Daddy by Christmas / Christmas Magic on the Mountain

Neil smiled. “You’ve kept in shape well enough since you left football. How do you do it?”

Jarrett couldn’t believe people still remembered his college career. But he’d use it if it helped seal the deal with Fulton Industries.

“I have a home gym,” he explained. You and your wife will have to come by and I’ll show you. It’s Robin, isn’t it?”

Fulton nodded, then returned to scanning the menu.

“I also want to show you both some houses in the area. There are several estates with horse property. Riding is another great way to keep in shape.”

Neil raised a hand. “First, I need to put all my energy into building this plant. Robin will stay in Chicago until we can get things moving along. From past experience, once my wife gets going on a new house, she’ll throw herself into decorating it.”

“Well, when that happens I’ll have one of my top agents help her find the perfect house.”

Neil frowned. “You don’t know Robin. She’s hard to please.”

Jarrett bet he could handle her. “Then I’ll work with her personally.”

Neil laughed. “You may live to regret that offer.”

Before Jarrett could respond, a young man approached the table. “Excuse me, sir, are you Jarrett McKane?”

“Yes, I am.”

The guy pulled out a manila envelope from inside his jacket. “This is for you.” He smiled. “You’ve been served.”

Jarrett felt his face heat with anger. Then he glanced across the restaurant as the man stopped at a table. He sat down beside a dark-haired woman. Mia Saunders.

“Is there a problem, Jarrett?” Neil asked.

“No. Just a minor disagreement with a client.”

Mia raised a hand and waved.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with our project, does it?”

Jarrett nodded at Mia. “Like I said it’s a minor problem. Nothing I can’t handle.”

The following morning, Mia drove to her doctor’s appointment in Grand Junction, about forty miles away. The roads were clear so far, and she only hoped that northwest Colorado’s winter weather would hold off for another month.

Since she was in her last trimester, she had to travel there regularly. Not a problem; she liked her doctor, Lauren Drake. In her forties, the attractive fertility specialist had been there for her from the beginning of the surrogacy. She’d also supported Mia through Brad and Karen’s horrible accident and death.

“How have you been feeling?”

“Great,” Mia said. “Except the baby is pretty active. He or she is kicking all the time.”

The attractive blonde was tall and slender and happily married to her college sweetheart. Mia should hate her for her perfect life, but Lauren was too nice to hate. She had become a good friend. And Mia needed as many friends as she could get.

“I know the pregnancy is going well, but I’m worried about you, Mia. Your life has been turned upside down in the past few months. And now, you aren’t even sure about a place to live.”

“So what else is new?” Sadness crept in. She missed her brother desperately. He’d been her rock for most of her life. Even with Brad’s help, it had taken her years to get her act together. Now, she felt on the verge of falling apart. What kind of mother would that make her? Not a good one.

“I know you’ve had to deal with a lot,” the doctor said. “You only planned to be the aunt to this baby. Now, you’re going to be the mother, unless you’ve changed your mind on that.”

Mia shook her head. Well before Brad and Karen had moved ahead with the surrogacy, everyone had agreed that if something ever happened to them, Mia would raise the child. Yet, no one had ever imagined the loss of both parents even before the baby arrived.

“It’s a big responsibility, Mia. Even when there’s a father in the picture.”

Mia added, “A single mother with no money and no apparent means of income isn’t the best candidate.”

“Don’t say that.”

Mia hadn’t hidden anything from the doctor before the procedure began. Dr. Drake knew about everything in her past.

“There are agencies around to help, too.”

Mia shook her head. She had some money set aside. And Brad and Karen had some left-over insurance money. “I just want a job.”

“I’d prefer you didn’t take any more on your plate right now.”

Mia fought her panic. “Is there something wrong?”

Lauren shook her head. “Just watching your blood pressure. It’s a little high, but no worries right now.” She quickly changed the subject. “Have you picked out any names?”

“No, I haven’t thought about it.” She had some personal things of Karen’s, a baby book that might give her a clue and a letter from her sister-in-law that Mia wasn’t supposed to open until the birth of the baby.

