Page 57 of Her Counterfeit Christmas
Operation-Persuade-Layla-She’s-Making-a-Huge-Mistake has begun.
Title in progress, but the mission starts now.
Chapter Fourteen
OWEN
After breakfast,I go up to my room to grab my wallet. Hanging from the doorknob is a small paper Neiman Marcus bag. Inside? A dozen candy canes. My payment for entertaining Layla on our van ride this morning.
I’m still grinning fifteen minutes later as Brady and I grab our coats from the coat closet for our trip to the tree farm.
Sadie runs down the stairs and launches herself into my arms. I just manage to catch her. Her arms clamp around my neck, and she gives my ear a slobbery kiss.
I find myself missing Greta.
“Cousin O, Mommy says I get to pick my own Christmas tree for my room!”
“That’s exciting.” I glance over her shoulder and watch Tori descend the stairs. Her eyes are puffy and red rimmed. It’s probably something to do with her divorce. Most days, I want to throttle her ex.
“Will you help me pick my tree?” Sadie asks. “It has to be this big!” She stretches her arms as far above her head as they’ll go.
“I think we’ll find you the perfect one.” I tickle her belly, and she squirms as she laughs.
I reach out and tug Brady closer, then with one hand shut the book he holds. He scowls, but I ignore his annoyance.
“Sadie, do you remember meeting my brother Brady at breakfast?”
She nods like a bobblehead. “Our names rhyme!”
“Exactly,” I say. “He’s going to be your buddy today at the Christmas tree farm. Did you know his superpower is picking the perfect tree? That’s why he’s coming with us; otherwise, we’d leave him home.”
Brady isn’t happy when I foist Sadie into his arms, but he doesn’t drop her, so that’s encouraging. I’m sure this is the first four-year-old he’s ever met.
“Cousin BB, I want a superpower like you,” she tells him. “What can it be?”
Brady scrunches his face and looks over for help. I shrug and move toward Tori. He sticks his tongue out at me.
“Um, you’re cute?” he says to Sadie.
“That’s not a superpower, silly! I’m a girl! All girls are cute!”
When I reach Tori, I ask softly, “What happened?”
She flips her sunglasses over her eyes even though we’re still inside. “My ex started dating a good friend of mine. I can believe he’d do this, but why is she?”
“Tell me where to bury the bodies.”
That gets a small twitch of her lips. “I’d like to stay in bed and pretend the world doesn’t exist.”
I pull her into a tight embrace. “I’m proud of you for coming today.”
“Sadie wouldn’t miss this trip, though it crossed my mind to stay and send Sadie to the farm with you.” An enormous sigh. “But I’m an excellent mother–no matter what Matthew implies in custody court.”
“You’re the best mother.”
She pulls back and wipes under her eyes. “You’re dang right.”
Years ago, she would not have said “dang.” She hasn’t sworn since Sadie was born. Her ex never made similar concessions.
