Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“What do you mean you’re going to the store?” Gayle’s stern voice echoed into the room like a clatter in a quiet library.
Andie froze, her dislike for conflict making her squirm.
Jodie’s eyes grew wide, mouth setting into a firm line. “Not again,” she muttered before pushing her chair back and heading to the kitchen.
Andie stayed in her seat, now alone in the dining room. Part of her wanted to follow the action and see what she could do about it. That thought, so new and foreign, she blinked into the room, stumbling over these new yearnings. She typically stayed away from the commotions, her students were the exception she allowed in.
“The McFaddens are my best customers; they need a little Christmas miracle,” Glen said from the kitchen, matching his wife’s voice.
Stay where you are, Andie, stay right where …
“But Grandpa, we need our own Chanukah magic with you here.”
She didn’t even think, Millie’s voice propelling her into the kitchen where the girl gave her grandfather doe eyes, looking up at him with a bit of cookie dough on her lips.
Glen knelt in front of Millie. “Want to know where the money for those Chanukah gifts of yours comes from? Customers like the McFaddens.”
“You sound like we celebrate Christmas. It’s not about the presents.”
Glenn stood sharply. “So I should return your gifts.”
Millie reached into the empty bowl, swiping a finger of leftover dough. “I like gifts, but I would rather you be here.”
“Listen to the child, Glen,” Gayle said, voice not softening one bit.
“Business is business, Gayle.”
“It’s Christmas Eve, Glen. McFadden should be with his family today. He can bother you after the holiday.”
“It’s Christmas Eve and he needs a gift.”
“Not your problem.”
Husband and wife stared at each other with unyielding eyes.
“You don’t act like a man about to retire.”
Andie hugged the cabinet near the entrance. Unease threatened to consume her, but now that she’d entered she couldn’t leave the car crash happening before her.
Glen backed up. “When I retire it will be a different story.” He took a step toward his wife, but she crossed her arms, effectively erecting a bubble around her. He grimaced and turned. “I’ll be back for dinner. In fact, I’ll pick up the Chinese.”
He left through the back door, the bang of his departure the only sound in the room. It echoed straight through Andie, a horrible vibration.
Gayle put a hand on her head, taking in the room until her eyes landed on the non-family member. “Andie, darling, I am so sorry this is the impression we are making on you. This is turning into an interesting year.” Her gaze turned soft and pleading. “I promise you this is the abnormality.”
Andie smiled, though she had trouble believing that. From everything Leo had said, the rift between father and sons had been built into a fortress over the years.
“Should I get Leo and Dean before they see the car?” David asked.
Gayle sighed. “Yes, that would be wise.”
David passed Andie on his way to the front.
“I know this doesn’t work for us, but Grandpa needs coal in his stocking.” Millie stabbed a finger into the bowl.
Jodie took her own finger swipe. “Kid’s right. What’s the Jewish equivalent?”
“There is none. We don’t work that way,” Millie said.
“No presents when the family likes to exchange gifts.” Gayle’s eyes glinted dangerously.
“Oh no, Mom?”
Gayle’s grin matched her eyes. “Come on, help me find and hide all of your father’s presents.”
“Yes!” Millie jumped up and ran ahead of Gayle into the family room.
Jodie shook her head. “I’m going to echo my mother here and apologize. Do not judge Leo by the rest of our mistakes.”
Andie wanted to comment on that request being a difficult one, but Jodie had already left, and Andie didn’t have to defend anything. She might not even be here to see if father and sons ever managed to figure it out and make amends.
More importantly, she’d seen how this kind of conflict drives apart a family. She didn’t know how they’d held on for as long as they did, but she knew the end result.
At least, she thought she did, but she couldn’t deny how much they all loved each other, despite the drama. That said something, and a part of her yearned to explore the emotions more, dive in and see where it went.
Strange thoughts, being pulled in despite drama, not something she would have ever thought she’d be tempted by.
“We should probably head back inside,” Leo said. The cold wind had found a way under his jacket and he refused to shiver next to his younger sibling who still hadn’t zipped his.
“Cold, brother?” Dean asked casually. Where Dean had always been a furnace, Leo easily turned into an ice locker.
Leo shifted, trying to get his jacket closer to him without being obvious. Judging by the laughter beside him, he failed.
The front door opened behind them, and they both turned, only to be distracted by the garage opening.
Leo and Dean lost interest in the door, angling to see the car pull out of the house. Family rules meant the cars lined up blocking their mother’s car, not father’s.
The one-year-old Lexus came into view, window rolling down. “Going to the store. McFadden needs a favor.”
