The Mistletoe Affair

out, she held it hesitantly under Katherine's streaming nose, her words gentle. “I hate to see you hurt. I'm not defending the two-timer, but are you sure it wasn't his anger slashing you?'

Taking the tissue from her mother, she wiped her nose and shook her head. “I remember the financial analysis and investment strategy I prepared for his family long before I met Paul. How impressed his parents were with my recommendations as their investment counselor. Paul said his parents pushed him into dating me. They didn't approve of the women he dated and hoped his marrying me would settle him down. We would make a good match according to his parents. He'd do anything to please them. Boy, was I a fool. Plain and simple.'

Her mother's lips pursed. “He was the fool, not you. You're never a fool for loving someone.'

She didn't agree. Falling for the first man she felt sexually attracted to made her the fool. He'd used her and betrayed her. Becoming another notch on Jared's bedpost would push her to the status of a first class fool. Hell, she'd deserve a trophy. She shuddered and looked at her mother. “The only good thing to come out of my marriage is Matt. I'll never regret having him.'

Her mother smiled.

“At least I've learned to play it safe from now on.'

A bubbling laugh erupted from her mother. “Safe? You have two males to contend with-and the way I see it, retreating from either one of them is no longer an option.'

Katherine's brows narrowed. “You're joking.'

“Afraid not. You said yourself Paul's determined to prove he's changed and get his family back. If he has changed, you'll be forever joined at the hip because of Matt. Paul will always be around.'

She reached over and touched Katherine's face. “No matter what, even if he hasn't changed, you have to let go of your rotten past-for yourself, Katherine. All this animosity hurts you-not him.'

“I know,” she whispered.

She thought about the one question her mother had neglected to ask. Why had Paul suddenly shown up now to declare his love? A niggling little voice kept asking, 'What's he really after?” She shook her head, amazed at herself. Maybe he really did want her back. Maybe it was her own lack of self-esteem making her doubt his motives. That, or two years of pent-up anger and hurt.

She wiped her nose one last time and balled the tissue in her palm, offering her mother a shaky smile. “Why did you invite him to stay at the house?'

Her mother coughed. “At the time, I thought you still loved the creep. I knew he wouldn't leave you alone, whether he was here, or on the moon. You knew the minute he walked onto the dance floor you'd have to stand up to him this Christmas-because of Matt. No hiding.'

She frowned and nodded. “All right. I agree. You said I had to contend with two men. Who's the second man?'

“Jared, of course,” her mother replied, smiling mischievously

Katherine let out an exasperated breath. She stared at her mother in disbelief.

“Don't look at me like that. You had to contend with Jared the minute Paul returned and set foot in this house.'

The clock chimed and her mother turned to look at it. “Gracious, if we don't head to church, we'll be late. How do you like my new outfit?'

Katherine bit down on her impatience. She reluctantly glanced at her mother's rust colored dress and jacket with a bright Christmas wreath pin perched on the lapel. The familiar strand of pearls, a gift from her groom on their wedding day, hung loosely around her neck. “It's very elegant.'

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, I made all the phone calls Saturday, while you and Matt shopped at the mall. People are all set for our tree-trimming party Tuesday.'

They stood and Katherine grabbed their purses on the way out the door. If her mother thought she could change the subject indefinitely, she better think again. “What has Paul got to do with Jared?'

Her mother reached for the doorknob, turned and paused. “Don't you know? I thought you'd have figured out that one infallible weakness of Jared after him rescuing you.'

She squinted and angled her head to the side. “What are you talking about?'

“You know Mrs. Taylor called Jared to get you off that roof because she's a matchmaker, worse than me.'

Katherine stared. “Jared's infallible weakness is that Mrs. Taylor is a matchmaker?'

Her mother laughed. “No. It's that he's a savior.'

Katherine's face fell. “So now he's Jesus-like, I'd never have guess that one, Mom.'

Now the smile stretched from end to end. “Not of the world, Katherine. Of you.'

“What?'

“There are some kinds of men-'

“I know about those kinds,” she grumbled, wrenching open the door and waiting for her mother to pass through.

“You know about men like Paul, Katherine. You know nothing about a man like Jared. He's the kind of man who, if he thinks you're in danger, well-he'll be there. It's almost a Superman complex.'

Great! First he's John Wayne, next he'd Romeo, now Superman. Why don't we start him in therapy with a male Sybil complex, or me for even thinking like this.

“Jared and I are friends. I'll talk to him and make sure he understands that I don't need or want his help.'

“You do that, dear.” Her mother gave her an angelic look of innocence. “And good luck.'

* * * *

“I hope you didn't mind my taking Matt to lunch after church instead of coming here and eating with you and Grace,” Paul said. He shrugged out of his jacket, placed it on the back of a chair and sat on the oak barstool at the kitchen counter. “We had a good time at the pizza parlor. Matt enjoyed playing games.'

Katherine dried the last dish and put it away. She couldn't imagine impeccable Paul, who now wore a small greasy palm print on his left sleeve, really enjoying himself in the midst of kid-induced chaos. But she wanted to encourage him to spend time with Matt. “I'm glad the two of you went out. Matt needs a day with his father every once in awhile.'

“I realize that. I'll do better.” He propped his elbows on the counter and rested his chin in his hands. “I want to say this before anyone suddenly pops into the kitchen.'

She lifted her eyebrows slightly.

Paul sighed and dragged his fingers through his hair. “About last night, my coming on to you like some overheated gorilla. I apologize to you again.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a wrapped present and handed it to her. “To punctuate the apology.'

She fingered the paper, tore the tissue and removed the velvet box, almost afraid to look as she opened the lid. Inside lay a pear-shaped emerald pendant.

“The color of your eyes,” Paul whispered huskily.

She bit the inside of her cheek. “I can't accept this.'

“Katherine, it's my way of saying what happened last night was a huge mistake, and it won't happen again. Nothing more. I wish you'd accept it.” He stood and walked toward her. “It's made for you. I took a photo and the jeweler and I matched the shade of the gem to your exact eye color,” he said.

The stone felt cold to her touch. “I still don't feel right accepting it.'

“I do.” He paused, moved back to the barstool at the counter and watched her carefully.

She closed the case. “I'm not doing this to hurt you. I need to make a point. Maybe you'll listen to me this time.” She reached across the counter and handed the gift back to him.

A hint of anger flashed in his eyes before glazing over with ice. He took the gift box, but continued to look at her.

“I want you to really think about the things you do that hurt other people, and know expensive presents, sex, and saying ‘I'm sorry’ won't work. You hurt both Matt and me.'

The muscles in his jaw clenched. “I know.” He glanced at the box he held and shoved it into his pocket. “You're the first woman to ever refuse my gift. The only one I'd let do that. I'm trying, Katherine. I really am trying to prove I've changed.'