"He's going to stay safe. You need to have a Htde more faith. I think you're scaring Billie out of her wits. She's vulnerable right now and she's picking up your negative thoughts. If you aren't careful, she could miscarry. Moss will make it."

"Why in the hell is it that every damn fool woman in the world says exactly the same thing? I love that boy. He's all I got." His voice was hoarse and gruff, almost apologetic.

"Because every damn fool woman never gives up until the last second, and even then we keep hoping. I'm at a loss as to why fathers don't think the same way," Sallie said.

Seth snorted. He reached into the breast pocket of his red flannel shirt and handed SaUie a slip of paper. "It's your check. I never cashed it. I was testing you."

Sallie stared at the folded check. "Testing me? For what?"

"To see if you were running off at the mouth or if you had the money to back up my request. I called the bank to verify the amount of money. They were more than willing to cash the check."

Sallie stared at her brother. "I don't mind anything you just said. I don't even mind that you want to give the check back, and I certainly don't mind that you verified the check at the bank. What I do mind is that you're lying to me by saying you were testing me. You need that money desperately. Therefore, I don't understand why you're returning the check. Is it because I'm a woman and your sister? Do you resent it that I'm better off than you are? Why don't we let our hair down and be honest with each other. We're in a closed room, no one can hear, and I do not talk about family business to other people. Whatever we say in this room will stay in this room."

280 Fern Michaels Seth's bushy eyebrows drew together to form a straight line across his brow. He finger-combed his hair for a few seconds, but never responded.

"I understand," Sallie said softly,- her hand with the check extended. "Is there anything else I can do for you? You just have to ask, Seth. Asking isn't all that hard. Who knows, the day might come when I need your help. I'd like to know I can count on you. That's all there is to it. One last thing, Seth; I'd like Billie to stay on for a while. I'll make sure she gets home safe and sound even if I have to drive her myself She'll be good company for Fanny. Fanny will be good for Billie. It will be nice to have Maggie here, toddling around. However, you can take the barracuda back with you."

Seth snorted with laughter, doubling over and slapping at his knees. In between snorts of laughter, he managed to say, "See you got Aggie pegged."

"You could say that."

"I don't see a problem if the girl wants to stay. She gets on my nerves with all that whimpiering and whining. She's not robust. I never expected my only son to marry a sickly girl like this one. Fair makes me want to puke."

"You did. Marry a frail young woman, I mean. That's the funny thing about love. All women aren't broodmares. Thank God for that. There's a saying, Seth, that sons follow in their father's footsteps."

"Smart-ass woman," Seth growled.

"I know you mean that as a compliment, so that's how I'm going to take it. Put the check in your pocket and let's get back to our guests." Impulsively, Sallie reached out to her brother, and hugged him. "That was for Mama. So's this," she said, kissing him on the cheek.

There was no displeasure on Seth's face when he said, "Women, all they want to do is kiss and snuggle and wrap their arms around you. At the end, did . . . Ma . . . did Ma have all her curls piled high on her head like a princess?" He looked away as he waited for his sister's reply.

Sallie heard the choked-back sob in his voice, but pretended she didn't. "She did, Seth, she truly did," Sallie lied with a straight face.

"That's how I want to remember Ma. What's for supper? Don't like eating this late, gives me indigestion."

"Don't worry about a thing. My housekeeper has an herb for everything. If you want to sleep like a baby, just let me know. We're having fresh game hens with all the trimmings. For those who don't like game hens, we're having prime ribs, and everything that goes with beef."

They were almost to the door when Seth said, "Tell me true, girl, and swear on Ma, do you really feel my boy will be safe?"

"Oh, Seth, I do. I truly do. I pray every night. Fanny tells me she does, too. God always listens to women's prayers. I bet you didn't know that, Seth."

"You probably made that up," Seth muttered.

"Do you think we're on good enough terms for me to ask a favor of you?"

