Home for the Holidays Ch. 11-16

I watched as she fetched her son a drink, linking her arm in his and pulling him into the room. I followed and found a seat across from where Nicky's mother pulled him to sit upon the ugliest floral-patterned love seat I had ever seen. "Tell me everything," she gushed. "I want to hear all about what you do at that place."

"Do you mean Michigan? It's a state, Mom. It's not like I've moved to Siberia and live in a freaking igloo or something."

"I know, but it's just so ... ick," she said, staring at me out of the corner of her eyes when she said it. I got the message right away. Michigan wasn't what was icky, I was. Bitch, I thought. Two can play at this game.

"That's so true. I mean before we came here, I'd never heard of so many people stacked up in one place, kind of like sardines in a can, don't you agree?" I turned toward Mr. Grenfield, who'd been pretty silent until now. I think he was a bit embarrassed by his wife's actions but didn't know what to do to stop them.

"But along with all those 'sardines' comes culture and class and society," Mrs. Grenfield said, looking down her long patrician nose. It had to be a nose job; no one's nose is that thin at birth.

"As well as rape and robberies and murder," I threw right back at her. "Not to mention the poverty and the people living in the streets who have nothing and beg everyday just to be able to eat. Yes, this is a great place, it has so much going for it over Michigan." I hadn't meant to take it that far but now that I had, I was not backing down.

"So you would get rid of the theatres and the ballets as well as all the museums and give that money to the poor," Mrs. Grenfield threw at me.

"I didn't say that. I think, though, if some of the money that you give your hairdresser or your manicurist was given to the poor, there would be a lot less crime and death. Some of these people are driven to crime by sheer need. They don't see any other way out."

There was a knock on the door and Mrs. Grenfield clapped her hands excitedly. "I ran into someone today and invited them for dinner tonight. I hope you don't mind, Nicky."

Lucy went and answered the door. I glanced through the doorway but all I could see were well-manicured nails painted vivid red on long fingers. They handed Lucy a beautiful fur which had to cost more than I make in a month. I wasn't prepared for the whole picture. She came into the room, greeting Mrs. Grenfield with airy kisses, six inches from her cheek.

She was dressed in red leather, slick and formfitting. Her shoes made her tower over me and I knew I was just going to hate this night all the more now.

Especially as she made her way over to Nicky, who had tensed up the minute she'd entered the room. Giving him a toothy smile as he rose from his seat, she pressed herself against him, her hands digging into his hair to bring his mouth down to hers.

I wanted to pull every dyed-blonde hair out of her head. I probably would have if Nicky hadn't pushed the woman away and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "What are you doing here, Nadia?"

"I've missed you, Nicky. I ran into your mother as she was walking out of the nail salon and she told me you were home, visiting. She graciously invited me for dinner, since you have been ignoring me, you bad boy."

I could feel my body stiffening as she put her hand on Nicky's chest. Those bright red nails looked more like claws now. My hand fisted and I had to physically restrain myself from kicking her ass. I gave Nicky a look that promised this wasn't over.

"Nadia, I want to introduce you to someone," he said, coming to stand next to me. I got up and he put an arm around me, one I almost shrugged off. I couldn't believe his mother would stoop so low. Maybe I should have expected it. At least then it wouldn't seem like a slap in the face.

"Kenna, this is Nadia, a good friend. Nadia, this is my fiancée, Kenna McEwen."

The woman gave me a once over and then I was dismissed. "You're not getting married, Nicky," she said, tracing the buttons on his shirt with one clawed finger. "That would be a crime." She leaned in closer until her breasts almost pressed into Nick's chest. "Let's forget about dinner and go out dancing. Then maybe we could head over to my apartment and," she paused, glancing around as if this was a huge secret, "get to know each other again."

I couldn't take it any longer. I stepped closer, forced to look up at her because of those incredibly tall high heels. "Listen very closely," I said, my voice just above a whisper. "Nick is no longer on the market, nor is he on any menu. He's engaged and is marrying me. So..." and I stared pointedly where her finger was still on him, "back the fuck off."

"Well," Nadia growled at me and I thought for a moment of a feral cat, claws bare, hissing with her back arched. "Nicky are you going to let this...this person talk to me that way?"

Nick stepped back and wrapped his arm around me once more. "Yes, I guess I am. What part of engaged didn't you get, Nadia? I am no longer interested in clubbing or going to your apartment." He leaned down and whispered something in my ear, making me laugh.