Dean turned to Leo and rolled his eyes.
“In other words, McFadden forgot it was Christmas, or to get his wife a gift, and now is desperate for a favor to keep him out of the doghouse?” Leo understood business, but he fully planned to put his family first. There were no emergencies in antiques.
“McFadden is a long-term, high-paying customer. It’s good to keep a customer like that happy.”
“A customer like that is a pain in the ass.” Dean ignored the glare Glen sent. “But more importantly, McFadden likes his antiques and we’ve treated him well. He’ll be back regardless of today. In fact, he might start respecting you more if you said, ‘Sorry, I can’t. I’m with my family’ once in a while.”
Glen’s face changed into a red tint. “This is why you two will never succeed in business. And why you don’t deserve Dentz Antiques.” Final shot fired, he rolled up the window and continued down the driveway, leaving them in his exhaust dust.
“ He doesn’t deserve Dentz Antiques.”
Leo and Dean looked behind them, where David stood, no jacket.
“I know, I’m the outsider. But I’ve heard stories about your grandfather and been around long enough to know Glen’s distracted and not thinking straight.”
Leo stood, brushing dirt off his rear. “And he’s not going to realize that in time to make a difference.”
“One day, when Dad is very old, he will regret these moments.” Dean also stood.
Leo patted Dean’s shoulder. “I like your optimism.”
“But yours is gone?”
He thought about Andie and the refreshing way she had hope in the world. Pure and unburdened by life, even though she had ample reason to be. He needed that, needed more of it in his life, to remind him of the good. “Mine broke when even my sickness didn’t bring Dad back around.”
“Well, feel better. They’re hiding your father’s gifts inside.”
Dean snorted. “Oh man, I need to get in on that action.” He sprinted inside. “Is there gift theft going on?” his loud voice carried out, followed by female laughter.
“Hey, your Andie, she’s really something,” David said.
Your Andie . Leo liked the sound of it. Too bad it wouldn’t be true. “Yeah, she is.”
“She broke down Glen’s issues and brought it into the light, in favor of you and Dean. Don’t let this one go.” David nudged Leo in the side and headed into the house.
Leo didn’t want to let her go. But he didn’t know how to convince her to stay.
Inside Millie stood by a pile of presents on the coffee table, having procured a clipboard and holding it in hand like a tiny CEO. “Listen up family! The mound before me is all of Grandpa’s gifts. But he’s being a Jewish Grinch and no longer deserves them.”
“Grinch or Scrooge?” Dean asked.
Millie tapped the end of the pen to her chin. “Scrooge. Definitely Scrooge. Anyway, we are going to split up and hide his presents throughout the house. Everyone will have paper and will create a scavenger hunt clue so he can find them.”
Jodie held up a finger. “But he will only get the clues if he decides to play nice.”
Millie nodded, brown hair sliding across her face. “Right. If he’s somehow visited by three ghosts before he gets back, he’ll get help. If not, he’ll have to find them on his own.” Millie scrunched up her face. “None of these expire, do they?”
“Who cares?” Gayle laughed. His affection for her swelled. His mom truly was his saving grace. She continued to love and support her sons through the incident and beyond, keeping them emotionally healthy. She’d been the first to realize he wasn’t copping an attitude when he couldn’t hear, been the one who went to battle to get the issue diagnosed, and been the one to support him in his new, quieter world. Without her, well, he didn’t want to think about it. And knew without checking that both his gift and Dean’s were special for their mom.
Millie handed out papers to everyone and David found a handful of pens and pencils. Boxes and bags were grabbed, the pile on the table quickly diminishing. Before he could stake his claims, a soft hand landed on his arm.
He faced Andie, saw her mouth moving, but couldn’t pick out a word. He shook his head and angled closer to her.
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” Andie said.
He took in her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes and wanted to kiss her right there, in front of everyone. “Stick with me then, I’d like the company.”
She beamed and they collected the final three gifts from the table. Footsteps and laughter fanned out throughout the house, mostly on the first floor. Leo wanted to take Andie’s hand, but both of theirs were full. Instead he nodded his head toward the stairs and she followed him to the second floor. He turned to the right, but Andie went forward into the room at the top of the stairs—the bathroom—sticking her head inside.
“Would it be mean to put one in the shower?” Her lips curved and he really needed a taste.
“Yes, do it!” called Dean from down the hall, Leo guessed in Dean’s childhood room.
Andie laughed. “You’re the worst encouragement.”
Dean backed into the hall. “I’m the youngest, what do you expect?”
“You two could be trouble together,” Leo muttered.
