One Big Happy Family

Chapter 13

13

Blair watched for Nick’s truck. When it pulled into the driveway, she went running outside. Rufus, always up for an outdoor adventure, came with her. As Nick and Dana got out of the cab, he raced back and forth, wanting to give each of them a solid greeting.

“Hey, big guy,” Dana said, patting him. “We weren’t gone that long.”

Rufus didn’t seem to be reassured by that.

Blair hurried up to Nick. “You okay?”

“You mean is my mom okay.”

She smiled at him. “I know she’s fine. You told me when you texted, and I believe you. You’re the one I’m worried about.” Her smile faded. “It’s not your fault. It was an accident.”

“If I’d told her before, she’d be fine now.”

Dana walked toward them. “Forget it, Blair. He’s going to be like this until Mom gets home and he can see for himself that she’s going to be all right.” She punched Nick in the arm.

“Hey, what was that for?”

“Being a coward. You should have told her when you first knew about wanting to buy Paul’s business. You put it off, and while the fall isn’t your fault, you’re going to think it is, all because you couldn’t man up.”

He glared at his sister. “I could take you.”

“Technically, but you’d never try.”

“All right, you two,” Blair said, doing her best to emulate her mother-in-law’s way of getting people to listen. “Stop. Everyone’s on edge inside. We’re going to go in and be cheerful so we don’t scare the kids. It’s Christmastime. Try to remember that. We’re one big happy family.”

“Is that your stern voice?” Nick asked, his voice a little lighter than it had been.

“Not even close. I can be a lot more stern.”

“You’re right,” Dana said, leading the way inside. “She really is going to be okay.”

They went inside. Everyone was waiting on the main level. Dana began unwrapping her scarf from around her neck.

“She’s good,” she said firmly. “We saw her. She’s a little loopy because of the pain meds, but otherwise healing. She had a lot of bumps and bruises and her left arm is fractured, but that’s it. They’ll keep her overnight for observation and Heath will bring her back in the morning.”

“Where’s Dad?” Madeline asked, her voice trembling. “Why didn’t he come home, too?”

Tiffany squeezed her hand. “Your dad is fine.”

“He’s staying with Julie,” Dana told her. “To keep her company.”

Blair hadn’t known that. “Nice of him,” she murmured, wondering whether Nick and Dana were as okay with that as they seemed, but knowing she couldn’t ask. Not in front of everyone.

As if reading her mind, Dana glanced at her. “He’s been a rock. He just kind of took charge. I always knew my mom wouldn’t tolerate anyone who was a jerk, but he was amazing. He wouldn’t let us fall apart.”

Wyatt glanced between them. “Are you really telling us the truth about Julie? Because sometimes grown-ups don’t.”

Nick crouched until he was on the same level as the boy. “Look at me, Wyatt. Look into my eyes so you know I’m being honest with you. Julie’s my mom, so you know how much I love her and need her.”

The boy nodded.

“She’s going to be all right. She’ll be home tomorrow and you’ll see for yourself. Until then, I want you to trust me. Can you do that?”

“I can try.”

“Good. That’s all I can ask.”

Blair watched the interaction, feeling her heart swell a little with Nick’s words. When the time came for them to start their family, he was going to be a good dad. Soon, she thought happily. They would buy Paul’s business, then work on getting her pregnant the following year. It was going to be great.

Tiffany ruffled Wyatt’s hair. “See, I told you that was what Dad said. Julie’s important to him. He’d never not tell the truth about what was going on.”

Dana hung up her coat. “The hardest part is going to be dealing with her while she’s in the sling. Once she gets the cast, her arm will be protected, but while it’s in the sling, she’s got to take it easy. That is not my mom’s natural state of being.”

“We’ll help,” Tiffany said with a grin. “Between all of us, I think we can get her to do the right thing.”

“I’m sure we can,” Gwen said, joining the conversation. “I’m glad Julie is doing well, and I happen to know she would want us to get on with our lives. Let’s talk about what we want to do this evening. We’ll have dinner, and then maybe we’ll play some games. I think we should do more than watch a movie. We want to be busy.”

