Texas Christmas Bride: The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs Book 6 (11 page)

“Finish your cookie, young lady, before you speak.”

Abby all but inhaled the remainder. Then swallowed. “Done! But Mommy, what’s in the bag?”

Veronica met their gazes.

Both Penny and Rissa hesitated.

“I think it’s an adult conversation first, girls. Then maybe I can tell you later. Now go upstairs and get to work. Chop chop.”

“Ookay,” Abby sighed heavily, then stopped in front of Rissa. “You won’t leave before we’re done, will you?”

Rissa glanced at Veronica. “Um…”

“They’ll wait for you to say goodbye if they need to leave before you’re done. Now shoo.”

With a martyr’s sagging shoulders, Abby left the room. Behind her, Beth stopped between Jackson’s sisters. “If I’m a Gallagher, do I get to be tall like you?”

“Excellent question, kiddo,” Rissa said. “Scarlett’s a Gallagher, you know. So is Aunt Ruby.”

“But they’re short. Really short.”

“They are. But we still like them, right?”

Beth nodded solemnly.

“We’ll probably like each other fine, even if some of us wind up tall or short.”

Seemingly satisfied, Beth smiled and left the room.

“They’re awesome,” Rissa said.

Veronica couldn’t disagree. “Thank you. So what’s up?”

Penny cleared her throat. “Well, this is just an idea, and you are absolutely welcome to say no, but…we might have a dress for you—only if you want it. You don’t have to, but it’s closer to your size and—”

“Where did you get it?”

Rissa held up the bag. “We just found it. I’ve never gone through what’s in the attic before. It’s still wrinkled and you might not—”

Veronica’s breath caught. Her eyes filled. “Is it your mother’s?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

She had adored Jackson’s mother. Mary Gallagher had been so much more a mother to her than her own had ever been. “I loved your mother.” She caught Penny’s eye. “But don’t you want to wear it?”

“I would give a lot to be able to, but as I’m sure you recall, Mama was much closer to your size than mine.” Penny bit her lip. “I don’t want you to feel pressured, but I think Mama would be very pleased if you did decide you like it. But honestly, it’s okay if you don’t.”

“What about Jeanette?”

“We already called her as soon as we found this. She’s fine with it. She said she could help alter it—but seriously, you don’t have to if you’d rather have what Jackson could buy you or—”

Veronica’s heart was beating double-time. She was afraid to want this, but somehow wearing Mary’s dress would be so much more like the wedding she would have wished for, all those years ago.

“Let’s go in my room, in case the girls come down. I’d rather not have anyone know yet. I’d want Jackson to have his say, though, before any decision is made. He might not be comfortable with this.”

“I’m pretty sure my brother wants you to be happy, whatever that means. But yes, absolutely, he should weigh in. Lead the way,” Penny said.

Rissa pushed the bedroom door closed, and Veronica clasped her hands together. “I’m terrified.”

“Let’s do it,” Rissa said, and began unzipping the bag. When she drew out the dress, Veronica gasped.

Mary’s dress was…perfect. Fitted lace top with cap sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. A chiffon skirt, several layers of it that softly fell to a scalloped lace hem. A flat satin bow at the waist.

Simple. Feminine. Stunning.

Her vision blurred as she looked at the sisters. “It’s so beautiful. It’s exactly what I wanted without ever realizing…are you sure? She would want you—”

Rissa never cried, and Penny was reputed to be a shark.

Yet in this moment, all of them had tears in their eyes, and the moment felt almost…holy.

Veronica clasped her hands in front of her mouth until she could find her voice. “I’m scared to death to try it on, I want it so badly. I know Jackson is willing to buy me the world, but I don’t want Paris or New York.” She tore her gaze from the gorgeous dress. “David and I eloped and got married by a JP in San Antonio and it was okay because we weren’t marrying for love. It was all I could do not to fall on the floor and weep because I wanted to be marrying Jackson, not David. I don’t know how David dealt with me. I wept through our wedding night and for months afterward, I was a zombie…” She bit her lip. “But he stuck with me, and he loved me until I could love him. He gave me two beautiful girls, and he took Ben as his own.” She lifted her gaze to the two women. “I am such a mess over this. I didn’t expect to feel this guilty. I thought I was past the grieving and mostly I am, but—” She wrestled her voice under control. “Jackson deserves so much better. How can I be this messed up when I’m finally getting to be with the love of my life? I’m sorry—I’m sorry. He’s your brother and—”

She buried her faced in her hands and whirled away. “I’m so embarrassed.”