“Shouldn’t that be fun and not trouble?” Andie glided past him into the bathroom, brushing against him when she didn’t have to.
“Oh, I like her, you’re going to have to keep her.” Dean chuckled and shook his head, disappearing into his room.
Leo had to admit, Andie fit in as though she belonged. A true part of the Dentz family unit. Maybe her easy rapport with Dean and everyone meant she sensed it, too. If so, then Leo had a starting point to truly winning her heart this Chanukah.
Andie pulled back the shower curtain. Inside was a typical shower setup with bottles and soap collecting on the ledge, nothing inspiring there. Until she spotted the sponge hanging by a hook. She only held a single box, so she turned to Leo.
He leaned casually against the counter, filling up the space with his relaxed stance, a warm smile on his face she guessed was just for her. Helped by the love and support of the rest of his family, even with the drama. Leo and Dean had both been cut down by their father, this scavenger hunt revitalizing them and preventing the day from completely souring.
Imagine that. If Andie’s family had shown a fraction of the love over their conflicts, she might have had plans beyond Leo this year.
“I know where to put that one.” She reached out, plucking the small bag from his hand, and settling it on the hook. “It’ll be enough out of the way to not get too wet should it not be found.”
Leo stepped behind her, looking over her shoulder. For a moment, she forgot about hiding gifts, focused completely on the strong body against her back. “I like it. And it’s his fault if it gets wet.”
She chuckled and stepped back, forcing her mind on the task. Hide the gift and then … oh, the clue! The paper was tucked in Leo’s arm and she pulled it out, pressing it against the wall. “Let’s see,” she spoke as she thought. “If you want this gift, you’ll have to get clean.”
Leo snorted. “Love it.”
Andie beamed.
“Should have known Ms. Ikea Scavenger Hunt would be good at this.”
It warmed her that he remembered a silly little fact like that about her. “I never claim to be good, but fun, that I can do.”
“Fun is appreciated.” He locked eyes with her, the temperature rising as though a hot shower steamed up the room and fogged the mirrors. The tension a living wire between them, pulling them closer, ready to fuse the connection.
Leo cleared his throat. “I know where the rest should go.” His voice was deep and scratchy, and it lit a path across Andie’s skin.
“Lead the way.”
She followed him out of the bathroom, down the hall to a closed door. Leo opened it and led her inside. Andie had the impression of a clean room, a bit generic, before her back hit the now closed door and Leo’s mouth met hers.
Andie dropped her gift, paper, and pen, linking her arms around Leo. His mouth was insistent on hers, swamping her senses, creating that delicious tug deep down in her core. She wrapped a leg over his hip and he angled into her, pressing his hardness against her soft center, wrenching a moan from them both.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he said, then continued kissing her.
She licked his lip and he groaned again when she retreated. “You’ve barely had me.”
His eyes were hazy as they met hers. “I’ll say that in ten or twenty years or more.” He kissed her again, not letting her respond to those deep words, not letting her retreat with his hands on her hips, pulling her to him, giving her a moment she didn’t want to end.
Her fingers played with the tiny strands of hair at the nape of his neck, her mind torn between giving in to pleasure and thinking too much. She couldn’t get enough of him either and couldn’t imagine this little slice of heaven ending. No one had ever felt like this; this fire and connection. Her father always said sometimes you just knew. It could be a friend or a meaningful acquaintance or a love, but the soul knew this person would be important and continue to be a meaningful person to hold onto.
She wanted to hold on. To Leo, and surprisingly to his family. They welcomed her in, made her feel like she somehow belonged, and had a family again—something she’d always wanted. Life didn’t seem to want to let it work, but all the decisions were still hers.
Leo pulled back, pressing his forehead against hers. “As much as I’d love to take this further, now is not the time.”
She ran a finger down his jaw. “Later. We might need to generate more of our own heat with the power out anyways.”
He kissed her again, this one soft and sweet, with an underlying hint of steam. “That we know we can do.”
He pulled back to analyze his room. “I could probably just leave these two on the bed, he’d never find them.” And yet he moved about, studying options.
Andie let him, new questions running around in her mind. What if she turned down the Ohio job? She’d lose her only guaranteed job offer. But there was the temple prospect. And if she stayed, she’d have the support of her friends regardless of the tight job opportunities.
She breathed in deeply, air filling her lungs and feeling that fullness in her heart. She’d have Leo as well, and not in a long-distance scenario. Something felt right here. As though she’d finally found where she belonged.
No rash decisions, even though her thoughts and emotions tempted her to jump right into this man’s arms. She’d think it over some more. But at this moment in time, she wanted to stay.