Somebody to Love by Ann Christopher

Author:Ann Christopher
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blue Iris Press

Chapter Thirteen

Though Sean had seen the lodge’s open concept interior when he arrived earlier, there was just no getting used to it. The place had a massive foyer and staircase. A vaulted first floor that was roughly the length of a football field. A white-uniformed chef bustling around the gourmet kitchen, a breakfast area and dining area built to accommodate around fifty of your closest friends, a massive stone hearth with a crackling fire, a family room area with a foosball table, ping-pong table, several sofas, recliners and love seats and a wall-mounted big-screen TV that had probably been borrowed from the local multiplex. God knew how many bedrooms upstairs. Topping it all? A spectacular Christmas tree with white lights sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains.

Several pets participated in the festivities, including James’s blue-eyed husky named Frank, Raymond’s Jack Russell Terrier Bobsy, both of whom were outfitted in Christmas bandannas, and Isaiah’s surly new Maine coon cat, who was thankfully confined to his carrier for the moment, but managed to convey his hostile mood by turning his yellow-eyed glare and hiss on anyone who came too close.

“Hey, Sean.” The eight-year-old-ish twin with the glasses—Noah—sidled up to Sean during the pizza making, just as Sean helped himself to a handful of pepperoni slices. Sean had gotten to know Noah and his brother Jonah, who were James Harper’s new stepsons, quite well over the last few months and was always eager to see what kind of mischief they stirred up on any given day. “Did you get your Christmas pajamas from Isaiah?”

“They’re just like ours.” Jonah, the other twin, spun and showcased his own plaid flannel pajama bottoms in an impressive Vanna White imitation. Then he pointed to the collection of gift bags lining the sideboard. “Make sure you put them on with your slippers after dinner. Before we watch Home Alone. We can’t start the movie until everyone has their pajamas on. Don’t ruin it.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Sean said, stifling a laugh.

“So listen,” Noah said, leaning closer and adopting a conspiratorial air that immediately made Sean suspicious. Especially when Noah cast a furtive glance at his mother, Miranda, James’s new wife, evidently to make sure she remained out of earshot down at the other end of the counter. “We couldn’t help but notice that you brought us a present.”

“Is that right?” Sean said, working hard to look stern as he arranged pepperonis on his pie. “And how would you have noticed that if you were minding your own business and behaving like all kids are supposed to do before Christmas?”

“We were putting the presents under the tree,” Jonah cried, outraged. “We didn’t do anything wrong!”

Miranda paused in her own pizza making to frown over at them.

“Is there a problem, Jonah?” she called.

“Nope!” the twins said in stereo, flashing cheesy grins and looking as convincing as if they were trying to pass off Monopoly money as the real deal.

“Keep it that way,” Miranda said, narrowing her eyes at them.

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