Under The Mistletoe With John Doe

Chapter Twelve

After the limousine left, Jason spent the next couple of hours roaming the rooms of his house, scanning the furniture and artwork on the walls and checking out the shelf in the den that displayed a couple of golf trophies he’d won in the various Pro-Am tournaments in which he’d played.

As he did so, some of the spotty memories he’d been having began to weave together, making sense. He knew that Mike was eager to see him, but he found himself dragging his feet. For some reason, he wanted to be clear about who he was and how he fit into the family.

So he went to the refrigerator to find himself something to drink, settling on a can of soda. He flipped open the top, then took a sip as he sorted through a stack of mail on the counter, all of it postmarked prior to his trip to Texas.

His vehicle registration was due in a couple of days.

How many other monthly bills were now outstanding? His post-office box was probably busting at the seams, and playing catch-up wouldn’t be easy. He’d have to hire a personal assistant-unless he had one already.

Either way, his first priority was Alvarez Industries, as it always had been.

After placing his empty soda can in a recycling bin, he took a shower and changed his clothes. But instead of choosing one of the many suits that hung in his closet, he picked out a pair of khaki slacks and a golf shirt-considered too casual for the office by Mike’s standards. Then he took his car keys from the dresser and went out to the garage, where his black Mercedes was parked.

As he climbed behind the wheel, pictures of the past-some of the conversations he’d had, the people he knew-began to fall into place, providing him with a better understanding of who he was and how he fit into the family dynamics. Thankfully, with each passing moment, his life became more and more familiar.

After backing out of his garage and using the remote to close the door, he drove to the office and parked in his own reserved spot in the underground parking garage. Then he rode the elevator all the way to the top floor and entered the executive offices of Alvarez Industries, where wall-to-wall windows provided an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean on one side of the building and the downtown San Diego skyline on the other.

Suzy Walker, the thirtysomething receptionist, looked up from her desk and smiled brightly. “Mr. Alvarez, it’s good to have you back.”

“Thanks. Is Mike in?”

“Yes, and he’s been waiting for you. Do you want me to let him know you’re here?”

“That’s not necessary.” Jason was tired of all the formality, which had always felt like a facade to him.

Rosa Alvarez, whose recipes had set up future generations of the family for wealth and success, had been a down-to-earth woman who’d adored her husband and sons. Her smiling face adorned every label, every package, every box of Abuelita brand foods. And while she would be happy to learn of the success of the family business, she’d insist that they all remember just where they came from-hardworking immigrants, loving grandparents, with strong family values.

Jason strode right into his brother’s fancy office, briefly addressing Miriam, Mike’s executive secretary, yet bypassing her to let himself inside.

Mike glanced up from his computer screen, then brightened. “Jason! It’s good to see you, man. I wondered when you were going to get here. I’d thought that you would have Max drive you straight here from the airport.”

That might have been Jason’s routine in the past, but he’d spent too many evenings in Brighton Valley, listening to horses whinny in the corrals and cattle lowing in the pastures. And he’d enjoyed too many quality hours with a beautiful doctor who dedicated herself to her patients and to the community at large.

Being in Brighton Valley had changed something in him, although he wasn’t sure what it was. But he suspected that it had given him reason to believe that life didn’t always have to be lived in the fast lane.

“I had some things to take care of at home,” he said, realizing those “things” had included getting his memory in check, his feelings sorted and his priorities in line.

“Well, I guess you didn’t have time to change. But at least you’re here now. Why don’t I catch you up on our defense of the lawsuit?”

Jason took a seat in the brown leather chair in front of his brother’s desk, then listened as Mike told him the legal game plan.

In a nutshell, if they didn’t find Pedro, or if he couldn’t dispute Cheryl’s testimony, they would have to find some other way to discredit her. And if that didn’t work? They’d agree to a settlement and insist that she sign a nondisclosure agreement.

“We can do the same thing with the woman who was involved in your accident,” Mike said, “assuming she decides to sue. We’ll have the attorneys offer her a settlement so we can put it all behind us.”

