Barbara Dunlop - Christmas Secrets

He was behind her in the wide hallway, followed by Otis.

“I don’t mind a mess,” he answered.

Amber couldn’t help but laugh. “I wish I was talking about a mess.”

The bathrooms were very well cared for. Samuel had employed the same housekeeper at the penthouse for nearly a decade, and Amber had no intention of letting the efficient woman go. She paused with her door on the handle.

“What’s wrong?” Cole asked.

“It’s purple.”

“Okay?”

“Very purple.” She pushed the door wide and pressed the light switch, watching for his reaction.

The floor tiles were a deep, mottled violet. The wallpaper was mauve with violet pinstripes. Two ultramodern sinks were purple porcelain on clear glass.

The skylight glowed with perimeter lighting, while spotlights twinkled above the shower, sinks and tub. In addition to the complex purple tile work, the walls were decorated with pink-hued abstract paintings, while violet-scented candles and whimsical figurines were placed on glass tables.

“This is very purple,” Cole agreed, moving inside as he gazed around in obvious amazement.

She followed. “The tub in here is a relatively manageable size.”

She pushed up the sleeves of her sweater and twisted the taps on the oval tub. “The one in the master bedroom is nearly a pool.”

Cole grinned. “I guess if you’ve got the money, you can do whatever turns your crank.”

Straightening, Amber retrieved a couple of thick towels and a facecloth from a recessed cabinet, balancing them next to a pink porcelain cat. For all its size, the room was hopelessly impractical. There was only one small cabinet, and the counter space was minimal, most of it taken up with decorations.

“It was pretty interesting to see what Coco did when she was suddenly presented with money,” said Amber.

“Did you offer your opinion?” Cole asked, shaking his head at the outlandish decor.

“I didn’t see this room until after she died.”

Cole perched himself on the edge of the tub and began to pop the snaps on Zachary’s one-piece suit. “But you don’t think your stepsister handled money very well?”

“I think it overwhelmed her. She grew up in downtown Birmingham without a lot of advantages. She was nineteen when she met Samuel.”

“He must have been fifty.”

“At least.”

There was an edge to Cole’s voice. “Nice.”

“She was pretty, stunningly beautiful, actually. She was outgoing and fun loving, and she seemed to idolize Samuel. I’m sure a psychologist would have a field day with the relationship.”

“I’m sure,” Cole agreed.

Amber knelt down and tested the water temperature with the inside of her wrist. She shut off the taps. Then she suction cupped Zachary’s bath safety ring to the bottom of the tub and dropped a couple of brightly colored plastic fish into the water.

“Based on my single college psychology elective,” said Amber as Cole lowered the naked Zachary into the ring, “I would say Samuel was everything Coco’s father was not. Conversely, I suspect Samuel secretly feared he’d never have children and saw Coco as someone he could care for and protect.”

“And sleep with,” said Cole.

“He did marry her. I have to give him credit for that.”

Zachary grabbed for the green fish, sending splashes of water over the edge of the tub, dampening Amber’s sweater and jeans.

“To be fair,” she continued, “from what I saw, he genuinely loved Zachary. I think he’d have had more children if Coco was willing.”

Cole had gone silent, his attention fixed on the baby.

After a long moment, he spoke. “You liked Samuel?”

“Not really. I mean, I barely knew him, but it’s hard to admire a fiftysomething man who marries a nineteen-year-old. Especially one who…” Amber tried to reframe her thought, but there was no way to put it that wasn’t insulting to Coco.

She stretched to retrieve the facecloth, dampening it in the bathwater then squirting some rose-scented soap from a china dispenser.

“So how is it that you and Coco became stepsisters?” Cole asked.

Amber started to wash Zachary’s back, relieved that he’d let her blow past the nonanswer. “My mother died when I was a baby. When I was seven, my father remarried. But shortly after, he was killed by a drunk driver, and then it was just Tara and me.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you.” At first, Amber had been inconsolable over the loss of her father, while Tara had seemed overwhelmed by the responsibility of Amber. So Amber had grown up fast, accepted the situation and learned to be strong.

She continued with the story. “Shortly after he died, Tara remarried and got pregnant with Coco.”

“Did you and Tara have a good relationship?”

Zachary splashed happily, cooing in the tub while Amber washed him.

“We didn’t fight or anything. She worked as a waitress. I was in after-school care. She made sure I was fed and had clothes. Meanwhile I was a pretty good kid, and stayed out of her way.”

“That sounds lonely.”

Amber shrugged. “It was okay. I didn’t really know any different until Coco came along.” She dampened Zachary’s soft hair and rubbed in a dollop of baby shampoo.

“What happened?”

“I saw a different approach to parenting.”

“Let me guess, Coco was the golden child.”

“She was the princess of the family. She was their biological baby. While I was ten and didn’t belong to either of them.”

“I’m so sorry, Amber.”

She gave herself a mental shake as she removed Zachary from the bath ring. “It was a very long time ago. I don’t know why I’m even going into it.”

“Because I asked.”

Crouched over the tub, she leaned Zachary along her arm to rinse his hair. He squirmed but didn’t cry.

“I never knew my father,” Cole said from beside her.

“Divorce?” she asked.

“Yes. Before I was born.”

“Did you have a relationship with him?”

“None.”

“Why not?”

“My mother wanted nothing to do with him, and neither did I.”

“Do you still feel the same way?”

“I do. But it wouldn’t matter.”

Amber guessed at what Cole meant. “He passed away?”

“He did.”

She stood Zachary up, checking to make sure he was squeaky-clean. “Any regrets?

“Not a one. He never knew about me. My mom was absolutely fantastic. It was just the two of us, but she was hardworking, loving, supportive.”

“That’s nice to hear.” Amber lifted Zachary from the tub, wrapping him in a fluffy mauve towel.

He cooed happily, but then spotted Cole. He wriggled in her lap, reaching out and whimpering.

“This is definitely insulting,” she said.

“You’re great with him.”

“I’m not sure about that.” She was honest. “But I’m what he’s got, and I do love him.”

Cole rose from the edge of the tub, reaching out to take Zachary in one arm and then helping her to her feet. It took him a minute to speak.

“Sometimes,” he said softly, “families just happen.”

His hand was warm and dry beneath hers, broad, strong and slightly callused. He didn’t immediately let her go, and a strange feeling surged up her arm, pushing into her chest.

Time seemed to stop. She stood still and drank in his appearance. He was such a gorgeous, sexy man. His smoke-gray eyes were warm with emotion. She noticed once again that his shoulders were broad, arms strong, chest deep. He seemed to radiate a power that was more than just physical.

She fought another urge to throw herself into his arms.

“Amber,” he breathed.

He lifted his hand to brush her damp hair from her cheek.