"Mom, Dad, we are going to go out for dinner since the atmosphere in here is a little more feline then we'd like."

"Son," Mr. Grenfield said, "got room for one more?"

"Sure do, Dad," Nicky said after glancing down at me. I smiled at Mr. Grenfield. I was really getting to like that man.

"B-but what about dinner? Lucy's been preparing food all day, all your favorite dishes, Nicky." Mrs. Grenfield was in a quandary and Nadia's presence hadn't done what she'd hoped it would.

"Lucy will forgive us, I have no doubt," Mr. Grenfield said. "Now, quit your blustering, Helen. You brought this one on yourself. I told you to stay out of Nick's business, but you never listen to me."

Nick grabbed the coats out of the closet and handed mine to me. I slipped it on, still seeing red. I couldn't help it. I'd never expected that the woman would go so far as to parade Nicky's exes in front of me. I growled low in my throat and turned to leave the room, stepping outside to climb down the short flight of stairs that lead to the street. Pacing kept me warm and I had my anger to wrap around me. Every time I thought of that woman touching Nick like that, with his mother looking on approvingly, I thought I'd scream.

"Baby?" Nick said coming up behind me.

I twirled. "Does she hate me so much? What did I ever do to her for her to do these things?" I was shivering, but it wasn't from the cold. I was angry.

Nick pulled me into his arms. "It's not you, honey. It's any woman I ever brought home to meet her. I think she wants me to find a carbon copy of her."

"Even that wouldn't be good enough," Nick's dad said, coming down the stairs. "Are you okay?" he asked, lifting my chin with his fingers. "Helen can be a lot to take, but one thing you have to give her. She really does want what's best for Nicky and for him to be happy. You come from the place that stole her baby away and she looks on you as one more thing out there that's keeping him there. She's not normally rude or callous."

I looked up at him. I could see a lot of Nicky in him. He had the same wide-spaced intelligent and gentle eyes, the same little cowlick at his temple; he even smiled a bit crookedly. "I guess, when you put it that way, I can understand why she hates me so much."

"It's not hate, Kenna. She feels threatened by you, which is why she pulled out the big guns. I haven't seen Nadia since you dumped her, Nick, right before you left. And Helen didn't have an appointment today at any salon."

"So she decided to bring a bleached blonde bimbo in to stir things up?" I sighed. Deciding to forget the whole thing, I changed the topic of conversation. "So, where are we heading for dinner?"

Nick pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and I watched as his father got a cab. He sat in front and Nick and I sat close to each other. "There's this new place, it's somewhat outside the city but I've heard it's excellent. I know the owner pretty well. It's called Abstracts. Shall we try it?"

"Don't we need reservations?"

"No, I do all their legal work for them. I know that Nashe will have a table for us."

* * * *

Nashe was a well built, leanly muscled man, evident by the way his shirt stretched across his chest. His wife, Terry, was a beautiful blonde who had a smile on her face and one hand on her well-rounded belly.

We were shown to a table that had a VIP card sitting in the center. I couldn't help but stare around the room. The place was funky, not like the usual fancy restaurants I'd seen. The booth's had high backs but were cut out in strange shapes. Even the lighting was a bit different, with beautiful stained glass fixtures that made the colors swirl a bit around the room.

"Wow," I said, "this is something else."

"Nashe is head chef here and owns the place. Wait until you taste his food. He's an excellent chef, has a way of combining flavors that makes the food almost sing."

"I'll make sure to tell him you said that," Terry said, coming up to the table.

"James, it's great to see you. You have to be his son; you two look so much alike."

"We get that all the time," Nick's dad said. "You look about to pop."

Terry slid her hand down the front of her plain white shirt. "Another couple of weeks and then I'll be able to put these guys down."

"Guys?"

"Oh yes, multiple births run in Nashe's family." She looked up and saw one of the waiters signaling her. "Have a wonderful meal," she said, touching James's shoulder. "Come by more often, James, we miss you around here.

She nodded at me and at Nick before turning to go back to her duties. "She's beautiful," I said.

"Yes," James said, "motherhood seems to suit her well. Okay, you two, what sounds good? It's on me."

It took me no time at all to realize some of the ways Nicky took after his father. I was fascinated by watching the two of them verbally spar.

