Chapter 7: A Merry Little Christmas
Myles' Grandparents' House
Falmouth, Massachusetts
Saturday, Christmas Day, 2 p.m.
"No way! That was totally unfair!"
Rose Leland laughed as she watched her twin grandsons and their ladies come back into the house, as covered in snow as if they were all ten years old again. 6-year-old Molly Leland was perched on Elizabeth's back, giggling at her uncle. All the other boys and the rest of the adults were still outside in the thick of it. The old lady sighed; she just hadn't had the energy today to join in. But that was all right; she'd not trade her family today for all the vigor she'd had when she was younger. And that it looked as if all her grandchildren would finally have families of their own just made it sweeter.
"Elizabeth says 'all's fair in love and snowball fights,' Uncle Myles!" The little girl wiggled down and started to pull off her wet coat, her blue eyes sparkling against her pink cheeks.
"Oh, she does?" He turned and gave Tara a mock-scowl. "And where was my FBI colleague while I was being ambushed?"
Tara was shaking the snow out of her curls. "Trying to defend myself from 'Blizzard Barrage' Sam over here. I couldn't see to watch your back, let alone cover you."
Myles wasn't giving up so easily. "I never realized there was a danger of tunnel rats in the middle of a New England snowfield." He eyed Elizabeth warily. "And where did you learn how to belly-crawl so silently?"
The psychologist laughed. "It's snow, love... not three feet of dried grass."
Molly had run over to her great-grandmother. "Gram, did you see? Elizabeth showed me how to sneak up on Uncle Myles and we got snow all down his back! I've never been on the winning team before!"
The agent turned to Elizabeth, mock-outrage on his face. "Betrayed by my own niece!"
"Hey, you said I had to make friends with her, or the wedding was off."
"I said make friends with her, not replace me in her loyalties completely!" He pulled several clumps of snow out from under his coat collar and balled them together. "I think perhaps it's a good thing I managed to sneak some ammunition along with me." He advanced on the psychologist, a wicked grin on his face.
Elizabeth backed up, running into Sam in the process. She looked up at him as he caught her by the arms. "Sam! You wouldn't..."
He pretended to consider the matter. "Hmm... let's see. Aiding and abetting could get me in trouble with the Feds here. Of course, messing with a shrink could be just as bad..." Then he grinned broadly. "'Fraid blood wins out this time, Dr. Liz."
"Oh, sure; switch sides in the middle of the battle. Thanks a lot." She looked over to where Tara was hanging up her coat. "Tara!"
"Sorry, Liz," Tara replied with a smile. "Gotta protect the unit, after all. Besides, you had plenty of help out there, even if it just deserted you in here."
Myles was right in front of her now. Elizabeth looked up at him, a challenge in her green eyes, as if she really didn't think he'd do it. But she knew better; she had one possible ally left.
"Molly! Help!"
But it was too late. Almost tenderly, he placed his hand at the back of her neck, making sure the snowball went under the collar of her sweater. She yelped, trying to escape, but Sam was having none of it. The cold slid all the way down her back.
"Myles Robert, so help me…"
Now he took her from Sam, who stepped over to Tara. Myles guided her right back against the entry closet, and made sure her back pressed against the wood, squashing the snow onto her skin. His eyes were bright with mischief. "So help you what, Elizabeth Catherine?"
Rose decided a rescue was in order. Taking Molly by the hand, she walked into the entryway. "All right, you two. Do I need to go find a hickory switch?" She was trying hard not to laugh, but it wasn't working very well.
"You…" Elizabeth put her fisted hands up against Myles' chest, trying to break his hold on her. "You will regret this, love."
"Somehow I doubt that." He placed his still-wet hands on her cheeks, causing her to gasp again, then captured her mouth briefly. As soon as she relaxed against him, he drew back and smiled. "See? All thoughts of revenge neutralized. Simply takes the proper tactic."
Tara giggled. "I want to see you try that 'tactic' the next time we have a vengeful terrorist on the loose."
&
"Wow." Molly's eyes were wide as she looked at Elizabeth. "Uncle Myles must really like you. He never lets anyone take that seat."
The psychologist smiled and patted one of the cushions on the floor by the hearth. "I'm just saving it for him while he gets changed. You want to help?"
"Sure!" The six-year-old pounced on the pillow, propping her chin in her hands and swinging her feet up to cross at the ankles. Bright blue eyes peeked out from the sway of dark hair. "Are you gonna have a flower girl for your wedding? 'Cause I'm good at keeping petals on the middle rug."
"Molly has a future in the diplomatic corps, as you can see." Myles chuckled as he came over and sat down next to them. He ruffled his niece's hair. "Don't you, princess?"
"The dip-lo-lat-ic what?" Her features drew together in puzzlement.
