Misfortune: Christmas With Scrooge Page 17

  She transferred buses once more before reaching Adell's plush neighborhood and was deposited on the curbside. After the bus whisked away down the street, the night around her became still and silent. The only apparent life came from the many houses lining the streets. Their festive Christmas lights shone brightly in the moonlight. Inside the houses, families gathered together rejoicing in celebration while outside, Laura stood alone in the evening's silence.

  Above her head it began to softly snow, and with a sigh she exhaled a breath of air only to watch it evaporate before her face. The winter months arrived in earnest, bringing with them the famous cold Canadian climate. She didn't really mind. The scenery it created was breathtaking. With its winter wonderland the area was often dubbed the North Pole.

  At the end of the street, Adell's home was magnificently decorated with bright lights and festive garland adorning the alcove in the entranceway. It caused a nagging void in Laura's heart. Instead of rejoicing in the season she found herself repeatedly in a melancholy spirit. Having lost all of her families Christmas heirlooms in the fire, the season seemed to be bringing more heartache than joy.

  With an admonishing word to herself she could almost hear her therapist telling her life was what you made it. She should have taken the time and made some homemade decorations especially with the girls having returned home. The shelter was devoid of any Christmas decorations. Not that it was intentional, she had simply become overwhelmed and could never find the time to go replenish her Christmas boxes. With a determined sigh, she vowed this time next year, she would do just that and the shelter would outshine any house on the block.

  Raising her hand, she pressed a gloved finger over the doorbell and waited. From where she stood she could hear the distant but distinct sound of Christmas music coming through the thick oak door before it swung open and the hall light blinded her momentarily.

  “Laura!” Adell's cheerful voice reached her ears. “You came, I was so afraid you wouldn’t.”

  Well that was certainly good news. Laura wasn't sure how she was going to be greeted. “I wouldn't miss it. Thank you for inviting me.”

  “Come in. Let me take your coat.”

  She stepped over the threshold and got a good view of the home's interior. The holiday shrieked of joy and celebration in every wreath gracing the walls, and in every garland adorning archways with small bundles of holly berries clinging to their vines. Adell herself looked absolutely stunning in her glittering gown of emerald green enhanced only by the twinkling from the stones in her rather expensive necklace.

  The older woman noticed Laura studying it. “It was my Christmas present from Norton. They're beautiful, aren't they?”

  “Yes, magnificent. You must have been very happy.”

  “I would have been happy with nothing. Just as long as we get to spend Christmas together.” Immediately remorse darkened her eyes as she noticed the shadow fall over Laura's face. “I'm sorry dear, how callous of me.”

  Laura shook her head. “Don't be. It will always be hard. But I must not let it sadden the holiday for me. I have new friends to celebrate it with.”

  Adell smiled. “And we're happy to celebrate it with you.”

  She took her by the shoulders and led her toward the main hall where rejoicing voices could be heard over Christmas hymns being played on a piano. They passed a mahogany hall table where a large cluster of poinsettias gave color to an otherwise drab corner. But it was the tiny English cottage perched beside them which caught Laura's attention. An almost replica of the one back on her mantel. She had all the confirmation she needed now, if she had any doubts before. It had been Adell and Norton's doing in bringing about the reconstruction of the shelter.

  Just before Adell opened the door to the hall, she stopped and looked worriedly at Laura. “I almost forgot. Dexter is here.”

  Laura felt her stomach lurch as she automatically began to back away. “What? But you said—”

  “I know, and I apologize, he usually never makes an appearance at these things, so I had no reason to believe this year would be any different, particularly after I informed him you would be here. But for some reason tonight he showed up.”

  “How can that be?” She knew her face was bland from shock, but didn't care. She needed to get out of the home immediately.

  “I'm not certain but—” Adell looked earnestly at the younger woman. “You will attempt to make amends, won't you?”

