get her. Call her or something.”

“Thanks, Blaze, you are the best.”

“I am a sucker at best. Go and get back here soon. I want to see the tree lit up.”

Zar left her with a passionate kiss and a smile. He called her when they got to Mass. “I can’t really talk, but I wanted to fill you in. Two things. We’re gonna be here for a few days. This is a real mess. I don’t know who purchased the bars, but they are cheesy. The kid bent them. I think I am going to have to make arrangements to have every bar in the mall changed. This place is huge, and it’s gonna be a total bitch. Kale is pissed off, and it’s not helping. I’ve already kicked him twice to let him know he needed to shut up. He tried to call Jenny at work, and she’s not on the roster to work today. He said that he has an idea that she is in the bed of one of her coworkers. I gather the guy is a newly transferred doctor, and she has mentioned him a few times. Kale said that he stopped by the hospital a few nights ago to see her, and she was in the doctor’s lounge with this guy. He said that they were giggling and holding hands. Jenny said it was nothing, but today is not helping her case. If she stops by to get the baby, have her call, please.”

“I will. I’m sorry things are going so bad. Call me later if you can.”

“Of course I will. As soon as we get settled in a hotel. I feel horrible for leaving you.”

“It happens. I will survive. I was working on the rewrites. I will keep busy, and hopefully Jenny will come get Clair. If not, I am going to have to go to the store and get diapers and food. She only had a little of each.”

“I gotta go. They are looking for me. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Go be businesslike.”

Zar chuckled and clicked the phone off. Blaze sat back, looking down at Clair. “This really sucks! I hope he is home for Christmas.”

Clair giggled and watched as Blaze went back to work.

It was the middle of the next week before Zar got home. Jenny had been asking her to babysit every day, and she was getting tired of it.

She had called Jenny the day before at work to tell her they were out of salve, and Jenny wasn’t there. Blaze had blown a fuse when Jenny came to pick the baby up. Jenny hadn’t been by the house since.

Zar crawled into bed with her, pulling her tightly against his body. He was frozen, and she woke up shivering. “Shit, you are cold, Mr. Russ. What have you been doing? Camping outside?”

“No, the heat crapped out on the way back. I will have it checked tomorrow. You feel so good.”

She rolled over, feeling him wince as she rubbed against his hip. “I missed you.”

“Really? Did you cry because you didn’t go with me?”

“I was sad because you weren’t here. How is Kale? Jenny is a total fuck.”

“I don’t know. Her car wasn’t there when I dropped him off. I wouldn’t be surprised if he calls.”

“You think she left him?”

“I don’t know. Just an odd feeling I had when he walked into the house. That would suck. I don’t know if he really loves Jenny, but he adores the baby. I’m sure we’ll find out.”

“Do I get to ask how you are, without you getting mad?”

“I’m fucked. It is snowing in Mass, and the storm followed us home. It was bad driving and bad on my hip. The cold certainly didn’t help any,” he said, leaning over and flipping on the heat and massage in the bed.

Blaze pushed his hair back and smiled. “You didn’t have your shampoo. Your hair is curly. Are you sure you are Zar?”

He laughed. “Want to see the scar?”

“Yes, I don’t want to end up in bed with the wrong brother,” she replied, running her fingers down his body. He shivered when she touched the scar. “Your hip is killing you, isn’t it, Zar?”

“Yeah, it is. I am holding off on the last shot. I want to do it the night before Christmas Eve. My company always throws a big party for the workers. I want to show you off.”

“That would be nice. The last time most of them saw me I was anorexic and in a wheelchair. Who is giving this party?”

“A caterer called Monsieur Caldans. They do it every year. All I have to do is call them in November. I already did that. I should have told you sooner, huh?”

“That would have been nice. I am going to a party in two days that I was just notified of. What am I supposed to wear?”

“A fancy dress would be nice. Something in red or black.”

“Something I don’t own. I still have a limited wardrobe that fits me. You are going to make me go shopping the day before Christmas Eve? Zar!”

He rolled his eyes in a gesture of guilt and then grinned. “You don’t have to go shopping. Shopping is coming to you. They will be here in the morning with an ample selection for you to choose from. I promise it will get you through the holidays in style.”

“They are going to bring me a truckload of clothing in a snowstorm?”

