“Excuse them.” Marshall stepped between us. “They’re not used to going home for the holidays.”
“Ah, I see.” Mr. Reaves nodded. “So, which family are we going to see exactly?”
“Just Jenna’s,” Nicholas said. “They have two guest suites ready for us.”
“What about your family, Mr. Saint?” Mr. Reaves furrowed his brow. “I know your father has passed, but your mother?—”
“It’s nothing happening,” he said. “Just Jenna’s. All week. That’s it.”
“Does your mother know that you’re engaged at least, then?”
I doubt it…
“She’ll be at the wedding,” was all he could say, and that seemed to be enough to get Mr. Reaves to nod and return to singing Christmas carols.
A staffer walked over to him, offering him a cup of hot cocoa before ushering him to the plane.
“I have a car waiting for us when we land,” Nicholas said to me. “I have a backup one ready just in case you need to get away from him while we’re away.”
“What about when I need to get away fromyou?”
“You mean if?”
“I’m pretty sure I saidwhen.”
“Okay, kids.” Marshall smiled at us. “Let’s be nice, shall we? Think about the money, because that’s all that matters now. Just pretend well, and we all get lovely bonuses. Lots of money. Money, money, money.”
“We heard you the first time,” we said at the same time before heading our separate ways to get to the plane.
“Happy holidays to you too, Mr. and Mrs. Saint! I love you! Looking forward to hearing nothing but good news while you’re away!”
11
NICHOLAS
My plane kissed the Washington ground at exactly three o’clock, tires hissing against the snow-covered runway.
Mr. Reaves clapped like this was a show.
“Do you mind if I get off first so I can take a few pictures of your jet in the snow?” he asked.
“I would love for you to get off first.” I tried not to roll my eyes. “Please, be my guest.”
He moved toward the front, waiting for the pilot to pull open the door.
Jenna looked as annoyed as I felt, her lips pressed tight as she shook her head.
As I was unbuckling my seatbelt, my phone sounded with a video call.
My mom.
Terrible timing…
“Hello, Mother,” I answered. “I meant to call you back a few days ago, but?—”
“Let me get this straight.” She interrupted me with a look on her face that could kill. “You can visit your fiancée’s family for the holidays, but you can’t visit your own?”
“How did you find out about this?”