Elizabeth laughed. "He's teasing you, Molly," she replied. "Uncle Myles is just saying that you say what's on your mind. I think we might have an opening for a flower girl, don't we, love?"
He nodded, and Molly jumped up to throw her arms around them both. "Oh, cool! I gots to tell Mommy I need a new dress!" She took off, but then skidded to a halt and came back. "Is it okay if I call you Aunt Elizabeth even if you aren't married to Uncle Myles yet?"
The psychologist gave her a serious look, though the green eyes were twinkling. "Hmmm… well, since you're going to be our flower girl, I think maybe that would be all right."
The little girl gave her an I-know-you're-teasing-me look, then placed her hands on her hips and cocked her head to one side. "Well, if it's not too much trouble," she huffed in a voice too old for her grin. Then she threw herself at Elizabeth again. "You're fun, Aunt Elizabeth… just like Uncle Sam." And she was off again.
Myles looked hurt. "I'm not fun?" he called after her. Then he grinned when Molly turned around and blew him a kiss from across the room.
Elizabeth laughed. "You've just been 'fun' for all of her life. We're new blood to break in." She looked up as Sam approached, with Tara in hand and his parents and grandparents behind him. "Okay, that's way too serious an expression for Christmas Day in this house. The Dillingham 'mausoleum,' yes; but not here. And I've only been here a day. What's up?"
Sam sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs, and pulled Tara down to perch on the arm of it. "Figured a little extra support might be a good idea for a bit of news-breaking."
"Ah." Myles glanced at his parents and grandparents. "Well, everyone doesn't need to look so somber. It's not that bad."
Robert Leland, his father, eyed him for a moment. "Then you already know what this is all about?"
The agent nodded, smiling. "Yes, Dad, I do. And I think it was a wise move on Sam's part. Have a seat, just relax, and let him tell you."
The older man found a place on the sofa next to his wife; Rose and M. Robert chose the matching rockers. When everyone was settled, Sam took a breath. "Myles is right, I guess. It's not bad news at all; I just wasn't sure how everyone would take it, is all." He looked up at Tara, who made a just-say-it motion with her hands. "Okay… I bought a house down in DC this past week. I'm going to move down there."
Four rather blank looks were the response. Then Robert Leland said, "That's great, Sam, if that's what you want. I know it's been a little rough up here…"
Sam nodded. "That's only part of the reason for moving, but yeah."
Anne Leland looked a little distraught. "But you just… I mean…"
"I just 'got home,' so to speak?" He finished her sentence with a smile. "I know, Mom. But this is part of that, too. I can't stay in that house with all its past, and I'm too old to move home. This is a good step forward. Besides," he added with a grin, "somebody's got to keep an eye on 'SuperAgent' here, so he doesn't get himself shot or infected again."
Myles rolled his eyes as laughter rippled through the group. "You're just afraid some Washington politician is going to swoop in and snatch your precious 'Lady MarioKart' out from under your nose."
Tara leaned over and placed a kiss on Sam's cheek. "Not a chance."
"Well, you'll still have the house on the Vineyard for vacations," his grandfather said. "Nice to escape from all that hot air once in a while; and I don't just mean the summer sun."
Sam chuckled, then took another breath. "Actually… I won't. I'm not keeping the mansion."
There was a moment of stunned silence. Then Robert said, "You're selling it?"
"No." His hair flew in a wave of pale gold as he shook his head. "I donated it to the Boston Boys' Home. They can use a 'summer getaway' place more than I need one." He looked around at the surprised faces and dove in before he lost his courage.
"Mom, I just couldn't stay there any more. It's time to move forward, and I wanted to leave something behind that would do some good. I owe Matthews that much; to take his nightmare and mess it up one last time. I already talked to Granddad Effingham about it, and he said that Uncle Everett would have found that a fitting use."
Anne Leland nodded, reaching over to pat her son's arm. "It's all right, Sam. I'm sure that Uncle Everett wouldn't mind at all; donating the house to help those poor boys was a wonderful idea. And you're right; it's a marvelous way to end the nightmare."
Sam blinked; then his breath came out in a whoosh of relief. His father raised a brow at him. "Sam, what did you think? That we'd disown you for this?"
"I… I don't know, Dad." The words were a little hesitant. "I guess I just didn't want to do anything to… send us backward. The last nine months haven't been easy, I know…"
Rose stood up and took her husband's hand. "I think we'll let the six of you talk a little more. Sam, I think it was a wonderful gesture. And I know I've said it too many times over the past few months, but I am so glad you're home. Really home."
"Thanks, Gram." He smiled as they headed toward the family room, where Brad, James and their families were gearing up at the piano. Then he turned back to his parents. "So it's really okay?"