Blair told herself to be grateful her mom was so good with the kids. They were worried, and Gwen would figure out a way to distract them. She’d been doing it since the accident. Better for them to be okay than to be scared. Which sounded good, but didn’t dislodge the tiny knot of resentment she still felt when she thought about how careful and sweet her mother was to Madeline and Wyatt.

At some point, she was going to have to let go of the past, she thought. Carrying it around was only going to hurt her. But she wasn’t sure where the line was between doing what was best for herself and forgiving her mother for something that Gwen had never truly apologized for.

But that was for another time, she told herself. In the postholiday world, she would figure out the right thing to do. For now, getting through the next week or so without any drama was the best thing for all.

“What’s for dinner?” Paul asked.

“I’ll go look!” Wyatt ran into the kitchen, Madeline and Rufus at his heels. There was a long pause.

“Meat loaf,” Madeline said, her voice unenthused.

“Do we have to?”

Wyatt’s voice was a stage whisper. Blair felt her lips twitch. Tiffany groaned.

“We’re guests here,” she said loudly. “And appreciative of all the meals.”

There was another pause. Then Wyatt said, “Yum, meat loaf. My favorite,” in a very unconvincing tone.

Nick grinned, as did Dana. Paul chuckled. Even Gwen seemed to be holding in a smile.

“Why don’t we get pizza instead?” Dana said. “That way no one has to cook.”

“I’m up for pizza.” Nick looked at Paul. “You okay with that?”

“I love pizza.”

Dana looked at Blair. “Can you eat it?”

“Sure. We just need one without meat.” The spices in sausage and pepperoni could be a problem for her tummy.

Wyatt and Madeline joined them. “It’s meat loaf,” Wyatt said without much enthusiasm. “With carrots and mashed potatoes.”

“We were thinking pizza,” Gwen told him. “Would that be okay?”

“Pizza?” Madeline grinned. “That would be the best.”

Nick looked at his watch. “Let’s meet back in the kitchen in a couple of hours, and we’ll figure out what we want to order and how much. Heath will be at the hospital until visiting hours are over, so he won’t be here for dinner.”

“He might want leftovers,” Blair said, thinking Heath was unlikely to leave Julie’s side long enough to get something to eat. “We should order enough so he can have some when he gets home.”

“Good idea.”

Dana started to do a head count, then stopped. “Where’s Huxley?” She looked at her brother. “He was supposed to get here today.”

“I haven’t heard from him.” Nick looked at Blair. “But he was going to arrive sometime after lunch. Technically, he’s not late, but doesn’t he usually text to say he’s on his way?”

Blair knew the older man always joined the family for Christmas. “Maybe there’s traffic.”

Dana took her cell phone out of her pocket and scrolled through her contacts, then pushed a button.

“Huxley, it’s Dana. Are you all right? I thought you’d be here by now.”

She listened for a few seconds, then hung up, her expression puzzled.

“That was weird. He said he got unexpectedly delayed but that he’d be here in a few minutes.”

“He must have gotten a late start,” Blair said. “Or there was something at work.”

She knew that Huxley’s assistant handled the office over the holidays, but that Huxley was always available if there was a problem. The two weeks around Christmas were jammed with tows, jump starts and lockouts. Come New Year’s Eve, it was all hands on deck, so to speak. People were stupid and drove drunk, then got into accidents. Everyone would be busy with that, which was why the holiday celebration at the cabin always ended well before the first. Both Huxley and Julie had to be back in the office and Nick had to work his tow shifts.

Only one more New Year’s Eve by herself, she thought happily. Next year Nick would be home with her. She wouldn’t have to worry about some drunk hitting him while he was hooking up a tow or changing a tire. They would be together. Maybe she would even be pregnant.

She smiled at the thought.

Gwen looked at Tiffany. “We never finished making those holiday cards. Let’s go do that until it’s time to order the pizza. I think we left our supplies downstairs.”

“We have to make a card for Huxley.” Madeline looked at Dana. “Do we like him?”

