Their Festive Island Escape

Celeste just knew.

Though they hadn’t been on the best of terms three years ago when she’d first met him, she’d noted Reid’s determination and quiet strength. How hard he seemed to work as chairman of his family business. He’d always been a good friend to Jack, coming through for him with countless errands to help with the responsibilities of the would-be groom. Of all Jack’s friends, it was only Reid whom she’d grown to admire.

And the time she’d spent with him these past few days had grown that admiration into so much more. Celeste bit back a sob.

She stayed under the spray until the water turned cold and her skin started to prune. Then she made herself take a deep breath and shake off the useless, defeatist thoughts. Celeste Frajedi had learned long ago that the best way to overcome any stumble or setback was to keep busy and work hard. Stepping out of the stall, she toweled off, threw on shorts and a tank top, then ordered coffee and breakfast from room service. Then she pulled up her tablet and got to work. She had a marketing report to complete.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

HER SCRAMBLED EGGS sat cold and untouched an hour later when Celeste started putting the final touches to her write-up. Though the entire pot of coffee was gone. The next pot she ordered could be enjoyed relaxing on the balcony and watching the beach scene outside, now that she had the file mostly completed. And she’d done a good job with it too, if she did say so herself. There was a part of the report that could prove risky. A professional should never allow personal feelings to affect a business project, but she’d decided to take the chance. There wasn’t much left to lose.

The ring of her cell phone pulled her focus.

Reid.

Her hand immediately reached for the device. Without stopping to glance at the screen, she immediately clicked the answer button, didn’t even care how anxious she’d appear at having answered so quickly.

She was wrong. The voice that greeted her over the line was a husky feminine one. The first words spoken were slurred.

“Hope you’re having fun lying on the beach while the rest of us are stuck here.”

Her mother.

Celeste tried to clamp down on the alarm rising within her core. This was twice in a matter of days. Wendy’s problems appeared to be escalating. So far, this was turning into one sucker punch of a day.

“Hello, Mother. Is something the matter back at home?”

Her mother grunted in clear disgust. “Better believe there is.”

An icicle of fear dropped into Celeste’s stomach. “Is everything okay with the baby? What is it?”

“The baby’s fine,” her mother huffed. Celeste allowed herself a moment of relief before her mother continued. “Your sister needs to start looking for another job, ya know.”

Celeste grasped for patience. What she did know for certain was that Tara wasn’t in any rush to do any kind of job search. Especially now, mere days away from Christmas. “Mother, please tell me why you’re calling. You said something was wrong.”

“I’ll have you know they’re threatening to shut off my power. It’s below freezing here. Not like that sunny, warm place you’re at. And they’re gonna try to cut my heat off.”

Alarm tightened Celeste’s muscles. “What? Why?”

“I don’t know. They’re saying the bill wasn’t paid.”

“Are they saying that because it’s true? Did you neglect to pay the bill?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Just send the check out now. Pay it as soon as you can.”

“I got nothing to pay it with, do I?”

Celeste rubbed a weary hand over her forehead. Her mother’s account must be seriously overdue for the utility to be threatening to shut off supply. Which meant Wendy hadn’t paid the bill for several months.

“Momma, I deposited more than enough money in your account to cover all the expenses and utilities.” And she’d done so consistently every month. “Why didn’t you pay the bill?”

A muffled sound echoed from the tiny speaker. Was that a sob? Celeste’s earlier alarm turned into an icy brick of fear in the pit of her stomach. “I kept trying to win the money, Celeste,” Wendy said on a loud hiccup. “And I came so close, but then the table would turn the other way.” There was no doubt now that Wendy was indeed crying.