“Yes, they will. They get paid well for making house calls. I tell them my size and preference, and they bring me a selection. You are not the only one in need of clothing. I am not driving up to the house in the hills just to get something to wear. This heat is making me really tired. Could we go to sleep?”

“I am tired, too. I am still recovering from having Clair every day. I love her to death, but I am too old to have an infant around. I had to watch her and the dogs every minute. I decorated the tree, by the way. I couldn’t stand to see it with no ornaments on it.”

“That’s okay. We have too much to do in the next few days anyway. I missed you, Blaze.”

“Me, too.” She snuggled up next to Zar, being careful not to hit his hip. He kissed her head as she drifted off into sleep.

Choey startled them both when she began to bark. Blaze got out of bed and put on her robe. The day had dawned sunny and white, and she saw the truck in the driveway. She hurried to answer the door and found a woman loaded down with clothing. A man stood behind her with three large garment bags in his hands. She showed them in, trying to stop Choey from jumping. She hopped up in the chair and began to wiggle for attention. Zar walked out of the bedroom, and she jumped down, running for him. Zar caught her by the front paws and smiled. “Don’t jump on me, Choey. I know you are happy to see me awake. But I am not up to being jumped on. Good morning, Steve and Melisa. How are the two of you?”

“Fine,” replied Steve. “This is, of course, our busiest season. We have eight more stops to make this morning.”

Zar limped into the living room and sat down. Blaze put on a pot of coffee and went to sit with him. He introduced her to Steve and Melisa as they took clothing out of its protective covers. Zar watched them. “I like the leather one with the red lace top. It’s pretty. Go try it on, Blaze.”

She got up, taking the dress and two others that had captured her attention. She came out to model each one, and Zar liked all three of them. He picked out items that would go well with hers and offered Steve and Melisa a cup of coffee. They both declined as they swiftly packed up the remaining clothing. “We have so much to do, and the snowy roads are not helping. We will catch up with you later on the bill. Have a good holiday,” said Steve.

Blaze showed them out and walked back in, shaking her head. “Amazing. What would have taken me all day just took me ten minutes, and I didn’t even have to brush my hair. What did that set us back?”

Zar chuckled. “You probably don’t want to know.”

“I am curious. Tell me.”

Zar did a quick estimate in his mind, taking a guess at who designed the clothing. “We will probably get a bill between twelve and eighteen grand. Designer dresses like those run anywhere between three and five thousand a piece. You will be the only one in Connecticut to own one of them. They will ship any other sizes off to different stores in other states. It’s the price of being in the social headlines. You wouldn’t want to have someone show up in the same dress as you. We will be in the spotlight because my Christmas parties are fundraisers. The price of admission is a toy. Most of the people who work for me bring two or three toys. I have a lot of employees, and we make a big difference for children on Christmas morning. It wouldn’t be unusual for a celebrity or two to show up. Do you want to have your hair done?”

“Do I need to?”

“No, your hair is beautiful as it is. I was just asking.”

“So anyone can come to your party?”

“Yes, it is not by invitation. Food is put out buffet style, and more is made during the night as needed. There will be a couple of bands playing, and it should be a lot of fun. They usually are.”

Blaze got up to get him a cup of coffee, thinking it was going to be an uncomfortable evening. She didn’t really like big crowds and wasn’t good at being anything other than momentarily sociable. She had the perfect personality for signing books because she didn’t need to get too talkative with any one person. The idea of being at a big event like Zar’s made her nervous. If she told him, it would only upset him, and she didn’t want that. Blaze brought him a cup of coffee and then went to make breakfast.

Kale showed up just as they sat down to eat. He didn’t have the baby with him, and he slumped into a chair. “She took Clair and left me. There was a note stuck to the fridge. Everything of hers is gone.”

Blaze stood up to put her arms around him. “Oh, Kale, I am so sorry.”

“Yeah, me, too. I don’t know if I will miss her. She was never around anyway. I will miss Clair. I suppose I will have to go to court and get visitation rights. I shouldn’t have to do that to see my own daughter. Do you think Peter would take my case?”

“Yeah, probably. If not, he will put you in touch with someone who can help,” replied Zar. “So what now, Kale?”

“I don’t know. It is two days before Christmas, and she takes Clair and splits. What a heartless bitch she turned out to be. Could I tag along with you to the Christmas Eve party? I don’t want to sit home alone.”