"Damnation, I knew there was a catch. What is it?"

"Talk to Peggy. Talk to her like she's your sister, and you're her brother. She also needs a sense of family. I'd be very grateful."

"You try the patience of a saint, girl."

Sallie beamed her pleasure.

"Oh, Fanny, how beautiful your sons are. They look like little cherubs." BiUie patted her stomach. "I'm hoping for a boy this time, but it feels like a girl. Seth wants a boy so bad. I think part of it is if Moss. .. if Moss doesn't make it back.. . there will be a son to carry on the name. I honestly think if this child turns out to be another girl, he's going to want to give it back. I never saw such desperation. I wish I was back in Philadelphia. He's so ... so controlling, and Moss always took his side. They treat me like .. . I'm slow-witted. My mother, too. She's aligned herself with Seth. I hate to say this about my own mother, but she's on ^r side. It's all that money. She really thinks she belongs and Seth allows her to think like that. I'm an outsider, Fanny. I'm always going to be an outsider, unless I produce an heir to the Coleman dynasty, in which case they might let me stand on the porch and look through the window. Women simply don't count for cmything in that family."

Fanny leaned over the crib Maggie was sleeping in. "Not even this sweet little thing?"

"Seth ignores her. My own mother goes into the nursery once a week or so. She's turned into Seth's right hand. She's got a certain amount of control, and she loves it. She's not going to jeopardize that position. Now do you understand what I meant when I said I have no one?"

Fanny put her arms around BiUie's shoulders. "You have me and 282 Fern Michaels Sallie. If there's a way to put it right, she'll know how to do it. Why didn't AmeHa come with you?"

"Seth wouldn't allow it. She's here from England with her stepson. He's the sweetest Htde boy, and she loves him dearly. Seth calls him a brat. He's not. He's quiet, well-mannered, and he adores Amelia. His father was killed. Seth says such cruel things to Amelia. He calls her a slut, a whore, and all because she stood up to him all her life. She wasn't. . . loose. She told me she wasn't, and I believe her. They hate each other. He said she couldn't get a man in Texas, so she had to go to England to get one with a snotty kid. She drove a Red Cross ambulance. Seth said there was no room in the car because I'm so fat, and he wasn't making the trip with a squalling kid. That was the end of it. I cried, Amelia cried, and he turned a deaf ear."

"No, that isn't the end of it. Wait right here. Don't move!" Fanny sprinted down the hall to the back stairway that led to the kitchen. "Fetch Miss Sallie back here right away," she whispered to one of the cooks. "Tell her to come upstairs right away."

"What can I do?" Devin asked, entering the room five minutes later.

"Find a way to get my niece and her Htde boy here for Christmas morning," SalHe said breathlessly.

"Is that all?"

"How, Devin? What do you mean is that all?"

"Sallie, you are the richest woman in this state, probably the bordering states, too. All we have to do is charter a plane."

A few minutes later, Devin said, "Call your niece and tell her to skedaddle to the airport, the plane is waiting. Tell her not to take the time to pack. You can buy her whatever she needs when she gets here. Do you have presents for the litde boy?"

"We'll repackage after everyone goes to bed, right girls?"

"Oh yes," both Fanny and Billie said in unison.

"After dinner I'll go to the airport and wait. I'll bring them in the back way and up the kitchen stairwell. You need to get back downstairs, Sallie."

"Seth is going to . . . Seth will. . ."

"Find out what it's like when someone else takes control," Billie said sofdy. "He'll have to live with it, won't he?"

"Either that or he's going to leave in the morning."

"Without me and Amelia," Billie said smartly. "I might just stay here forever. I never felt so welcome anyplace in my life."

"Thirty minutes till dinner. Devin is right, we have to get back downstairs. Call Amelia. This man is my white knight in shining armor," Sallie said, leading Devin by the hand.

Fanny turned to Billie. "Hurry up, call AmeUa. Good Gk>d, I am so excited. What's your father-in-law going to do come morning?"

