“I think you might really get used to the high life, Gran,” I tease.
“Well, if he’s offering ...” The driver stands at Gran’s door waiting to open it for her. “So what do I do with this guy?” she asks Marcel.
“Is that a yes? Are you and Juliet coming to my house for Christmas?” Marcel asks, seeking clarification.
“Sure,” Gran answers. “It'll be fun to switch things up this year.”
“Great, then let him open your door and I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
I feel a pang of sadness leaving Marcel, especially because we've had such a great day together, so I turn to him before I scoot out of the back seat.
“Do you want me to stay with you?” I asked suddenly, feeling nervous that he'll say no.
“I do want you to stay with me, I always want you around, Juliet, but I think tonight I need to get my finances in order and see how I'm going to make magic for the families of Eaton. I'll probably be up all night and I want you and the baby to get plenty of rest.
“I will see you tomorrow at work. We still have two more days in the office before we can take off for Christmas break. I have some things that I'd like you to help me with.
“As hard as it is to say good night to you, I need to get some things done.” His voice is loving and sincere and I wonder what he is planning, but I kiss his lips and he sighs as if that isn't enough so I kiss him again more passionately. He puts his arms around me and pulls me in and we enjoy our kiss as Gran pretends not to watch us.
“You are the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Marcel says and I look at him and smile.
“I hope you always feel that way,” I tell him and we kiss one last time before I follow Gran to the steps of our building and watch him pull into traffic.
Gran and I go inside and as soon as we close the door she turns and looks at me. “We're getting pretty deep into this," she says, her voice sounding concerned. “Is this what you want?”
“I keep asking myself that and I always come back to the fact that I can't wait to see him again. Even now having him leave and not staying with us I miss him.
“When I first met him, I looked into his eyes and saw this bright, beautiful soul behind something really cold and broken. I kept thinking that cold and broken part would take over at some point but when we're together it never does.
“But no, I don't know if this is what I want. I don't even know if this is who he is but every day I see a man who I am falling in love with. I just hope I'm not falling in love with a lie,” I confess to Gran.
“You know, when I met your grandfather he looked at me the same way Marcel looks at you. Granted we were the same age and he didn't have much more money than I did, but he had that look and he never lost it. The moment he passed from this Earth was the look he had in his eyes, the one that said I was his shining star. I was the muse that hung the moon, even if I had gotten old and lumpy in places. Your grandfather wasn't always the greatest guy. He had a temper and he was a little closed-minded but I always saw the good in him too.
“Your Marcel, he's the same kind of man as your grandfather. Down deep inside he's your biggest fan and because of this he's making changes to be the kind of man you need in your life.” Gran smiles with motherly love. “And we get to ride in a private jet.”
“It’s really fun.” We giggle and I do as Marcel suggested and get to bed early.
As much as I miss being near his body, we didn't sleep much last night and I enjoy having the bed to myself as a deep, hard sleep finds me.
The next morning I'm feeling energized and excited to see Marcel at work. I walk into his office after he waves at me with a phone in one hand. I quietly enter and take a seat, hearing his conversation in fragments. His voice is low and urgent.
“Get me every vacant multi-dwelling property east of the highway. Especially the new construction on Main and East. MLS says the building is open for bidding. Triple the offer, I want to close today, not tomorrow. I have an LLC, and put the properties under that. Use the interest on the Manhattan Bank account, get as good a deal as you can and buy in cash.” Marcel looks scary and intense, but he winks at me.Coffee please,he mouths and I sprint to the breakroom and get him a triple espresso.
When I come back with coffee he has a yellow notepad in front of him with titles scribbled down the page. Lawyers, contractors, accountants, all people whose names sound like power. They’re being yanked into orbit, ordered to bend the impossible into shape before Christmas, all for children who asked for food and toaster ovens.
I set the coffee down and overhear him telling his lawyer, “Every family gets a year’s heating stipend as well as food, clothing, and bikes for the kids.” Marcel is obsessed, driven, and maybe a little reckless, but he is making things happen.
As soon as he gets off of the phone I ask, “What is going on here?” I'm loving and flirty but wonder if he's having a little mini breakdown.
“Well, I really want to bring Christmas to those kids. Most of them are in the demolition Zone living in substandard housing without heat and food. I didn't know that there were mass layoffs at both the fishery and the transport hub and distribution center. These families have been without income for months. So there's a new housing project that I'm bidding on and I'll get these families set up with the basics, but I'm also looking into different industries that can use skilled laborers and fishermen. It's a little overwhelming, but these guys aren't going to live on handouts. I'm trying to work a little Christmas magic.” Marcel offers me a weak smile because I can see the fatigue in his eyes. “They didn’t ask for much. Not what I would’ve asked for. Just warmth and something to eat.” His voice cracks. “What kind of man was I before this?”
I want to touch him, to soothe the raw edges he never shows anyone else, but I don’t. Not yet. It hits me like a sledgehammer. This man, this arrogant, infuriating man, is trying to reinvent his soul four days before Christmas.
And he’s succeeding.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Marcel
