The Mysterious Stranger (Triple Trouble) (21 page)

He’d spent so much of his life alone—some by choice, some by necessity. He’d forgotten what it was like to be around good people, sharing good times. He’d grown used to solitary holidays and the silence. Tracy had invited him to visit her every Christmas, from the time she’d moved out and married Donald through last year. He’d always refused. Now, looking around the room, at the beautiful tree, the presents piled high, and listening to the happy conversation, he knew he’d been wrong to avoid the family connection. It was too late to change the past, but he made a vow it wasn’t going to happen in the future.

“There are a lot of presents,” Anna Jane said conversationally, sliding onto Fallon’s lap and giving Jarrett an innocent look. Her dark eyes glittered with excitement. “So many presents. We’ll be opening them for hours tomorrow.”

He hid a smile. “It will be a lot of work,” he agreed solemnly.

Fallon squeezed her tight. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it’s not going to work.”

Anna Jane blinked several times. “I’m not doing anything.”

“Uh-huh. Sure. You want to open presents tonight.”

“I never said that, but it is a good idea, don’t you think?”

Fallon laughed.

Jarrett couldn’t have found the strength to look away, even if he’d wanted to. There was something so compelling about watching Fallon with Anna Jane. It was as if the two of them were family, instead of a woman and child who had just met. He suspected some of the connection had been born from their mutual needs. Anna Jane had recently lost every important person in her world. As Ariel, Fallon had lost her identity. Those losses had allowed them to form a bond that was stronger than casual acquaintance.

But while he could explain away Fallon’s relationship with his niece, he didn’t have such an easy explanation for his attraction to the woman who had recently become an important part of his world.

Last night he’d admitted to her that he wanted her. He was still surprised by that. Not the feelings; he’d resisted desire from the first moment he’d seen her. Instead, he was startled that he’d willingly told her how he felt. It had been years since he’d allowed himself to physically crave anyone. Longer still since he’d trusted a single soul with personal information. What was it about her that made him want to risk caring?

“Jarrett, you’re going to have to make the decision,” Fallon said, breaking in to his thoughts. “Anna Jane wants to open just one present.”

“What’s the tradition in your family?” he asked.

The triplets shared a quick look. “There wasn’t one,” Kayla said quickly. “Some years we were allowed to open presents on Christmas Eve and some years we had to wait. What about you, Patrick?”

“I’m a sucker for big brown eyes,” Patrick said easily. “I doubt I could refuse Anna Jane anything.”

“I like Patrick,” the girl declared.

“I’ll bet you do,” Jarrett told her. “All right. One present. But I get to pick which one.”

Fallon looked at him. “Why do I get the feeling I don’t know about this?”

“Because you don’t. I did some of the wrapping myself.”

Anna Jane jumped to the ground and clapped her hands together. “Yes! I like this tradition. Which package?”

Elissa glanced at Fallon. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Jarrett, you didn’t, did you?”

“Did what?” Anna Jane asked.

Kayla groaned and pulled her knees up to her chest. “Oh, Lord, I can’t stand this. I really hope we’re wrong.”

Jarrett walked over to the tree and dug around in the wrapped packages until he found the right one. The rectangular box was about the size of half a loaf of bread.

“It’s not,” Kayla said. “The size is wrong.”

“Unless it’s a set,” Fallon muttered darkly.

“I’m going to open it,” Anna Jane told them. “Then we’ll know.”

Jarrett stood next to his niece and grinned in anticipation. The triplets were right, and he couldn’t wait to see the look on Fallon’s face.

Anna Jane ripped at the brightly colored wrapping paper. It fluttered to the floor. She stared at the boxed set of six videos. She frowned as she stared at the photograph on the jacket. “‘The Sally McGuire Show,’” she read aloud. “Why would—” Her expression cleared. “Oh, Uncle Jarrett, this is Fallon’s show. You bought me Fallon’s show!”

Fallon fell over on the sofa and covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe he found them.”

“Worse,” Elissa said. “Think about where we are. He not only found them, he had them flown in specially.”

“I, for one, am pleased,” Cole told his wife. “I like watching the show.”

