Page 123 of Born to Sin

When they stopped by Troy’s school a few hours later, his son bought Beckett’s sketchy explanation, just asking, “You’ll be home for Christmas, though, won’t you? Because it’sChristmas,and it won’t be nice if you’re not there.”

“I’ll be there, mate,” Beckett promised. “Count on me.”

“And Quinn too?”

“Definitely,” Quinn said. “It’s going to be the best Christmas in a long, long time.”

“Because it’s a family,” Troy said. “And you like kids, but you don’t have kids.”

“That’s right,” Quinn said, her eyes suspiciously bright. “And it’s not just that you’re a kid. It’s that you’re you, and you’re special, and I love you.”

Beckett gave Troy’s shoulders another cuddle. “Yeah, mate. Family Christmas.”

Janey was a much tougher proposition. “You have to go toAustralia?You said you couldn’t get time off work to go! You’re not taking Troy and me, but you’re taking Quinn?”

“Yeah,” Beckett said. “Like I said, it’s to do with Mum. There are still some things to sort out. Insurance, and that.” That had seemed like a good compromise. “I’ll ring you every day, and we’ll be back for Christmas.”

“But why couldn’t we go too?” Janey asked.

“It’s heaps of flying. Remember how tired you were by the time we got here? And we’ll only be there a couple of days. No time to go to the beach or see your friends. We’ll be in a hotel, and in some meetings. Quinn’s going with me because she’s a judge, so she understands the legal stuff.”

He’d said, when Quinn had suggested it, “Being a judge in the States doesn’t have much to do with being a judge in Oz,” and she’d answered, “Which your kids will not know.” It seemed to be true, because Janey was saying, “OK, I guess. Since I don’t have any choice.Again.”

“We’ll have an awesome Christmas,” Beckett promised. “I’ve got the day after to spend with you as well.”

“You said you were going to do baking with us, though,” Janey told Quinn. “And teach me to make that special sweet bread that’s like a wreath. And go sledding, and teach me to ice skate on the lake.”

“I’m absolutely going to do those things,” Quinn said. “I’ve got all next week off to do them, and I can’t wait. Also, I’m guessing Bam might make cookies with you.”

“She is,” Janey admitted. “We made the dough last night. Gingerbread ones, and another kind. We’re going to bake them after school today and decorate them, and make toffee with chocolate on top, too, even though Troy and I were supposed to go home tonight. Bam said I could bring some of them to school for presents. If I put them in red cellophane and tie them with a ribbon, she says they’ll be brilliant presents, and that it’s OK to give that present to—” She stopped.

“To a boy,” Quinn said, leaning against the principal’s desk and relaxing into the conversation as if they didn’t need to leave for the airport in about fifteen minutes. “I never thought of that, but it sounds right. Bam’s very wise. I always felt so awkward about boys and clothes and makeup and … well, everything, when I was a teenager. I wasn’t very good at all that. I mostly just swam and studied, because I had to miss a lot of school for swimming. I was a freak, honestly, but Bam made sure my clothes and hair were OK, and that helped. I was still awkward with boys, though.” She laughed. “I should’ve swallowed my pride and asked her for advice. I probably should now, because I’m still awkward. Luckily, your dad isn’t.”

“You’re not a teenager, though, Janey,” Beckett decided to put in. “Best remember that.”

She sighed.“Dad.”And exchanged a look with Quinn.

“Pick her brain as much as you can while you’re there, that’s my recommendation,” Quinn said. “Bam’s the Girl Whisperer.”

“She says she’ll help me shop,” Janey said. “At the store. She says there’s a discount for friends and family, so it won’t even cost that much. Maybe you should give me your credit card for while you’re gone, Dad.”

“No chance,” Beckett said. “And I bought you—”

“Because my feet have grown,” Janey said, “and my shoes and boots are both too small.”

“They can’t have done,” Beckett said. “It was about three months ago.”

“Excuse me,” Janey said. “Puberty?”

“Right,” he said. “Fine. Shoes and boots. But no credit card. I’m not made of money.”

“Dad.This is when she can help me shop!”

Quinn said, “You can pay Mom afterwards, Beckett. And text her tonight and give her your spending limit, in case she gets all energetic and decides to take Janey this week. Bam does not put off until tomorrow what she could do today.” Janey sighed again, and Quinn told her, “It’s a negotiation. This is how you get your dad to let you go shopping.”

“Fine,” Janey said. “Except I’d better not end up with ugly rubber boots just because they’re cheapest, or Angel’s going to make fun of me again. She has ones that are green and suede. They have fur at the top, too. If I came back from Christmas and had boots like that, and maybe a sweater dress, I’d—”

Beckett said, “You didn’t grow out of your dresses.”

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