The waiter came and took our order. The service was impeccable, quick, and unobtrusive. But the food was the highlight of the night. Everything seemed to melt in my mouth and I ate until I was so stuffed it hurt.

"I'm going to do two hours in the gym after this meal," I said, groaning.

The men got up and I managed to not have to roll myself out of the restaurant. While his dad paid the bill, Nicky and I went outside. The parking lot was a little dark. I looked up, smiling as I saw the stars. "That's one thing you can't get in any place in New York City," I said, pointing up at the stars. Just as I did that, a shooting star blazed across the sky. "Quick," I said to Nick. "Make a wish."

I closed my eyes and made the wish. It was fairly self-serving but I didn't have much choice. Then Nick's dad came out and we got in the car. I sat in the back seat, next to Nick. The cab smelled like popcorn and stale cigarettes. Nicky wrapped his arm around me and held me close the entire way back to his parent's house.

Nadia was still there. I couldn't take any more of her cooing over Nick. "I have a headache, Nick, I think I'll go up and go to bed."

"This doesn't have anything to do with Nadia?" he asked as he took my coat and hung it up in the closet. "Honey, I don't love her, I never did. You are the one and only for me." He reached out and took my hand. He brought it to his lips, kissing my finger where his ring was. "I wouldn't hurt you that way."

"I know, baby. I guess I'm just a little train-lagged."

"Okay, I'll go in and say goodnight to my parents and then I'll be up, too," Nick said, leaning down to kiss me. For some reason, I wanted to cling to him with everything I had and tell him not to go in, to just go up with me. But I didn't.

My heart was heavy when I climbed the stairs. Something bad was going to happen, I could feel it.

The bed was turned down invitingly when I walked into his room. Frost made tiny ice pictures on the windows. I went to one of them and placed my hand flat against it, feeling the cold outside. When I removed my hand, a perfect picture of my hand was there. I went to my suitcase and rummaged through it, looking for something to wear to bed.

I changed clothes and slipped into his bed. The sheets were cold against my skin but they warmed quickly enough. I rolled onto my side, my eyes locked on the door, knowing he'd be there any second. He wouldn't let me down.

He wouldn't want anything to do with Nadia.

I fell asleep, still watching that door.

Chapter Fourteen

I didn't sleep long. For some reason, I rolled to Nick's side of the bed, and he wasn't there. He wasn't there at all. My eyes flew open and I stared at the clock. It had been little more than an hour since I had come up without him.

But that seemed a little long of a time to say goodnight and follow me upstairs.

I got out of bed and grabbed one of his big sweatshirts to cover the tank top and pajama bottoms I was wearing. The floor was carpeted with thick, soft rugs. I stayed on those. I walked down the steps, stopping when I could see into the salon where Nicky had been going to say goodnight. There was a light on in there, but I didn't hear any noise.

I crept down the rest of the stairs, circling the banister to head back toward the doorway. I was scared out of my wits, with this feeling that I really didn't want to be there. "Nicky," I called quietly before peering into the doorway.

"Are you in ... there..." my voice trailed off as I saw what was going on in that room.

A sob caught in my throat and brought Nadia's attention to me. She laughed, a husky sound, and whispered something to Nicky. He didn't reply. She was sitting on his lap, her arms around his neck, his hand on her thigh. When I'd walked in, they'd been kissing; her scarlet lipstick was smeared on her lips.

I turned, not able to breathe because the pain was so overwhelming. I just wanted to hide and cry my heart out. I waited for Nicky to say something, to call out, to acknowledge me. When there was no response, I ran back up the stairs. Behind me, the bitch laughed.

I tore the ring off of my finger as I went back to the room we were supposed to be sharing. Getting in his suitcase, I grabbed my ticket back to Lapeer. I packed everything of mine after slipping on some jeans and a sweater. The ring I left on his desk.

I called a cab and then dragged my suitcase downstairs. Going into the closet to get my coat, I couldn't help but glance back at the salon door. He said he loved me. If he loved me then ... why? After the mess with Steven and Bekka, I couldn't handle anymore. So I walked outside, closing the door firmly behind me.

The cab drove up and I told him where I wanted to go. I slammed the car door shut, glancing once more at the front window. Nadia was there, a triumphant smile upon her perfect lips. She saw me glaring at her and waved, one little wiggle of her four fingers. Nicky was nowhere to be seen. I turned my head as the cab pulled away.