“Well, do it. And stop trying to take on everyone’s problems. Think about yourself for a change. You won’t get the chance after the baby comes.”

Mia knew she couldn’t walk away from her neighbors. Not now. They’d been so good to her. “We’re just trying to stay in our homes for a little while longer. We’re going to court next week, and we’re hoping the judge will rule in our favor.”

Having a place to live was her main concern right now. She couldn’t be homeless again. Not with a baby.

A week later, Jarrett walked into the courtroom. What he didn’t expect to see were several of the tenants there, too. Of course, leading the pack was Mia Saunders.

She looked professional in her dark skirt and a long wine-colored sweater draped over her rounded stomach. Her rich brown hair was pulled back from her oval face and clipped at the base of her neck. She didn’t wear makeup. She didn’t try to highlight her already striking blue eyes or her rosy-hued lips. She did nothing to enhance her good looks. She didn’t need to.

He wasn’t interested in her anyway. She had issues he didn’t want to deal with. Yet it seemed he would be dealing with her whether he liked it or not. He hoped today would end any and all future meetings.

That was why he’d brought his lawyer. Matthew Holliston wasn’t only his attorney but a longtime friend from high school. And he was damn good at his job.

Although, when Matt had heard that Judge Barbara Gillard was going to hear the case, he’d been worried. She had a reputation as a tough judge, and something else went against Jarrett. Years ago, he had dated Judge Gillard’s sister, Amy, in high school. It hadn’t ended well, so Matt had suggested that he make a generous offer to the building tenants. They had written up something to appease the judge and, they hoped, the tenants.

“Good morning, Ms. Saunders,” Jarrett said.

She nodded. “Mr. McKane.”

He was quickly drawn into her sparkling gaze and lost the ability to say more. That was when Matt stepped in and guided him to his seat.

The court deputy soon called their case. “The Mountain View tenants versus Jarrett McKane Properties.”

“Here, your honor,” Matt acknowledged. He and Jarrett went to the front of the courtroom.

“We’re also here, your honor.” Mia Saunders walked up with two elderly people.

Everyone waited in silence as Judge Gillard glanced over the case papers in front of her. There were also pictures and estimates for several repairs. The judge’s gaze turned to Jarrett. “How can you expect your tenants to live like this?”

Jarrett started to speak, but Matt stepped in. “Your honor, as you read in our deposition, my client only purchased the property three months ago.”

The judge just looked at him, then said, “I assume, Mr. McKane, you did a walk-through of the property before purchasing it so you had to know the conditions. And if that wasn’t enough, Ms. Saunders contacted you several times. So you should have, at least, begun to make some of the repairs.”

“Your honor,” Matt tried again. “It would be a waste of time and money. Mr. McKane will be demolishing the building so a factory can be built there—a computer-chip plant that will bring several new jobs into the area.”

“Your honor,” Mia Saunders interrupted. “The tenants had to sign a lease agreement when they moved in. It states that if the property is ever sold they have six months to relocate.” She flashed a cold stare at Jarrett, then went on. “Even with the change of ownership, until each tenant is contacted about their eviction, they still have five months and three weeks to stay in their apartments.”

Matt fought back. “Your honor, isn’t six months a little excessive? A thirty-day notice is a standard agreement now.”

The judge looked at the lease in her hand. “Well, this agreement is from 1968.” She glanced over her glasses. “But no one thought to change it.” She held up the photos. “I’m more concerned that many of these apartments aren’t suitable to live in.”

Nola stepped forward and introduced herself. “Your honor, I’m Nola Madison, one of the longtime tenants. May I speak?”

The judge nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Madison, you may.”

The tiny woman made her way to the front. “Many of us have lived at Mountain View Apartments for a long time. It’s our home, and like all of us, it’s getting old. With a little work and some minor repairs, we can live comfortably for the winter. Please don’t ask us to leave yet.”

“You know that in six months you will have to move anyway,” the judge told her.

Nola glanced around to her group of friends and neighbors. “Next week is Thanksgiving, your honor. For years a lot of us have spent it together. Christmas, too. If this is our last year, I really would like to be with my friends. My family. And we need the time to find affordable places to live and to save the extra money to move. So staying until March would be helpful.”

