Michelle Major - A Very Crimson Christmas

“Because I like the social activities. They only let residents go on outings. You have the money, so I didn’t think you’d mind.” Ruth forked up a slice of banana, the tremor in her hand clearly visible.

“Are you selling the farmhouse?” Natalie looked shocked.

“No,” Ruth answered at the same time Liam said, “Yes.”

“Ten acres is too much for her, too far away from town—”

“That’s why Natalie and Austin are here. And I have Clarence come by for a few hours every day to maintain things.”

“Clarence is almost as old as you.”

“Don’t sass me, Liam.” Ruth stabbed at her eggs with the fork. “I’ll have Stan give you extra chores when he gets home from work.”

Liam glanced at Natalie, who gave a sharp shake of her head. Ruth’s husband, Stan, had died the same year she retired and they moved to Colorado. He wasn’t sure if he should argue with her or let the comment pass. After a moment he sighed, trying to remember that he had to tread lightly with his former nanny. She’d always been fiercely independent. Liam had gotten used to people doing what he said without question. In the space of an hour, these two women and one boy had given him more trouble than he’d had in years.

“I just want to take care of you.”

“If you’re only here to pester me, you might as well leave now.”

He knew she meant it. Her heart was as big as the Rocky Mountains, but Ruth Keller didn’t mince words.

“Is it so hard to believe I missed you?”

“It’s hard to believe you haven’t been to see me in two years,” Ruth answered, her gaze shrewd.

She could believe her husband who’d been dead for over fifteen years was coming home yet still intuit that Liam was hiding something from her. Liam had to respect the way her mind still worked. He also had to come up with another reason to stay in town so he could get to the bottom of what was happening with her money. “I’m working on my own software company—it’s a new type of GPS technology for outdoor activities. It’s called LifeMap. Besides wanting to see you, I’m looking at basing the company in Crimson. I know how much you love this town and I thought it would make you happy if I could give a boost to the local economy.”

She studied him for a moment, then reached out and wrapped her veined hand around his. “I like the sound of that. You’re a good boy, Liam. Much better than either of your parents. I raised your father, just like I raised you. And I certainly raised him to do better than that gold-digging mother of yours. She always resented me because I knew how to take care of you better than she did. No offense, sweetie.”

“None taken,” Liam said with a smile. “When was the last time you talked to Mom?”

“She sends flowers on my birthday,” Ruth said without hesitation. “Pink roses.”

“You hate roses.” He looked up as Natalie clapped a hand over her mouth.

“I know,” Ruth answered. “Liam’s mother does, too. She sends them anyway.”

Liam closed his eyes for a moment, anger building at his parents for all the things they didn’t care about because they were too busy with their own lives. When he opened them again, Natalie was watching him with a look in her eyes that he didn’t want to believe was pity.

“What do you think?” he asked her, his voice tight. He could take her anger and irritation, but pity he had to shut down immediately. “Should she stay in this house alone when I’m paying for a room at Evergreen?”

“She’s not alone,” Austin offered around a mouthful of food. “She’s got us.”

Liam raised an eyebrow at Natalie. “Not the point.”

“It’s up to Ruth to decide where she wants to live, but I think you’ve been generous.”

“You won’t mind if she sells this place and moves to Evergreen full-time?”

“I’m not selling.” Ruth pushed back from the table. “I bruised my hip in a fall, Liam. I’m not one foot in the grave quite yet.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“It’s what you’ve implied.” She lifted herself to her feet. “Austin, will you walk me back to my bedroom?”

The boy glanced at Natalie, who nodded. “I’ll clean up the kitchen, Ruth, then come back to help you dress.”

“Ruth, listen—”

“No, Liam, you listen. I know you’re trying to help, but pushing me into changing my whole life isn’t going to happen. I’ve lived on my own since Stan died. I don’t see any reason to change now. You keep your big mansions and private jets. I’m happy with the simple life I have here in Crimson.” She leveled a look at him. “As I remember it, you were pretty happy here once upon a time. Maybe you should focus on that instead of all your high-handed plans for me.”

“I didn’t—”

“Come back here at six and you can take me to Saturday night bingo at Evergreen. I’ve got a hot streak going and I missed last weekend.” She leaned on her cane. “You can join me for church tomorrow morning, as well. A little time in the pew will do your soul good.”

Liam shot a look at Natalie who only shrugged. “Okay, Ruth, whatever you say.”

She left the room, muttering to herself. Austin made a face at Natalie over his shoulder but she gave him a bright smile and a thumbs-up and began clearing the dishes from the table.

“I pushed her too hard.”

“Ya think?” Natalie stacked plates on the counter.

“I forgot how stubborn she can be when she gets riled up.”

“The fall has been hard on her. She’s healing, but Ruth isn’t used to depending on other people. She’s a proud woman, Liam.”

“I know, Nat. That’s one of the things I love about her.” He moved to the sink and rinsed the plates, then put them in the dishwasher. “You’re a lot like her, you know.” And you both frustrate the hell out of me, he added to himself.

After a moment, he looked up to find Natalie’s eyes on him. “What are you doing?”

“Um...the dishes?”

“I didn’t think big, important CEO types did their own dishes.”

“Apparently the CEO card doesn’t get me far in my nanny’s house.”

“Are you really thinking of headquartering a company in Crimson?”

Leave it to Natalie to see right through him. “Sure. If I can work out something with the town, that is. It’s a good place to live and the GPS technology we’re developing will appeal to people who like the outdoors. It’s a natural fit.”

She nodded but still looked doubtful.

They finished cleaning the kitchen in silence. There had been a lot of nights Natalie had eaten dinner over here when they were in high school. Her mom waitressed in town back then and wasn’t around very often. Ruth would cook while Liam and Natalie took cleanup duty. Being here with her now brought him back to a time long past. A time his heart didn’t want to forget but his brain wouldn’t let him revisit.

His cell phone beeped in his pocket. “I’ve got some stuff to do to get settled in today.”

“Before bingo?” Natalie asked, flashing him the first smile he’d seen from her.

He’d missed that smile but forced himself not to show it. “Before bingo,” he agreed. “Are you okay if I head out?”

“This is my job, Liam. One of them, anyway. We’re fine.”

She didn’t need to add “without you.” He knew she’d never needed him in the same way he did her.

He nodded and turned, but stopped at the sliding door that led from the kitchen to the back of the house. “In case you were wondering, I haven’t dated gobs of supermodels.”

Her gaze crashed into his and he hoped it was relief he read in their dark depths. “It’s none of my business who you date.” Her words were sharp but her voice breathless.