Page 26 of Noel Secrets

Michael opened the rear door and tossed Jayda inside, both of them collapsing into the seat.

“Go!” he yelled, his jaw tight, scanning the sidewalks. The men hadn’t made it through…or made other plans to cut them off somewhere else.

The driver took to the streets with precision and speed, but Michael had to be ready for an ambush at any second.

These men weren’t done. Not by a long shot.

Chapter Seven

Jayda stepped through the double doors into the Santa Village lodge. The warmth cocooned her like a blanket after the icy chaos outside. Her nerves still trembled from her electrical stun gun experience. Michael must have noticed because he put his hand on her back, which was so out of his character.

“You’re here!” Ginny shouted from the other end of the hotel lobby that looked like the North Pole. Candles twinkled on every table. Strings of garland looped across the beams of the high timbered ceiling. A giant Christmas tree soared in the corner, its ornaments glittering in soft gold and red.

Jayda tried to slow her pulse with deep breaths. Her heart rate hadn’t slowed since she had felt the man’s arm around her throat and the bite of his knife at her side. The images burned like a brand, but she pasted on a Christmas cheer smile for Ginny.

Fake calm. She’d lived her life with it, hadn’t she? When foster parents fought, when teachers labeled her trouble, when Michael used to look at her with that cutting disdain back in their teenage years. If she’d learned one survival skill, it was pretending she was fine.

Ginny rushed forward, her holiday sweater blazing with sequined poinsettias. She enveloped Jayda in a hug so genuine it made Jayda’s throat ache. Then Ginny reached for Michael, hugging him fiercely too.

“Oh, thank heavens you’re both here. I was so worried something might separate us. But we’re all here and safe.”

Safe. The word felt foreign. But Jayda nodded even though it was a lie.

Behind Ginny, Ed stood from his chair by the fireplace, putting the boys down from his lap. He strode up, broad-shouldered, cheeks red from the flames. He gave Michael a nod. “Glad to see you kept your word.”

“Of course,” Michael said, his voice rougher than usual. He looked away from his father with a tick in his jaw that caused Jayda to pause in wonder. Had she ever noticed the disconnect between father and son? What caused it?

Before she could figure it out, the twins barreled into Jayda like twin snowballs. Timmy and Tyler, identical in red plaid shirts and jeans, their curls fresh and clean.

“Did Ginny give you a bubble bath?” Jayda asked, tweaking their noses.

“Yes!” they answered in unison.

“She gives the best bubble baths. The bubbles overflow right out of the tub.” Jayda smiled with the boys, focusing on settling her heart rate into a peaceful rhythm.

“Did Santa come yet?” Timmy demanded.

“He’ll be here soon,” Ginny said. “But only if you’re good.”

“I’m good,” Tyler whined.

Jayda crouched so she was eye level, bopping their noses. “He wouldn’t miss you two. And I’m sure he’s excited to meet you.”

The boys squealed and dashed toward the stage where a chair draped in red velvet waited, empty for now.

The fake calm nearly slipped. Jayda’s stomach twisted, remembering the danger still prowling outside. The men could still be looking for her, waiting to make another move. But for the boys’ sake, for Ginny’s sake, she stood strong, looking carefree. Jayda took her seat beside Michael, and when he reached under the table to take her hand to squeeze, she nearly let the façade slip. Tears pricked her eyes, forcing her chin down to push them away.

The room buzzed with chatter around her as her mind whirled with what might have happened to her today. No amount of street smarts could have saved her.

Jayda turned to Michael and whispered, “I’m sorry I brought you into this today. I shouldn’t have done that. Your family doesn’t deserve to lose you because of me. And they could have today. They still could.”

“And what about you? They don’t deserve to lose you either.”

“It’s not the same, and you know it.”

“What are you two whispering about down there?” Ginny called, passing plates of roast beef and potatoes to the twins. The sound of her questioning voice made Jayda flinch.

Jayda’s mouth went dry, unsure of what to say. She had to think of something.