Page 22 of The Wish List
Maybe Beth had influenced her strong-willed sister after all. “Do you travel a lot for that job?” Declan took the tray from her, a small but gentlemanly gesture that she appreciated. They headed back toward her mother’s room.
“Mostly the Eastern Seaboard and Midwest. I typically spend a month or two with each business and then follow up with them over the next year. Sometimes they want the change to save their business. They need to turn things around to make a profitable sale in other cases.”
“Do you have your own show?”
He chuckled. “This face wasn’t made for television.”
Beth could have argued that point. She knew a lot of women at the hospital who would probably pay a pretty subscription penny to watch Declan work his magic.
“Isn’t that hard on your family?” she asked, unable to resist. She shouldn’t want to know more about him, but she did.
“Shauna is the closest thing to family I have.” His voice was several degrees cooler than it had been a few moments earlier. “Nobody’s waiting for me.”
“You’re lucky,” she said before she thought better of it. “I wish I didn’t have so many people depending on me.”
“Maybe we both could appreciate a new perspective this holiday season.” One thick brow rose in challenge. “A little Christmas magic and all of that?”
Beth felt her smile grow tight. “I don’t really celebrate the holidays, but I guess I could take a fresh perspective minus the magic.”
She opened the door to her mother’s room and stifled a gasp. If she had been interested in Christmas magic, this would be the place to find it. As May looked on in delight, reindeer ears perched on her head, Shauna and her boys finished putting out the last of the decorations they’d brought.
It was as if the magic from Christmas past, present and future had all converged on this one small room. A mini tree on the dresser was decorated with tiny ornaments and surrounded by a Christmas village display. A colorful wreath hung on the window along with felt garland. Her mother’s muted comforter had been replaced with one that showed a winter forest scene, and a couple of overstuffed pillows brightened the chairs in the room.
“You did all this in the time it took me to microwave ravioli?” Beth went to her mother’s neighbor, and without overthinking it, gave Shauna a quick hug. “Thank you.”
She turned to May. “You like it, Mom?”
“Yay,” her mother answered, nodding.
Beth’s eyes stung at her mother’s wide smile. When she tried to grin so broadly, it became apparent how her face gently sagged on one side. It was still difficult to tell whether her mom had any concept of the damage the stroke had done. Had the part of May’s brain that recognized her former self been wiped away like a sandcastle toppled by a strong wave?
There was no denying the happiness May currently displayed. Beth remembered one particular Christmas when May had sat the girls down and given them a lecture about the objectification of Mrs. Claus being left behind at the North Pole and the misogyny of so many of the classic holiday stories.
That severe stance on the holidays seemed forgotten by her mother. Beth wished she could also put aside what had come before. Maybe this was a new beginning for all of them.
When she met Declan’s warm gaze, filled with understanding and humor, she desperately wished for something new.
CHAPTER EIGHT
FREYASTAREDATthe front door of her mother’s house like Lucifer himself might be standing on the other side.
“Why aren’t you answering it?” Trinity asked as she moved past Freya.
“Don’t,” Freya whispered urgently.
Trin paused with her hand on the door. “It’s Greer. You know, Mom’s agent.”
“I know.”
“He’s here to work on the first floor.”
“I know.”
“Is there a reason you don’t want to let him in?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know why he needs to be here.” Trinity gave Freya a look clearly communicating that Freya was acting irrational. Something she knew without her sister pointing it out.
“He’s here because he is willing to help and—”
