A Billionaire for Christmas(67)
Phoebe’s eyes met his across the room. For a split second, he saw into her very soul. Her anguish seared him, but the moment passed, and now her expression seemed normal. She smiled at him. “You’re just in time. My sister, Dana, arrived unexpectedly. Dana, this is Leo.”
He shook hands with the other woman and tried to analyze the dynamic that sizzled in the room. Dana was a shorter, rounder version of her sister. At the moment, she seemed exhausted and at the point of tears.
Phoebe held Teddy on her hip. “What are you doing here, Dana? Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I would have picked you up at the airport. You look like you haven’t slept in hours.”
Dana plopped onto the sofa and burst into tears, her hands over her face. “I knew you would try to talk me out of it,” she sobbed. “I know it’s stupid. I’ve been on a plane for hours, and I have to be back on a flight at two. But I couldn’t spend Christmas without my baby. I thought I could, but I can’t.”
Leo froze, realizing at once what was happening. Phoebe…dear, beautiful, strong Phoebe put whatever feelings she had aside and went to sit beside her sister. “Of course you can’t. I understand. Dry your eyes and take your son.” She handed Teddy over to his mother as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Leo knew it was breaking her heart.
Dana’s face when she hugged her baby to her chest would have touched even the most hardened cynic. She kissed the top of his head, nuzzling the soft, fuzzy hair. “We found a lady in the village who speaks a little English. She’s agreed to look after him while we work.”
Phoebe clasped her hands in her lap as if she didn’t know what to do with them. “How are things going with your father-in-law’s estate?”
Dana made a face. “It’s a mess. Worse than we thought. So stressful. The house is chock-full of junk. We have to go through it all so we don’t miss anything valuable. I know it doesn’t make sense to take Teddy over there, but if I can just have him in the evenings and be able to see him during the day when we take breaks, I know I’ll feel so much better.”
Phoebe nodded. “Of course you will.”
Dana grabbed her sister’s wrist. “You don’t know how much we love you and appreciate all you’ve done for Teddy. I have an extra ticket on standby if you want to come back with me…or even in a day or two. I don’t want you to be alone at Christmas, especially because it was that time of year when you lost—” She clapped her hand over her mouth, her expression horrified. “Oh, God, honey. I’m sorry. I’m exhausted and I don’t know what I’m saying. I didn’t mean to mention it.”
Phoebe put an arm around the frazzled woman and kissed her cheek. “Take a deep breath, Dana. Everything’s fine. I’m fine. If you’re really on such a time crunch, let’s start packing up Teddy’s things. He’ll nap in the car while you drive.”
* * *
Phoebe paused in the back hallway, leaning against the wall and closing her eyes. Her smile felt frozen in place. Leo wasn’t fooled. She could see his concern. But the important thing was for Dana not to realize what her unexpected arrival had done to Phoebe’s plans for a cozy Christmas.
In less than an hour from start to finish, Dana came and went, taking Teddy with her. The resultant silence was painful. The only baby items left behind were the high chair in the kitchen and the large pieces of furniture in Teddy’s room. Without asking, Leo took the high chair, put it in with the other stuff and shut the door. Phoebe watched him, her heart in pieces at her feet.