Rescue My Heart (27 page)

“
Morning, Dr. Hack,” the
doorman said.

“
Morning, Dooley.” Hack
responded. He steered her to a side elevator. When the doors opened
on a beautiful hallway with a polished wood floor and shiny
Christmas decorations, she was surprised to see only one apartment
entrance at each end of the hall. One side was silent, while voices
drifted from the door on the other end. Hack pointed to the noisy
door. The minute they went in, the voices got louder.

“
It’s Hack!”

“
Finally! Where the hell
have you been?”

“
Hey, everybody, we can
open presents now.”

An acute attack of shyness hit Rory.
She hid behind Hack and peeked out. They were in a huge foyer with
cream-colored walls that seemed to reach to the sky. A giant mirror
stretching the length of her on one wall reflected the image of a
nervous young woman in green.

The
archway, replacing a wall on the right, revealed a room full of
people. Some in bathrobes, some in jeans, and at least four
children of various ages. One baby was crying, and two girls were
whining. The one boy ran around and around the giant Christmas
tree. Rory’s gaze followed the tree up and up.
Must be nine feet at least. Maybe ten?

Baxter barked and barked, preempting
all talking. Every head turned toward Rory, Hack, and Baxter. She
picked the pug up.

“
A doggie!” the little boy
shouted and ran toward Baxter, who growled.

Rory shrunk back. “Don’t get too
close. He’s nervous.”

“
Spencer! Wait.” A woman
seemed to appear out of nowhere. She corralled her son, pushed her
long, brunette hair back from her face, and smiled at Rory. “He
loves dogs.” Under his mother’s guidance, the little boy approached
Baxter quietly, holding out his hand. Baxter sniffed, then wagged
his tail while Rory held him.

“
Who’s this?” An older man
made his way through the relatives who were standing and
staring.

“
Hi, Dad. This is Rory.
Rory, my dad, Monty.” After she put Baxter back on the floor, she
shook Hack’s father’s outstretched hand. “She’s a
beauty.”

What am I, a prize
thoroughbred, just purchased?

“
What’s this?” He took her
left hand and held it closer to his face. “Engaged?” Monty’s
eyebrows shot up.

“
Again?” a dead ringer for
Hack asked.

“
This looks like the real
thing,” Monty said.

“
It is,” Hack responded.
“Rory is my fiancée. We’ll be setting the date soon. And this is
Baxter.” As if it were prearranged, Baxter barked on cue, causing a
titter to run through the group.

Hack took Rory’s hand and headed
toward the center of the room. She was immediately surrounded by
the young men and women. The children zeroed in on Baxter, who ran
off to hide. Rory became dizzy, trying to remember each name and
face. There were fifteen people in her space, demanding her
attention.

Hack ran off to get her some spiked
punch, and the kids dove into their mound of presents, ripping off
the wrapping. The noisy hive of people quickly morphed into a
free-for-all as family members talked, unwrapped presents, kissed,
exclaimed, and drank. The room became a sea of discarded paper.
Red, green, silver, and gold bits and pieces of paper, were flung
everywhere, turning the previously tidy room into a housekeeper’s
nightmare.

Rory stared at the Christmas tree. It
was trimmed with red lights, and gold and white ornaments. True,
there was an impressive collection of decorations, but only in
those colors. A discomfort tickled her neck when she thought of the
haphazard tree her family had always had.

Sure,
white lights, but the ornaments were all over the place.
Her mother had called it eclectic. When she was a
kid, Rory thought of it as unkempt, messy, a hodgepodge, with no
direction or goal. Now that she was older, she saw it as creative
freedom.

This
tree wasn’t like that. It was precise. Perfectly balanced.
Ornaments were placed with a sense of purpose and plan.
Like Hack. Purposeful. I don’t belong here, in
this crowd. I’m too messy.
Hack returned
with a glass. Rory took a big gulp, hoping the alcohol would help
her adjust.

“
Where’s your
mom?”

“
In the kitchen with
Greta.”

