Page 6 of Christmas in Quincy (The Edens 0.50)

“No.”

There was noise in the background, idle chatter and the clinking of glasses, but Dad remained silent.

This was his signature tactic. One he’d perfected in the boardroom and brought home to test on his children. He would wait people out because eventually, the lack of conversation would make the other party break.

And the other party always caved. Always. Why? Because I was the other party. And I spoke up every damn time.

“I love you, Dad, but I can’t do another crazy Christmas.” It was better this way. I’d just come clean, tell him I’d miss the festivities, and then he wouldn’t worry. I’d make it up to him with his favorite strudel when I got back to California.

“So you left to spend it alone in Montana?”

The nagging guilt vanished in a snap. My spine stiffened. “How do you know I am in Montana?”

“We’ll expect you home tomorrow. Selene has a big evening planned for Christmas Eve. Then we can enjoy a quiet Christmas morning before the guests arrive in the afternoon.”

“You didn’t answer my question. How did you know I was in Montana?” I articulated every word.

“Tomorrow, Cleo.”

“No.” A raging fire spread through my veins. “First, let’s pretend like you didn’t go against my wishes and betray my trust by having me followed.”

“Cleo—”

“Second, let me repeat this so it is inescapably clear. I will not be joining you tomorrow. I’ve arranged for my gifts to be delivered. Merry Christmas.” I ended the call before he could protest, then held the button to power it down before shoving it into my purse.

“Grr.” I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my fists.

Liar. What a goddamn liar!

Dad had promised he wouldn’t have me followed. He’d promised. So much for honesty. Had he put a tracking device on my phone? Had one of his henchmen followed me to the airport? I wouldn’t put it past him to monitor my credit card activity.

For years, I’d put up with the bodyguards lurking around every corner. I’d humored Dad’s safety demands. After what had happened to my mother, I understood his concerns. But I wasn’t an eighteen-year-old girl heading off to college. I wasn’t twenty-one and staying out too late at night partying with her friends.

I was twenty-eight years old and capable of taking care of myself.

I was capable of planning my own fucking Christmas.

Where is my champagne?

My father and I had been so close once. He’d been my best friend. After Mom had died, it had just been the two of us. We’d clung to one another and become a team. His overprotective tendencies hadn’t bothered me then either because I’d been a child.

But we’d drifted apart these past ten years. I’d grown up. Dad had met Selene and the entire dynamic of our home had shifted.

She was twelve years my senior. It was a strange age gap because she wasn’t old enough to be my parent and most of the time it had felt like I’d been saddled with a big sister, not a stepmom.

I loved my half-brother, Ray Jr., but I didn’t like him much. He was as spoiled and selfish as his mother. Last year, he’d thrown a tantrum because I hadn’t bought him a gift. Instead, I’d brought pastries and cakes for the entire household to share, doubling up on my brother’s favorite éclairs so he wouldn’t have to share his dozen.

But who was I to call anyone selfish? Maybe it was just as selfish of me to disappear to Montana instead of spending time with my family. Maybe I was spoiled because rather than confront my father about the spectacle that the holidays had become, I’d taken the coward’s way out and disappeared.

Except staying in California hadn’t been an option. Dad would have shown up at my doorstep and collected me himself.

Maybe if he ever listened to me, I would have instigated that conversation.

“Like he listened about the security detail,” I muttered to the room.

He’d promised, to my face, and done whatever he wanted to anyway.

Screw this. I was staying in Montana and having my own Christmas for a change.