A Christmas Homecoming (6 page)

When would he be able to shake this melancholy that plagued him? He was lonely and ready to move on with his life. He’d thought he’d done that in France, but now that he was home again, all the memories flooded his mind day and night.

Then there was his mother. He hadn’t let on to Bailey how poorly Mom was doing, but Bailey was a smart woman, and he could tell she at least had an inkling. When he’d received the call that he needed to come home to help care for his mother, he didn’t know what he’d expected to find here, but seeing her so frail was definitely not it.

He’d been away less than three years, and she seemed to have aged twenty. She was no longer the spry woman he remembered. What more could he do to help his mother?

He set the picture back on the mantle. For now he’d check on the turkey and see if Bailey needed any help in the kitchen. She was extremely organized, so he doubted she would, but he’d offer nonetheless.

He slipped into his jacket and boots, then stepped outside. A cold blast of air struck him. He tucked his chin and headed for the shortcut thorough the woods that led to the main house. John’s Jeep sat in the driveway. Of his two brothers, he’d been closest to John before Rebecca’s death, but they’d grown distant since. He hoped to remedy that soon. If being in France had taught him anything, it was that family was important.

He stomped to get the snow off his boots then stepped inside the house. Warmth immediately enveloped him. He shrugged out of his jacket and left it on the coat rack. He sniffed and grinned. The scent of roasting turkey filled the air. He looked around the first level. John must be upstairs visiting their mother.

Stephen rounded a corner then headed toward the kitchen. Bailey stood at the counter whistling a Christmas tune with a red apron covering her front. She had a counter filled with all kinds of desserts as well as finger foods. The second oven appeared to be in use, and a pot simmered on the stovetop.

Bailey turned toward him as he entered. “Hi. Your turkey sure smells wonderful. I can’t wait to taste it.”

“Me neither. I’m getting hungry.” He used a digital thermometer to check the turkey’s temperature. “It’s almost done! I thought it would take a lot longer. I better call Rick and tell him to get over here.”

“John is with Mona. He said to let him know when everyone got here.”

“I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry. You’ve done more than enough already.”

Her cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink. “I wanted everything to be perfect. This is my first Thanksgiving away from home, and the first I’ve ever cooked.”

“And you’re spending it with us? I’m sorry.”

She laughed. “I like your family, Stephen. It’s not a hardship.” She grabbed a veggie platter in one hand and fruit platter in the other and left the kitchen.

An hour later Stephen ambled slowly beside his mom as she shuffled into the dining room with the aid of her walker right as Rick placed the turkey in the center of the table. He had to hand it to Bailey—she’d pulled off an elegant affair right down to the gourmet pies on the side buffet.

“Happy Thanksgiving, everyone,” Mona said.

His entire family turned. His niece and nephew’s faces lit.

Judy, Rick’s wife, jumped up from her seat. “Mona, you look wonderful.” She gave her a side hug. “I’ll get her settled, Stephen.”

“Okay.” He stepped away. He’d extended the table to seat eight, but there were only seven place settings. Bailey was missing. Had she changed her mind about eating with them? It seemed unlikely, considering she’d seemed genuinely pleased to be spending the holiday with his family. “Excuse me while I find Bailey.” She had to be in the kitchen.

“She’s gone.” Judy helped his mother to her place at the head of the table.

“What do you mean, she’s gone? She’s been working in the kitchen all morning.”

Mom shot him a look that said to zip it, but he was tired of her attitude toward her assistant who was more a part of his family than he’d been of late. He still hadn’t discovered what had happened that caused his mother to turn on the woman she’d groomed for the past two years. Nor had he taken the time to search for her replacement. “Where did she go?”

“I phoned her a little while ago,” Mom said, “and told her to take the rest of the day off once the meal was ready to serve.” She flicked a pumpkin colored napkin into her lap.

Judy settled into her seat beside her daughter, Lacy,wearing a smug look. “She said something about meeting friends in Sunriver.”

“Oh.” Why did Judy look so pleased that Bailey had left? Irritation threatened to dampen his good mood. He was thankful Bailey had friends she could spend the meal with, but felt badly that she’d thought she was eating here and then was sent away.

He pulled out a high-backed wooden chair and sat next to his nephew, Collin. Bailey probably preferred to spend the holiday with friends or her own family rather than co-workers, anyway. But regardless, the arrangement didn’t sit right with him. She’d been talking all week about what she was planning to make and looked forward to tasting the pies from a bakery that was supposed to be the best in the area. She’d looked forward to the turkey, too.

Mom’s face glowed even though it still showed the effects of the stroke. “I’m delighted to have all my family under one roof after so long.” She shot a look of approval toward Stephen. “Welcome home, Son. We’ve missed you.”

Stephen nodded.

“I’m thankful for each of you. I am a blessed woman and can now die happy.”

He resisted rolling his eyes. Mom could be so melodramatic. “You’re not allowed to die yet.”

“I’m not a young woman. You never know.”

John, his middle brother, cleared his throat. “Seventy-three isn’t that old.”

“No way!” Collin’s eyes widened. “Grandma, you’re way older than my Sunday school teacher, but she has gray hair. How come you don’t?”

Stephen chuckled and patted his nephew’s shoulder. “Cool it, dude.”

Judy’s face reddened, and her eyes shot daggers at her son. “Everyone is old to a seven-year-old.”

“True enough,” John said. “Let’s pray and eat before everything gets cold.”

