A Tiara Under the Tree

“I’m not sorry.” Waverly slid out of her makeup chair.

Lexi flipped her blond hair off her shoulder and inhaled deeply. “That’s good to know, because, well—” Lexi stumbled as she pulled an envelope from her back pocket. “When we searched for Anson’s phone, I found this.”

Waverly took the envelope and looked up at Lexi. “What is this?” She opened the envelope and found a deed to a structure. Not familiar with what one looked like, Waverly sorted through the other pieces of paper. She found a copy of a bill of sale for a 1940 Packard and an application for a Union Soldier Reenactment participant. Waverly’s lids became heavy when she read Dominic’s name on the application.

“That’s a deed for a place upstate,” explained Lexi. “Mr. and Mrs. Harvey sold their house at a killer rate. Stephen said the buyer made off with a sweet deal.”

“Buyer?” Waverly still did not process what the documents meant. “Why is this in here?”

“Because Dominic bought the house,” said Lexi. She flipped the page over and pointed her finger at one line. “He bought the house and put it in your name, Waverly.”

“Girl.” Zoe spoke up. “I reiterate, what are you still doing here?”

Chapter 12

“I found the channel,” Alisha exclaimed from the family room at Dominic’s ranch.

The scent of pepperoni pizza filtered through the air. Dominic swore underneath his breath and cursed the fates for not answering his prayers. He didn’t want to watch the Southern Runoff Finale, as it was now being called. While other channels broadcast back-to-back Christmas movies, some even the sa

me film, Alisha took the twins’ advice and found MET—the Multi-Ethnic Television Network, which aired the special showing of the pageant.

“We interrupt your regularly scheduled program, Christmas Dinners around the World, for a special presentation of your local affiliate station.”

Dominic stood up from the couch and stretched. “Well, I’m going to hit the hay.”

Hamilton jumped from his makeshift bed in the corner of the room and trotted over to Dominic’s bare feet. “Alone, pig.”

“God—” Alisha groaned “—you’re so grumpy.”

“Leave our big brother alone,” Dario said. “He’s upset he was banned from his girlfriend’s pageant.”

Being banned from her pageant was one thing. Banned from her life was another. When Waverly refused to leave with him after he pointed out Anson’s dealings, Dominic was through. Why bother waiting around for someone who didn’t believe him?

Blindsided. Dominic thought parental abandonment was bad but at least he’d learned from it. He strived to be an upfront, honorable guy. He’d never thought he’d feel such raw, emotional pain. Waverly ripped his heart out and basically handed it back to him.

“Aw, look,” Darren chimed in, “his jaw is clenching. I think he’s getting mad all over again.”

Everyone lounged around in the same blue sweatpants and gray shirts with Crowne’s Garage written in blue. The plan was to get up early and meet downtown for the parade. The fleet of cars left to him by his father was completed and hooked up to floats put together by the high school students and other groups from around town.

“You two are welcome to stay over at Alisha’s.”

Darren and Dario looked up from their spots on the black leather recliners and in sync put their feet up. “You can’t kick us out on Christmas Eve.”

Christmas Eve, Dominic thought with further irritation. On top of losing Waverly, he’d lost the Christmas present he’d got her. Yesterday morning the official paperwork was signed and filed. Waverly was about to be the new owner of her dream home for when she retired. Earlier this month the Harveys had come to Southwood and offered him a sweet deal. The only thing it cost Dominic was his time in the future, when he would have to participate in Civil War reenactments with the older guys around town. At the time, it had been worth it. Right now? Dominic frowned and started to leave the family room. His leg hit the empty, open cardboard box.

“You guys clean up this mess,” Dominic barked.

“We’ll clean it,” said Dario, “in the morning. We have some more pizza on the way.”

The doorbell rang just as an announcer on the television said, “Live from Savannah!”

“I’ll get that.” Dario jumped to his feet, almost pushing Dominic out the way. “When they say fast, they mean fast.”

In the meantime, Dominic picked up the empty pizza box to make room for the new one. On his way into the kitchen with the garbage, he flipped off the light in the family room, leaving it in the glow of the television and the flickering lights on the Douglas fir tree the family had decorated. When he returned to the living room, he caught a glimpse of Lexi Reyes being interviewed. Dario stood in the archway and cleared his throat.

“Hey, uh, ’lisha and Darren, let’s go pick up that pizza.”

“What? Why?” Alisha whined. “Wasn’t that the pizza guy at the door?”