Page 5 of Only for Christmas

Harper’s head shot up, clocking Lucas on the chin, which was still sore from his nephew’s headbutt. ‘Don’t you blame me for this, you son of a bitch! This is your doing!’

‘I’m not the one being unreasonable,’ Paul sighed, loosening his tie.

‘You don’t call screwing your PA unreasonable?’

Lucas flinched. Paul was having an affair? That was a new development.

Breaking eye contact, Paul turned away, a sure sign of guilt. ‘She’s not my PA and this has nothing to do with Laura.’

Harper pushed away from Lucas, slapping her hands down on the kitchen island. ‘Like hell it doesn’t! If it wasn’t for her, you wouldn’t be leaving me!’

Lucas stepped between them. ‘Hey, hey, guys, calm down. This isn’t helping.’ He had to raise his voice to be heard over the shouting. Ironic, seeing as he was trying to lower the temperature, not add to it. ‘Take a breath. Both of you.’ He turned to Paul. ‘The kids said something about you taking them away for the weekend?’

He glanced at Harper. ‘That’s right. I’ve rented a place across town.’

‘Yeah, so you can continue screwing your PA! How convenient for you!’

His sister never lost her temper, so things must be bad for her to be losing control like this.

Paul raised his hand. ‘I can’t deal with this right now. I’m done arguing, Harper. I’m taking the kids to mine for the weekend, as we agreed. Hopefully, by the time I bring them back on Sunday, you’ll have calmed down.’

Harper’s response was to throw a metal colander at her husband’s head.

Thankfully, it missed.

‘Asshole!’ she screamed, before collapsing onto a barstool and wailing like someone had died. Her marriage certainly seemed dead.

Lucas waited for Paul to leave, before rubbing Harper’s back and making soothing comments about ‘staying strong’, and ‘hanging in there’. He had no idea what he should say or do at a time like this, but saying nothing felt wrong.

As he stroked his sister’s back, he wondered when she’d lost so much weight. He could feel every vertebra in her back, and what was with the jogging suit? Harper was normally a fan of the latest trends and having her nails and eyelashes done. It was disconcerting to see her looking so dishevelled.

He heard footsteps on the stairs. ‘Do you want to say goodbye to the kids before they leave?’

Harper shook her head. ‘I don’t want them to see me like this.’

‘Fair enough.’ When he heard the front door shut and the house descended into silence, he pulled Harper into his arms. ‘I had no idea things were so bad, sis. What do you need? What can I get you? Wine? Vodka? Chocolate ice cream? Run you a bath? Just tell me. I’m here for you, okay?’

‘I just want to sleep,’ she said, straightening. ‘I need to go upstairs.’

‘Sure, whatever you need. You head up. I’ll be right down here. Call when you need me.’

She shook her head. ‘Go home, Lucas. I’ll be fine.’

‘Are you kidding me? There’s no way I’m leaving you like this.’

‘I’m not going to do anything crazy, if that’s what you’re worried about.’ She reached up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. ‘But you might have noticed I’m not quite myself tonight. I’m so glad you’re here, you have no idea. But right now, I need to be alone. Come back tomorrow morning, okay?’

‘Are you sure? I’m happy to crash on the couch?’

‘I need to vent, and I can’t do that with you here.’ Her smile was weak. ‘It involves more yelling. There will be crying. And no doubt the destruction of Paul’s expensive suits. He hasn’t collected his clothes yet. I have a window of opportunity, as they say, and I don’t want you implicated in my crimes.’

Lucas didn’t like the sound of that. Revenge never ended well. ‘No scissors. Or sharp knives. You hear me?’

She nodded. ‘Loud and clear. I’ll stick to ripping.’

He squeezed her hand. ‘And don’t go yelling too much, or the neighbours will call the cops.’

‘I’ll use a pillow,’ she said, removing a large tub of chocolate ice cream from the freezer. ‘I’m a cliché, I know. But I really would rather be alone.’ She fetched a large spoon from the drawer. ‘Please, Lucas.’

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