RILEY

It was the very next Thursday. I dropped out of the 'Better Sex' class, John having convinced me that we just couldn't get any better . . . and of course he was right. The whole thing was making him a little squicky anyway. And, a bit insecure too; not something John Biebe needed to worry about in virtually any department, God sakes! Not that he'd know.

I was bustling around the suite, running the vacuum and straightening things up. There were boxes everywhere, all filled with Christmas decorations I simply didn't have the time or energy to put up. The tree stood unadorned and the windows devoid of wreaths. I actually thought I'd just forget about it this year. After all, the entire Inn was glowing with holiday frivolity, red and green in just about every corner. I spent a total of one day a week in my suite, why did I need to decorate it?

"I've turned into the freaking Grinch!" I groaned and vacuumed around boxes. When I turned off the Hoover, I could hear the phone ringing. It could have been ringing for a while and I tripped over the cord trying to do a sprint to the kitchen. John was off for a dentist's appointment. I was worried that they had extracted the tooth or worse yet, decided on a root canal. Ew! Ew, ew, ew. Poor John!

"Hello?" I was breathless, still untangling the plug from my ankle.

"G'day, love. What took ya so long?"

"Terry!" I squealed, loving the warm, liquid sound of his voice.

"Hey, love. How are ya?"

"I am great. I was just thinking about putting the Christmas decorations up in the suite." I snuggled on the sofa.

"Thinking? Bloody hell, Riles. You strike me as the sort who'd do that two months before the hollies, not two weeks before," he chuckled.

"Yeah, well, it's just too crazy here. It just kinda seems silly, you know?"

"Does it?"

I shrugged. "Did you get my e-mail? Can you make it?"

"Now love, why would I wanna come for Chrissy if ya didn't even put up a tree?"

"Tree's up, it's just naked," I teased. "Will you be here?" I actually crossed my fingers. We had stolen a few private hours on Christmas day to celebrate with family. Family is mega important to John and I was looking forward to some semblance of relaxation with the people I love so much. "Terry?" He'd been quiet for too long.

"Can't make it love. I'll be in London."

"What's in London?" And how could it be more important than family?

"My new office, darlin'."

"What? Why?"

I heard him sigh. "Long time ago, Dino and I had a plan. It was a good plan and we're goin' back to it. Dino's already set up in New York."

"Wow. And Max?" I was blinking, I had no idea they were thinking about reshuffling their business locations.

"Max has left the company, Riley. It's a pity, he was bloody good at it, but a few weeks ago he took a trip to his vineyard in California. None of us had taken a look at it since the Mother Tree went up in flames. Didn't have the heart, I guess. He said it's a mess; that he wants to dedicate himself to it. Makes sense I guess; it's who he really is, then."

"Wow!" It was all I could think of to say so I said it again. "Wow!"

"Yeah, well love. Things change, don't they now? How are things there?"

I had to shake my head to shift my thinking back to my own reality. "Um, oh fine, fine. John and I are great. Mere's growing, has a really cute little belly. Did you know it's a girl?"

"No shit? How's Hando handling that?" Terry laughed.

"Good. All he does is fuss over her. If he wasn't already almost bald, she'd have torn all his hair out by now. He's driving her up the wall."

More laughter, that delightful rumble Terry has that no one else really does quite the same.

"Speaking of people climbing the walls, I had to send Andy and Monna for a vacation. I think they need to get the hell out of here after the wedding. Get a place of their own. It's a royal bitch living and working in the same place, nonstop 24/7."

"That's true. You're doin' it, you should know. So that'll give ya another suite to let out, won't it?"

"Oh hell no," I walked to one of the boxes and opened it, took an ornament and hung it on a branch. "I don't want a guest staying right across the hall from me! Are you nuts? We're thinking of just expanding, taking the whole floor. We'll need the space for kids."

Terry sighed and I could hear his approving smile in the soft sound. "That'll be a nice project for Kevin."

"He may not have time for it, Terry. That house he and LizBeth are building is massive! It could take longer to complete than this place. If they stay together, that is." Another ornament on another branch.

"What do ya mean, if they stay together?"

I lifted a wreath and set it near the window, then tugged a Santa festooned hearth screen, propping it where it should be. "Terry, I swear, there's something in the water here. Everyone's gone goofy. Kevin actually left her for about a month! Finally got his balls back and did a good grovel. But you know; everything in relationships is precarious. I mean hell, look at Lachlan?"

