Misfortune: Christmas With Scrooge Read online

  Misfortune

  Christmas with Scrooge

  Copyright 2014 Peggy Ann Craig

  Published by Peggy Ann Craig

  Edition License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  About the Author

  Other Books by Author

  Dexter O’Reilly is a cold and ruthless businessman who meets, Laura Witherow, a loving and compassionate individual on Christmas Eve. Recently orphaned, Laura faces her first Christmas alone. Taking a wrong turn down a deserted snowy road, she finds herself stranded deep in the Muskoka woodlands. Then, as miracles would have it, she is sent someone to share the holiday with that cold fateful Christmas Eve. True, he might not be old Saint Nick, but he was her very own Scrooge. After their brief and unusual encounter, Dexter hopes never to lay eyes on the woman again. However, eight months later she unexpectedly shows up on his business doorstep seeking financial aid for a homeless shelter she operates after a series of unfortunate events leads her to financial ruin. Dexter scoffs at any charitable organization, as well as his growing affection for the obstinate woman who refused to give up. Laura is determined to conquer the past, the present and even the future to show Dexter that there was more to life than money, and that she was the way to true happiness.

  CHAPTER 1

  “Dexter O’Reilly is a man only a mother could love.”

  Laura unconsciously lifted her chin. She had been listening half-heartedly to the conversation around the table. The group was not the sort she herself would have associated with but, nevertheless, she made best of the situation. Not for the first time that evening she wondered why on earth she agreed to come tonight.

  Because she didn’t want to be alone at Christmas.

  The thought of spending the holiday by herself, was absolutely dreadful. She was certain she would have spent most of it crying into her solitary eggnog, which was why when David asked her to accompany him to his employer’s Christmas Eve party, she eagerly accepted.

  They had not dated long. As a matter-of-fact, she was thinking it was high time to call it quits. She had no idea what she saw in David to begin with. But then he went and invited her to this staff Christmas party, and she decided, a little selfishly perhaps, to put off ending their brief courtship until after Christmas. Besides, it kind of felt the moral thing to do. Who wants to be dumped over Christmas?

  However, at the moment, she almost wished she declined David's invitation. His so-called group of friends had begun a barrage of complaints, bashing the party and their generous hosts. Laura had been successfully ignoring them up to that point, however at the moment their words had curiously piqued her interest. “Dexter O’Reilly?”

  “O’Reilly?” David had returned from the bar for the umpteenth time that evening and caught her question. “The Almighty One who thinks himself too superior to show himself at company bashes.”

  “Who is he?” Laura’s brow dipped a little.

  “Adell’s son.”

  “I thought Harris O’Reilly was her son?” Laura inquired, referring to the store manager and owner.

  “Dex is the older brother.” David explained as he dropped into the seat next to her. “His father Wallace O’Reilly, Adell Cameron’s first husband, was the original owner of the Sunny Meadows food chain. After his death, O’Reilly inherited the business but went into partnership with Harris. Mainly, I think, because he didn’t want anything to do with the business.”

  “So he’s a co-owner?” Laura found her attention caught.

  “You'd never know it, though. He hardly ever lowers himself to mingle with the common employee. The guy is a real snob.”

  The woman sitting across from Laura added, “He’s got zero manners. Zilch. Nobody likes him.”

  “I heard he tried to fire his own brother but his mother stepped in. Supposedly, they have a real hatred for each other,” someone added.

  “Rumor is, he wants to sell the grocery chain. Wants nothin’ to do with it. Which means we could all be out of a job.”

  “Unless Harris O’Reilly buys him out.”

  “That’s unlikely to happen. Harris can’t afford to buy him out.” One of the men at the table supplied. “So he works extra hard to prove to his brother that he is capable of running the business on his own. That way Dexter doesn’t have to help operate the business and won’t threaten to sell his share.”

  She was on the verge of asking more about this Dexter O’Reilly character, when it dawned on her she was meddling into a family affair, which was of no concern to her. As a matter-of-fact, she felt all at once ashamed for participating in the usual workplace gossip. She had no connection to these people and scolded herself on her own lack of character. From what she had witnessed of Adell Cameron and her family, they certainly weren’t deserving of such condescending behavior from their employees. Whatever family skeletons they had, were entirely their own business.

  She turned her head toward the group near the entrance of the hall. Adell Cameron stood with her small family talking and smiling happily amongst their employees. When she had been introduced earlier, Laura was immediately struck by how friendly the woman appeared. She was probably the sweetest person Laura had ever met. Her sparkling eyes and cheerful manner instantly warmed her to the motherly woman. She was an elegant lady whose appearance spoke immeasurably of her class. Her formal crêpe pantsuit and the stylish salt and pepper blunt cut of her hair were almost deceitful, until one looked into her penetrating hazel eyes and saw the gentle warmth of a kind-hearted woman.

