“Who called you?” Ronnie asked.
“Why, your mother did, of course. Tommy couldn’t remember my number.”
“You mean Tommy called her?” She turned away from them and cursed silently.There was one last hope. “What about biting the cop?”
“All taken care of.” Jenkins smiled proudly. “He only tore through the guy’s shirt and didn’t touch his skin so we were able to bargain it down to restitution and community service to be served after the new year.” He opened his briefcase and put the phone away. “If you ladies will excuse me, I’ll be back in a few minutes with your brother.” He nodded at Jack. “Good to see you again.”
“Likewise, Richard.”
Ronnie had enough. She fished her coat off the rack and roughly tossed it on. “Where are you going?” Susan asked.
“I don’t feel like sticking around to celebrate.” She looked down to see that in her haste she had misbuttoned her coat. “I’m telling you, Susan. Letting him out like this is a big mistake.” She gave up on the buttons and angrily tugged the belt around her waist. “What he needs is rehab, not a get out of jail free card.”
“Maybe what he needs is to know that his family loves him and supports him,” Susan snapped back. “How do you think he felt to find out his own sister had him locked out of the family business?”
“How did you feel when you heard the result of the audit? You enjoy watching your annual dividends go into Tommy’s pocket?” Susan opened her mouth to protest, then closed it, realizing her sister was right.
“Maybe it will work out, Ronnie. Maybe this is what he needed to get himself back on track.”
“Don’t get your hopes up, Susan. I have a feeling this is only the beginning.”
Too angry to return straight home, Ronnie drove around the streets of Albany for over an hour. She returned home to a dark house. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she slipped into the room and began to get undressed in the dark. “I’m awake,” Rose said as she switched on the lamp.
“I was trying to be quiet.”
“I was waiting up for you. How did it go?”
“Not well.” She turned her back and removed her shirt. “It seems our burglar is none other than my baby brother.”
“Tommy?”
“Nice way to treat his family, don’t you think?” She pulled the T-shirt over her head and turned around to find Rose had put the bed in an upright position.She slipped under the covers and adjusted her pillows. “I didn’t bother going down to see the damage first hand. I have enough of a headache.” She brought her fingers to her temples.
“Let me,” Soft fingers replaced hers and began to gently rub the tender area. “How’s that?” Rose whispered.
“Mmm…a little harder…hmm, yeah, right there…”
There was not an ounce of relaxation anywhere in Ronnie’s upper body, the young woman soon discovered. She gently nudged the executive into a sitting position and moved her hands down to the broad shoulders. Every muscle was bunched up tight, tensed as if ready for battle. Pressing gently at first, then with more effort, Rose forced the muscles to surrender to her manipulations.
“That’s right, just relax,” she cooed. “Close your eyes.”
“They are closed,” came the relaxed murmur. Rose smiled to herself at the unspoken compliment.
“Think about the day after tomorrow. Think about all the lights on the tree…the presents…”
“Rose Grayson, are you trying to hypnotize me?”
“Of course not, silly.” She moved her thumbs to the base of Ronnie’s skull and began kneading the area gently. “I just want you to relax and think about how much fun Christmas is going to be.”
“Mmm.”
“That’s right…” The touch became lighter as Ronnie relaxed. “Does that feel better?”
“Much,” she sighed.
“Good.” A self-satisfied smile came to the young woman’s lips. “How about we get some sleep and leave all the bad stuff for morning, okay?” She nudged Ronnie back onto her own pillow.
“Good night.”
“Good night, Rose.” It was silent for a moment before Ronnie added “Thank you.” The burden off her shoulders for at least one night, she quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.
Ronnie took a sip of coffee and looked out at the picture perfect Christmas morning. A light dusting of snow had fallen overnight, covering her back yard and the trees that surrounded it with a light blanket of white. The sun was just coming up, the whole scene reminding her of a Currier and Ives print. Tightening the sash on her terrycloth robe, she opened the sliding glass door and stepped out onto the deck, the thin layer of snow crunching under her blue slippers. She set her mug on the table, the heat causing a small ring of snow to melt and reveal the green painted metal beneath. Ronnie took a deep breath and smiled. It was cold enough to keep the snow from melting but the lack of wind kept it from being bitterly so.
She stood there and drank her coffee, enjoying a family of rabbits scampering across the field. Their gray coats were a sharp contrast to the crisp white snow.She thought of the presents under the tree. As much as she hated malls and shopping in general, Ronnie took great pleasure in personally choosing each and every gift for Rose. Finally the cold registered through her robe and she retreated inside.
The kitchen clock showed it was just past seven.Setting the empty cup in the sink, she headed into the living room. Hundreds of tiny lights twinkled and flashed over the tree, their multitudes of colors reflecting off the shiny paper covering the gifts piled on the floor. Ronnie smiled. Everything was perfect. Now it was just a matter of waiting for Rose to wake up. She looked at the grandfather clock, hoping she would not have to wait much longer.“Come on, Rose,” she muttered to herself, noting the time seemed to be passing much slower than usual. She rearranged the presents and had another cup of coffee. The clock now read seven-thirty. Tabitha rubbed against her legs. “What do you want?”
“Mrrow?”
“Breakfast for you isn’t for another half-hour.”
“Mrrow?” Tabitha walked over to the cabinet where the cat food was stored and cried again. When crying did not work, the frisky kitty rolled onto her back and turned her head at a ridiculous angle. Ronnie chuckled and shook her head.
“Well, since it’s Christmas.” She knelt down and opened the cabinet. “Okay now, let’s see what we got here.” She pulled out a green labeled can and held it in front of the now purring feline.
“You want turkey for Christmas?”
“Mrrow.” Tabitha batted at the can with her paw.