"Yes, it's really okay, Sam." Robert looked at his other son. "Myles, you didn't give him this idea that we'd be upset, did you?"
"Of course not," Myles replied. "But, since I haven't been up here during the past nine months, I wasn't sure what the atmosphere was. I didn't sway him one way or the other, though. And he caught me by surprise as well; I knew nothing about donating the mansion before he told us on Monday, but I thought it was a great idea, too. Twist the knife in Matthews a little."
Elizabeth looked up at him in surprise. "Yes, I know," he replied with a tight smile. "Revenge isn't exactly my style. But you didn't see this guy in the interrogation room that day."
"You're not getting any argument from me," she replied. "It was just strange to hear you put it that way."
Robert sat forward in his seat, his hands folded across his knees and a light in his eyes. "Sam, what would you say to the rest of us helping out a bit? I think a trust to keep them running in this new facility would be a perfect way for the family to show our gratitude to God for bringing you back to us… all the way back."
Sam's blue eyes widened as he drew back against the chair cushions. "Dad, I…" Not quite knowing how to finish, he looked first at his twin.
Myles was nodding. "Count me in, Dad," he said, his gaze still on his brother.
"Count you in on what, Myles?" Brad and James had sauntered over. "Looks like a family conference. Why weren't we invited?" Brad's dark eyes, inherited from Anne, sparked with curiosity.
It only took Robert a moment to explain his idea; when he finished, James was smiling. "Of course," he said, "I think it's perfect. I'll talk to my accountant tomorrow."
Sam was speechless; he kept looking from one to the other, his eyes getting wider by the minute, until Elizabeth was afraid it was too much and he'd bolt. She leaned forward and held up her hand as Brad started to add his support.
"Sam? Are you okay?"
"Uh…" He shook his head as if to clear it; Tara ran her hand across his shoulders, and it seemed to help. He took a breath and looked up at them all. "Sorry; I guess I just wasn't expecting this. I guess…" He seemed to be struggling for words, but moved forward nonetheless. "I guess I'm used to doing things on my own, against the current...instead of turning it."
James came around the end of the couch, perched on the arm and crossed his arms over his chest. "Or you're used to the rest of us not really knowing how to take you, and so you go your own route before we have a chance to adjust?" He grinned, his hazel eyes twinkling. "We just don't work at quite your warp speed, little brother. Now, Myles, here... well, him we can keep up with."
Myles laughed. "Oh, thanks, Jamie. Just what I needed to hear."
"Are you sure, though?" Sam asked of the people around him, sounding doubtful. He looked pensive, oblivious to the jesting of his older brothers. "Because it's okay if you don't really want to..."
Brad Leland leaned against the back of the couch. "Sam, think about it. Have you ever known the Leland clan to do anything they didn't truly want to?"
At that, Sam had to grin. "No, not really," he admitted, "I just don't want anyone to feel...obligated. If you guys can take care of the paper work and everything, that'd be great, and I can cover the money..."
Myles leaned over to Elizabeth and spoke softly into her ear, but loud enough that it would carry to his twin. "Is over-stubbornness supposed to be a side-effect of his therapy? Because I really wish someone had warned us."
She smiled brightly. "If he's this stubborn with you all, I can't imagine how he's going to react when I tell him I plan to add some of the Dillingham fortune to this little project." She raised a brow at the others. "If I'm worthy to join such a prestigious group."
"Of course," James nodded. "That is, if Sam is actually going to give us the okay."
Brad leaned over, and stage-whispered, "If he says no, we could always go 'anonymous'."
Sam finally got his voice back, and stuttered. "I think...this might be the first time I've been speechless in a long time. Of course I'll let you help...but...thank you, guys. All of you." He choked on the last word, and immediately clamped his mouth shut, blinking fiercely.
Anne Leland smiled. "You said you were ready to come home, Sam. We just want to make sure you know that we're more than ready to have you home."
"I think you'd better take them up on that, Sam," Tara said softly to him. "Because if you don't, I'm going to see if they'll adopt me." She grinned as he looked up at her in surprise.
He buried a kiss in her hair. "You just be patient, Miss Ma'am. You'll get your chance, but for now, they're all mine." Sam looked around the room, scanning every face. "It's good to be back."
&
"You're quiet." Elizabeth sat down next to Myles, who was stretched out in front of the hearth, looking up at the tree. "You always this anti-social?"
He sat up slightly to observe the annual Monopoly war taking place at the dining room table. This year, it appeared to be teams; each of the nephews was paired up with a dad, a grandfather, or an uncle. Sam was helping Robert, the youngest— which made the odds even worse, because Robbie was notorious for cleaning the rest of them out all on his own.
"The truth?" Myles said softly. "Monopoly bores me to tears. I think that's why I went for the criminology/law degree; I wanted a bit more adventure in my life than chasing stock prices." He stretched out his arm. "Care to join me?"