It wasn't a long ride. I paid the cab and went inside. I got lucky. They were just boarding a train that would go through Lapeer. I changed my ticket for that train and hurried to where it was boarding. Stepping inside, I pushed my way to an empty seat in the back of the car, hoping that no one would talk to me. As soon as someone said something to me, it was all going to be real and then I would cry until I was all cried out.

The conductor came up and I automatically handed him my ticket, watching as he punched it. He wished me a good trip and I nodded, fighting the tears that wanted to slide down my cheeks. I wouldn't be in Lapeer for hours yet. I couldn't break down now. I had to be strong; I had stay focused on my next move.

"God, Nick, why did you have be like Steven?" I said quietly.

I stared out the window, not seeing the view but Nicky's face when he told me not to worry, that he loved me and not Nadia. "How can I be so stupid and gullible?"

"It definitely is a human flaw," a voice said and I looked up to see a very handsome man standing next to the seat across from me. "Is this taken?" he asked.

"No," I said trying to control my tears but not succeeding very well.

"Mind if I sit then?" he asked.

"If you're going to try to pick me up, then yes, I do mind. I've had it with men, I'm swearing off of them." I felt the rage and the hurt blending together. I almost panted with the pain of it.

"Maybe it might help if you got some of it off your chest?" he asked, sitting down across from me. "I'm David Stewart, by the way." He held his hand out and I took it in mine. He squeezed lightly before letting it go, firm and confident without being threatening.

"Kenna McEwen," I said, then started looking for a tissue in my bag.

"Here," He handed me a clean, white handkerchief.

I took it, blowing my nose and wiping my eyes. I stuffed it in my pocket. "I'll wash it and get it back to you."

"That's okay, I have a drawer full of them at home. It's one of those Christmas gifts that you get every year from your aunt or your grandma. Half of them are still in the package," he said with a grin. "So, Kenna McEwen, what has your Irish up?"

"I just found my fiancé with another woman," I said, wishing that I'd stayed and pulled her fake hair out. "Nadia," I spat. "How could he have done this to me?"

"Did you find them in bed together?" he asked softly, knowing he could be treading on the mushy ground right before you hit thin ice.

"No, they were in the salon," I said. "She was sitting on his lap and his hand was on her leg. She turned and her lipstick was smeared."

"So all he did was kiss her?"

"That was enough, don't you think?"

"I think you should let him have his say. There could have been circumstances that you know nothing about." I scrunched up my nose at his words.

"What circumstances?" I asked. "You tell me what circumstances could have put her on his lap with her lipstick in such a state. Give me one good circumstance, Mr. Stewart."

"Does his mother like you or even approve of you?"

"N-No," I said, trying to control the tears.

"Then do you think she and this Nadia could have set up this whole thing to get rid of you?"

"That doesn't explain why he was sitting there and why he didn't come after me when I left." David's words made me begin to wonder if the whole thing might indeed have been a setup.

David seemed to ponder my words. "Did you see his eyes?" he asked.

"No, her face was between us. What do his eyes have anything to do with this?"

They say the eyes are the windows of the soul, dear. They also can tell us many things about a person's state of being, emotional or physiological. Have you considered that there may be an explanation not involving his conscious betrayal?"

"How could that be? I can't see his mother being part of that. Even if she hated me, she still loves her son. Nicky would disown her if she harmed him."

"What about what's her name, Nadia? Would she do something to Nicky?"

"I don't know. Our first meeting didn't go too well. She brushed me off as being inconsequential and I told her to keep her manicured claws off of my fiancé." Even the thought of Nadia brought back the image of her sitting on his lap and that horrid lipstick smudged from his kissing her. At that moment, I realized that I believed her to be capable of almost anything.

"Do you think Nicky would do that to you?" David said. He sat forward and took my hands in his. "This all comes down to a matter of trust, Kenna. Do you trust Nicky? Can you trust him enough to let him explain and give him a chance to tell you his side?"

His hands were warm on my cold ones, and his eyes, a rich brown, were steady as he stared into mine. "Do you trust him?" he asked again.

"Yes, but..."

"No buts," he said. "You need to hold onto that trust for him and not lose hope." He stood up, giving my hands one more squeeze before he let them go. "You'll be okay now?" he asked and I nodded.