But despite that, I had hoped that Nikolai would’ve contacted me at some point over the years—other than sending me the occasional birthday and Christmas card, which I’m positive our grandfather doesn’t know about. I still have them. They’re my only link to the family I was once a part of. They’re the only link I have to the man who was once my best friend.
“They don’t live anywhere near me,” I lamely say. The truth is, I have no idea in which jail my grandfather currently resides, and I have no intention of finding out.
“What about a special someone in your life?” Lawrence asks.
“You mean like friends? Yes, I have those.”
Okay, I mostly have colleagues with whom I’m friendly. And a couple of close friends. Kiera and Ava are both teachers where I work.
Lawrence raises his eyebrow. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. You’re a sweet, generous, smart, and beautiful woman. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
Tell that to the men who were once in my life.
My father.
My stepfather.
Mark, my ex-boyfriend. He didn’t even have the guts to break up with me to my face. He texted me a week after he told me he loved me, with nothing more than a “Sorry, babe. It’s not going to work out between us, after all.” He’d never called me babe before.
The impersonal nature of the breakup gutted me.
But that’s okay. I returned a stronger Chloe.
A Chloe with her heart locked away in a security box—the key currently swimming with the fishes.
I smile brightly at Lawrence, like a firefly—if fireflies could smile. “I don’t have time for a relationship. I’m busy with my work, volunteering here, and my artwork. I don’t have the energy for anything more than that.”
“Don’t you want kids one day?”
“I have twenty-five kids in my life right now. That’s more than enough.” And I love every one of them.
Including the little troublemakers.
Especially the troublemakers. They always make life more interesting.
“What about you four?” I ask. “Any plans for the holidays?”
Trick #1 when you don’t want to talk about yourself? Redirect the questioning to the other person—or persons, in this case.
“My son emailed to tell me he won’t be able to get away from work over the holidays. He has a huge project he’s responsible for, one that could make or break the company. That means I won’t get to see my grandkids after all.”
I give Lawrence’s hand a light squeeze. “I’m sorry you won’t get to see them.”
“Me too.”
“What about you three?” I asked Samuel, Ivan, and Frank.
“My daughter and I are estranged,” Frank says. “Have been for about ten years now. Which means another Christmas without seeing my grandkids. But that’s okay. I’m used to it.”
My heart tightens to the size of a stepped-on Christmas bauble. I know how he feels, and I ache for him.
“You can borrow my grandkids if you want,” Samuel volunteers. Under his breath, he adds, “Maybe they’ll at least notice you’re alive.”
We all wait for him to elaborate.
He doesn’t.
“How’s the game going?” Mathilda asks behind me, startling me.
“Great,” we all tell her, even though we haven’t been paying attention to it for the past few minutes.
“We were just talking about the holiday season.” A devilish smile slips onto Lawrence’s face. “I don’t suppose Cook’s gonna whip up more of her delicious eggnog again this year for the Christmas party?”
The other three men cackle, and I do my best to keep the grin off my face.
Instead of vodka in the lemonade, it was a bottle of rum in the eggnog. And again, let me repeat, these seniors know how to party.
“In light of what happened last year, we’ve removed it from the menu.”
This results in a round of protests. “You can’t get rid of the eggnog,” Lawrence grumbles. “That—along with the kids’ concert—is the best part.”
Mathilda releases a long sigh—the kind you hear before someone shares bad news—and I brace myself for what’s coming next.
“Unfortunately, the school had to cancel. The principal just phoned to tell me the sad news.”
“So, no concert?” Samuel asks.
Mathilda shakes her head in a drawn-out movement. “Sorry, no concert.”
“What if we get someone else to do it?” I ask.
“I don’t know who else to ask. Millwood Elementary School has been doing it for as long as I can remember.”
“I might have an idea,” I say, my mouth moving faster than my brain can keep up. I really hadn’t meant to say my thoughts out loud.
The four men look at me like I’ve just promised them ice cream with a whiskey chocolate sauce for dessert.
Oops.
3
Landon
“Principal Woodnut will see you now,” the school secretary tells me. I’ve been sitting in the office waiting room for the past five minutes.
Long enough for memories of my childhood to power skate through my thoughts. Although back in those days, I wasn’t waiting to see the principal because of my job.
And detention was often the outcome.
The secretary nods at a door across from her desk. I push myself to my feet and walk over to it.
The door’s opened a crack. I open it farther and step inside a bright and cheery office. The furniture is a dark wood veneer. That’s the only noncolorful item in here.
A woman who looks like she’s been teaching since dinosaurs went extinct sits behind the desk, a sparkle in her eyes.
Behind her, on the bookshelf, are hardback editions of numerous kids’ books I recognize. Liam’s wife is both a teacher at the school and a New York Times bestselling author of middle-grade fantasy.
“I take it you know Ava.” The older woman gestures to Liam’s wife. Ava’s been teaching second grade here for the past four years and was able to provide me with more information about the woman I’m supposed to be dating than the FBI shared with Liam…only Chloe doesn’t know that.
The plan is for me to get to know Chloe as quickly as possible and become her boyfriend. But she’s not supposed to know the plan. It’s got to look real.
Ava smiles at me, but her thoughts are clearly conveyed in her eyes. She’s not thrilled I’ll be keeping the real reason I want to date Chloe a secret from her friend. Chloe will get hurt if she falls for my irresistible charm.
Ava’s words, not mine.
But she also doesn’t want anything bad to happen to her friend, so she’s going along with the lies. Liam did mention, though, that she threatened to stick thumbtacks in my balls if I hurt Chloe.
Good to know—since I happen to be quite fond of my balls.
I shut the door behind me and give Ava a quick hug. She’s like a sister to me—only a lot less annoying than my biological ones can be.
“I spoke with your boss this morning,” Principal Woodnut says, “as well as the FBI. I’ll admit this is highly unorthodox. Do you even have teaching experience?”