“We do. He’s great. Sometimes what he says sounds a little grumpy, but when you think about it, he’s really being funny.”

“I like that.” Madeline grabbed her mom’s hand. “Let’s go make cards.”

The four of them headed for the basement. Dana reached for her coat. “I’m going outside to wait for Huxley. He sounded funny. I want a chance to ask him if he’s all right before we get inside.”

Everyone else drifted away. Blair lingered until they were gone, then pulled Nick into the kitchen. She stood in front of him.

“Stop feeling guilty,” she said, her voice low so they wouldn’t be overheard.

He dropped his head. “I can’t stop seeing her fall. I could have killed her.”

“It was an accident. You didn’t push her. She was upset and it just happened.”

He looked at her. “She was upset because of me. You kept telling me to come clean and I wouldn’t listen. I was wrong to keep secrets.”

“Your mom didn’t fall so you’d be punished, Nick. You don’t have that much power.”

“That’s what it feels like.”

“Then your feelings are wrong.” She put her hands on his chest. “You’re a good man and you love your family. You’d never do anything to hurt your mom.”

“Except leave the business.”

“She wouldn’t want you to stay if it made you unhappy. You know that.” She stared at him. “Don’t let what happened change your mind. If you don’t want to go into business with Paul, that’s fine, but don’t make an emotional choice and then regret it for the rest of your life.”

“I won’t.”

She was less sure. “You’re someone who takes responsibilities seriously.”

He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. “I know what you’re saying and you’re right. I need to separate what happened from what I want for our future.” He stared into her eyes. “I’m not going to walk away from the opportunity with Paul over this. I feel like crap, but that’s on me. Next time I’ll listen to you.”

“If only that were true,” she said, her voice teasing.

“I mean it.” He kissed her. “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Blair. I love you.”

She leaned against him and closed her eyes. “I love you, too. More than you know.” And wasn’t that the best feeling of all?

Dana hovered by the front door until she saw Huxley’s truck pull into the driveway. She ran toward him, waving frantically. The setting sun reflected on his windshield, so she couldn’t see inside. When he got out, she rushed over and hugged him.

“You missed all the drama,” she told him. “Mom fell down the stairs. She’s going to be fine, but she fractured her arm and she’s all bruised up and I thought she’d hit her head and was going to die. She’s in the hospital and won’t be home until tomorrow. And Nick wants to leave the business.”

Huxley drew back and stared at her. “What are you talking about?”

She explained about the fight and the fall and the ambulance. “There’s even more, beyond the whole Mom-Nick thing. Blair’s mom, Gwen, is here and they’re fighting a lot. Plus, Heath’s ex joined us for the holidays. It’s a crowd.”

Huxley frowned. “Your mother’s boyfriend’s ex-wife is here? With their kids?”

“Uh-huh. It’s a lot.”

“Sounds like it. But Julie’s going to be all right?”

Dana nodded. “I heard the doctor myself. She’ll be home in the morning. Until then, someone has to be the grown-up in the room. I was hoping it could be you.”

“I don’t know about that.” Huxley glanced toward the truck, then back at her. “Did she say anything to you?”

“About what?”

Before he could answer, the passenger door opened. Dana hadn’t been able to see into the cab, so hadn’t known there was someone else inside. Had Huxley brought a friend? Was he dating? Did he—

“Hello, Dana.”

She stared at the familiar man who half stepped, half fell out of the truck. While her mind registered that Axel was pale, wearing sweatpants—which he never did—and the last person she’d expected to see, her heart fainted in shock and her chest got all tight and uncomfortable.

He was here? Why? How?

Her gaze swung back to Huxley. “What were you thinking?” she asked, her voice nearly a screech.

“At the time or now? Now I’m thinking your mother should have told you. Back then I didn’t think I should leave him alone for the holidays.”

Betrayal, shock and a desire to bolt inside and lock the door battled for dominance. “How could you do this? Why do these holidays matter? He’s been alone before.”

“He’s never been shot in the leg before.”

