Christmas Tempest (Holiday Heartwarmers #12)

Chapter Nineteen

When Margot made it so clear that she wanted nothing more to do with them, Dex couldn’t help thinking about Dillon’s legacy as far as his relatives were concerned. There was only him on Max’s side and Grandmother Margot on Doreen’s side. Other relatives were distant and lost to them. The lack of people had always been a matter of worry for Dillon’s parents who’d have liked for the boy to be surrounded by a large family.

Once Dillon celebrated his first birthday, things changed in the family. Doreen began missing work terribly; hating being left alone while Max was away on an assignment with the newspaper. That’s when their relationship became strained, and the fights bitter. And it’s about that time Dex showed up for a visit and heard the despair in his brother’s worry.

Recently, Dex had worked with another lawyer who’d told him about the nanny his wife had hired and how much easier life had become. So… he passed that idea on to Max and when he’d shared the thought with Doreen, she’d loved it. They both agreed that having another adult in Dillon’s world to surround him with affection could only be a good thing.

Finding Sara and having her move into their home… well, they both admitted to Dex that they’d made the best possible decision. Life in the Max Hall home had become a happy place again.

Now both parents could work and not feel as if they’d abandoned their child. In fact, every time Dex visited, he himself had become enamored with the nanny to the point where he’d look forward to the midnight snacks they often enjoyed while the rest of the house slept.

The first time it had happened, he’d felt sheepish being caught with his head in the refrigerator… until she reached past him for the milk and offered to make him a cup of the best hot chocolate he’d ever tasted.

“I have some cookies we can gorge on too, ones I’ve hidden so they don’t all get eaten the first day. Can’t keep a sweet in this place unless I dole them out little by little.”

Dex remembered grinning along with her and swearing, “If you share, you can trust me.”

“Oh, it’s like that, is it? Bribery.”

“Is it working?”

“Of course, my lad.” She’d brought out a bucket filled with a various assortment of cookies, and they’d spent a good hour drinking the best hot chocolate he’d ever tasted, munching cookies, and chatting about everything. The woman had been easy to talk to and had made a lot of sense on many of the issues they covered… good ole common sense actually.

He remembered going back to bed in such a good mood, that he’d fallen into a deep sleep to be awakened by laughter and heavenly smells.

No wonder Dillon loved her so much. Good vibes surrounded that woman, and great cooking. She would be sorely missed.