This was difficult for him, she knew, and he didn’t need an additional witness, even her, who he didn’t know was there.
Luckily, Bella knew it was difficult too and she was doing a fine job in making it easier.
Fiona stopped dematerializing when the doorbell rang. She fully materialized and watched both Prentice and Bella’s heads swing to the door.
“I’ll get it!” Sally shrieked from upstairs and Fiona’s body turned to watch her daughter run headlong down the stairs.
No, strike that.
Fiona’s body turned to watch with unadulterated fear as her daughter ran headlong down the stairs.
Fiona’s lass had been knocked over by a car, she was fully healed now, the cast off and she seemed no worse for the wear. It would be an even bigger tragedy if, after surviving that, Sally broke her neck falling down the stairs.
“Sally, be careful,” Bella called, unadulterated fear heavy in her tone and Fiona let out her nonexistent breath (whilst Bella did the same audibly) when Sally made it to the bottom, turned on one foot, nearly toppling over, and dashed to the front door.
Bella and Prentice both made their way toward the great room but they didn’t have to approach the door because the caller announced himself and when he did this, he did it loudly.
“Mikey’s home!”
“Hurrah!” Sally screeched, beside herself with glee. “Mister Mikey’s here!”
Prentice turned his eyes to Bella.
Bella did the same to Prentice and shrieked, “This is brilliant! Mikey’s great at decorating!”
Then she too ran forward, throwing her arms around Mikey while Sally jumped up and down and clapped.
Fiona’s eyes moved to Prentice and she saw he was standing frozen, staring at Bella swinging around in Mikey’s arms. He looked arrested in time, his eyes glued to the two friends, his face filled with awe as if he was watching a miracle occur.
At first, Fiona thought this was strange.
Then, slowly, her eyes slid to the friends and she too stared.
This scene couldn’t be any more different than the one that happened in Fergus’s entryway three months before.
Bella, in jeans and jumper, her feet bare, her face makeup free, her hair in a messy bunch on top of her head, her arms around her friend, her mouth laughing, her face aglow.
She was not detached, quiet, remote and cold, wearing a fancy suit, posh shoes with her hair all twisted in an elegant bun.
She looked not only like she belonged in a family home in the wilds of Scotland but like she was created to live this existence.
Bella pulled away from Mikey but kept her hands curled on his shoulders. He still had his hands at her waist and he too was looking down at his friend’s face with wonder etched in his features.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” she cried. “What a tremendous surprise and perfect timing. Prentice wants me to redecorate the bedroom and I have no clue.”
Mikey blinked and for a moment Fiona thought he might very well cry.
He pulled himself together just as he pulled Bella close again and drawled to Prentice, “Then I’m here in the nick of time, as usual. Decorating is not Bella’s forte.”
Prentice had moved forward and was offering his hand, now smiling warmly at Bella’s friend while he greeted, “Mikey, good to see you, mate.”
Mikey shook his hand and then leaned back, proclaiming dramatically, “Good to see you too.” He gazed down at Bella and asked, “Girlie-girl, what’s in the water here? Because I want some of it. You look ten years younger and he’s hotter than hot and since he was hotter than hot before, he’s off-the-scales hotter than hot now.”
Bella snuggled into Mikey’s body, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder as she looked at Prentice. At her cuddle, Mikey looked like Fiona reckoned anyone would look before they dropped dead of a heart attack. Then his face grew soft.
Bella didn’t notice.
“I think he either made a deal with the devil or he’s the bastard love child of Father Time,” Bella remarked with a radiant grin thrown in for good measure.
Mikey burst out laughing but Fiona looked at Prentice and saw him gazing at Bella with that expression he got before Fiona was popped back to her tent by the stream.
“Mister Mikey!” Jason shouted as he also ran down the stairs.
“Jason, be careful on the stairs,” Bella cautioned as she moved out of Mikey’s embrace.
Jason ignored Bella, ran up to Mikey and then her son gave him a quick hug.
Jason stepped back and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Surprise inspection,” Mikey muttered, his eyes on Bella.
“What?” Jason asked, his voice filled with humor.
“Nothing, bucko,” Mikey answered. “I just was sitting around, thinking, ‘What am I going to do for Christmas?’ and it came to me that Bella said the guest suite in your house was magnificent so I figured I just had to spend time there and, therefore, invite myself to Christmas with all of you, so here I am!”
Jason grinned and declared, “You’re mental.”
“Yes, indeed I am,” Mikey replied, sounding proud of Jason’s assessment.
“Oh my God! School!” Bella shouted. “Kids, car! Mikey, I’ll be back in twenty minutes, tops.”
“Elle, I’ll take them this morning,” Prentice offered.
“No, it’s out of your way and you have that meeting. I’m good, Mikey’s good.” She was hustling the kids to the door then she suddenly changed directions, dashed forward, threw herself in Prentice’s arms, pressed a quick kiss on his mouth and dashed back, going back to her babbling. “Mikey, coffee, toast, get your stuff settled in the guest suite, twenty minutes.”
“Bye Mister Mikey! Bye, bye, bye!” Sally jumped up and down as Bella hustled her forward at the same time shoving on a pair of shoes.
Jason waved behind him and they all hurried out the door.
The minute it closed, Mikey turned to Prentice.
“I’d give you a hug if I didn’t think you’d punch me. Or I’d offer you a million dollars if I didn’t know you’d turned down fifty-four or if I actually had a million dollars.” His voice lowered and his eyes grew bright when he finished, “So, Prentice Cameron, the only thing I can do is say thank you.”
Prentice tilted his chin up slightly and gave Mikey a moment to compose himself before he commented, “I’m guessing we passed inspection.”
“You all get gold stars,” Mikey replied and Prentice grinned.
Then Prentice’s eyes went to the door and he asked, “Have you ever seen her like that?”
Mikey looked behind him toward the door and answered, “Yes, often, at school.” He turned back around. “After she lost you, when she was vulnerable and he could beat her down, rarely.”
Prentice’s jaw grew tight.
“Prentice,” Mikey said softly, “that was then, this is now. Let it go.”
Prentice tilted his chin again but this time it was more of a jerk.
Mikey’s voice was still gentle when he stated, “Annie tells me she’s not self-harming anymore.”
Prentice’s eyes narrowed. “You knew about that?”
Mikey nodded. “Both Annie and I talked to her. She was seeing a doctor.”
The color went out of Prentice’s face. “She’s not seeing a doctor now.”
“She’s also living thousands of miles away from her abusive father with whom she used to live in the same city and, regardless of her age, he was unrelenting in his attention. And she doesn’t have photographers breathing down her neck because she’s not attending all the soirees and high-brow events her detestable ex-husband and then her despicable father demanded she appear at which, by the way, she loathed. Instead, she’s living in a beautiful house with the only man she’s ever loved, helping him raise his children. So,” Mikey threw out his hand absently, “I’m no psychologist, but I’m guessing she doesn’t need a doctor anymore.”