up to the imposing house with its mullioned windows and a steep jagged roofline. The photos had oozed old wealth and gracious living.
And she’d raged against how unfair life was.
Miranda shook herself free of the memory. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I’d like you to spend Christmas with us,” he said, “as my partner for the weekend.”
Miranda sucked in a breath.
“It’s my mother’s birthday,” he continued, “the day after Christmas. We’re planning to throw her a surprise birthday party-and Gordon and Petra have already been invited.”
Callum didn’t need to add that he’d originally planned to take Petra along to his mother’s birthday as his fiancee. That his break-up with the blonde had caused a horrible complication. It was written all over his discomfited face. And that knowledge caused an unexpected wash of bittersweet sensation to engulf Miranda.
“You’re asking me to come along and
Heavens, men could be so
“Something like that.” The barely imperceptible tension that had been coiled within him eased a little, and his eyes smiled into hers. “You could take over working the kitchen on the weekend. I’d make it worth your while.”
Miranda itched to slap him.
“My mother always goes to a great deal of trouble over the festive season-works herself half to death, which makes us all feel guilty. This year she turns sixty.” His expression held a tenderness she’d never seen. “We want to spoil her rotten. We’d planned to get some help with the Christmas preparations, but we’ve all been involved with the merger and no one’s gotten around to organizing it. Neglectful sons, aren’t we?”
There was something inherently sweet about the thought of four grown men-five if you counted his father- coming up with such an idea. It made her turn to marshmallow.
“We’d even pay you-top rates, given that it will be over the Christmas weekend.”
For a moment she thought of her family. She’d never spent Christmas away from them. But how could she possibly resist? The commission Callum was dangling in front of her would enable her to put something toward the deposit Adrian wanted for the pre-owned BMW he’d already agreed to buy from a friend before the expense of the accident-and maybe even buy her mother the new microwave she desperately wanted. And she had to admit to a yearning to see the home in the country that he’d spoken of with such affection.
The only thing that concerned her about his request was Petra. How did the other woman feel about Callum? Miranda suspected Petra would be wounded to be faced with her supposed successor. It made her feel uncomfortable.
Callum must have seen her hesitation because he asked, “Will you come?”, giving her a charmingly lopsided smile. “Will you make my mother’s life, my life-all our lives-so much easier?”
Faced with his love for his mother, how could she refuse? He cared for his mother, loved her. That was beyond doubt. She was discovering a side of Callum she’d never seen before.
Or had she?
Even though he barely knew Flo, he’d taken care of her since her husband’s death. More than Miranda had ever realized. He’d misjudged her father with tragic results…but he hadn’t walked away and abandoned them. Anonymously he’d tried to make amends in the best way he could-by making sure she and her brother received a top-class education, and by looking after the widow of the man he’d wronged.
Perhaps it was time for her to let up on him a little. He’d done wrong, but he’d clearly regretted the consequences his actions had produced.
She’d intended to throw all his money back in his face once she scrimped it together. Yet here was something he was asking her to do, something that could ease her burden of the debt.
Their food arrived before she could answer, the two waiters whipping off the silver covers of the plates with a flourish.
After she’d made the expected noises of approval, they departed. And, drawing a deep breath, Miranda said, “I think it’s a lovely gesture. Your mother will adore a birthday celebration. Of course I’ll come.”
“Toothbrush. Shampoo. Perfume.”
Miranda packed the final items into her toiletry holdall and tossed it into her overnight bag. Then, crumpling up her list, she dropped it into the bin beneath her dressing table.
“You’re all packed?”
She hadn’t heard her mother come in. Miranda turned her head to smile at Flo. “Only my cooking stuff left to pack-at least Callum’s Daimler has plenty of space. I’m going to miss you and Adrian, Mum.”
“You’ll be back after the weekend on Boxing Day.” Flo patted her arm. “Not that long.”
But it would be over Christmas. “With Christmas falling on Friday this year, Boxing Day seems so far away.”
Flo gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll keep you some Christmas pudding, darling.”
“That would be lovely.” Her mother made the best Christmas pudding in the whole world.
“Adrian’s already up. Should we open our presents before you go?”
Miranda studied Flo. “Wouldn’t you prefer to wait until Christmas tomorrow?”
“It will be so strange without you. Let me see what Adrian wants to do.”
Flo waltzed out, and Miranda gathered up the modest gifts she’d bought for her mother and Adrian, before making her way to the small lounge.
Adrian and Flo were already waiting, Flo all but dancing with excitement as she pushed a package into Miranda’s hands. “We’re doing it now. Save mine until last.”
Miranda laughed. “I will, I will.” She handed Adrian the bottle of aftershave she’d bought him-one she knew he liked. “This is yours. When I get paid for this weekend’s work, I’ll give you a check to put toward the BMW-that way your friend will at least continue to hold it for you. I’d like to get Mum a microwave, too.”
Adrian’s face lit up. “Thanks, sis. That’s awesome. One day I’ll repay everything you’ve done for me.”
Miranda felt a niggle of misgiving. “Pay me back? You don’t need to. It’s a gift.”
Her brother looked uncomfortable. “One you can’t afford-not if you want to get out of The Golden Goose.”
Had she become so tight about money that her brother couldn’t accept a gift from her anymore? It reminded her of her own determination to pay Callum back come hell or high water.
But Adrian was family. It was different.
Before she could say anything more, he handed her a flat parcel. “It’s a boring gift. But I think you’ll enjoy it.”
It was a book by a chef she admired. She hugged him, then she settled down and tore the wrapping from the package her mother had given her. Her fingers peeled back the paper to reveal a red woolen scarf. She drew it out. It was as soft as the silk she’d collected from the silkworms she’d reared as a child, the wool fine and warm against her fingertips.
How much had it cost?
She bit back the question. “It’s beautiful. Thanks, Mum.”
Flo’s eyes glowed with happiness. “Take it with you. That color does marvelous things for your skin. I knew it was yours the moment I spotted it. And here’s something else.”
A second, much larger, package landed in her lap.
“Mum, you didn’t need to…” Her voice trailed away as she saw the ivory trench coat that lay inside.
“They’re very in this season, darling.”
Miranda felt as if she’d been turned to stone. She stared at the coat. But instead of seeing a garment, all she could see were bills.
Unpaid bills.
“Mother…” She looked up. “Please don’t tell me that you’ve extended your credit further. Tell me you won a lottery. Anything. Just not more debt.”
The happiness on her mother’s face subsided. “Oh, Miranda, don’t spoil it.”
Beside her mother, Adrian fidgeted.
“We can’t afford this, Flo.”
She’d have to face Callum, tell him that her mother was still using his name. Then she’d have to pay him back. The debt stretched ahead of her like an un-scaleable mountain. “Oh, Mum.”
