Page 16 of Leo

“Schu—” It took a moment for Leo to get the meaning of Donna’s words, and as a snowboard clattered in the rack where he set it, he furrowed his brow in irritation. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“It’s not,” Richard said. “But that’s never stopped her before.”

Donna said, “Actually, it is our business. We’re here to ensure you get your mate. I suggest you rock her world before you tell her what she is.”

Leo didn’t agree. He had a feeling that Gracie would want to move slowly when it came to their physical relationship. “I’ll take that into consideration.”

“Good man,” Richard said as he handed Leo a pair of skis. “Now, Donna, I think today we really have earned our après-ski.”

“Indeed.” Donna crooked her arm for Richard to take it before the two walked away.

Leo headed toward the locker room to eat. But the matchmakers, and his mother, had raised a concern that had been brewing in him. He wondered about when he should tell Gracie what she was and what he was. He believed he only had one chance to get it right, and he’d better be darn sure she was ready for the news. And if she didn’t like what she heard? Well, he supposed he’d be employing the kind of perseverance the two women beginners had earlier, because he wasn’t going to let his true mate walk away without a fight.

CHAPTER11

Gracie

Christmas Eveat the Templeton house was only as festive as Gracie decided to make it. It had been fun to celebrate the holiday when there were foster kids in the house, and Gracie had loved doing what she could to make the younger kids feel special. But now that it was just her and her mother, it wasn’t much fun. The desire to make a big dinner died a few years back, and at some point they’d begun opening presents on Christmas Eve instead of bothering to celebrate the event over two days.

Gracie refused to give up on the holiday completely though, and this year she’d put up a tree and decorated the house. She’d made cookies on her day off and brought them to work to hand out to her colleagues. She’d bought her mother presents and put the wrapped packages under the tree as well. But as Gracie drove home after a day spent with Leo, dread sat like a lump of coal in her stomach. No matter how much she wished the evening was going to be a warm, loving celebration of family, it wouldn’t be. And nothing Gracie did could make it so.

The small ranch house she lived in looked like a dark hole in the midst of neighboring homes adorned with holiday lights. Margo had complained that lights on their house kept her awake at night, but Gracie wished she’d put them up anyway. When she walked through the door, the sound of the TV was like running into a brick wall. She paused for a moment to fight the urge to turn around and go anywhere else for the evening. She took a deep breath to muster up an attempt at happiness. “Merry Christmas, Mom.”

Her mother glanced her way, and Gracie’s heart jumped with hope before her mother looked back at the TV without so much as a nod of acknowledgment. Irritation made Gracie set her jaw as she hung up her coat before she walked into the kitchen. She sighed when she saw that Margo hadn’t bothered to pull the lasagna out of the fridge to put in the oven as Gracie’s note had instructed. The oven door creaked as she opened it to put the casserole in, and she turned the dial to bake before setting a timer.

As she walked to her bedroom she said, “Dinner should be ready in about an hour, Mom.”

Gracie needed to shower, but once she got to her bedroom she decided packing to move was more important. She didn’t own much other than clothing and books, and she packed most of what she would need for the next few months into the two bags she owned. She figured she could pick up her other things on the next trip. She brought her bags to the living room to set by the front door, and when they thumped down, her heart felt lighter. “When I get out of the shower,” she said to her mother, “I’m going to open the champagne so we can celebrate Christmas Eve.” She was going to celebrate her new freedom as well.

Once Gracie was clean, she put on a fuzzy green sweater, and her jingle bells necklace rang softly as she made her way to the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks when she saw her mother had set the table and even lit candles. Margo was leaning against the counter with a glass of champagne in her hand. Gracie said, “The table looks nice, Mom.”

“Pour yourself some champagne.” Margo moved to sit at the table.

Gracie prepared herself a glass of the bubbly drink and sat across from her mother. She lifted her wine glass, thrilled that her mother had decided to celebrate with her. “To a happy holiday.”

“And family,” Margo said. “We’re lucky to have each other.”

Gracie didn’t know what had made her mother do a one-eighty, but she was happy to go along with Margo’s new outlook on life. “To family,” she said before she sipped her drink.

“The lasagna smells good,” her mother said.

“Thanks.” Gracie wasn’t sure how to talk with her mother. It had been such a long time since they’d had casual conversation. She asked, “How was your day?”

“Good. Darla stopped by with cookies.”

“That’s so nice. What kind?”

“I have no idea. I threw them out.” Margo grimaced. “That woman’s kitchen is so filthy I’m surprised she doesn’t have rats.”

Darla was a kind woman who lived down the street. From what Gracie knew, their neighbor was not a slob, but she wasn’t about to argue with her mother and ruin any chance they had of enjoying Christmas Eve together. She said, “Do you want to open your presents while we wait for dinner?”

“Sure.” Margo smiled. “There’s one under the tree for you, too.”

Gracie retrieved the gifts from the tree and brought them to the table. Margo opened her gifts first and thanked her daughter for the pajamas, scented candle, and body lotion. When it was Gracie’s turn, she opened the package to find a soft wool scarf in shades of blue, her mother’s favorite color. The scarf was also one Gracie had given Margo for Christmas a few years ago, but even though she was disappointed in receiving a regifted item, Gracie smiled sweetly as she draped the scarf around her neck. “It’s so soft. Thank you, Mom.”

The timer beeped, alerting them that the lasagna was done, and Gracie got up to take it out of the oven. When they sat to eat, Margo chewed a mouthful of the pasta and studied her daughter as if she had something serious to say. When she didn’t speak, Gracie asked, “Mom?”

“I was thinking about how nice it is to have each other. So many people are alone on the holiday. It must be sad.”