  Harris O’Reilly stood beside her grinning cheerfully down at his wife, Lydia O’Reilly. In height and nature along with a set of deep hazel eyes he resembled his mother. Though, his dark head complimented his wife’s raven locks as she smiled in return and laughed at something her father-in-law, Norton Cameron was saying. For a brief second, Laura felt a pang of jealousy. The wish to be part of a family was so great, it startled her.

  Which was completely foolish. A sudden tide of loneliness explained this unfounded emotion. Without realizing it, Laura sighed out loud as she looked upon Adell's quaint little family.

  Wistfully, she wondered what it would have been like growing up with Adell Cameron as her mother. It had always been just her father and herself, her own mother passing away when Laura was a toddler.

  Not that she would have traded her father for anyone. She loved him dearly and their relationship had been close. Closer than any daughter and father could possibly get. They only had themselves in the world. Now, however, there was only Laura.

  Unconsciously, her mind traveled back over the months to the hospital where she sat at his bedside. She held his hand, tears flowing down her cheeks as she looked on in fear, praying desperately for a miracle. />
  “Please Dad, don't go. Hold on.”

  “It's time, Laura,” he said through short breaths.

  His eyelids slowly opened to take in the beautiful young woman at his side. “You're the image of your mother.”

  “Fight it, Daddy, please. Don't leave me—don't leave me all alone.”

  “I'll always be with you, Laura. Don't ever doubt it.” His breath caught in his throat as he fought for one last look at his daughter. “I promise, you won't be alone.”

  Those had been his last words. Now, ten months later, sitting in the hall of the Sprucewood Lodge with numerous people buzzing around her, Laura felt completely and utterly alone. Her father had let her down.

  With a dispirited sigh, she knew her father wouldn't be pleased to see her so unhappy at Christmas, their favorite time of year. Still, she couldn't shake the lonely feeling, even with all the people surrounding her. In an odd sense, she felt betrayed by her father. How could he leave her? He knew he was all she had. And yet he left, he had abandoned her.

  “Can you believe this place? You’d think with all their money they could have afforded better.” The conversation around the table drew her out of her gloomy reflections.

  “I think the place looks very festive.” Laura defended Adell Cameron's decorating.

  “Yeah, but I bet they have another party for executives. Held by Dexter O'Reilly himself in some plush banquet hall.”

  They all agreeably sneered at this last remark, except Laura who sat back quietly in her seat, digesting this new information she was learning about David’s employers. She hadn't realized there were two O’Reilly brothers at the helm of the huge and successful food chain. It was disconcerting to realize Adell Cameron had a son who wasn’t as kindly as the rest of her clan.

  Without ever having met him, Laura took a sudden dislike to this Dexter O'Reilly character. The image of the perfect little family, now had an unmistakable flaw. A black sheep son.

  It dawned on Laura only then that she would never meet this man, and quite possibly Adell Cameron and her family outside of this occasion. She chided herself for allowing her thoughts to get so caught up in the O'Reilly’s.

  Glancing around the table, listening to the continual degrading of a man she did not even know from people he funded the very livelihood they depended upon, caused her to realize she was no better. Though she held no associations to Dexter O’Reilly, was of no importance. Attacking and condemning a man behind his back before even getting to know him, was simply cruel.

  Deciding then and there to block out any more conversation regarding the O'Reilly family, Laura turned her attention away from the group.

  That was when the woman sitting across from her, paused in mid-sentence to utter, “Well speak of the devil.”

  Laura turned her attention unwillingly back. The woman stared disbelieving somewhere over Laura's right shoulder. As though a puppet, she found herself turning in her seat to follow the woman's gaze.

  A tall, lithe man stood in the entrance to the hall. Dressed in office attire, his aloof stance gave off an aroma of power in a brash egotistic manner. He stood as if he were the center of attention, drawing all eyes upon him. Indeed he was a magnificent sight to behold. At over six feet tall and with a set of thick brown locks brushed to perfection over a set of penetrating but mesmerizing dark eyes, he was the epitome of male perfection.

  However, it was in the face that this image of eminence had a startling contrast. It wasn’t hardly unpleasant to look at, Laura acknowledged with a womanly appreciation, however it bore a brooding darkness that originated from those dark eyes and had an effect on the rest of his features. His face was long and cut sharply along the cheekbones and jaw where it came together to form a distinctive square and powerful chin that concealed the trace of a dimple. The intense details of his face helped to form the hard and stern countenance he bore, and Laura knew instantly it had been a long time since it cracked a smile.

  The agreeable nature and sunny disposition of his kin was nowhere to be found in the piercing set of hazel eyes inherited from his mother and shared with his brother. Dexter O'Reilly was not anything like his relations. There was a family resemblance, yes, but that was where it stopped. He certainly did not have the glowing personality his family possessed.

  He had been surveying the room when suddenly his dark eyes stopped in her direction. He caught and held her attention. A cold blank stare, which said absolutely nothing at all, held her spellbound. An unexpected jolt ricocheted along her pulse until it found its way to the vicinity of her chest. She took a silent gasp of air and blinked in astonishment. Finding herself incapable of looking away, she tilted her chin slightly and stared boldly back.