Seeing the judge blink several times, Jarrett knew he was in big trouble.

“Your honor,” Matt tried again. “This is not a good situation, but there is an important business deal pending here. A factory is to be built on this site. A factory that will bring jobs into our community.”

The judge straightened. “From which your client will benefit nicely, I’m sure. While these people will lose their homes.” She glared daggers toward Jarrett. “Mr. McKane, you knew the conditions of the lease, and you also knew the deplorable condition of the building when you made the purchase.”

He didn’t agree or disagree. “What I had planned was to help the tenants relocate,” he replied.

The judge wasn’t buying it. “Seems to me if you’d been sincere you would have answered their letters three months ago,” she observed. “Now you’re throwing them out of their homes as though nothing matters as long as you make a profit. Well, it’s not always about profit, Mr. McKane. My ruling is that you make the necessary repairs to bring the building up to code. I’ll waive the fine as long as you begin immediately.”

Jarrett bit the inside of his mouth. “Yes, your honor.”

“Don’t think that’s all there is, Mr. McKane. You’re to make all repairs so the place is livable.” Judge Gillard paused and looked at Mia Saunders. “Is there a vacant apartment?”

Mia nodded. “Yes, your honor, but the apartment is unlivable.”

The judge nodded. “Good. What’s the number?”

“Two-oh-three-B.”

“Jarrett McKane, I order you to move into apartment 203B at Mountain View complex until all repairs are completed. No eviction until March first. Although, I do want to see you back here after the holidays to learn about your progress.” She hit the gavel on the block. The sound echoed around the courtroom. “Court adjourned.”

“Judge, this is highly irregular,” Matt called, but she had already exited the courtroom.

That left Jarrett thinking about everything he was about to lose. No, he couldn’t lose this. He’d fix this, like he’d fixed everything all his life. He’d figure out a way to get what he wanted. He always did.

The next day, Jarrett and Matt parked in front of the Mountain View Apartments. “You can’t bend any of the rules, Jarrett,” Matt told him. “You have to sleep here every night, eat here and even work here. You can only go to your home to get more clothes and food, that’s all, or the judge could toss you in jail. You know she means business when she instructed me to escort you here personally.”

“Dammit, Matt, you’d better get me out of this mess. If Fulton finds out, he’ll walk away from the deal.”

“Well, unless he’ll wait until April, you’re in big trouble. The only alternative you have is talking them into moving out.”

Jarrett was frustrated. Thanks to Mia Saunders, he had to figure out something. But honestly there weren’t many options since housing was limited in Winchester Ridge.

He looked toward the yellow-and-brown structure with the peeling paint and sagging rain gutters. It seemed even worse with winter-bare trees, but the grass was cut and the hedges trimmed.

“In its day, the place was probably a showcase,” Matt observed.

“Well, it’s not 1960,” he told his friend. “And I’m only going to do the minimum that needs to be done. It’s a waste of time and money.”

Jarrett looked out the Mercedes’ windshield to see someone coming toward them. It was the older woman, Mrs. Madison. He pressed the button so the window went down.

“Hello, Mr. McKane.” She slowly made her way to the car. “I’m not sure if you remember me, I’m Nola Madison.”

He got out of the car. “Were you checking up to see if I was coming?”

She smiled despite his rudeness. “As a matter of fact, we were watching for you, but only to warn you about what to expect in your apartment.” She shook her head. “It was once the manager’s, but he didn’t take very good care of it. We tried the best we could to clean it up.” She held out a key dangling from a heart keychain. “But I’m afraid it needs more work than any of our places.”

Feeling like a heel, Jarrett took the key from her, and pulled his jacket together against the cold. “You shouldn’t be out in this weather, Mrs. Madison.”

“Please, call me Nola. Let’s go inside, but it isn’t much warmer.”

Jarrett grabbed his duffel bag from the back of the car, asked Matt to have his car brought over from the office, and followed the woman up the walk. They went into a bare lobby. He’d seen this area before and knew how bad it looked, but it hadn’t mattered to him, since it was tagged for demolition. He headed for the elevators to find signs that read, Out of Order.