"Oh, he's a fucking loon for that sheila. Startin' to worry about what the bloody hell he's gonna do. Hate to lose my pilot too."

I draped green garland along the mantle then turned to the ornament box again. "Don't worry. I don't think that will ever happen. If Lach's not flying, he's miserable and he knows it. They'll work it out."

"And what about Col and Nat?"

I lowered to the sofa. "How did you hear about that?" I was hoping that if people didn't really know about it, it might go away. Of course, it was stupid, but it was a hope.

"We all know. How's Col holdin' up?"

"He's fucked up, Terry. Totally lost without her. I just can not believe this happened! I wish they'd fix it, and fix it fast."

Terry grunted. "Fix what, love? People break up, ya know. Game's over and we're all facin' some real life hardships. Did ya ever think that maybe those two never really did make a good match?"

"Huh? Terry, you're not talking about the couple I know. Jeeze." Why was I getting so mad?

"Well, maybe, love. And I admit, don't really know Nat all that well. She's a bit of an odd egg."

"Huh?" I continued to hang ornaments on the tree, no rhyme or reason in mind, everything focused on Terry and what on earth he was talking about.

"She's a private sort. Closed off. Had only one visit with her, back when I was hurt. Didn't go down well."

I huffed and un-wrapped red candles, setting them in the pretty brass holders on the mantle. "So, it couldn't possibly be your fault, now could it?"

Terry laughed loud. "I can guarantee it was my fault. But really, Riles. I've never been able to get close to her, even for a decent convo. I'm thinkin' the whole match up was wrong. After all, a class act like Natalie? Poor darlin' was spendin' the majority of her time babysitting Colin."

I huffed loud.

"Now, now. Face facts. Just how well suited are those two? How many things could they have really agreed on? She's a big city girl and he's a mechanic from the dead center of the Outback. Apart; both great people. Together? Honestly love, I'm surprised it lasted this long."

"You are . . . you are . . . arghhhhh!"

"What? Tellin' it like it is?" Terry chuckled. "Okay, let's change the subject. What's happening there at the Inn? Seen Brian lately?"

I had to smile at the mention of the ghost. The ghost of Terry's old S.A.S. buddy. The ghost Terry refused to believe existed. "Actually, yes. But he's been pretty quiet lately. What I have seen a lot of lately is Darcy. She keeps messing with things in the kitchen, driving Andy a little nuts. Tongs and spatulas disappearing, burners going out, stuff like that."

"Think maybe she misses cookin'?" Terry's voice was distant, soft.

"I think maybe she misses us. Oh! Hey, Jack's here at the Inn."

"So that's where he's hiding. What's he doin' there?"

I tucked empty ornament boxes away and wrapped twinkle lights around the wreaths. "His shipbuilder is in Maine and Jack wanted to be close. They won't be starting the work until April, but I guess there's lots of planning and stuff to do." I hung the first wreath and plugged it in.

"He's really doin' it, then?"

"Yes, he's building his tall ship and planning to sail the world. I'm kinda happy for him." Second wreathe, hung and plugged. "When do you leave for London?"

"Monday."

"Oh," I plugged in the Christmas tree and arranged the Nativity figurines on the coffee table. "And there's no way you can get back here in two weeks, huh?"

"Sorry, love. Who'll be there?"

"Everyone I can gather. Lach and Sigrine, Mere and H, LizBeth and Kevin. Jack, of course, Andy and Monna are doing the cooking. Colin's coming, and John's convincing Natalie to be here. He's the only one of us she'll talk to, but she hasn't made any promises. Shreiff Mike and Maggie are stopping by too . . . but I'll miss you, Terry."

"Sounds like ya got a houseful to occupy your attention. But I'll call; wish a cheery holiday to all."

"Promise?"

"Yeah, promise."

"Honest?"

"Ever broken a promise to you, Gamer?"

"I love you Terry."

"Love ya too, darlin'. Listen, got a ton to do here and not much time before Monday. Wanted to touch base. You take care, love. And call if ya need anything."

I sat deep into the sofa with a very, very sad sigh. Terry would be an entire ocean away for Christmas. Damn. "And you take care too."

The door opened and John walked in. I eyed his face, not even swollen. "Did they pull the tooth?"

"Nah, just needed a filling. Hey! Looks great! You finally decorated!"

"I did?"