  She froze, her eyes darting to the older woman's face. A desperate plea came from those gentle eyes and had Laura stopping dead in her tracks. Hadn't she promised herself that apologizing to Dexter was something she would do for Adell? She had her opportunity whether she liked it or not. She couldn't disappoint the woman any more.

  “Of course.” Unwillingly, she allowed herself to be led into the room.

  Her first view was a full gathering of many smiling and jubilant guests of which none appeared familiar. She wanted to spot Dexter before he saw her so she had a chance to get her equilibrium under control. A quick glance around the jam-packed room concealed his presence.

  No sooner she made her entrance then Norton greeted her and drew her attention away from the group. Directly behind him, Adell's other son along with his wife bestowed her with welcoming smiles. Laura was immediately struck with a recollection from last Christmas Eve when she had envied this little family and yearned to be a part of it.

  “You remember my other son, Harris, and his wife Lydia?” Adell introduced them.

  “Of course. How do you do?”

  They exchanged formalities before Harris said, “I want to offer my sympathies regarding the shelter and at the same time my congratulations. I hear you're getting it back off the ground.”

  Laura's eyes shot toward Adell. “Yes, I've been very lucky. I’ve been the recipient of a very generous benefactor. I’m very grateful.”

  The woman noticed the glitter of gratitude in the younger girl's eyes and frowned.

  “Well, the spirit of Christmas seems to have worked its magic.” Lydia drew her attention.

  Liking the explanation, it gave the entire horrid event a new light. She smiled. “Let's just hope it lasts the whole year through.”

  “Chances of that happening are one to a hundred.” Dexter's unexpected voice had everyone turning around in surprise.

  Laura felt the greatest shock, trying desperately to calm her weakened backbone. “Why, what's Christmas without Scrooge. Hello Dexter.”

  Ignoring her attempt at satire, he continued, “With its chief commander entirely ignorant of how to run a successful fiscal year, a collapse is imminent.”

  Irked with him for discussing her personal financial situation in front of others, she attempted to shrug him off. “It seems to me you would like nothing better than to see me fail. So why you would worry about it, is beyond my comprehension.”

  “You're lack of comprehension is not in question,” he said emotionless and causing Laura to gasp. Uncaring, he continued, “However, your inability to grasp the importance of the smallest concept such as understanding when a venture is doomed for failure, even after repeated fiascos, is confounding.”

  “How dare you—” She was overwhelmed with an urge to slap him across the face.

  “Any one ignorant enough to walk down the same disastrous path, I would say gives me all the right.” He stared her glaringly in the eye.

  Inwardly, her blood began to boil. With effort, she controlled her voice. “Have you never heard of learning from your mistakes?”

  “Precisely.” He crossed his arms. “By not making the same ones.”

  “Maybe you two would like to take this somewhere more private.” Norton quietly drew their attention.

  A quick glance over her shoulder had Laura noticing the unwanted attention of a few close onlookers. Angry with herself for allowing Dexter to draw a reaction in a public domain, she swallowed her disdain. “No, we're finished.”

  “Now, how many times have you said that?
” Dexter was quick to scoff her.

  “Dexter.” His mother raised her voice in warning.

  Laura quickly interceded. “It's all right, Adell. I think I made a mistake in coming. I better leave.”

  “No, please,” Adell implored.

  “That's right, Laura, run away. It appears to solve all your problems.” He sneered after her.

  She came to an abrupt halt and burning angrily, spun back to face him. Any attempt at remaining composed vanished. “I'm not the one running away, Dexter O'Reilly. Take a good long look in the mirror and tell me what you see. It's a sapless excuse for a man.”

  “Oh dear,” Lydia O’Reilly uttered.

  “You're too frightened to face the past and even more gullible to face a future. You won't allow yourself to feel love or—”

  “Dexter?” A squeaky voice broke out of the now captivated gathering. “There you are. What's going on?”

  The voice belonged to a platinum bottled-dyed blonde in a slinky hot pink gown. Laura instantly recognized the woman from the day she unexpectedly showed up in Dexter's office and found her sprawled across his lap.

