“You sly dog, you!” Henri thumped Lucas on the back. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks. Anyway, Sharon knows people in New York, Friends of the Opera, who have one hell of a lot more pull than Charles. She’s going to pay a visit. And I’m about to have a long talk with my son.”
“Good. I need to get back to the band, but if you or Seb need me, call.”
Lucas nodded, more solemn than Henri had ever seen him before. One way or another, Sebastian would make the headlines, while Charles circled the drain on his way down.
* * *
Hi, Bro!Merry Christmas! Wish you were here. I caught Mom going through some of your old things with a wistful smile on her face. And Dad talked about that Christmas when you were little and knocked the tree over. They miss you. Give them time. They don’t like admitting they were wrong, but they’ll come around.
I got accepted to UCLA! I’m not sure yet what I’m going to do, but there’s no reason why I can’t go to college and do some modeling, is there? Love you!
Smooches,
Jenni
P.S. Have they caught the crazy guy yet? And how’s your boyfriend? You never told me his name. I want pictures of you two.
Henri glanced up from his laptop to stare at the wall with blurred vision. The area behind his heart tattoo squeezed. Right now Jenni would be opening her gifts. She’d squeal over the new iPhone and iPad, and he’d quietly sent an extra message with thePhysician’s Desk Reference.
One day she might be a doctor… or a model. As long as she’d made the choice herself, he’d accept whatever she decided.
He discarded several more e-mails, until finding one from Lucas.
Merry Christmas and expect an interesting message from Elason Recordings soon. They’ve got a solid track record with some up-and-coming bands. As you’re soon to find out.
Lucas
BTW, have you heard from Sebastian? I haven’t heard from him since telling him the news.
* * *
“No, dammit,”Henri replied to his laptop. Where the hell was Seb? Was he celebrating Christmas with friends, hiding out somewhere? Or had dickwad Charles gotten to him? His chest tightened again. What a fucked-up holiday.
He wandered through a lonely house, heavy with the scent of holly and pine. Garlands hung over the doorway to his living room, festooned with gold-and-white ribbon, glittering gold baubles hanging from the creation. A tree stood by the glass doors leading out to the patio, echoing the theme of green, white, and gold, clear lights shining from the branches.
The decorations didn’t stop when he left the house—his housekeeper’s obsession with the holidays extended to the topiaries around the swimming pool, and pots of holly lined the walkway. The display should have been pretty, and would have been, had someone else been there to enjoy the woman’s efforts.
What a big fucking monstrosity of a place. He’d only bought the mishmash of glass and chrome at his mother’s insistence. It didn’t feel like home. No, home was in the Colorado Rockies. Still, if his sister took him up on the offer of a place to stay, she and her friends might enjoy the pool, not that he’d ever used the thing.
His bandmates were with their families, and he’d even given Arnulfo the day off. There’d been no signs of the stalker since the dead roses, and no proof they’d even come from the same guy who’d drugged him.
His next appointment with Dr. Worthington wasn’t until next week. For all he’d accomplished in his life, where had he taken a wrong turn that led to spending Christmas alone?
He looked out over his neatly groomed lawn. Except for the recently added decorations, the place showed no character at all. If he stayed here, he’d need a landscaper. Roses. He’d plant roses. And gladiolas.
His cell phone rang and he stared at the name on the screen. His heart skipped a beat. Sebastian! “Oh my God, Sebastian! Where are you?”
“A cab dropped me off at your gate. Can I come in?”
“You’re where?” It had to be a joke. But no, a familiar shape stood beyond the wrought iron gates, waving. Henri bounded up the walk and fumbled with the keypad, typing in the code to remove the metal barrier. Then he was in Seb’s warm embrace, in front of his house, for the world to see. At the moment he didn’t give a damn.
Nothing mattered but the man in his arms. Here, safe! After a moment he registered Sebastian’s shiver. “Let’s go in.”
Sebastian hesitated, staring up at the imposing reminder of the differences in their paychecks. “Maybe I should go.”
“It’s a house,” Henri said, “it’s not really a home. It will be if you come inside.”