“That’s because you weren’t in it,” Fallon muttered, still huddled on the sofa. “You didn’t have your humiliation recorded and then sold in a boxed gift set.” “I’m with Cole,” Patrick said. “The videos are great. Where’s the television?”

Fallon made a whimpering sound. “Please don’t make us watch them on the big-screen TV upstairs.”

Jarrett tried to look apologetic, even though he didn’t feel it in the least. “Sorry, that’s the only one in the house.”

“You have a set in your office,” Fallon reminded him.

“It’s very small and it only gets CNN.”

She raised her head. “Liar.”

He winked. “I’m excited about this.”

“Me, too,” Anna Jane said, and raced for the door. “I’ll go and turn on the TV.”

Patrick got to his feet and held out his hand to his wife. Kayla moaned. “But I don’t want to have to watch these.”

“Quit whining. It’ll be fun.”

She shook her head, but obligingly let him pull her into a standing position. Cole was already leading Elissa out the door and toward the stairs.

Jarrett looked at Fallon. “It can’t be that awful.”

She raised her head, then blew her bangs off her forehead. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. It is that awful. I love my sisters and they love me, but that doesn’t change the fact that none of us were very good actors. We managed to get by with a lot of takes and help. Despite our mother’s urging, we were not destined for this as a career.”

“What’s your point?”

“I don’t have one. I’m just whining.”

“Whine upstairs.”

* * *

The media room had three overstuffed leather sofas all facing a huge television. Anna Jane bounced from foot to foot as the adults found seats.

“I’ve already put the tape in,” she announced.

Jarrett winked at her. “I’m glad you’re not impatient or anything.”

“I’m not,” she declared. “You guys are taking too long.”

“Just start it,” Fallon said as she collapsed onto the sofa on the left. “It’s not as if we haven’t seen these before.”

Jarrett was pleased when she half turned toward him, tucking one foot under her and leaning her head against the sofa.

“I promise not to laugh,” he told her.

“Yeah, but will you still respect me?”

Something flickered in her green eyes. Something that made him think about last night, when he’d told her he wanted her and had seen a delighted light in her eyes…right before she’d blushed.

“I’ll always respect you,” he answered. They weren’t still talking about the show, and he suspected she knew that.

“Okay, I’m gonna start it now,” Anna Jane announced, and hit a button on the remote control. The blue screen flickered once, then was filled with the FCC warning about making copies.

“This is fun,” she said, and headed for the small space between him and Fallon.

As she cuddled next to him, Jarrett waited to feel annoyed at the intrusion. Oddly, he didn’t. While he would have liked to have had Fallon in his arms, she was close enough. Right now Anna Jane needed him more. He was determined to do right by her.

“I picked the Christmas story,” Anna Jane said. “It’s about a baby left on the doorstep.”

Elissa laughed delightedly. “It’s my favorite episode,” she told Anna Jane.

Across the room Kayla stuck out her tongue. “Figures.”

Fallon glanced at him. “Elissa was sick that week,” she explained. “I don’t think she has a single scene in this entire show. It was just Kayla and me, acting badly.” She shook her head. “Hmm, that didn’t come out right. Badly acting? Is that better?”

The credits ended and the show began. A baby sat in a basket on a doorstep. Fake snow lined the cobblestone street.

A blond, curly-headed young girl came around the side of the building and spotted the infant. Green eyes widened in shock. “Oh, look!” she said loudly. “Someone left a baby on the doorstep.”

Kayla and Elissa burst out laughing. Fallon covered her face with her hands. “I don’t want to watch this.”

Jarrett looked from the child on the screen to her. “That’s you?”

Still hiding her head, she nodded. “Yup. Can’t you see that natural ability shining through?”

“I like it,” Anna Jane said.

“Thanks, sweetie. At least the story is fun.”

Jarrett found it odd to look at a preteen on the television screen and absorb the fact that the grown-up version was sitting next to him on his sofa. When Kayla played Sally, Patrick was quick to point out there’d been a change in actors. Jarrett studied Fallon’s sister and realized there were small but significant differences between them, even then.

The story line followed the attempts of the children to keep the baby hidden for fear it was too young and would be sent away. Eventually they were found out, and at the end of the show the baby was adopted.

The last scene showed all the orphan children singing in front of the Christmas tree, while a smiling young couple held their new child.