Shot? As in shot? She shook off the questions, the worry, the instinct to go to him. Wait, what? She felt the blood drain and the world spun for a second before righting itself.

She swung her gaze between the two men. “Shot? I didn’t know.” Shot? She couldn’t grasp the concept.

“I went to the hospital this morning to pick him up and take him home,” Huxley said. “I thought he would be fine, but he was in worse shape than I’d anticipated. I knew I couldn’t leave him by himself.”

Which all sounded logical and sensible and even kind, but created a really big problem for her. She turned to the man in question. The man who had messed with her mind and broken her heart.

“You can’t be here.”

Axel flinched while Huxley stared at her in disapproval. “Dana!”

Axel nodded. “She’s right. I told you, old man. Just leave me at home. I’ll get a cab or something to take me back down the mountain.”

Dana was trying to take it all in. Huxley’s earlier question about her mom saying something to her now made sense. Julie had known about Axel being shot and hadn’t said anything. An outrage to deal with later, she told herself, returning her attention to her ex.

She looked at him more carefully. She saw his skin wasn’t pale, it was gray, and she could see signs of pain in the way he held himself. The sweatpants (so unlike him—Axel wore jeans and only jeans) concealed what she would guess was a thick bandage around his thigh.

Oh, God. Axel had been shot! Now what? She honest to God didn’t know what to do.

After another second of indecision, she decided to channel her mother. And she knew exactly what her mom would say and do.

“It’s cold,” she said. “Let’s get you inside.”

Huxley didn’t move. “And then?”

If her mom could invite her boyfriend’s ex-wife for Christmas, then who was Dana to turn away an ex-boyfriend who’d been injured? “Of course you’re staying,” she told Axel, trying for gracious but probably landing short. “I’m sorry for what I said before. It was a knee-jerk reaction.”

“I don’t want to be here.”

She met his gaze and braced herself for all the emotions that would flood her. As much as she’d wanted to forget him, she’d never been able to get over him. Her biggest fear was that she never would.

“What you want isn’t the issue, is it?” she said bluntly. “You’re obviously in a lot of pain and you look terrible. You need help and it’s Christmas. Believe me, if you had somewhere else to go, I’d drive you there myself. But you don’t. So you’ll stay.” She stepped closer and pointed a finger at him. “We have kids in the house. They’re excited about Christmas. Don’t you dare say anything to upset them, you hear me? This isn’t about you.”

She waited for him to respond. Instead, his eyes rolled back in his head and he sank to the ground. Huxley swore as he bent down to catch the other man.

But Axel was a big guy—lean but tall, with plenty of muscle. Dana screamed as Huxley went down with him. Fortunately, just then the front door opened and Nick came running.

“What happened?”

“Axel’s been shot,” she said, pointing to the two men in the snow. “Can you help?”

“Shot?” Nick’s obvious surprise meant their mom hadn’t told him, either. Secrets, Dana thought. This family had to stop keeping them.

Together Nick and Huxley got Axel to his feet. He’d come to, although he was even more pale and gray than he had been.

“I’m okay,” he managed as the two other men got on either side of him.

“You just fainted,” Nick told him. “That’s no one’s definition of okay . What the hell happened? How’d you get shot?”

“A repo went bad.”

“Sometimes they do.”

They headed for the house. Dana went to the truck and grabbed the luggage, along with a big shopping bag filled with wrapped presents. Despite everything, she smiled. Huxley never came empty-handed.

She followed the three men inside, telling herself once Axel was settled, she would take a few minutes for herself to figure out how she was going to handle the next few days. She was going to have to fake normal for sure—find a way to convince everyone she didn’t care that the man she loved and who wouldn’t love her was here for Christmas.

Paul and Blair were waiting in the foyer. Blair frowned.

“Axel? What happened?”

“He was shot,” Nick said. “Mom knew and didn’t tell us.”

Blair immediately looked at Dana, as if she could guess the reason for the secret keeping. Dana understood that her mother hadn’t wanted to upset her, but some kind of heads-up would have been good. Not that anyone had expected Huxley to simply show up with him.

