Page 25 of A Little Christmas 4: Teller
“Uh, you can’t surprise the driver. I need directions, Maizie. I haven’t driven in a few years, so I’m a little worried I’ll wreck and kill us both.”
Her giggle wasn’t comforting. “You’re on this road for three miles. I’ll tell you well before it’s time to turn.”
If that was all I was getting, then I’d have to make do. “How is Briggs?”
“I’m not entirely sure. Daddy has been spending time with him, and he’s mentioned a few things, but I’ve been up to my neck in studying. What happened with you two, anyway? I thought things were going very well.”
“He wants me to move in with him. Do you realize I’ve only known him for three weeks? He’s only been around me when I was little one time. I’ve been busy with my three jobs and haven’t played in a while. He’s bought me some clothes and toys that are at his hotel, and I love spending time with him, but I’m scared.” That was no lie.
“Get in the left lane. You’re going to make a left in half a mile. Why are you scared?” Maizie asked.
“Because everyone I’ve ever loved who has professed to love me gets tired of me and leaves, Maizie.” She knew this. I’d told her about my abandonment issues not long after we met.
“Slow down before you get a ticket. I love you. You’re my big brother, and I’m never leaving you.”
I glanced at the speedometer to see I was doing fifty in a thirty-five. That was fifteen over the speed limit and would land my butt in hot water. “Sorry. You don’t—”
“Don’t you say I don’t count. Turn left at the next light. I dotoocount, Teller Buchanan. Just because I was adopted and my…” She stopped talking, and I felt like a real dick for reminding her of her fucked-up past.
Her adopted father molested her when she was ten. Her adopted mother divorced him, and he left the country to avoid prosecution, so her mother became very smothering. The whole thing made me nauseous to consider what Maizie went through.
I reached over the console and took her hand while I was waiting for the arrow. When I saw the restaurant at the turn,I knew exactly where we were going, but I couldn’t remember exactly how to get there.
“Are we going to the white house? We just looked at the place on Thursday. How did he…? It was a damn holiday, Maizie. He couldn’t have already… Where’d this Bronco come from?” I was getting wound up, and that wasn’t good if I was driving. As I’d said, I was already a nervous driver.
Maizie opened the glove box and pulled out a pink slip. “It’s owned by York Properties, LLC. Daddy said it was a company car we could share, but you’ll have to be the driver for now. After I finish my classes, I’ll move out here with Daddy, and we won’t live too far away from each other.”
“I never said I’d move out here—at least, not yet. I mean, like I said, I’m scared.” She knew all my secrets already. Why were we rehashing it?
“Three miles on this road and a right at Country Club Lane. Daddy Barrett’s going to pressure you to move out here because if you move, then I move. He won’t let me stay in Hillsdale Heights without you.” She squeezed my hand, which led me to believe she wasn’t entirely upset about that.
“Daddy Briggs said if I move out here, I can have one of the bedrooms on the second floor as my design studio. I haven’t made your costume for the pajama party yet. Have you thought about it?”
“I’d love to have you make a shortie baby-doll gown and bloomers. Daddy Barrett already said he’d buy whatever material I want, so we can go to a legit fabric store instead of the thrift store, though I do like the idea of repurposing things. That would be a fantastic way to market yourself.”
I laughed as I turned down Country Club Lane and made a left at the driveway leading to the big white house. It was lit up like a Christmas tree, and Briggs’s car was parked in front of the detached garage.
“How the fuck did he move in here? He couldn’t have closed over the holiday weekend,” I moaned.
Maizie laughed. “Telly, I’m sorry to tell you this, but your Daddy has more money than I can count. I know you had an issue when he forgot his money at his hotel—”
“He told you about that?” God, it was embarrassing.
“No, he told Daddy about it, and Daddy told me when I was on a study break on Saturday evening.”
“I hate that I pitched a fit. I just thought he was a slimy bastard who was trying to take money from me. I was wrong. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, and I love him. He says he loves me too. I’ve never had someone love me, Maizie.” I was whispering because if I said it aloud, I would have to accept that he wasn’t lying to me, and I still didn’t trust my own judgment.
“Let’s go inside. Briggs is at the window, and he’s praying you come inside,” Maizie said as she hopped out of the Bronco.
The front porch light turned on, and when I saw Briggs’s frame in the doorway, I couldn’t stop myself from turning off the Bronco, unbuckling the seatbelt, and stepping out of the vehicle. I stared at the man for a moment, and then my heart took hold of my senses.
I ran toward him, and when he scooped me up and held me, I knew it was right. He was the man—Daddy—meant for me.
Chapter Twelve
Briggs
“How’d you pull this off?” Teller asked as I carried him up the stairs after we’d walked Barrett and Maizie out of the house after dinner. Thankfully, Teller agreed to stay and talk.