“
Greta?”

“
Our
housekeeper.”

“
Your housekeeper doesn’t
even get Christmas off?”

“
She’s like family. She
stays in the morning, till about noon. Gets the cooking done. Mom
would be lost without her.” Hack dragged her over to an impressive
pile of gifts. “Help me open my stuff.”

“
I was going to get you a
lifetime membership to an online dating service, Hack. Glad I
didn’t waste my money,” Sumner Roberts called out.

“
Very funny.” Hack made a
face at his brother, who rifled a balled up piece of wrapping paper
at him.

“
Boys!” Monty called out.
“Please. We have a guest.”

“
She’s not a guest, Dad.
She’s family.”

The look on his face showed Montgomery
Roberts wasn’t convinced. “We’ll see how long she can stomach this
mob.”

“
She doesn’t have to like
any of you. Just me.” Hack raised her hand to his lips.

“
Who the hell are you,
Hack? Sir Walter Raleigh?” Brett Roberts, another brother,
asked.

“
He put his coat on a mud
puddle, you idiot.” Brett threw a bow at Hack, who fired it
back.

“
Boys! Come on! No paper
fights. Don’t give the kids ideas.”

Hack opened one present then handed
one to Rory. He got several shirts, a couple of books on animals,
two new ties, and a framed picture of his parents on their wedding
day. He pulled her close to plant a kiss on her lips.

She pushed him away. “Everybody’s
looking.”

“
No one’s looking. Rory
Sampson, shy? This is something new.”

“
I don’t know a soul here,
Hack. When’s the big meal?”

“
Hungry or anxious to
leave?”

“
Both.
Where’s Baxter?” She pushed to her feet and whistled for the pug.
Within a few seconds, she spied him bounding down the
stairs.
God, stairs in an
apartment.

“
Where do the stairs
lead?”

“
Bedrooms. Five
bedrooms.”

“
Five!” Her eyebrows shot
up. “This is a mansion.”

“
It’s big. But we’re a big
family.”

A woman wearing an apron entered the
room. “Fifteen minutes to dinner,” she announced. Hack jumped up,
grabbed Rory’s hand, and led her over to meet the
housekeeper.

“
So, you’re the woman who
finally won his heart, eh? Good for you, dearie. He’s a sweetie.
You’re a lucky girl. She’s a beauty, Hack, good goin’.” She elbowed
him in the ribs, hugged Rory, and then disappeared back into the
kitchen. The aroma of baked ham drifted to Rory’s nostrils, making
her stomach growl. Hack piled up his gifts then followed the crowd
into the dining room.

There was an enormous
table, wearing a pristine, white, damask tablecloth, set
beautifully with old-fashioned china in a pink and green flower
pattern. Antique sterling silver flatware and gleaming crystal
goblets gave Rory the feeling of having traveled back to a more
elegant time.

A fine wood sideboard groaned under
the weight of fabulous food. A large baked ham was first. Next to
it were scalloped potatoes, green beans almondine, Brussel sprouts
with pearl onions, and a big green salad already dressed. Warm,
homemade rolls wrapped in a cloth napkin were accompanied by
European butter.

Condiments like raw, fresh cranberry
sauce and Dijon mustard perched next to tiny, sweet gherkins and
chutney. A casserole of mac and cheese for the children was at the
end of the table. Each place had a small plate with two stalks of
celery and several black olives.

“
I’m starved. Please don’t
be mad if I make a pig of myself,” she whispered to
Hack.

“
Go ahead. Everyone else
is going to pig out. No one’ll notice.”

After
the appetizers were finished, everyone lined up at the buffet. A
tall, attractive woman with short, gray hair, beautifully cut,
wearing a white cashmere sweater and gray, wool slacks entered and
was escorted through the food line by Monty.
Must be Hack’s mom. I recognize those
dark brown eyes and charming smile.
The family waited to eat until she was seated and grace was
said.

