A Woman Loved Read online

  “As well as adultery,” Tie pitched in.

  “So, charades. I’m really looking forward to that. I can’t remember the last time I played.” I cleared my throat and tugged on the collar of my button-up.

  “Have you played?” Maddie asked.

  I paused and then shrugged. “I’ll still kick your—buttocks.”

  “Does Kevin Bacon have tight buttocks?” George asked.

  “What kind of flower is that?” I pointed at the display on the table in hopes Helen would take pity on me.

  “The red one?” When I nodded, she continued, “Amaryllis. You have to force them to bloom in time for Christmas.” She continued to discuss the steps of prepping the bulb, and I was entirely certain none of us was listening, just relieved that neither George nor Tie pounced on the word force.

  When she finished, George let out a rip-roaring burp, but no one dared laugh or say a thing. I wondered if someone had preemptively whacked Tie in the shins.

  I sought sanctuary in the recesses of my mind, dreaming of a beach holiday for next Christmas. Sarah. The twins. Blue sky. Warm weather. No other fucking Petrie in sight, aside from my wife and offspring. That was the definition of the perfect Christmas.

  My eyes wandered to my stunning wife, who was chatting with Maddie and Rose. I didn’t think it possible for me to love Sarah more, but each day, our bond only deepened.

  While Tie quizzed Allen about Bailey, Ethan bumped my arm and showed me a text from Lisa simply stating: Merry Christmas.

  I bobbed my head and whispered, “It’s a good sign. She must miss you two terribly.”

  “As do I,” he said with honesty.

  “Does she know you’re arriving tomorrow night?”

  He shook his head. “Her uncle is picking me up. Fingers crossed they don’t cancel my flight.”

  “They won’t.” I wished I could see her eyes when Ethan showed up.

  “Lizzie, would you kill your baby brother if he knocked up your nanny?” Tie asked, gripping her wineglass like she wanted to snap the stem in two.

  I was in mid-swallow and nearly choked. “What?” I gulped my water, the carbonation burning all the way down. I tapped my chest with a hand to force the remaining bites of parsnips down the wrong pipe. “Why would you ask that?” I looked to Allen. “That’s not a possibility, right?” Bailey’s grandmother, who’d asked me to look after Bailey, would kill me.

  Allen, ashen faced and mute, only managed to gape at Tie’s supposition.

  “Allen?” I prodded.

  He shook his head in such a terrified way I was fairly certain he was still a virgin.

  Dad, who’d been conversing with George, eyed Allen but opted not to enter the fray.

  “Well, if he did, it’s only fitting for the Petrie men. Knocking up women they aren’t married to.”

  Dad shifted in his seat, his eyes aflame.

  Helen glared at Tie’s profile.

  Gabe’s stare contained even more menace.

  Sarah rested her forehead on her fingertips, stroking her brow.

  I queried Peter’s stony expression to determine if there was an inkling of truth in Tie’s accusation. Was there another child of his somewhere unbeknownst to all of us? Had he fallen in love with someone else and Tie suspected? When she’d mentioned it earlier, I was convinced it was Tie being Tie. But, her harping on the topic and Peter’s difficulty with fidelity… Was there a kernel of truth?

  “A little bird told me you two are planning to have another baby?” Tie held her wineglass in one hand as if it were a treasure.

  My eyes scanned the guests to ferret out the culprit who’d shared this tidbit.

  None of the faces registered guilt, although with this family, that meant nothing. This holiday proved I was surrounded by vipers.

  “We are.” Despite the fact Sarah wasn’t thrilled with Tie, she couldn’t keep the glee from her eyes, drawing a smile to my face.

  “We are,” I agreed, staring in Sarah’s eyes.

  “That calls for a toast.” Dad rose to his feet, shocking the hell out of me. “To my beautiful daughter, her lovely wife, and their wonderful family. May the future bring you everything you desire and much more.”

  “Whoop!” Gabe pounded the table with one palm, raising his beer to his lips with the other.