  The woman, known only as Bridget, recognized Laura as well. Possessively, she slid into Dexter's embrace and pouted her full scarlet lips up at him. “What's she doing here?”

  CHAPTER 10

  “She was just leaving.” He disentangled himself from the woman's clutches.

  “Dexter!” Adell angrily glared at her son. “Laura is my guest.”

  Laura stood there, unable to remove her eyes from the sculptured beauty running a long painted finger along his arm. An abhorrent picture of the two making love, had her almost sick to her stomach. Her time with Dexter had been special, one she harbored close to her heart, regardless of his own feelings. Suddenly, it held a new, less earnest meaning.

  Feeling very close to tears, she was relieved when Adell took her by the arm and led her in the direction of the kitchen.

  “Let me get you something to drink.” She was placed gently on a kitchen stool. “Don't mind Bridget. Ever since the woman met Dexter, she's had her claws fixed firmly in him.”

  “He doesn't seem to mind.”

  “Don't let him fool you.” His mother pulled a glass tumbler from the cupboard above her head. “When he discovers he's in love, he'll fight tooth and nail.”

  Excepting the scotch and soda water, Laura raised her brows. “I don't think he's capable of loving.”

  “Oh he feels love.” Adell was certain. “He just fights off the emotion.”

  “Adell I owe you more than I can ever repay. And I failed you. I wanted to apologize to Dexter but he makes it so difficult.”

  “Yes, I admit, I would like to see you and Dexter patch things up, but I can't live his life for him. He has to learn how to do it for himself.” Patting the girl's hand, she smiled. “Now this nonsense about owing me is ridiculous. I haven't done anything a true friend wouldn't do for another.”

  “You've gone beyond that.” Moving over beside her at the counter, she said, “You paid for the shelter’s renovations, didn’t you?”

  Adell spun around surprised. “That's not true.”

  “Oh, well, then Norton’s construction company did it. Either way, you needn't hide it from me anymore, Adell.”

  The woman frowned. “Honestly, we had nothing to do with it.”

  “Why deny it? I know the truth now.” She began placing some richly saturated desserts on a crystal platter. “Dexter told me he was able to pull some strings to bring about the restoration. However, the funds did not come from the insurance company as I assumed.”

  “They didn’t come from me, Laura.” Adell stopped slicing the pickled eggs she was preparing and turned firmly on the girl. “I'm not sure what Dexter exactly told you, but I didn’t have anything to do with it. I wish I could take the credit but I can't.”

  “Well if not you or the insurance company, than who? That would leave—” Laura paused mid-sentence. Immediately her mind began to renounce such thoughts. There simply was no time for such ridiculous musings. Turning abruptly away, she picked up the tray of delicacies. “No matter, I received the miniature cottage, Adell.”

  “Cottage? What are you talking about?”

  She sighed, hardly believing the extent the woman was willing to go to conceal the truth. “I saw your cottage out in the hall. You sent me a replica.”

  Adell's face looked slightly confused, then began to slowly glow. “Laura, that cottage was a gift.”

  Stopping midway toward the kitchen exit, she turned and looked blankly back. “A gift? From who?”

  The glow on the older woman's face began to grow brighter until she was beaming from ear to ear. “From Dexter.”

  Laura's face grew pallid, the blood having been sapped dry. “Dex-Dexter?”

  Without realizing it, the platter she held in her hand slid from her numb fingers and fell with a crash to the shining tiled floor below. With a jolt, she gave a cry and dropped to her knees. “I'm sorry, how dreadfully stupid of me.”

  “Don't worry about it dear.” Adell knelt beside her. “You've just received a shock.”

  “Th-that can't be true.” The words fell clumsily over her tongue. “Th-that would mean—”

  Adell nodded but held herself from providing the answers.

  Laura's mind began to race. Memories from the past came hurdling back. Dexter despising the entire shelter project, Dexter refusing to contribute a charitable donation, and Dexter spurning any participation in the fundraisers. There had to be a mistake. No possible way he had anything to do with this.