Jason wasn’t the least bit opposed to paying out a fair settlement for an accident he’d caused, but it rubbed against his grain to think that money could easily solve any number of mistakes a man made, any consequences of his poor judgment.

Of course, there wasn’t a whole lot that could be done after the fact, other than pay the attorneys and…

What? Make things go away?

How would Rosa and her husband, Luis, feel about that? About the men their descendants had become-business execs, always looking at the bottom line?

Never stopping to smell the roses?

Before Jason could respond, Mike’s intercom buzzed.

“What is it?” he asked his secretary.

“Pedro Salas is on the line for Jason. Should I take his number and tell him Jason will call him back?”

“Beautiful,” Mike said, brightening and flashing a we’re-in-luck smile at Jason before answering Miriam. “Don’t put him off. Patch him through.”

“Wait.” Jason got to his feet. “I’d like to take that call in private.”

Mike’s brow furrowed, clearly surprised by Jason’s response. “Why?”

“I’d feel better talking to him without an audience.”

Mike seemed to ponder that for a moment, then shrugged. “Okay. Go ahead. I’ll tell Miriam to patch the call through to your desk.”

Jason headed out the door and down the hall. When he reached the privacy of his office, he let himself in, closed the door and took a seat behind a large, polished mahogany desk.

Only then did he answer the call. “Pedro, thanks for calling me. How’s it going?”

“It’s okay. I heard you were in Brighton Valley, looking for me. What’s up?”

“I wanted to ask you a couple of questions about a conversation you might have overheard between Cheryl Westlake and a couple of clerks from the mailroom.”

Silence stretched across the line until Pedro asked, “What conversation are you talking about? They used to chat a lot whenever Cheryl came downstairs.”

From what Jason understood, the woman had been recently promoted, but on her breaks, she would hang out with the clerks who used to work with her.

“Cheryl was talking about a lawsuit against Mike and the company,” Jason told him, hoping to jar his memory. “She would have said something to them about sexual harassment.”

“Oh, yeah. I remember that. They didn’t know I was within hearing distance. Cheryl said she was going to bring your brother down a couple of notches by pressing charges against him.”

“What did she claim he did?”

“She said that he was a big flirt and that he came on to every woman between the ages of eighteen and fifty. And that she knew several who’d slept with him, hoping for a promotion or extra perks. But your brother never came through with them. One gal even got pregnant, and supposedly, Mike paid for an abortion.”

“Is that true?”

“Hey, all I can tell you is what I heard. But Cheryl seemed to think that just making a claim was guaranteed a settlement. And she told her friends that Mike deserved it, that she was doing every woman who worked at Alvarez Industries a favor by forcing him to be more respectful to his female employees in the future.”

Jason couldn’t decide if that was good news or not. If Pedro was telling the truth, Cheryl’s sexual harassment accusation wouldn’t hold up. But it was probably just a matter of time before a legitimate claim was filed. And in that case, Mike was headed for trouble. And so was the family.

“Would you mind testifying to that?” Jason asked. “We can fly you to California for a deposition or the trial-if it goes that far.”

“I really don’t want to leave Brighton Valley right now. I’m in a twelve-step program, and it seems to be working.”

Jason was glad to hear that. He liked Pedro, and he hoped the guy would find a healthier way to deal with his pain and grief. Thank goodness he’d sought help.

“For what it’s worth,” he told the man, “we’ve got those meetings here. And if you stay in the program, I’ll make sure that you get your job back at Alvarez Industries.”

“That’s tempting.”

“Give it some thought.”

“I will, but I gotta tell you, Jason. It’s been really nice being back in Brighton Valley. Life is slower, the air is cleaner and people are more sincere. And to top that off, I’ve also met a nice lady at one of my meetings. It’s not like we’re dating or anything, but we’ve got a lot in common.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” The poor guy really deserved to find happiness.

“You know,” Pedro said, “last night, while I was walking her to her car, we saw a falling star. She said, ‘Quick! Make a wish.’ And I did. I wished that I could start over again-that I could move past the grief I’ve been wallowing in for the past ten years and make a new life-in Brighton Valley.”