  “Are you going to give it a boy or girl name this time?” Casey asked, clearly still unimpressed by our desire not to allow Olivia and Freddie to wear blue and pink even though we gave them gendered names. The kid never forgot anything. “Although, I know a boy named Oliver who goes by Ollie,” she conceded.

  “That’s a good question,” I said. We had talked of names briefly in the past, but it seemed premature to announce a name before we fell pregnant. “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “Casey is a good name,” she said without a hint of irony. “Works for a boy or girl.”

  “We’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Are you using your eggs again?” Helen asked.

  It wasn’t an extremely odd question, given the process involved two women and a sperm donor, but it was difficult to dislodge the knowledge we were eating Christmas Eve dinner and discussing whose eggs we intended to use. I prayed no one asked if we planned to use a turkey baster. The same one we’d used for tonight’s meal. We weren’t. At least, I didn’t think that was part of the plan.

  “Mine, this time.” Sarah smiled at her mom, who grinned back.

  “Does Lizzie not have enough?” Tie asked. “Or do you want to break the Petrie curse?”

  No one spoke, but all eyes darted to Tie, who grinned like the Cheshire cat.

  “Kidding, of course,” she said in a way that conveyed the exact opposite. She opened her mouth but was cut off.

  “Is everyone ready for pie?” Helen asked, already rising from her seat.

  Rose stood. “I’ll help you.”

  Then Maddie fled, making me think she wasn’t up to the task I’d set for her during caroling. But who would be, considering how intent Tie was on destroying the evening? The woman had zero shame. And, Peter. I hadn’t wrapped my brain around whether or not I believed he was innocent.

  Even Sarah left the table.

  “I could use a smoke,” Ethan said. “Peter?”

  They departed.

  Dad and I exchanged a worried look, but I had to wonder what thoughts ran through his head. How was he handling Tie’s accusations given the Helen and Allen situation? Challenging Peter was a calculated risk, and maybe this would be part of her divorce lawyer’s attack. Taking on Charles Allen Petrie was sheer folly. The man had destroyed many careers in his quest for domination. Tie wouldn’t be a match. Shit! I mentally palm-slapped my forehead. I should have sicced Dad on Tie. What had I been thinking asking Maddie to do it? Was there still time?

  From the darkening clouds in his eyes, I didn’t have to mention anything about it. Dad was well aware Peter wasn’t perfect. That didn’t change the fact Peter was his firstborn and heir apparent when Dad retired. Neither Allen nor I showed any inkling to join the family business. If Tie challenged Peter in their marriage, that was one thing. If Tie threatened Peter’s reputation—things could get interesting. Quickly.

  Had Dad considered Gabe in this equation? From what I knew, Gabe was happy running the Fort Collin’s branch of the flower shop and wanted to expand the business. But, if given the chance to join Dad’s firm, would he ditch his mother’s small-time business compared to Dad’s?

  “Casey, what should Peter name his child?” Tie smiled sweetly.

  I bristled but wasn’t sure if it was best to shut down Tie or pray Casey would know how to handle the question.

  My father shifted in his seat, looking as if he was weighing the same options.

  Casey gave the request some time. “Junior.”

  Tie forced a laugh. “What if it’s a girl?”

  “Junior.”

  “Allen,” I jumped in. “I have a conference in Boston during your spring break. Would you lik
e to go?”

  “Are you serious?”

  I nodded. “It’ll be nice to have at least one friendly face in the audience. You will be friendly, right? Historians are a tough crowd.”

  “I may have some business in New York in the spring. It’s possible I could arrange it at the same time and pop down,” Dad said. “I love Cambridge. There’s a Tex-Mex place in Harvard Square that’s kitschy with fantastic margs.”

  Hearing these tidbits from my father, who for the majority of my life never talked, caught me by surprise even after the past year or so of growing closer. It was like finding out a character in literature had sprung to life and moved into the house next door.

  “Sounds great. Just the three of us?” I asked.

  “I think so. Peter will have to run things here. And Gabe has made it clear he’s not a history guy.” Dad almost smiled.

  Tie let out a bark of laughter, but no one paid her any attention.

  Maddie waltzed in with a notepad. “Who wants what? We have pecan, pumpkin, and apple pie.”