She curled up next to him, laughing softly. "From what Molly tells me, that's an offer not many people are privy to. So what's the big secret about this particular spot, anyway? Or is it classified?"
"Oh, definitely classified," he chuckled. "But you do have some security clearance with the Bureau, so I suppose it's safe to tell you. Although, after that little ambush today…"
She gestured an "x" over her heart. "You have my word; I won't even tell Molly. Besides," she quipped, waving her left hand in front of him, letting the solitaire catch the firelight, "you have a bit more hold over me than your niece does."
"True." He pulled her a bit closer to him and pointed at the tree. "When I was about four years old," he murmured in her ear, "I discovered that the Christmas tree looks a lot bigger from down here. It's been the best part of Christmas for me ever since."
She tilted her head a bit to follow his gaze. "You're right; it does. I had wondered about the pile of cushions in front of the fireplace at your house. You've never seemed the 'floor' type."
"Now you know." He smiled against her hair.
"Are you two over here making out again?" Sam popped his head over the couch.
"No," Myles half-growled, making Elizabeth giggle. "What'd Robert do, fire you?"
Sam rolled his eyes. "Move over, Trump. It's like The Apprentice. Someone needs to tell that kid it's just Monopoly." He put one hand on the back of the couch and jumped over.
"He's just jealous," Tara said, coming around in a more ladylike manner. "That his nephew can play a game better than him."
Sam's lower lip curled in a pout and he threw a pillow at her halfheartedly. "It's a board game. There's a difference. And I am not."
Myles laughed. "That's Robbie, all right. He's destined to make Bill Gates look like a cart-peddler."
Elizabeth looked over at Tara. "Are you guys staying tonight and tomorrow here? Or do you have other plans?"
"I promised Mom we'd be back tomorrow and spend most of the day there," Tara replied. "That's still okay, isn't it, Sam? I can catch a commercial flight if you want some more time here."
"Leaving you to the chaos of a Post-Christmas airport? Definitely a possibility." Sam said thoughtfully. Then he grinned. "Of course I'm coming. I'd just mope around here without you, anyway."
"Aww," Myles teased. "And usually it's Tara moping over some blind date gone bad." He yelped as Elizabeth swatted him at the same time Tara threw a pillow at him. "Hey!"
"Mope no more, fair lady. Blind dates are a thing of the past. And if you wish it, I will avenge you rightly." Sam stood and gave a melodramatic, sweeping bow.
"That's okay, Sam." Tara's grin was lethal. "I think I'm scheduled for a session down in the gym when we get back, with Myles as my punching bag— uh, sparring partner. But you're welcome to help him warm up."
Elizabeth was a bit surprised. "You train with someone substantially bigger than you? Oh, of course you do. That makes sense. Forgive me for being stuck in the Dark Ages, my friend." Now she smiled as well. "Just leave him in one piece when you're done, ok?"
Myles snorted. "Oh, your support and confidence is overwhelming, thank you."
"No problem, bro." Sam replied, in mock seriousness. "Anything to help."
"So, Sam..." Elizabeth rolled up to a sitting position. "You seem to have recovered from your earlier shock. Feeling a little closer to victory?"
"I'm all kinds of at the top of Mount Everest 'bout right now," Sam answered, sitting back down on the couch and putting his arm around Tara.
"I'm glad." Her eyes dropped a little. "Seeing you conquer all this makes me feel like I can do the same."
"Don't you think for a second you can't," Sam chastened, a touch of fire in his eyes and voice. "It took me over twenty years to get to where I am now, and you've gotten this far in less than one. You've already more than passed me."
Myles sat up now as well and put his arms around her. "The fact that you've faced this head-on immediately makes it a whole different battle, sweetheart." He glanced up at his twin. "I don't mean that as a reprimand, Sam..."
"S'ok. You're right." Sam glanced at Tara, who nodded, and they both slid down to sit on the floor facing the other couple. "Liz, quit beating yourself up over the fact that it's little steps. Just because you're a shrink doesn't mean you're any more immune than the rest of us. It's Christmas, you're surrounded by a bunch of nuts you're shortly going to be marrying into of your own choice, heaven knows why." He shot Myles a grin. "And it's time to set the problems of the world on the back burner. Anyone up for a late-night snowball fight?"
Elizabeth laughed, the light returning to her eyes. "I don't think I dare to. But I think a double-date walk out in the snow would be a nice way to end this evening before you all take off for parts south tomorrow."
"Sounds great to me," Tara added. "Besides, I still need to figure out some way to go back to relating to this really crabby co-worker I have, instead of the complete stranger I've discovered this holiday season. The rest of the team will never believe me."
