An O'Brien Family Christmas by Sherryl Woods Page A

be there.”
    “If you think someone should be there, Abby will go,” Trace said. “This is important, Laila.”
    “Does this talk have anything to do with Dad calling?”
    Silence greeted the question.
    “You’re not answering me, which can only mean yes,” she said.
    Trace sighed. “Then he did call you,” he said, sounding frustrated. “I told him not to, that I’d talk to you.”
    She echoed his sigh. “What’s this about, Trace?”
    “He’s reconsidering what happened. He wants to talk to you about coming back to work. First, though, he wants to know if it’s true that you and Matthew are through.”
    Her brief moment of hope faded. “We’re not,” she said succinctly. “I imagine that changes everything.”
    “Just meet me and let’s talk about this. I have a plan.”
    “Has it occurred to you that the mere necessity for having a plan to deal with Dad pretty much says how dysfunctional all of this is?”
    Trace laughed. “Of course, but we’re talking about Dad. It just comes with the territory. The key to success is accepting that and playing the game more skillfully than he does. Ten minutes, Laila.”
    “Okay, fine,” she agreed.
    Moments later as she walked past the bar, she noticed Matthew stalking away from a table, leaving Susie and Mack behind. He didn’t look overjoyed.
    “Problems?” she inquired when he exited the bar.
    “Nothing that strangling my sister won’t resolve,” he said darkly.
    “You know you don’t mean that,” she said.
    “Well, of course I don’t mean it,” he said irritably. “She’s just exasperating. She’s all starry-eyed these days and thinks she can manipulate the rest of the world into being the same way.”
    “Ah, she’s matchmaking,” Laila concluded. “I think it’s sweet.”
    “You wouldn’t say that if you’d been there.” He waved off the subject. “Never mind, I’ve neutralized her.”
    “How so?”
    “I threatened to reveal all her deep, dark secrets to Mack.”
    Laila laughed. “Susie has no deep, dark secrets. She’s the epitome of the wholesome, all-American girl.”
    “Of course she is, but it’s made her nervous. Maybe that’ll keep her in line for a while.”
    “Boy, are you an optimist,” Laila said.
    He shrugged. “Probably.” He regarded her with a narrowed gaze. “Where are you going, by the way? You’re not meeting up with Gram, Sean and Liam, are you?”
    “Not right now. Abby’s going to fill in for me. Trace wants me to meet him across the street in the park. Apparently he’s determined to mediate yet again between me and my father.”
    Matthew looked surprised. “Really?”
    “So he says. I have my doubts that he has that much skill at mediation, but I’m willing to listen. Since a lot appears to hinge on you and me being through, I don’t see this going anywhere.”
    “I probably shouldn’t, but I find that oddly encouraging,” Matthew said. “Do you want backup?”
    “No, thanks. Trace isn’t the problem, and my father’s thousands of miles away. I’ve got it.”
    Matthew pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Good for you. I’ll see you later. Want to walk over to the pub with me? I can stop by your room and you can tell me how things went with your brother.”
    “Sure.”
    “Then I’ll see you at six.”
    Laila gave him a wave, then headed across the street. Just inside the park, she found a bench in the quickly fading sun. It wasn’t especially warm, but she turned her face up and closed her eyes.
    “You praying for patience?” Trace inquired as he sat down beside her and stretched out his legs.
    “Am I going to need it?”
    “We’re talking about Dad, so of course,” he said.
    “So, what’s this proposition he wants you to make to me? And what did he offer you first?” Trace winced.
    She patted his knee. “Don’t feel bad. It’s not your fault you’re always going to be his first choice. So, what was it? Did he offer to step down as president of the bank? Give you