“He just got out of the hospital,” Huxley added, as if he could read Dana’s mind. “No way I was going to dump him at his place. Not when he’s recovering and it’s Christmas.”

Once again, Blair stared at Dana, probably assessing her reaction. Dana waved her hand as if none of this mattered.

“It’s fine,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel. “He’s welcome, just like Tiffany was. The more the merrier. Christmas is about connecting.”

Blair’s expression turned sympathetic. “You’re right,” she said, her tone brisk. “It’s a big house. There’ll be plenty of room.”

“There is,” Dana said brightly. “The problem isn’t going to be where so much as the stairs.”

Nick and Huxley got him to the sofa, where he collapsed in a heap. Rufus came tearing up the stairs and made a beeline for Axel. He sniffed his face, then gave him a quick lick on the cheek. Axel slowly sat up, then smiled when he saw the dog.

“Hey. Who are you?”

“That’s Rufus,” Dana said. “He belongs to Heath’s kids.”

“The boyfriend has kids?”

“Two. Madeline and Wyatt. I mentioned them before you fainted. They’re ten and eight.”

His dark gaze met hers. “I like kids.”

She knew the statement wasn’t meant to be anything more than his way of saying he wouldn’t hurt them. He was responding to her statement from before. But hearing him say it was still a kick in the gut because it implied he was a regular guy who was just like everyone else. That he could have a normal relationship and be a dad and live happily ever after.

Maybe he could, she thought bitterly. Just not with her. He’d made it clear the first time he dumped her that she wasn’t for him. And now he was here—for the duration—and there was nothing she could do about it.

Why oh why hadn’t she figured out how not to be in love with him? Why couldn’t she have fallen for someone else? She didn’t care who—anyone would do as long as he was here, standing between her and Axel. But she hadn’t and here they were.

“We’ll make this work,” she said briskly. “You’ll have to sleep on the sofa until you can deal with stairs.”

He looked at her. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying that. It’s Christmas. That’s what matters. You and Mom can hang out and discuss your injuries together.”

He looked around. “She really fell down the stairs?”

“It’s Nick’s fault.”

Nick groaned. “Thanks. Because I don’t feel bad enough already?”

“Just trying to keep things honest.”

Huxley picked up his bag. “I’m heading downstairs to tell Paul he has a roommate.”

“Tiffany is down there, with the kids.”

Huxley frowned. “Tiffany’s the ex-wife?”

“Yes, and Gwen is Blair’s mother. She’s downstairs, too.”

Huxley shook his head. “So the boyfriend, his ex-wife, his kids, Nick’s mother-in-law and uncle-in-law, your ex-boyfriend.”

“And a dog,” Blair offered. “A big, friendly dog.”

Huxley grinned at her. “Now we know for sure it’s Christmas.”

He made his way downstairs. Nick grabbed Blair’s hand and pulled her toward the second floor, leaving Dana alone with Axel. He’d managed to sit up, but he was still the color of concrete and she thought maybe he was shaking.

Concern battled with the need to protect herself by running away. Only there was no one else to take care of him and she was too much her mother’s daughter to simply walk away.

“What I said before, about not wanting to be here. I was trying to do the right thing. I didn’t want to ruin your holiday.”

She looked at him, telling herself she didn’t care that this was the most vulnerable she’d ever seen him. No way she was going to be sucked in by those dark eyes or the way the three days’ growth of beard made him look even more sexy and dangerous.

“I know what you meant,” she told him. “Look, this is awkward for both of us.” More her than him, but why mention that? “Let’s just get through it.” She glanced at his bag, then around at the furniture. Where to put his stuff?

There were a couple of drawers in the entry table. She crossed to them and checked to make sure they were empty. One had a few tattered take-out menus. She grabbed those and put them on the top, then looked in the baskets below. There were a couple of blankets. She put them into one basket, leaving the other for him, then returned to the sofa and opened his battered duffel.