  “None for me. Need to keep my girlish figure.” Tie ran a hand down her side, porn-star style, and it was hard to miss the insinuation that she wasn’t pregnant.

  “All three, please,” Casey said, her hands folded neatly on the table. I wondered if her parents would object to me taking her along for the Harvard trip.

  Allen dittoed and proceeded to high-five Casey.

  George, who had briefly nodded off, roused enough to request pumpkin before shutting his eyes again. I envied him and hoped he’d stay asleep. Maybe the library tryst with Tie had worn him out in more ways than one.

  Orders completed, Maddie slipped out of the room, and try as I might, I couldn’t figure out how to guide the conversation without stepping into a Tie landmine.

  Uncomfortable silence pressed down on us.

  George’s body twitched but not enough to wake him.

  Allen and I exchanged a look that implied when will this night end?

  Finally, everyone returned, the women and Gabe laughing. Peter was frowning, but it appeared talking with Ethan had helped some. Or maybe they swapped divorce lawyers’ digits.

  Maddie announced. “It’s official. The roads are closed.”

  Tie’s eyes sought out Peter’s, and the sizzle in the air was impossible to ignore.

  Sarah placed a hand over her mouth. “Oh, no. I completely forgot to make tea and coffee.”

  It was understandable, given the night. And did we really want to inject caffeine into anyone present?

  The serving crew started to rise again, but I waved for them to take a seat. “Tie, would you help me in the kitchen?”

  Sarah stifled a gasp while the rest did their best did I just hear that right expressions.

  Tie plastered on a sickly-sweet smile and deposited her napkin to the side of her plate. “Would love to.”

  We made the trek around the table to the door, all eyeballs on us, including Casey’s.

  I closed the door to the dining room.

  “Do I get a cute apron? Like Gabe’s but womanlier?” Tie’s eyes scouted the kitchen hopefully.

  “Knock off the act. I’m going to be very clear.” I stepped closer to her, pinning her between the two barstools at the prep station. “Sarah has worked her tail off to plan this evening, cooking all the food, along with Maddie and Rose, so everyone will have a memorable holiday—”

  “And, I’m having a great time,” she cut me off, situating a hand on my shoulder.

  I swiped her hand off. “Cut the crap. Your only mission since arriving in my home has been to sow discord.” Unhappy with my word choice, I corrected, “To stir up shit and wreck everyone’s night.” I waggled my finger in her face. “If you make one more snide comment or false step, I’ll personally kick you out of my house. I-25 is closed due to the storm, but there’s a hotel within walking distance. If I have to pull you on a sled to get you there, I fucking will.”

  “You can’t kick out your niece’s mother on Christmas Eve.” She laughed as if that would persuade me the threat was empty.

  “Yes, I can. And will.”

  “You’d kick out Demi?”

  “Not Demi. Not Peter. You.” I poked her shoulder with a finger. “I asked you earlier, for the sake of everyone’s holiday, especially for the children’s, to table whatever’s going on between you and Peter.”

  “You have no idea what he’s done.”

  “I don’t, no. And, I’m not sure it’s my business. But I do know I want my children to have a fucking merry Christmas. So, I’ll repeat; knock your shit off, or you’re out.”

  “That’s not legal. To kidnap my daughter.” Her face set to combative level.

  I had to give it to her. She knew how to take things to the over-the-top level. “Demi’s father is here. And if you think your threat will work, maybe I should inform you that Rose is friends with the chief of police.”

  She started to speak.

  I shook my head. “I don’t want to hear it. One more negative thing to come out of your mouth and I’ll shove your ass outside. No ifs, ands, or buts.” I stretched my fingers past her face to point to the window. “It’s really coming down. I sincerely doubt you want to venture far in that. Do you understand me?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. Fill the teakettle and coffee pot. I’ll go take everyone’s orders.”

  Chapter Eleven

  After dessert, the majority of us holed up in the living room to enjoy the fire and Christmas tree.

  “Is everyone ready for charades?” Maddie’s eyes scouted the living room. “It’ll be fun.”