Jason hoped that a change of location and a loving woman could help him change his life around.

After getting Pedro’s number, Jason hung up the phone and returned to Mike’s office.

“So what did he have to say?” Mike asked.

“His testimony will help. He says Cheryl’s just in it for the money.”

“Great. I’ll make it right for him. Tell him he can have his job back.”

“At this point, he doesn’t want to come back.” Again, that sense of envy struck.

Like Pedro, Jason had found something very appealing about Brighton Valley, but in his case, it went beyond ranches, horses and a more rural lifestyle. It had to do with the people he’d met, the people who’d offered a home and job to a stranger.

People who accepted a man on faith and had treated him like family.

“If he’s going to testify,” Mike said, “what’s in it for him?”

“Maybe some people just want to do the right thing,” Jason said. Like Betsy. And Doc Graham.

Jason raked his hand through his hair and added, “That’s the trouble with you, Mike. You’ve got a self-serving agenda, and it’s going to be your downfall.”

Mike stiffened, as though Jason didn’t challenge him often. But all that was going to change.

“That cocky, flirtatious nature of yours is going to get you in one heck of a fix someday,” Jason said. “And if you don’t change your ways and treat your employees with more respect, some woman is going to lay a claim like that on you, and it’s not going to be bogus.”

“What’s got you on a high horse?”

“I’m just calling it as I see it, Mike.”

And that’s exactly what he was going to do from here on out. Life was too short to be unhappy and forced into a role that wasn’t of one’s own choosing.

Three days later, it was all Betsy could do to keep her mind on her work rather than on her broken heart.

When she moved out of the house she’d shared with her ex-husband, she’d had to deal with a rush of anger and resentment. But she hadn’t grieved for Doug’s loss. Not like she was grieving for Jason and what they might have had together.

Focusing on her work and on her patients helped, but not when there was a lull in the E.R. On those occasions, she would leave the hospital and get away from people who might ask what was bothering her or why she seemed so sad.

And today was no exception. While the E.R. faced another quiet spell and the waiting room was empty, she’d planned to go for a walk.

But then she’d received an unexpected phone call and was forced to face the past, just as Jason had wanted her to.

“I’ll meet you in the rose garden,” she’d said, deciding they would need privacy.

But her feet moved slowly, as though a part of her wanted to be somewhere else-anywhere but here.

As she turned the corner, she headed for the stark garden, eager to get the meeting over with. The bushes that had once been lush and full of blooms last spring were bare now, making the grounds look bleak and dreary.

She wondered if coming out here had been a bad idea, especially because this was where she’d last seen Jason. It was a sad reminder of their final goodbye. But there weren’t too many places she could go and not risk running into someone.

She spotted a slender, red-haired woman sitting alone on one of the concrete benches, her head bowed. Betsy almost turned around and let her have the place to herself until the woman looked up, and their gazes met.

Betsy’s breath caught and she took a step back, thinking she’d just looked into the mirror.

The woman placed a hand on her chest, as if she’d been taken aback by the resemblance, too. She looked ready to bolt, and Betsy could understand that. How often did one run into one’s mirror image?

An almost eerie sensation settled over her as she realized she could be looking at her twin instead of her mother. Obviously the woman hadn’t been able to take no for an answer.

Betsy had been tempted to return to the hospital and refuse to see her, but Jason’s words urged her on. Sometimes love and relationships deserve a second chance.

So she put one foot in front of the other, just as she’d been doing to make it through each day after Jason left.

Odd, she thought. The closer she got to the woman, the more of a resemblance she saw.

She supposed she could be a perfect stranger, but the woman had zeroed in on her, too.

“Carla?” Betsy asked, taking a gamble and calling the woman by name.

She nodded as she got to her feet.

“I’m Betsy Nielson.”

“I know. I…” Her lips quivered. “I wasn’t stalking you. Honest. I had no intention of bothering you. I just…wanted to see you.” She bit down on her bottom lip.

Betsy didn’t know what to say. Their unexpected meeting had certainly thrown her off stride. But now that they’d seen each other, now that they’d spoken, she couldn’t very well turn her away.

