Read Online A Nantucket Christmas by Nancy Thayer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nancy Thayer
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sparkled with gemstones, silver, and gold. Kelli Trainor approached them. “Hello, Mr. Somerset. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, Kelli. Could you tell me, how much is that Christmas tree brooch in the window?”
Kellie lifted the pin out and set it, in its black velvet box, on the glass counter. She named a price.
Sebastian asked Kennedy, “I think that’s reasonable, don’t you? The diamonds are quite clear.”
“It’s gorgeous, Daddy,” Kennedy gushed. She was almost fainting. It was a Christmas fairy tale. Her father had sensed her wish without a word, almost as if they had ESP!
“I’ll take it.” Sebastian removed his wallet from his pocket and slid out a credit card.
“Would you like that wrapped?” Kelli asked.
Kennedy opened her mouth to suggest they pin it on her coat instead, but before she could speak, her father nodded.
“Yes, please, Kelli.” He beamed when he looked over at Kennedy. “Thanks for suggesting it, Kennedy. Nicole will be so surprised. I never think to buy her romantic presents. She’s been working so hard trying to make this a perfect holiday for everyone. I can’t wait to see her face when she opens the package on Christmas morning.”
Kennedy’s mouth fell open. Her throat closed tight with dismay.
“That’s so sweet,” Kelli said, filling the awkward silence.
“Next—” Sebastian’s chest swelled with satisfaction as he tucked the wrapped package in with the others.
“Yes, Daddy?” Kennedy widened her eyes innocently.
“Where shall we have lunch? Someplace cozy. The wind’s whipping the snow around.”
Kennedy trudged next to her father in silence as they headed to the Brotherhood of Thieves. She was blind to the holiday-bright windows. Her father hummed “White Christmas,” totally unaware of the disappointment steaming off her. She wanted to stop right there on the brick sidewalk next to the damned Christmas tree, throw her head back, and bawl. Everything was wrong. This holiday sucked. She was a warthog of a woman with a belly that weighed down her every move. She couldn’t look sexy for her husband, she couldn’t even look pretty, and when she tried to look winsome for her own father, what did he do? He bought diamonds not for his own daughter who was carrying his second grandchild, but for his new wife, who wouldn’t even care about them. Who certainly wouldn’t know how to wear them! Nicole was so more a rhinestone person, she didn’t have the elegance to appreciate diamonds. What a waste. While Kennedy, at a time in her life when she could use some affection and pampering and
gratitude
didn’t even get a stupid silver bracelet!
Did Nicole have some kind of psychological hold over her father? Did Nicole plant drugs in his coffee? She was way less attractive than Katya, she had no sense of style, she was like a cleaning woman who got to sit with the family, and Sebastian had bought her diamonds? Kennedy wanted to shriek.
“Here we are.” Sebastian ushered his daughter into the brick-walled bistro. “After we eat, maybe you’ll have the energy to look at boots.”
“Boots,” Kennedy muttered.
The hostess appeared and seated them in the front room next to the heartening warmth of the fireplace.
They removed their coats, settled in, and ordered. Sebastian remarked, “You seem upset.”
Kennedy bit her lower lip. “I guess … I didn’t realize you were so … enamored of Nicole.”
Her father threw back his head and laughed. “Honey, Nicole is my wife. I would certainly hope I’d be enamored of her.” He gave Kennedy a concentrated gaze. “But you’re not pleased about this?”
She lowered her eyes and played with her napkin, folding it in different shapes as she talked. “I want you and Mom to get back together.”
“Oh, Kabey, that’s not going to happen. Be realistic, Kennedy. Your mother left me for Alonzo—”
“But they’re not married!” Kennedy protested.
Sebastian shrugged. “Katya probably
“Merry Christmas, Kelli. Could you tell me, how much is that Christmas tree brooch in the window?”
Kellie lifted the pin out and set it, in its black velvet box, on the glass counter. She named a price.
Sebastian asked Kennedy, “I think that’s reasonable, don’t you? The diamonds are quite clear.”
“It’s gorgeous, Daddy,” Kennedy gushed. She was almost fainting. It was a Christmas fairy tale. Her father had sensed her wish without a word, almost as if they had ESP!
“I’ll take it.” Sebastian removed his wallet from his pocket and slid out a credit card.
“Would you like that wrapped?” Kelli asked.
Kennedy opened her mouth to suggest they pin it on her coat instead, but before she could speak, her father nodded.
“Yes, please, Kelli.” He beamed when he looked over at Kennedy. “Thanks for suggesting it, Kennedy. Nicole will be so surprised. I never think to buy her romantic presents. She’s been working so hard trying to make this a perfect holiday for everyone. I can’t wait to see her face when she opens the package on Christmas morning.”
Kennedy’s mouth fell open. Her throat closed tight with dismay.
“That’s so sweet,” Kelli said, filling the awkward silence.
“Next—” Sebastian’s chest swelled with satisfaction as he tucked the wrapped package in with the others.
“Yes, Daddy?” Kennedy widened her eyes innocently.
“Where shall we have lunch? Someplace cozy. The wind’s whipping the snow around.”
Kennedy trudged next to her father in silence as they headed to the Brotherhood of Thieves. She was blind to the holiday-bright windows. Her father hummed “White Christmas,” totally unaware of the disappointment steaming off her. She wanted to stop right there on the brick sidewalk next to the damned Christmas tree, throw her head back, and bawl. Everything was wrong. This holiday sucked. She was a warthog of a woman with a belly that weighed down her every move. She couldn’t look sexy for her husband, she couldn’t even look pretty, and when she tried to look winsome for her own father, what did he do? He bought diamonds not for his own daughter who was carrying his second grandchild, but for his new wife, who wouldn’t even care about them. Who certainly wouldn’t know how to wear them! Nicole was so more a rhinestone person, she didn’t have the elegance to appreciate diamonds. What a waste. While Kennedy, at a time in her life when she could use some affection and pampering and
gratitude
didn’t even get a stupid silver bracelet!
Did Nicole have some kind of psychological hold over her father? Did Nicole plant drugs in his coffee? She was way less attractive than Katya, she had no sense of style, she was like a cleaning woman who got to sit with the family, and Sebastian had bought her diamonds? Kennedy wanted to shriek.
“Here we are.” Sebastian ushered his daughter into the brick-walled bistro. “After we eat, maybe you’ll have the energy to look at boots.”
“Boots,” Kennedy muttered.
The hostess appeared and seated them in the front room next to the heartening warmth of the fireplace.
They removed their coats, settled in, and ordered. Sebastian remarked, “You seem upset.”
Kennedy bit her lower lip. “I guess … I didn’t realize you were so … enamored of Nicole.”
Her father threw back his head and laughed. “Honey, Nicole is my wife. I would certainly hope I’d be enamored of her.” He gave Kennedy a concentrated gaze. “But you’re not pleased about this?”
She lowered her eyes and played with her napkin, folding it in different shapes as she talked. “I want you and Mom to get back together.”
“Oh, Kabey, that’s not going to happen. Be realistic, Kennedy. Your mother left me for Alonzo—”
“But they’re not married!” Kennedy protested.
Sebastian shrugged. “Katya probably
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