On the walk-through of the property he hadn’t noticed that. “There is no elevator?”

She shook her head. “Not in the last year.”

Jarrett recalled that day in the community room—two of the tenants were in wheelchairs. “How do the handicapped get upstairs?”

She led him to the wrought-iron staircase and they started the climb. “Oh, we found two tenants who were willing to move upstairs, and Joe and Sylvia’s son, Ryan, built ramps for both Margie and Harold. Now they can get in and out or their apartments. It’s important to be independent.”

“Who exchanged apartments?”

“Well, Mia was one who moved upstairs, and when her brother, Reverend Brad, was alive he used to help us with a lot of repairs. Many of his congregation did, too.”

“Where was the owner? Some of these repairs are required by law.”

She shook her head. “He threatened to double our rent if we kept complaining. So we started fixing things ourselves.” They made it to the second floor. “But some things we can’t fix. We need an expert.”

Once again he was confronted with dingy walls and worn carpet. They passed a few doors, then she stopped in front of his apartment. He paused. Hell, he was afraid to go inside.

Suddenly the door across the hall opened and Mia Saunders stepped out. She actually smiled at him and he felt a strange tightness in his chest. “Moving in, Mr. McKane?”

She was dressed in a long blue sweater that went to midthigh, with a pair of black leggings covering those long legs. He looked back at her face. “Seems I am. Looks like we’re going to be neighbors.”

“Isn’t that nice,” Nola said, then glanced at her watch. “Oh, my, I just remembered I have a doctor’s appointment. I don’t know where my head is today. Mia, could you show Mr. McKane around?”

Mia frowned. “Do you need a ride, Nola?”

“No, thank you, dear, my daughter is coming by.” With a wave, the older woman walked off.

Mia didn’t like Nola’s not-so-subtle disappearing act. Why did anyone need to show Jarrett McKane around?

She walked to the apartment entrance. “Brace yourself.” She swung open the door, reached in and flicked on the lights, then motioned for him to go inside first. He frowned and stepped into the main room. She heard his curse and couldn’t help but smile as she followed him in.

The apartment walls needed paint, but not before numerous holes in the plaster were patched. Under the slipcovers that Nola and her welcoming committee had recently put on, the furniture was thrift-store rejects.

“Joe cleaned the carpet, or what’s left of it. It’s probably the original. At least the place doesn’t smell as if someone died in here anymore.”

Without comment, he continued down the hall and peered into the bath. Again another curse.

She called after him. “It might not look very good, but I can guarantee you Nola and Sylvia cleaned it within an inch of its life. And there are fresh towels. And they made up the bed for you, too.” Then she murmured to herself, “Why they’re being so nice to you, I have no idea.”

The good-looking Jarrett McKane came out and stood in front of her. His dark hair had been cut and styled recently. His clothes were top-of-the-line, too. Everything about him rang out success and power. So why was she even noticing him?

Hormones, she concluded. It was just late-pregnancy hormones. She’d learned a long time ago to stay away from men like him.

“Why did they do all this?” he finally asked.

Jarrett McKane was standing too close, but she refused to step back. She refused to let him intimidate her.

“It’s their way of being neighborly,” she told him. “It’s the same with everyone here. Over the years, they’ve all become a family. Some are alone. Some have family that didn’t have time for them so they take care of each other.”

“Or it’s their way to get me to not tear the place down.”

She smiled, not wanting him to see her anger. “It’s just some towels and linens and a few home-cooked meals. But yes, they feel it’s worth a try. Enjoy your stay.” She turned and started to leave when he called her name.

When she turned around, he gave her a sexy grin. “Did you do anything to sway me, Ms. Saunders?”

Her heart began to pound in her chest. “There might be a plate of oatmeal raisin cookies on the kitchen counter.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing how far you’ll go to persuade me.”

Mia arched her aching back, causing her stomach to be front and center. “I’m afraid cookies are as far as I’m willing to go.”

Chapter Three

MIA couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

She stepped inside her apartment and closed the door. She didn’t want Jarrett McKane in her life, or in her space. And he was suddenly in both.