Then there they were, one to each side. Penny drew her close and let her sob on her shoulder, while Rissa patted her back. “You’re not alone anymore, Veronica,” Penny murmured. “Not ever again. You have a family. All of you do.”

Oh, the relief of it, the breathless wonder…the unimaginable luxury. She and Tank had been alone to face their childhood, each in their own way, and they’d never been close, but her brother had tried to shield her from the violence always lurking, threatening to explode.

David had been aware of the artificiality of their joining. She’d done everything she could to overcome their rocky start and they’d built a life together, but then David, too, had been snatched away. She’d dug in, squared her shoulders and pushed on through days and months when she could barely breathe around the pain of losing him, the shock, the terror of how she’d manage to keep body and soul together for all of them.

And now…

She had a chance at her dream—if only she could make peace with her past.

She straightened. Drew in a jagged breath. Scrubbed at her face. Rissa turned away and found a tissue box, handed them around.

“Don’t even think you’ve finished crying until you’ve heard the bad news.”

“What?” Veronica’s heart seized.

“Hayley’s back in town,” Rissa pronounced in tones of doom.

Relief swamped her.

They broke up laughing.

It felt…amazing.

They sniffed and blew their noses and wiped their eyes…and giggled.

She felt reborn. “Okay.” She heaved a breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”

“Strip ’em,” Penny ordered.

“Um…”

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re modest. Sorry, but you’re in our wheelhouse now, the sister zone. You don’t have anything we haven’t seen.”

“Except mine are better,” Rissa intoned.

Penny snickered. “You think that.”

As the two bantered, Veronica managed to take off her blouse and jeans and resisted the urge to cover herself.

A whole new world indeed.

Then the dress was being lowered over her head, and she wanted to turn to look in the mirror, but Penny wouldn’t let her. “Not until I’ve got you fastened up.”

“Is it going to—”

But Veronica could already feel that it fit.

“It’s as if it was made for you, I swear. You’re going to need probably three-inch heels, since this can’t be hemmed with that lace around the edge, but hey—shopping trip!”

“Kill me now,” Rissa groaned.

“Beth and I got this. And Hayley, of course.”

Veronica wanted to laugh, but she wanted worse to see. “Now?”

“Almost—okay, yes. Turn around.”

Veronica bit into her lower lip as she turned and… “Oh.” Her eyes filled again.

She turned from side to side, adoring the swish of the chiffon as it fell so gracefully to the floor. “It really does fit.”

“As though it was made for you, for real,” Rissa agreed.

Veronica glanced over at Penny. “You’re not that much taller than me.”

Penny snorted. “Yeah, only about seven inches. Before heels.”

“I just feel bad…”

“Don’t.” Penny touched her arm. “Seriously. If you don’t have one from your mother you’d rather wear—”

“No.” Her mother had been a sad excuse for a parent, a wraith who was too terrified of her husband to care for her children. “No. Not even if I did.” She couldn’t bear thinking of her mother in the same breath as Mary Gallagher. “It would be an unbelievable honor. I mean, I would love this gown even if it hadn’t belonged to Mary, but that it did…I can’t tell you what this means. If you’re sure.”

The sisters glanced at each other and clasped hands. “Positive.”

She summoned a wobbly smile. “It definitely meets Abby’s princess dress qualification.” She smoothed the skirt. “I know it’s not mine, but I don’t want to take it off.”

“Then don’t. Well, at least until Jackson gets home.”

“I wonder who made it,” Veronica asked.

“I think Mama had a hand in the design and probably helped, but I’m guessing her mother did. We can ask Aunt Ruby.”