Billie laughed. "I can't wait to see his reaction. My mother will blame me. So will Seth. Who cares?" Billie said, picking up the telephone.

"Who's Sally Dearest?" Fanny asked when Billie finished the call.

"Amelia's son Rand's stuffed cat. He carried it all through the war. He never puts it down. It was the last thing his mother gave him. She was caught in one of the first bomb blasts."

"Sallie is going to love that name. Time to fi'eshen up and go downstairs. Bright lipstick, BiUie, this is Christmas. Some rouge too."

Tears welled in Billie's eyes. "I love him so much, Fanny. My heart is so fiill of that love, there are times when I feel like I can't breathe. My love for Moss is strangling me, and I know he doesn't love me in the same way. I wish I could turn it off or tone it down, but I can't. If something happens to him . . ."

"You will be strong and do what every other wife does, you will take care of your family and go on, one day at a time. I hope this family dinner goes fast, so we can spend the night talking. Hurry, Billie."

"This is as fast as I move these days. I can't wait till I can see my toes."

SaUie kept the conversation moving during dinner, as did Agnes, whose main contribution was to ask questions. Several times Devin chopped her off at the knees, winking at her as he did so, saying, "Now, those are business secrets, Agnes, and way above your beautiful head."

"That's a polite way of saying it's none of your business, Aggie," Seth growled.

"My apologies," Agnes said. "It's natural curiosity on my part. I'd never been outside Philadelphia until I got to Texas. Nevada intrigues me."

"You could read a travel book. Mother," Billie said.

284 Fern Michaels "And I have one I'll be glad to lend you, Mrs. Ames," Fanny said.

"Shouldn't you be checking on your daughter?" Seth said pointedly to Billie.

"Oh, she doesn't have to do that. Moon has everything under control. BiUie is here for a visit and a rest. We're going to spend our time getting to know one another. Isn't that what this visit is all about, Seth, your family and my family?" Sallie said, a huge smile on her face.

"Tomorrow we can do that. I'm heading off to bed if you'll show me where it is. Merry Christmas everyone. Aggie?"

"It's too early for bed, Seth. I plan on having some plum pudding." Seth scowled at her, but headed for the steps, where Khee was waiting to show him to his room. She bowed respectfully before she picked up his heavy bag.

"Seth goes to bed early because he rises early," Agnes said.

"And when he doesn't get his way. Be fair, Mother," Billie said.

"He has a lot on his mind," Agnes said defensively.

"So does everyone else sitting at this table. Aunt Sallie's two sons are flying missions every day just the way Moss does, and Fanny hasn't heard from her husband in a month. We're all coping, we aren't blaming anyone and making everyone around us miserable," BiUie said.

"I couldn't have said it better, Billie," Sallie said.

Agnes had the good sense to look embarrassed. She clamped her mouth shut, her eyes everywhere but on Sallie.

Fanny turned to Billie. She mouthed the words, "Good for you." Billie smiled from ear to ear.

"We'll have coffee and brandy in the living room, sing a few Christmas carols, say our Christmas prayer that Simon, Ash, and Moss return home safely as well as every other mother's son fighting this war. We'll admire the tree and go to bed with sugarplums dancing in our heads to await Santa's arrival. I want to thank all of you for coming to share the holiday," Sallie said.

"Good night. Mother," Billie said. She leaned into Sallie's open arm. There was nothing for Agnes to do but head up the stairs.

Sallie flopped down on the sofa next to Billie. "I don't think I've ever spent a Christmas where there waisn't some sort of stress or tension. I expect holidays bring out the best and the worst of most people. I want you to know 1 am prepared for Seth and your mother to leave in the morning when they sec Amelia and her son. I can handle that, Billie, but can you?"