“I can understand your curiosity,” Betsy said. “But I’m on duty, so I can’t promise that I won’t be called back inside.”

“I’m not sure if you ever wondered about me, about why I had to give you up.”

“Yes, but I want you to know that I had a happy childhood and wonderful parents. As far as I’m concerned, your placing me for adoption was a blessing to them, and I’m glad to be their daughter.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that.” The wind kicked up, blowing a strand of her hair across her cheek, and she swatted it away. “I was a sixteen-year-old foster child when I gave birth to you, with no real family support. And your father was in the same boat. As much as I loved him and wanted to keep you, I knew I’d be sentencing us all to a life we’d never be able to break free of.”

“I understand,” Betsy said, figuring the woman wanted her forgiveness. But there were no hard feelings. She was happy with the way things had turned out.

“I was an honor student,” Carla added, “and a grade level ahead of the kids my own age. I was looking at a full-ride academic scholarship to Rice University, but having a baby would have meant giving it up and getting a job.”

“You made a good decision,” Betsy said, assuming that’s why it had been so important to find the child she’d given up. “Did you graduate?”

Carla smiled and her eyes misted over. “Yes, with honors. And I went on to get a master’s degree in biology. I work for a biotech firm in Houston.”

So they didn’t just look alike. They had the same scientific aptitude and drive for success.

Betsy took a sip of the coffee she still held. “I guess we have a lot in common. I went to med school at Baylor.”

“I’m proud of you, even though I didn’t have anything to do with your achievements.”

“You gave me to people who cheered me on every step of the way, so we were all winners.”

A tear spilled over and slipped down Carla’s face, and she managed a smile with quivery lips.

“So tell me,” Betsy said, “do I have any half brothers and sisters?”

“Actually, I married Brad-your father. So you have full siblings, not half.”

At that, Betsy felt her own eyes water. She’d never had any qualms about her childhood, about having parents who were older than the ones most of her friends had. She’d never really cared that she’d been adopted, although she’d been curious about the details. But she’d always wished that she had a brother or sister, that she hadn’t been an only child.

“Brad and I really loved each other, but we wanted more for ourselves and our children than what we’d had. So we waited to get married until after we had our degrees and were established in our careers.” Carla reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. “I have pictures, if you’d like to see them.”

Actually, Betsy was intrigued by the idea of having siblings and wanted to see them. “Please.”

Carla reached into the photo slots and pulled out a picture of a fair-haired young man with a shy smile. “This is Kenny, your brother. He’s a junior at Texas A &M and a math major.”

Betsy’s heart warmed as she searched for a family resemblance and found it around the eyes and mouth.

“And this,” Carla said, as she pulled out a second picture, “is Kari, your sister. She’s a senior in high school and far more interested in her dance classes than in math or science. But she’s a good kid. And happy.”

“I’d like to meet them,” Betsy said.

Carla took a breath, as if needing to fortify herself before making a comment. “I’m so glad to hear you say that. Not a day went by that I didn’t think about you or pray for you and the family that adopted you. I’m so glad to know those prayers were answered.”

“Ten times over,” Betsy said. “My parents are wonderful people.”

“If you don’t mind,” Carla said, “I’d really like to meet them sometime and tell them how happy I am that they took you in and gave you all the things your father and I couldn’t give you.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

At that point, Betsy’s pager went off, calling her back to the E.R.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I have to go now.”

“Thanks for talking to me. Honestly, I would have abided by your wishes, but I just wanted to see you from a distance. And to make sure that you were happy.”

“I am,” Betsy said, even though she was nursing a painfully broken heart. But she’d been happy before she met Jason, and she knew she’d be happy again someday.

Before leaving, she reached into her pocket, pulled out a business card and handed it to the woman who’d given birth to her. “We’ll have to get together later. After Christmas.”

“That’s great. And for the record, this will be my best Christmas ever. I’ve got the gift I’ve wanted for the past thirty-two years.”

Betsy smiled, then turned and walked away.

She was glad that she’d been able to help Carla put the missing pieces of her life back together-even if she hadn’t been able to help Jason do the same with his.

