She stood straighter. “There’s nothing that interests me more than understanding this world.”
“Well… uh… hmm.” Kara tucked her hair behind her ear and joined Spencer and Mrs. Morris by the tree.
“Oh, gingerbread,” Liam said, turning to a plate at the end of the bar as if there had been nothing strange or unusual about that interaction. He handed her a brown cookie with white frosting.
She took it from him but didn’t take a bite. “What is going on here, Liam?” she whispered. “Your family acts like they hate each other. They’re so… unwelcoming.”
Liam sighed. “I told you. This is what they’re like. All part of the Christmas experience.” He shoved a cookie in his mouth and chewed.
“No wonder you hate the holiday.” Another servant in black and white asked what they’d like to drink, and she gestured toward Liam. “Surprise me.”
Liam ordered her something called a Kentucky Buck. “Try the cookie.”
She took a bite. “It’s delicious. But why is everyone so angry? I thought you said she invited you. This can’t all be about what happened with you?”
“Very little of it is about me actually,” he mumbled. “I’m not entirely sure there is an explanation for how they are. Being rich and entitled asshats plays a big part.”
“Mountain. I believed you when you told me about them, but it’s so much more vivid in person.”
He nodded. “We’ll leave right after dinner, I promise.”
The bartender slid a reddish cocktail into her hand. She took a sip, then followed Liam back into the living room.
Mrs. Morris snuffed her cigarette out in a ceramic ashtray. “I have to admit, when I asked you to come this year, I wasn’t sure all of you would.”
“Your call made it seem important,” Liam said.
“It is important. The most important thing I’ve had to share with you in a long time.”
Spencer and Kara drifted closer, the ice in their drinks rattling in their hands.
“As you all know, when your father died, he left the business and all his assets to me. He shared his wishes with me about what he wanted to happen with those assets. Roger didn’t want a cent to go to Liam. He thought Spencer should get the lion’s share as the one most involved with the company and Kara, as the corporation’s attorney, should get the rest.”
Charlotte couldn’t miss how Kara crossed her arms and pouted at this news while Spencer smiled wide enough that she could see dollar signs in his pupils.
But Liam only sighed. “This is old news. I don’t care about the money.”
“You never did, did you?” Mrs. Morris said. “I guess that’s proof enough that you’re hers.”
“Hers?” Kara drummed her fingers on her biceps. “What are you talking about?”
“This family has harbored a secret for decades, and it’s time to let the skeleton out of the closet.”
“Mom, please!” Liam held up a hand. But the universal sign for stop had no effect on Mrs. Morris.
“Your brother Liam isn’t mine,” Mrs. Morris said casually. “He’s the product of an affair between your father and a housekeeper who used to work here. Your father went to great lengths to keep this a secret, but I’m tired of secrets.”
“Mom, this isn’t the way to do this,” Liam said.
“Wait, you knew about this?” Spencer glared at Liam.
Liam nodded. “For decades.”
“Oh yes. We knew,” Mrs. Morris said. “And it drove Roger crazy when Liam didn’t want to be part of Morrismart, given where he’d come from. He always thought you should be more grateful, Liam, for the gift he gave you.”
“Gift?”
“Being your father of course.” She gave a low laugh.
