Page 8 of The Princess Home for Christmas

Chapter 4

Thomas wanted to air pump his celebration. Yes! She was not immune to him after all. Even with all the irritation he caused her, even with her resistance to him, he saw the attraction she fought. She couldn’t hide it in her eyes. She wanted him on some level. And whatever that was, he could work with it. He had never felt so happy to attract a woman. If she wanted him, even if she fought it, he could turn that into something else. He hoped. Or at least use it to his advantage. His feet picked up their pace as he rushed to his waiting car out back. Outside the door, only a small group of the press had gathered but he waited, just long enough for more of them to join, so that the others would have an easier time of it, and then he jumped in his car and sped away. Exhilaration still raced through his veins. She wanted him. Her eyes couldn’t lie. And that meant he had a chance.

The car rushed through town, most of the parade crowd had cleared. He had one more stop before he could go back home. They drove aimlessly until they lost all the press following them.

Thomas’ car crept along the back of an old and grungy building. He jumped out and climbed the rickety back stairs for four flights. Then he rapped on the back metal door. It was rusty and scratched. A little boy peeked his eyes out the door, just a crack. They widened in recognition and he shouted to the back, “It’s Tommy!”

Two other children came running and they joined him on the back stairs. He reached in his pockets and brought out three pieces of candy. “How are all my friends?”

“So good Tommy. We being so good. Momma ain’t mad near half the time just like you said.”

Theresa, their mother stepped out from behind a wall inside. “Wassat Joe?” She swayed while she walked.

“Nothin’, Mom.”

“Thomas stepped forward into the light of the doorway. “You been drinking?”

“Oh darling, you know by now, I’m always drinking. It’s what keeps me happy.”

He looked down at all the little ones with wide scared eyes, wondering what to do. “Off to bed with you now. I’ll come back another time.”

As soon as their small feet scampered around a corner, he said, “If you keep drinking, they’re gonna take the kids.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What, are you here to spy on me?”

“No, just checking on the kids but you gotta stop. You have one more chance.”

She leaned up against the wall. “What do you care, anyway? You got your life Your fame, your money. Why you worried about me?”

“I care about these kids. You know that.”

“Yeah, especially Joe.” Her eyes widened, and she appeared to be in earnest.

“Tell me, Theresa.”

“I got nothing to say to you.”

“Tell me.”

She turned from him, her face pinched in pain. “No.”

“You gotta stop this.”

She held out a shaky pointer finger. “You have no say. You walked out of my life and don’t get to have opinions anymore.”

“I didn’t walk out.”

She waved her arm around. “I don’t want to hear it.”

He was getting nowhere with her tonight. The glazed eyes and unsteady step told him that. “Ok, well, I’m gonna go now. Take care. Reach out if something happens. Please.”

“Yeah, yeah. Get out of here.” She turned her back.

He scrambled down the stairs. When he got to the bottom, a flash nearly blinded him. A man dressed in black stepped into Thomas’ blind spot from the flash. “Who’s that, Thomas? Some secret lover?”

“None of your business.” Thomas shoved him away, got in the car and told the driver to hurry.

The smooth ride of the car soothed him and after about fifteen minutes, he could breathe normally. What was he going to do about Theresa? What could he do? Besides be here for her when she crashed. Because he knew she would. And someone had to take care of those kids.

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