Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses(29)

When they got to the bedrooms, she checked that everything was there. It looked like most of the furniture had been delivered, but Richard had put one of the bedroom suites in the wrong room. She pulled out her cell and texted him using the number Nick had given her when she’d first arrived. It didn’t take Richard long to appear at the door to the bedroom.

“Everything looks great, Richard. Thank you so much for arranging to have it all assembled and put into the rooms.”

Max tugged on the hem of her shirt, and she put up her finger to ask him to wait his turn.

“Did I get it all right?” Richard asked.

“Nearly,” she smiled. “I’m going to need to switch this room with the one beside it. I’m so sorry, but is there any way I could get someone to help move it?”

“Mama, can I go downstairs and slide in the hallway again? I’ll come right back up.”

Abbey nodded, trying to keep her focus on Richard. It would be good for Max, give him something to do while she explained what needed to go where.

“No problem at all. With the snow coming down again, they’ll be able to help you right now. They’ve already shoveled the walk, and there isn’t a whole lot to do outside in these conditions.”

It didn’t take long before the men showed up, and they moved the furniture that she’d asked them to switch. As they’d disassembled the enormous beds and taken them piece by piece to the other rooms, Max had called up to her from downstairs, showing her how quickly he could slide. Whenever he wobbled, he’d bend his legs and slide on his knees. He was having so much fun, and it was working out because she could pull out the bags of things she’d bought for the rooms and begin to piece things together. The first bedroom was already the color she’d wanted, and she was keeping the crystal chandelier, so it was the easiest of the bedrooms. She spent all of her time arranging the furniture and putting the final touches on the room.

When everything was in place in the first room, she clicked on the lamp on the bedside table, giving the room a warm and cozy glow. The bottoms of both tables flanking the enormous bed were bookshelves that she’d filled with all her favorite books. She had candles lit on the dresser, the scent of vanilla filling the space, and a cozy throw across the bench at the foot of the bed. While she’d decorated for Nick, clearly this was a room suitable for a woman, and she wondered if his sister would like it. When Abbey had gotten the bedroom nearly decorated, she peeked over the railing to find Max.

“Max?” she called down quietly. He wasn’t down there. “Max?” she called again, padding down the steps, the enormous space completely silent. Had he gone looking for a bathroom or something? She walked into the ballroom, glancing from one end to the other. “Max?” No answer.

As she went in and out of rooms, she started to fear for him. Had he gotten himself lost in this big house? What if he’d gone outside and couldn’t get back in? Was he somewhere crying because she couldn’t hear him? How long had he been gone? Her heart pounded with every step she took. She checked the dining room—nothing. She went to the kitchen. No one there. Her hearing sharpened as she listened, willing herself to hear his voice. Then, she tipped her head to the side to try to make out the sound she heard. Was that Nick’s voice? She followed the faint sounds, listening, as her eyes darted in every room for Max. The talking got clearer until, to her mortification, she could hear Max’s voice. Was he in Nick’s office?

She bit her lip as the conversation became clear. Abbey stopped just outside the office, out of sight, and listened for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to apologize. She could hear the clicking of computer keys as Max talked.

“Is this where you do all your work?” Max asked.

“Mmm hmm.” More clicking of keys.

“What is your job?”

“I buy and sell companies.”

“What’s a company?”

More clicking. “It’s… a business.”

“Like those big buildings downtown?”

“Yep. Like those.”

“Did you know your floors are really good for sliding?”

Abbey heard a burst of laughter escape, and her heart did a leap. “Are they?” he said. The clicking continued, and she knew that she had to go in and relieve Nick. It was terribly unprofessional, and she had no idea how long Max had been there. Nick was probably getting nothing done. But she’d never heard Max talk to another man like he was talking to Nick. He seemed so interested, so chatty. He hadn’t been like that with any of the other men in her life, other than Gramps.