Still, with Christmas on the horizon and a new year coming around the bend, Betsy’s life was opening up for her in a way she hadn’t expected.

She just wished Jason had been around to be a part of it.

As usual, Betsy asked to work on Christmas Eve, something she volunteered to do each year so that the doctors with children could stay home with their families and enjoy the holiday.

She’d even been open to taking the night shift, but Dr. Babbitt had suffered a gall-bladder attack yesterday and had been admitted to the hospital. So she’d taken his shift, leaving the night to Darryl Robertson.

As it neared seven o’clock and the shifts were changing, Betsy was writing up orders in a patient’s chart.

“Dr. Nielson?” one of the nurses asked.

Betsy continued to write. “Yes?”

“There’s a man named Jason Alvarez in the waiting room. He’s asking to talk to you.”

She froze, then forced the pen to finish her thought. “Tell him I’m off at seven. I’ll meet him in the lobby.”

“All right.”

She paused long enough to tamp down her surprise, then she finished out her shift. When she was free to leave, she followed the corridors to the lobby, where she found Jason standing near the Christmas tree, his back to her.

“I didn’t expect you to return,” she said.

He turned away from the tree, and her breath caught. She hadn’t remembered him being that handsome. And she couldn’t help noting that he was wearing jeans again. Had he not gone to California after all?

“I needed to talk to you.” His expression was solemn and almost unreadable.

She slowly closed the gap between them, yet kept a little distance, like that of acquaintances rather than friends.

“I didn’t like the way things ended between us,” he said. “In fact, I really didn’t like them ending at all.”

Her lips parted and her heart thumped to life, but she held her tongue, protecting her thoughts, her feelings.

“I realize there’s a lot about me that you don’t know, but I was wondering if we could start over from scratch. Maybe, if we dated, it would give you a chance to know the real me.”

She wasn’t sure what he was asking, what he was saying.

“You made it clear that you weren’t looking for a relationship,” he added, “and I’ll respect that, if you ask me to. But I’d like to see where this goes, and I’m hoping you feel that way, too.”

“We live in two different states, Jason. I’m not sure how a relationship could possibly work.”

He hooked his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans and tossed her a crooked grin. “Actually, I just put a cash offer on Doc’s ranch, and he accepted the deal. Our attorneys are drawing up the papers as we speak.”

He did what?

And did that make him her landlord?

Try as she might, she was still speechless.

“I was pretty confused when I left Brighton Valley,” he added, “so I couldn’t make any promises then. But when I went home, things fell into place.”

“And now what?”

“Have you ever heard of Alvarez Industries?”

She hadn’t and shook her head.

“What about Abuelita Tamales, Salsa, Tortilla Chips, Mole…?”

“Yes, I’ve heard of those products.”

“My great-grandmother was an incredible cook, and people in the community raved about her tamales. Her husband began to sell them to the neighbors and to his coworkers. And before long, their son began to market them, too, along with her salsa, mole and homemade tortillas. Before long, Alvarez Industries was born.”

“That’s a big company,” she said.

“We’ve been very fortunate. Within three generations, the company went international.”

She still didn’t understand how a relationship could work out for them. “But you said you were an executive in the corporation. How are we going to deal with the commute?”

“I just resigned from the board of directors.”

How could he do such a thing? “Why? I don’t understand.”

“Before the mugging, I had an almost-obsessive focus on the family business. But something happened while I was in Brighton Valley. I had time to relax, to enjoy life for the first time in years. To be real.”

She wanted to take credit for that-or for being a part of the good things that had happened on the ranch, but she knew better than to open herself up for disappointment. So she let her rational side answer. “Vacations can do that for people. The human body wasn’t made to work 24/7.”

“It was more than that, Betsy. When I was a kid, we had horses. And I secretly considered a degree in animal husbandry. But that wouldn’t have benefited my family. So I went to USC and majored in business, just like my brothers.

“After graduation, I went to work at the corporate office and made my own mark on the company. And the fact that sales improved remarkably after I initiated a few ideas of my own made me proud to be a part of a successful, family-owned business.”