They all paused while Rick prayed a blessing over the food. “Amen.”

A low hum filled the room as food was passed and plates were filled.

“How is the search coming along for my new assistant?” Mom asked.

Rick started choking. His wife patted his back. “What are you talking about? Did Bailey give notice she’s leaving?” He looked between Mom and Stephen. “The way you’ve been treating her, it wouldn’t surprise me,” he mumbled under his breath loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Let’s not discuss business.” Stephen shot his brother a look intended to silence him. “It’s my first holiday home in a while, and I’d like it to be pleasant.” Or at least as pleasant as possible.

Mona shrugged. “I don’t know what the big deal is.” She added fruit salad to her plate. “Thanks for bringing this, Judy. It wouldn’t be a holiday without it.”

Stephen tuned out the conversation around him and pondered what was going on with his family. They were all the same, yet different. Then again, maybe he was the one who had changed. Losing Rebecca made him realize what was important and what wasn’t. Death had a way of doing that.

John told a joke that had everyone laughing. He’d missed it but grinned anyway. Coming back had been the right thing. Now all he had to do was figure out how to live here without Rebecca.

“I saw on the internet that Mount Bachelor has enough snow to open the inner tube run today,” John said. “Anyone want to go after we eat? It’s not every year they’re open on Thanksgiving, so this is a treat.” John looked directly at him.

“Um, sure. I guess.” Stephen reached for his water goblet.

“It’s settled then. The old fogies will stay here and clean up, and you, the kids, and I will go have fun,” John said.

Collin pushed his plate toward the center of the table. “I’m done!”

Everyone laughed.

His niece, always the reserved one, whispered into her mother’s ear. “Lacy wants to know if she can invite Bailey.” A sour look covered Judy’s face for a moment, then quickly cleared.

Stephen stilled. What was up with that? “She’s with friends.”

Lacy pushed the mashed potatoes around on her plate. “I know, but she’s so much fun to play with.”

“You play with Grandma’s assistant?” Somehow this news didn’t surprise him, but it should have.

Judy sent a forced smile his direction. “I work fulltime now, and sometimes Bailey gets the kids from school. No big deal. It’s not like she’s not getting paid.”

“Is there anything that woman doesn’t do for this family?” He shoved back his chair.

“I don’t know what you’re so upset about,” Judy said. “Bailey is always willing to do whatever any one of us wants. It’s not like we force her.”

Judy appeared clueless to how callous she sounded. “Excuse me. I have a call to make.” He stood and stalked out the door. He couldn’t explain why this latest news didn’t sit well, but he was beginning to believe his mother’s words. Bailey did whatever his mother demanded and more. She was too nice a person to be treated so poorly, and he intended to put a stop to it.

Bailey, Nicole, her fiancé, Mark, Spencer, and Sarah, a close friend of Nicole’s, were all seated around Nicole’s dining room table. Contentment settled over Bailey. She’d felt sad at first to be excluded from the Belafontes’ Thanksgiving feast since she’d worked in the hot kitchen all morning to create a fabulous meal for the family, but her backup plan turned out to be as good or better.

Her friend hadn’t cooked, but they’d enjoyed a delicious store-bought turkey meal. Although Nicole didn’t enjoy cooking, she’d made an effort to create a homey atmosphere, and Bailey appreciated the cornucopia centerpiece overflowing with dried flowers and ornamental gourds.

Bailey’s phone rang from her purse on the couch in the living room. She looked at her friends. “I’m sorry. I forgot to silence my phone. I can’t imagine who’d be calling me
today
.”

“It’s probably your parents,” Nicole said. “Didn’t you say you didn’t get to talk with your dad earlier? You should answer it. Go ahead and talk in the guestroom.”

“You’re sure?” Bailey hated disturbing everyone’s meal.

“Yes!” Mark and Nicole chimed in at the same time.

Bailey pushed back and bolted for her phone. The caller ID showed Stephen. Her heart leapt. She rushed into the bedroom and closed the door. “Is something wrong, Stephen?”

“No. Yes.”

She chuckled, but unease filled her. “Which is it?” She sat on the edge of the queen-sized bed. “Was something wrong with the food? Or is it your mother?” Her heart beat a rapid staccato. As difficult as Mona was, she didn’t wish anything bad on her.

“My mom is her usual self. The food was delicious thanks to you, but I want to make one thing clear. You are only my mom’s assistant. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

She jerked her head away from the phone as if she’d been struck. Sudden tears pricked her eyes.

“From now on you will not cook, clean, play nanny, or whatever else my crazy family has you doing. Understand?”

Her face heated. Where did he get off calling her and chewing her out on Thanksgiving of all days? “I don’t understand why you are so bothered. As your mother’s assistant I
assist
her however she needs help. Read my contract. And until you hire a companion for her, who else is going to do those things? You? I have to go.” She disconnected the call and powered off her phone. Her hands shook. She’d never spoken to anyone like that. Her mother was right when she used to tell her that she was a grump and lacked a filter when she was tired. What had she done?

A soft knock startled her. “Come in.”

Nicole slipped inside. “You okay?”

“You heard?”

She nodded. “The walls are thin.”

Bailey clasped her hands in front of her to still the shaking. “I don’t know how I feel, but I hope I have a job to go back to on Monday. I hung up on my boss’s son. The worst part about all this is that I can’t avoid him until then, since I’m living at Mona’s house right now.” She hated confrontation, but it appeared she’d walked right into it without even realizing it.