  I groaned, making my body go limp on the sofa.

  Sarah nudged my leg with hers.

  Gabe and Allen walked through the front door after seeing George and Gandhi safely home, although both would be back in the morning for gifts and brunch. After his performance at dinner, I nixed the idea of sending anyone to stay at his house. But, Sarah couldn’t stand the thought of anyone being alone on Christmas, so the boys would clear a path first thing in the morning if the snow plows hadn’t come through.

  Noticing the twinkle in Maddie’s eye, Gabe asked, “What’s up?”

  “Charades.”

  Gabe rubbed his hands together. “Allen and I rock charades, right Bro?”

  Allen flashed an evil we’re going to kick everyone’s asses grin.

  Helen, Dad, Rose, Troy, and Casey were in the family room watching Miracle on 34th Street, apparently a tradition of my father and Helen’s, which was hard to wrap my mind around. When Mom was still alive, did Dad and his secret family celebrate Christmas on a different day to uphold all these traditions? Gabe had mentioned Dad spending Christmas Eve with them, and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember if Dad always worked late that night. Or any other nights around Christmas.

  “Ethan? Shall we team up?” Maddie asked.

  “Oh, thank God, I thought all of you were going to stick me with Lizzie.” The evident relief on his face needled me.

  “Hey, now. I am in the room,” I said through gritted teeth.

  “Not it,” Peter said.

  Tie yawned. “I’m too tired.”

  She looked wide awake to me and conveniently didn’t show any signs I’d threatened to kick her out earlier. While I didn’t think many would object to my threat, it was still Christmas Eve, and I didn’t want to risk permanently being labeled the Grinch.

  “I think I’ll settle in the library for the night after I take care of some last-minute Christmas morning prep now that we’re staying the night.” Tie stood as if waiting for someone to plead with her to change her mind.

  No one did.

  “I set out sheets, pillows, and blankets in the room,” Sarah said without looking in Tie’s direction.

  “Thank you. Peter, can I have the car keys?”

  He handed them over, and Tie left with a thin-lipped smile that reminded me so much of the Scotch-lady my insides went stone-cold. I couldn’t stop
from wondering why she’d ever married Peter. She seemed incapable of love. More like she’d been plotting since the day she first laid eyes on him. How she justified bringing Demi into her conquest was unfathomable to me. Although, I never could figure out why my mother had children either.

  When it was safe to speak, Maddie said, “That leaves us with an odd number.”

  “I’m more than happy to watch.” I stretched my arms overhead. “All for the sake of playing fair.”

  “I’d always known there was something pervy about you,” Maddie said, purposefully ignoring my fair comment.

  “I have an idea.” Sarah colored. “Not about Lizzie being a perv. Way too uptight.” She squeezed my leg to diminish her words. “We should pit the girls against the boys so everyone can play.”

  “But we have one extra. Although, Allen is still a baby-man.” Gabe dodged Allen’s shoulder punch.

  Maddie sat upright. “Sarah and I are going to clean your clocks.”

  It didn’t escape my notice that I was not factored into the equation, even though it’d been settled I’d be playing. Low expectations were my favorite type.

  I suspected Peter wasn’t going to play much of a role, either. At times like this, it became quite apparent Peter and I were raised in an unusual household, and the irony of having the last name Petrie, as if we were some scientific experiment, was not lost on me.

  “How do we come up with the ideas?” Allen stroked his chin.

  “There’s a website.” Maddie whipped out her phone. “Do you boys want to go first?”

  Gage lurched to the center of the room, rubbing his palms together.

  “Before we begin, it might help some to know the rules.” Maddie elbowed my side. “Each player gives silent clues to their teammates. Should we have a time clock?” she asked Sarah.

  Sarah’s eyes glanced over me and then Peter. “No. This is for fun. No added pressure.”

  Or torture.

  Peter squirmed in his seat, doing his best to keep his smarmy businessman smile fixed in place. I had to give it to him, considering the day he’d had, and I still hadn’t decided how much abuse from Tie he deserved.

  Maddie waved Gabe over and showed him the clue.