If truth be told, it made her proud of him, too.

“But I’ve never really been happy or content. I thought if I just worked harder or put in longer days or made more money…” He clucked his tongue and slowly shook his head. “But it didn’t help. I was never as happy or content as I was on the ranch with you. You healed something deep within me, Betsy. Something I hadn’t even realized was damaged.”

She didn’t know what to say. He’d healed something within her, too.

He closed the distance between them and reached for her hand. “I love you, Betsy. Even if you don’t feel the same way about me.”

“But I do,” she said. “I was devastated when you left.”

“Are you kidding? You were so…”

“Professional? Detached? That’s how I deal with stressful situations, Jason. That’s one reason I refused to meet my mother. But you were right. Some people deserve second chances.”

A smile stretched across his face. “So does that mean you’ll give me-us-another chance?”

“Absolutely.”

Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him right there in the middle of the hospital lobby.

After a wonderful night spent in the guesthouse at the ranch, Betsy and Jason celebrated the first part of Christmas Day with her parents in Doc’s hospital room. When they arrived, her dad had carried in a miniature tree and set it near the window. And Jason brought in an armful of gifts that Betsy had purchased and wrapped ahead of time.

Of course, she didn’t have a package for Jason because she hadn’t expected to share the holiday with him. But his surprise appearance last night and his profession of love had been a prize beyond measure, and the lovemaking that had followed had been an amazing treat.

After Doc had opened his gifts-an iPhone, a new pair of pajamas, DVDs and a book on tape-he apologized. “If I would have known I was going to have a stroke, I would have gone shopping sooner. I’m afraid I don’t have anything for you yet.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Betsy said. “Jason and I didn’t get each other gifts, either.”

“Actually,” Jason said, “that’s not true. You gave me mine last night, when you agreed to give our relationship a chance. And I’ve got one for you.”

“You do?”

He reached into the lapel of his sports jacket and pulled out a checkbook and a pen. Then, using the table near Doc’s bed, he wrote a check.

“I’m sorry,” Betsy said. “We’ll need to get one thing straight. Cash doesn’t count as a present. And gift cards aren’t much better. You’re going to have to tear that up and start over. I want something that comes from your heart.”

“I think you’re going to like this one.” He ripped off the check and handed it to her.

When she read what he’d written, she furrowed her brow. “Pay to the order of Brighton Valley Medical Center? One million dollars?” She looked up in awe. “Oh, my God. What’s this?”

“Something to keep the hospital afloat until things turn around. And hopefully that means a well-deserved vacation for you.”

“A loan?”

“No, a gift.”

Betsy glanced at the check again. “I don’t know what to say.”

“A thank-you would work.” Jason eased closer and slipped his arm around her waist. “But a kiss would be even better.”

She laughed, then threw her arms around him and gave him just what he asked for, as well as a heart full of love to back it up.

Moments later, Jason’s cell phone rang and he stepped out into the hall to take the call. When he returned, he was smiling.

“Good news?” she asked.

“The best. Remember the accident I told you about?”

The one he’d caused when he ran the stop sign.

She nodded.

“My father’s golfing buddy has a wife who serves on a hospital board. And with her connections, they learned that the child’s paralysis wasn’t permanent. She’ll need physical therapy, but she’s going to be okay. And the newborn was released from the NICU a couple of days ago and was sent home. They’re all going to be fine, thank God.”

They had a lot to celebrate, especially the fact that the accident would soon become a thing of the past. There would be a settlement, but as long as there weren’t any permanent injuries, Betsy knew Jason was relieved.

“My mother wants to know when I’m going to bring you home to meet them,” Jason said.

Now that the medical center wasn’t in dire financial straits, Betsy would be able to schedule some vacation time. “I’ll see what I can do. New Year’s Day might be a little early, but I’ll put in a request for the first weekend I can get.”

John wrapped his arms around Betsy and drew her near. “So Merry Christmas, honey. A new year never looked so promising. We’ve got a lot to look forward to.”

He had that right. They’d both come to grips with the past, and now they could relish the present and look forward to a love-filled future.