A long time ago, she’d learned about men who thrived on control. Her father was one of those. It had taken her years to get out from under his reign and finally to be free of him.

She walked across her cozy living area. A secondhand sofa and chair faced the small television. A triangular rug hid a lot of the worn carpet underneath. A small table off the galley kitchen was used for eating and for working on her computer.

Her laptop was the only thing of value that she had and the only means she had these days of make a living. Despite her privileged upbringing, she’d never been materialistic. Maybe that was the reason it had been so easy to walk away, or in her case, run away.

To Preston and Abigail Saunders their daughter had always been a problem, a disappointment from the start. An overweight child, Mia had morphed into a rebellious teenager. She had never fitted into her Boston society family. So, once she was of age, she’d just disappeared from their lives.

Even Brad had eventually bucked their father’s plans for him. Instead, her older brother had became an ordained minister and had ended up disowned, too.

Now she’d lost her only family. She caressed her stomach, feeling the gentle movement of the baby. At least she’d have a part of Brad and Karen and she vowed to love and protect this child. So she wasn’t about to let her parents know where she was. Or let them find this baby.

Mia sat down in the chair, still in awe of the life she carried inside her. Onetime wild child, Margaret Iris Ashley Saunders was going to have a baby. She blew out a breath. She was going to be a mother and D-day was approaching soon. There were so many things she had to get done before Christmas.

She closed her eyes. For months, she’d had to push aside all the feelings she was having for this baby. A mother’s feelings. The only thing that had saved her was knowing this child would always be in her life. Brad and Karen would have been the perfect parents and she could be the favorite aunt who spoiled the child.

Now, Mia had to step up and be a parent to this baby. She wasn’t sure she was cut out to do it.

That afternoon, with the help of his office staff, Jarrett had made several phone calls. He’d finally found someone to start on the repairs. A local furnace repairman was to come out. He’d also contacted the handyman who serviced some of his other properties to help out with some of the minor fixes.

Flipping his phone shut, he decided to wait downstairs and get out of his depressing apartment for a while. In the hall, the door across from his opened and Mia walked out carrying a large trash bag. She stiffened the second she saw him.

He smiled. “Hello, Mia.”

She nodded stiffly. “Mr. McKane.”

She was dressed in her standard black pants and oversize blouse, but with an added long sweater for warmth.

“I don’t see why we can’t be on a first-name basis since we’re going to be neighbors.”

“You’re the man who’s evicting us. Why would I get friendly with the enemy?”

He took the bag from her. “It doesn’t seem to bother the others.” He gave her a sideways glance. “Someone must have really have done a number on you.”

She glanced away. “Now you’re a psychiatrist?”

“No, just observant.”

“Well, observe somewhere else. Thanks to you, I have a lot on my mind.”

He wasn’t crazy about having to move her in her condition. “I’m not your enemy, Mia. I’m trying to find all of you places to live.”

“We can’t afford most of the other places.”

Was that his fault? “The rent here is well below average for this area. Even if I kept the place and did all the repairs, I’d have to raise the rent.”

“Well, you can’t yet. Some of us are barely getting any heat or hot water.”

“I’m taking care of that.”

“I can’t tell you how many times we heard that from the last owner.”

“The last owner hadn’t been court-ordered,” Jarrett said. He slowed his pace so she could keep up. He knew little or nothing about pregnant women. Only that Kira had had a rough time with her pregnancy and had had to stay in bed the last few months.

“That’s where I’m going now,” he continued, “to meet with a furnace guy.”

She stopped. “You mean we could have some heat today?”

He shrugged. “I’m paying him extra to start right away.”

They continued their way down the stairs to the main lobby. “I would like to ask a favor,” he said.

She paused with a glare.

He hid a smile as he raised a hand. “Good Lord, woman, do you mistrust everyone? I only want you to help get everyone together so we see who has the worst problems and fix them first.”

“Then come to the community room. It’s where a lot of the tenants hang out because it has a working heater.”

They stepped outside into the frigid weather. He first tossed the sack into the Dumpster, and then they continued on to the center.