When he returned, she wrapped her arms around her waist, her mood as flat as a three-day-old helium balloon. “I knew he wasn’t my baby.”
“Of course you did.”
Leo’s unspoken compassion took her close to an edge she didn’t want to face. “Don’t be nice to me or I may fall apart.”
He grinned, taking her in his arms and resting his cheek on her head. “I’m very proud of you, Phoebe.”
“For what?”
“For being such a good sister and aunt. For not making Dana feel guilty. For doing what had to be done.”
“I was looking forward to Christmas morning,” she whispered, her throat tight with unshed tears. “His presents are all wrapped.” She clung to Leo, feeling his warm presence like a balm to her hurting spirit.
He squeezed her shoulders. “I have an idea to cheer you up.”
She pulled back to look at him, only slightly embarrassed that her eyes were wet. “Having recently participated in some of your ideas, I’m listening,” she said.
He wiped the edge of her eye with his thumb. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Ms. Kemper. I wanted to propose a trip.”
“But you just arrived.”
Putting a finger over her lips, he drew her to the sofa and sat down with her, tucking her close to his side. “Let me get it all out before you interrupt.”
Phoebe nodded. “Okay.”
“You asked me earlier about my plans for Christmas, and I had pretty much decided to stay here with you and Teddy. But I did feel a twinge of sadness and guilt to be missing some things back home. This weekend is the big Cavallo Christmas party for all our employees and their families. We have it at Luc’s house. I’d like you to go with me.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he shushed her. “Hear me out,” he said. “I have an older friend who retired from Cavallo ten years ago, but he likes to keep busy. So now and again when the need arises, he does jobs for me. I know he would jump at the chance to come up here and oversee your cabin renovation. I trust him implicitly. He could stay in my room if it’s okay with you. What do you think?”
“So I’m allowed to speak now?” She punched his ribs.
He inclined his head. “You have my permission.”
“Where would I stay?”
“You mean in Atlanta?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“I was hoping you’d be at my place. But I can put you up at a nice hotel if you’d rather do that.”
She scooted onto his lap, facing him, her hands on his shoulders. “But what about all my decorations and the tree?”
He pursed his lips. “Well, we could replicate the ambience at my place. You do like decorating. But I was also thinking that maybe you and I could come back here in time for Christmas Eve. Just the two of us. I know it won’t be the same without Teddy, so if that’s a bad idea, you can say so.”
Seventeen