A quick knock on the door made it swing open. “Mom, I need to talk to you for a sec—”

Veronica froze.

“Sorry, the door wasn’t latched—” Ben went stock still.

Veronica found herself unable to speak at his stricken look.

“Doesn’t your mother look gorgeous?” Penny asked. “It was your grandmother’s wedding dress—

Ben didn’t say a word, only met his mother’s shocked gaze with his own. Something dark and hurt rippled through his eyes.

He turned and fled.

Leaving a stunned silence behind him.

Suddenly Veronica couldn’t get out of the gown quickly enough. “I have to talk to him. Please—help me—”

“Sure. I’m sorry. Maybe we shouldn’t have—”

“Vee?” Jackson’s voice came from down the hall.

“I’ll get the door.” Rissa raced over and locked it.

Veronica’s thoughts scrambled. Her fingers were clumsy, and she was terrified of harming the gown.

But more terrified of hurting her son.

“Don’t come in, Jackson,” Penny shouted.

“What’s going on? Ben raced past me without a word, and the bedroom door is locked—”

It was all Veronica could do to be careful enough as she raced to get out of the dress and into her clothes. “I’m sorry. I should hang it up, but—” Every cell of her vibrated with the need to follow her child. “I have to talk to Ben.”

“We’ve got this,” Rissa reassured. “Could we help?”

“Thank you, but no. This is my mess to fix.” Dressed, she yanked open the door and vaulted past a gaping Jackson. “Don’t go in that room,” she shouted at him as she tore out after her child.

Jackson started after her, then glanced back at his sisters. “Where are the girls?”

“Upstairs, doing homework,” Rissa said.

“Will you stay with them?”

“Of course.”

“What the hell happened?”

He could barely make himself linger long enough for Penny to answer. “She was trying on a wedding dress. Ben saw her and freaked. Took off.”

He swore, then nodded and charged off in pursuit. Loped out the back door.

Ben was climbing the rise to David’s grave.

Veronica was scrambling after. “Ben, please. Talk to me.”

“Leave me alone, Mom!” he shouted.

Jackson caught up with her quickly.

She looked…wrecked. “I have to talk to him.”

Jackson nodded. “I’ll go with you.”

She started to shake her head but halted. “It should be me.”

“I’m the problem, Vee. You and he were fine before.”

Tears spilled over her lashes. “It’s not your fault, it’s mine.”

He reached for her hand. Closed it inside his. “We’re in this together. I won’t try to stop you, but I should be there if we’re ever to have any hope of being a family.”

Her lips pressed together, and he could see her swallow. “All right.” Chin lifted, shoulders resolute, she began to climb again.

But her hand trembled in his.

He closed his other hand around her delicate one. Deceptively so. She might be the strongest woman he’d ever met, as strong as his mother. He lifted their clasped hands to his lips and kissed her ice-cold fingers. “You’re not alone anymore, Veronica.”

She cast him a grateful, terrified glance.

Then they were at the spot beneath the towering oak where David was buried.

“I don’t want to talk to you.” Ben’s voice shook.

Veronica stepped up beside him. “Then we won’t talk.”

Jackson took his other side. And said nothing.

But the boy’s pain hurt him. Jackson waited. Locked his jaw.

Ben cast him an odd glance, almost pleading.

Jackson had been trying to respect the greater bond of mother and child. Veronica had been with this boy all his life. He didn’t want to get between them, but—

He knew how it was to be a young man trying to figure out how to be a grown man.

With no father to help him. Jackson’s own had been alive, but he’d cared nothing for Jackson. Had loathed everything about him at the end.

Jackson cast a glance over at Veronica, who stood so bravely, so fiercely in defense of her child.

Behind Ben’s back, he touched her shoulder.

She glanced over.

His next words had better be the best of his life.

“Would you give us a minute, Vee?” Then he asked the more difficult question. “Would you trust me?” He looked into her eyes, those he loved beyond life and death and promises of forever.
I won’t hurt him
, he tried to convey with his eyes.