Anna Jane sat up straight. “I don’t think I want to go live in an orphanage.”

Fallon put her arm around the girl. “Honey, that’s just pretend. None of those children really lived in an orphanage. They were acting, like my sisters and me.”

“But some children live there.”

“Some, but not many. You don’t.”

“Hey, don’t worry,” Jarrett said, squeezing her hand. “You’ve got me. I’ll take care of you.”

Big brown eyes widened. “You promise you won’t send me there? Even if I’m really, really bad?”

“I promise. I couldn’t do that, Anna Jane. I’d miss you too much.”

She seemed to weigh his words, then she nodded as if she’d made a decision. “I’d miss you, too,” she announced, then pushed off the sofa. “I want to watch another one.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” Fallon said softly. “Don’t worry. You’re doing a great job with her.”

“I wish I could be as sure.”

“I’m the expert,” she reminded him. “I see parents with kids all the time. Trust me. You guys are going to do well together. Probably right up until she wants to get her driver’s license.”

“Don’t remind me.”

He looked at the young girl changing the video. She moved with a lightness and grace that reminded him of his sister. He hadn’t wanted her around, but now that she was here, he couldn’t imagine life without her. So where did that leave him? She needed friends and schooling; he didn’t want to leave the island. He doubted she would want to consider boarding school, and he wasn’t all that fond of the idea, either. So what were the options? Fallon had reminded him he could always move back to the States.

He stiffened, trying to ignore old memories and pain. Yet he wasn’t sure he had a choice. He would have to do what was best for the child and let the past take care of itself.

* * *

The logs in the fireplace had been reduced to ash. Elissa stared at them. “It’s getting late,” she said, but made no move to stand.

Fallon glanced at the beautiful grandfather clock in the corner. “Nearly midnight.”

Elissa smiled and squeezed her arm. “Happy Christmas, Fallon. We’re glad to have you back.”

“I’m glad to be back.” She sipped her brandy, then swirled the glass. “All those months ago when we made our plans for a tropical Christmas, who would have thought we would end up here?”

“I know.” Elissa leaned back on the living-room sofa. “Where was it? At Kayla’s?”

“Yes. For our twenty-fifth birthday. Now it’s barely six months later. You’re back with Cole, Kayla’s married to Patrick and there’s already a baby on the way.”

“And what about you?” Elissa asked.

Fallon looked across the room to where Cole and Jarrett were talking business. Kayla and Patrick had already gone up to bed, as had an excited Anna Jane.

“I’m putting my life back together,” Fallon said. “In another couple of days I’m sure I will have sorted everything out.”

“Does that everything include Jarrett?”

Fallon thought about the question. “I had feelings for him when I was Ariel, but I didn’t know if I was married or involved or what.”

“Now you know you’re single.”

“That’s true.”

“Have the feelings changed?”

“No. Not at all. I like him.” She stared at his chiseled profile. “He’s gorgeous and kind and smart and funny. What’s not to like?”

“But?”

Fallon raised her eyebrows. “You’re grilling me.”

“Very gently. Kayla and I are curious. Do you blame us?”

“No. I just want to be sure.”

Elissa set her drink on the coffee table. “Sometimes you have to take a chance. Life isn’t always a sure thing.”

“Agreed. But for now, I’m just going to see what happens.”

Elissa closed her eyes. “Kayla wants to know if we’re going to call Mom tomorrow.”

Fallon’s good mood dampened slightly. “Sure. We’ll wish her Merry Christmas, she’ll tell us about the twins for fifteen minutes, then hang up.”

“It’s as if we don’t exist for her anymore.”

Fallon grimaced. “We stopped being show-business children. That was her dream and we stood in the way of that. I’m glad the twins are in movies, if that’s what makes them happy. I’ve been over this in my mind and I think the trick is not to take it personally.”

Elissa raised her eyebrows. “Hard to do when it’s your own mother.”

“At least we know we’ll do better.”

Cole and Jarrett rosé to their feet. “You two are looking solemn,” Cole said. “It’s Christmas Eve and nothing sad is allowed.”

“Yes, sir.” Elissa smiled as she stood. Her husband wrapped his arms around her. “Night,” she said. “See you in the morning.”

“Good night,” Fallon and Jarrett called after them.