“I can unpack,” he said, his voice low, possibly with annoyance, possibly with pain. She wasn’t sure which and didn’t care.

Ignoring him, she took out socks and underwear and carried them to the entry table, filling both drawers, all the while ignoring the intimacy of touching his things.

“You can barely walk,” she said, returning to the bag and pulling out two sweatshirts. She took those to the hall closet and hung them up with the coats. “You’re lucky that there’s a three-quarter bath on this floor. I’ll put your shaving kit in there.”

She did as she said, made sure there were fresh towels, then walked back to the living room. Axel’s color was a little better, but she could see he was in pain and trying to hide it.

“They had to have given you medication at the hospital. So what is it? An antibiotic and something for the pain?”

He nodded.

“Can you manage those on your own or do you want me to put together a schedule?”

He scowled. “I’m not five.”

“No one said you are, but you’ve been injured and you’re foggy, so this might not be the time to manage prescription drugs. You’re just stupid enough to want to be macho and not take something for the pain.”

“I’m fine.”

“Saying that makes me think you’re an idiot.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

She wanted to tell him not to help her get over him—that she was perfectly capable of doing it on her own. Only she hadn’t so far, so maybe help was called for.

Why? she thought for the thousandth time. Why did it have to be him? Why couldn’t she have fallen for someone else? Someone who wouldn’t leave her time after time.

She pointed at him. “Take off your jacket.”

He managed to get his arms out. She braced herself, then leaned forward to pull it free of his back. For one brief second they were close enough to kiss. Then she was able to draw back to a safer distance. She felt in the pockets and found two prescription bottles. They’d both been filled that day, no doubt another reason Huxley had been so late to get up the mountain. She read the instructions.

“The antibiotic is twice a day and should be taken with food. The pain meds are as needed.”

She went into the kitchen and got a glass of water, then handed it to him along with one of the pain pills. She thought he might protest, but he took it without saying anything.

She shook the bottles. “I’ll leave these in the bathroom medicine cabinet.” She paused. “Take the antibiotic with breakfast and dinner.”

“I got that.”

She had more to say, like he didn’t get to have attitude and that he wasn’t to mention their previous relationship, but before she could get started, Wyatt came up the stairs.

“Hey, Dana. Did you want to come make cards with us?” He saw Axel and his eyes widened. “Who are you?”

“I’m Axel.”

“You look like you’re sick.”

Dana froze, not sure what to say. Axel offered the boy a faint smile. “I cut my leg real bad, so I have stitches and they kind of hurt, but I’m okay.”

“You cut your leg? Julie fell down the stairs. She’s at the hospital for the night.” Wyatt looked at Dana. “You said she’s going to be okay.”

“She is. She’ll be home in the morning. It’s kind of strange that two people we know were in the hospital, huh?”

“It is.” Wyatt smiled at Axel. “Are you staying through Christmas? Do you like the big tree? It’s our second one. The first one smelled like cougar pee.”

“That’s a bad smell,” Axel said. “Did the whole house stink?”

“Naw, it was in the garage.” He grinned at her. “It was Dana’s tree.”

“By that, he means my pick. It was really stinky, so we had to go back and get Nick’s choice instead.”

Axel looked at the tree. “So where’s the flaw?”

“In the corner. We can’t see it.”

“But you know it’s there.”

With Wyatt right there, she couldn’t tell him to stop pretending he knew her... Except he did know her, which was almost worse.

“We’re having pizza for dinner,” Wyatt said. “The menu said meat loaf, but pizza’s better.”

“It is,” Axel agreed. “What’s your favorite kind?”

“Anything with meat. And no vegetables.” He sat on the sofa. “How’d you cut your leg?”

“At work on a sharp piece of metal.”

“Did it hurt?”

“It did.”

“Did you swear?”

Axel managed a smile. “A little.”

Dana knew she should probably take the higher ground and tell Wyatt to leave him alone, but she didn’t. She figured it was petty of her and made her the lesser person—a fact she could live with.

“I’ll leave you two to manage things,” she said, heading for the stairs so she could tell everyone else about their new guest.