  “No, I can't believe that. What possible reason could he have? He's always hated the shelter. He believes I am throwing my money away and still believes . . .”

  Her voice trailed off as her words registered in her brain. Why was Dexter so angry she was re-opening the shelter? If he truly did not care as much as he claimed, he would leave her to destroy her life as much as she pleased. But he had been furious, downright hateful, as if her actions affected him personally.

  She lifted her eyes and stared blankly at Adell. Without responding, she simply looked back, grinning ridiculously, and nodded. Then turning to a utility cupboard, removed a broom and dustpan.

  “We heard something smash.” Harris came into the room followed by his wife. “Is everything okay?”

  “What the hell happened in here?” The man of her troubled thoughts came bursting through the kitchen entrance behind his brother and sister-in-law.

  On their own accord, Laura's eyes raised to his face and watched the anger dance across his handsome features.

  “Everything's okay.” Adell reassured her sons. “We just had a small accident.”

  Dexter frowned as he observed Laura kneeling among the broken glass. In two large strides he reached her side and pulled her to her feet. “What's the matter with you?”

  She couldn't speak; all she was capable of doing was stare him dumbfounded in the face. Dexter frowned harder.

  “Nothing, she's just had bit of a shock.” His mother informed him as she began to sweep around their feet.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked.

  She nodded, not sure why.

  He reached for her hands and lifted them for inspection. In finding no injury, he raised puzzled eyes to her face again. “There's nothing wrong with you.”

  Again, she stupidly nodded.

  Exasperated, he dropped her hands. “Make up your mind.”

  “Leave her alone, Dexter.” Harris unexpectedly piped up. “Can't you ever throw someone a little compassion?”

  Ignoring his brother, he asked Adell, “How did it happen?”

  She simply gave a shrug. “Oh, you know how mishaps happen. Laura just being the Laura we all know and love.”

  He groaned and rolled his eyes heavenward. “Speak for yourself, mother. Laura's capacity to draw misfortune wherever she goes, believe me, is what I least love about her.”

  Laura gasped and felt her legs go l
ifeless. An electric jolt pierced her heart and ricochet along every nerve draining the blood from her body. Nobody seemed to notice her apparent discomfort, especially Dexter who appeared oblivious to his own slip of words while he continued talking in a monotone manner.

  “If you've got this mess in here under control I suppose I should go out and reassure everyone everything’s okay in here.”

  “Thank you Dexter.” His mother grinned in the most ridiculous fashion.

  He gave her a dubious frown before turning his attention to Laura momentarily. Her face had gone deathly white and she appeared to be shaking slightly. The urge to go over and comfort had him turning angrily on his heel. Damn woman, the sooner he got her out of his life the better. So why couldn't he bring himself to do just that?

  Laura watched as he exited the room, followed by Harris and shortly Lydia who stayed back long enough to make sure her help wasn't needed.

  After they all left, she raised a hopeful face toward the woman holding the broom.

  “Looks like there's reason after all.” Was all Adell offered.

  But it was enough. A burst of hopeful promises overcame her for the first time in a long time. She actually had concrete encouragement. He had said it. He actually said the words whether consciously or not. He used his words moderately and with stringent control. Dexter O'Reilly was a man of his word.

  The blood began to flow back to her face once more and her pulses slowly began a normal rhythm. Energy, which earlier seemed to be lacking, now overflowed and with it an overdose of strength. The shield Dexter so desperately hid behind, seemingly built of brick and martyr, now suddenly appeared of glass and Laura was easily able to see clearly through it. With love as her defense Laura would shatter that wall and conquer his unyielding heart.

  An unseen force guided her out of the kitchen and into the room overflowing with Adell’s guest. Astonishingly, the crowd appeared to diminish granting Laura a straightaway view of Dexter across the room of many faces. He had not noticed her yet, as he was deep in conversation with a smaller redheaded man whose complexion mirrored awfully similar to his hair. Laura headed instinctively in his direction.