  Their eyes locked and held across the room of sixty or more faces. The noise of the party dimmed to a murmur. The only hushed sound recognizable was her own hollow breathing. Time seemed to slip away as she sat there staring at a complete stranger who held her gaze completely captive. His dark features bore no hint of his thoughts. It struck Laura that it was an unusual expression, one she had never seen before. Almost lifeless, and without human depth.

  Dexter O'Reilly broke the trance at last by jerking his dark head in the opposite direction and moving his lean form to follow. She blinked at the sudden laceration to their locked gaze, yet felt a shudder of relief. She watched him walk away only long enough to see him greet his mother. The woman smiled up at her son. He had none in return.

  Laura turned back to the group around the table who were full of excited static about this latest arrival. Not wanting to be part of the gossip any longer, she excused herself while she went and retrieved a drink at the bar. Threading her way through the gathering of guests, she happened to notice Lydia and Harris O'Reilly talking to Norton Cameron. Their faces were solemn, no longer smiling and cheerful. Laura couldn't help but blame the grim newcomer for their sudden state of distress.

  She ordered a ginger ale with rye, then began to retrace her steps, dawdling as she went, in no rush to rejoin David and his group of friends. Stepping around a very large man too intent in his conversation with a slightly smaller man to realize he blocked her way, Laura stepped right into someone’s path coming up behind her. The collision would have knocked her over had a set of hands not come up and steadied her. She glanced over her shoulder to realize the hands belonged to Dexter O’Reilly. Once again, their eyes locked.

  Something fluttered beneath her breast then unexpectedly began to bloom, causing a warmth to spread all over Laura. At closer proximity, she noticed the smooth shave of his face, the pronounced cleft between his nose and lips, and tiny little creases at the corner of his eyes. Which at the moment were beginning to deepen at her thorough examination.

  Adell Cameron's voice startled her out of her stupor. “Well, hello again.”

  At the sound of his mother’s voice, Dexter O'Reilly immediately dropped his hands as if he suddenly just realized he was still touching her. The moment he did, Laura felt a cold rush of withdrawal.

  Pulling her muddled self together, she composed herself and turned to the older woman with a friendly smile, all the while extraordinarily conscious of the man standing beside his mother watching her. Not for the life of her would she meet looks with him again. It had left her feeling utterly unsettled. “Hello Mrs. Cameron.”

  “Adell, please.” Her hostess spoke with poise but with a lively edge to her voice. When she smiled her entire face lit up. “You’re David’s wife, aren’t you?”

  “No, actually we’re just friends.”

  “Oh, well then it must be awfully serious for you to take time away from your own family on Christmas Eve to join him here with us tonight.”

  A temporary shadow crossed her pale features. “I don’t have any family. My father passed away earlier this year.”

  “Oh, I’m terribly sorry.” The tall but slender woman reached out and touched her arm.

  Unconsciously, Laura’s eyes strayed to the man standing pompously next to h
is mother. She hated when the subject of her father’s death was brought up. It inevitably always drew sympathy. She knew perfectly well that it was part of human nature. Anything less would be considered heartless. Still, Laura hated their pity.

  However, Dexter’s face bore no emotion or compassion. He simply stared blankly back at her. A grisly feeling of apprehension shot through her from the somber depths of his dark eyes. An unsuspecting chill swept over her body and had her automatically reaching up and rubbing goose-bumps that had suddenly appeared on her arms. Then, before she could decipher his expression further, it was gone and he was looking away.

  Adell’s voice drew her attention back. “This must be very difficult for you.”

  Laura smiled naturally for the first time that evening. “I’m managing, thank you. But the festive atmosphere of your party is certainly helping. You did a wonderful job.”

  “Christmas is my favorite time of year. I always like to go all out. At least my son teases me I do.”

  Laura felt obligated to look at him once more, however, he continued to remain detached. As if finding anything more interesting at that moment than the two woman before him. However, in the split second that she allowed her gaze to drift to him, she knew he was finding little else in the hall of partygoers of interest. She knew instantly he wished to be anywhere but there.

  Adell noticed her glance shift to Dexter and quickly corrected, “I was referring to Harris, actually.” Then remembering her manners, she said, “I apologize. This is my son—”

  “Mother I don't have time for this.” He spoke for the first time. His voice matched his appearance, cold and detached.

  “Nonsense.” She brushed him off, giving Laura a small apologetic smile before continuing. “This is my oldest son, Dexter. Dexter, this is Laura Witherow.”

  She had no alternative but to look up at him once again. He did not so much as glance at her, not even the smallest nod of greeting. Admittedly feeling snubbed, Laura quickly looked away feeling uncomfortable. It was apparent that Adell’s son not only found little of interest in Laura, but found her wanting as well. Unconsciously, she straightened her spine.