"I have to handle it. Moss loves Amelia, and Amelia loves him. He knows how awful his father is to her. He tries to make it up, but he can't. Moss's mother was always a buffer between Amelia and her father, but she's gone now. AmeUa's here in the States to . . . to ... to get an abortion. I'm sure she'll tell you herself, it's not my place. She's going to need you. Aunt SaUie. She knows . . . someone who has agreed to do it for a great deal of money. She's so frail and fragile right now. Oh, I wish Moss was home."

"Soon, Billie. Listen, I have an idea. Why don't you lie down here on the sofa and take a litde nap. While you're snoozing, Fanny and I can rewrap some of the presents to make sure Rand and Amelia have gifts to open."

"I have all the wrapping paper and new ribbon," Fanny said. "Two pairs of scissors."

When they were fmished they had trucks, cars, blocks, a pair of roller skates, books, games, a bright red sweater with matching red cap, and a stocking filled with candies, nuts, and oranges for the litde boy. For Amelia there was a cashmere sweater set with matching scarf, leather gloves, an alligator handbag with matching belt, a pair of pearl earrings, a peignoir set that was litde more than lacy cobwebs stitched together, delightful French perfume, and several new novels.

Sallie leaned back, a glass of wine in her hand. "Merry Christmas, Fanny. I hope we have many, many more. It's Christmas Day. I wonder where my sons are. Dear God, I hope they're alive and well. Moss too."

"Of course they are. How could they be anything less with a mother like you? Wherever they are, I'm sure they're thinking about home and family. You have to think positive. I do; that's the only way I can get through this."

"Put your coat on, Fanny. I have something to show you."

Fanny followed SaUie out into the night air. "It's beautiful, isn't it? Everything is crystal clear. Sometimes I wish I was a child again, knowing what I know today. Come, come, before we freeze."

"Is it a secret?" Fanny asked, her teeth chattering.

"It was." Sallie threw open the door of the garage and turned on the light. "One for you and one for Billie."

"Oh," was all Fanny could say.

"It's a Buick Roadster. I thought you would like yellow because, like me, you like sunshine in your life. I thought Billie would like it too."

286 Fern Michaels "What would Billie like?" Billie said from the open doorway. "I'm sorry, am I intruding? I woke and heard you leave by the back door and thought Amelia was here."

"Of course you're not intruding. I was showing Fanny her Christmas present. Now, you can see yours. Do you like it?"

"I can't drive," both young women said at the same time.

"I rather thought Amelia and you might want to drive back to Texas when you leave. After you have the baby you can take driving lessons. You can take Maggie and go for drives and not have to be dependent on Seth or your mother. Fanny can learn right here when she's ready. Do you like the colors? I picked yellow because it reminds me of sunshine."

"Oh, my goodness. I never, ever thought I'd have a car of my very own. How can I ever thank you?"

"You already have. All I wanted was to see your smile."

"Sallie, I don't know what to say. Thank you doesn't seem to be enough."

"It's enough. You two need to go back in the house now. I want to walk over to the cemetery and visit. I always do that on Christmas Eve. The time got away from me this last evening."

"Seth buried his horse in the family plot. Then he buried his wife right next to the horse," Billie said. "He said when he dies he's going to be buried on the other side of the horse."

All Sallie could do was shake her head. "I don't know why that doesn't surprise me. Merry Christmas to both of you."

"Do you have any idea how lucky you are, Fanny Thornton?" Billie said wistfully. "Wait till my mother sees this car. Her eyes are going to pop right out of her head."

"Before or after she sees Amelia?" Fanny asked. Both women burst out laughing and were still giggling like schoolgirls when Sallie returned to the garage.

"I saw headlights from down below," she said. "I think it's Devin. Come, come, we're going to freeze standing here. They'll be another ten minutes. We can make some coffee and prepare some food. I imagine Amelia will be starving, and I know a thing or two about little boys. I imagine Rand will want some sweets."

Arm in arm, the three women walked to the house. "You really do waddle, Billie. Did I look like that, Sallie?"