Hack sat next to his mother, with Rory
on his left. Corinne’s piercing gaze rested on her. “Hack, do I
know this young lady, or is it my mind again?”

“
No, Mom. This time you
don’t know her. This is Rory Sampson, my fiancée. Rory, my mom,
Corinne.”

Corinne’s facial expression softened.
A delicate smile spread across her face. “Oh, my dear. Welcome to
the family. Weren’t you engaged before? Was it to the same
woman?”

“
That was Felicia. That’s
over, Mom,” Hack said. He stopped eating, his gaze studying his
mom’s face. Rory gripped his hand under the table and squeezed his
fingers. He squeezed back.

“
What happened to Felicia?
Nothing bad, I hope.” Her expression clouded.

“
She broke up with
me.”

“
How awful! I’m so sorry,
Hack. Did she break your heart?”

“
Not exactly. It’s fine,
Mom. I’m happy.” He patted his mother’s hand.

“
It’s chilly in here,”
Corinne said.

Monty arose from the table and left
the room. “We forgot this,” he said, draping a raspberry throw over
Corinne’s lap. He tucked it around her legs.

“
That’s much better,
dear,” she said, raising her chin to kiss him. “Thank
you.”

Rory’s eyes widened. She stared at the
blanket and tugged on Hack’s arm.

“
Psst,” she whispered.
“That’s mine.” Hack raised his eyebrows. “I made that afghan,” she
blurted out.

“
You what?” Corinne gave
her a blank look.

“
Last year. For the
church’s Secret Santa. That’s what I gave. I must have been your
Secret Santa.” She turned to face Hack.

“
That’s where it came
from. Mom liked it, so I gave it to her.”

Corinne reached out and closed her
hand over Rory’s. “You made this wonderful blanket? I love it. I
take it everywhere with me.”

Rory beamed. Corinne turned to face
Hack. “Marrying a girl who can crochet is a good idea, Hack.
Welcome to the family, dear.” Corinne shot a warm glance at Hack
then at Rory, who understood the lady had already forgotten her
name. It didn’t matter. Rory had been accepted. She tucked into her
food, giving full rein to her appetite.

The clicking of knives and
forks replaced conversation. The meal was beyond delicious, and
Rory ate hearty. Hack put away two full plates and still had room
for dessert. Two huge cakes, one dark chocolate and the other
coconut, were placed at each end of the table. While Corinne didn’t
cut the cake and pass it out, she took the orders and gave the
directions to Monty, who sat at her side.

Rory liked the way Corinne and Monty
interacted. No one seemed to pity or condescend to Hack’s mom,
everyone took her and her limitations in stride. Rory’s facial
muscles relaxed, and her posture eased as she sat back against the
chair. While their styles were different, no one seemed to be
judging or rejecting her. Hack told them what she did, and they
were complimentary about her getting a contract.

The raucous teasing and
good humor among the sibs was new to Rory. But their warmth made
her comfortable. She promised everyone a signed copy when her book
was published, then pushed to her feet to help clear the table.
Stacy, Brett’s wife, told her that she was a guest and should sit.
But Rory objected, stating that she was almost family and wanted to
do her share.

Baxter found a comfortable
spot out of the way and curled up to snooze on the dining room rug.
He wolfed down a small dish of scraps and licked everyone’s
fingers.

Monty asked her tons of
questions, but it never seemed like an inquisition, more like
wanting to get to know the woman who was to be his son’s wife. When
dinner was over, Hack made excuses, packed up his loot, and took
Rory’s hand.

“
Leaving
already? I don’t think so,” Monty said. “Not without a toast.” He
left the room and returned with two bottles of
Piper Heidsieck
champagne. He and
Hack popped the corks and filled flutes. Monty raised his glass.
“To Hack and Rory, much good health and happiness. And may it be
real this time.”

The
tinkling of glasses coming together mixed with the chuckles of
Hack’s siblings. Tears stung behind Rory’s eyes.
So, this is what a family can
be.

As soon as they finished, Hack tugged
on her hand. “Let’s go.”