Page 64 of Dragged Home for Christmas
What the hell?
He opened the door, and before he could get a word out, Polly was inside, squealing at such a high pitch Mike was sure every dog for miles around was about to turn up on their doorstep.
Polly turned to her driver. “Bring them in here,” she told him, and he staggered inside and dumped the cases on the floor. “Careful!” she snarled. “Now go get my dresses.”
Mike had heard enough.
“Leave the dresses in the car,” he told the driver before turning his attention to Polly. “Excuse me, but who are you?” He feigned bewilderment.
She did an exaggerated double take. “Don’t yourecognize me, sweetie? I’m Polly Amoray. You must’ve seen me on TV. I’m Nick’s ex. And you must be Mike, his nephew.” She glanced at the lobby. “Wow. You’ve worked wonders with this place.”
Ashley was hopping from one foot to another, squirming with excitement.
Anthony, Elliott, Jim, and Sam stood in a line, their eyes flinty.
Mike could understand that reaction.
He folded his arms. “The same ex who fucked off to LA to pursue her dreams, leaving Nick brokenhearted?”
That stopped her in her tracks. Her face hardened for a second, and then she placed her hand over her fur-covered heart. “I was gutted when I heard about Nick’s death.” Her voice cracked a little at the end.
Anthony’s face could have been carved from marble. “I didn’t seeyouat the funeral.”
“I know, I had an impossible schedule that day. But I sent flowers.”
“No, you didn’t.Iknow because I checked.” Elliott’s voice was like ice. “So why are you here?”
She beamed. “I’ve come to save the day.”
Mike gaped. “Excuse me?”
Polly nodded, her eyes bright. “A friend called to say they’d seen a post on Facebook. Something about donations to help renovate the hotel, putting on Christmas shows like we did in the old days… So I packed my bags, caught the first flight out of LAX, and here I am.” Another beaming smile. “Just put the word out that Polly Amoray is headlining the shows, and you won’t have enough room for all the guys who’ll flock to buy tickets.” Her manicured hand went back to her chest again. “Anything for Nick.”
“Oh really.” Judging by her clipped voice, Ashley hadceased fangirling and had come to her senses. She regarded Polly with faint surprise. “I’m shocked you could tear yourself away from Hollywood. I mean, you must have so many offers of work over there.” Her eyes gleamed. “Except you don’t, do you? From what I was reading last week, your star has definitely waned.” She gave a triumphant smile. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’ve come back here to give your ailing career a much-needed boost.”
Polly opened her eyes wide. “I’ll have you know I’m in great demand.”
“What as?” Jim folded his arms. “Surely the theaters have plenty of people to check coats and clean the restrooms.”
That earned him a glare. “But I’m here to help,” she ground out.
Elliott shook his head. “Nope. Nope. Nope. Just…. Nope.”
“Youneedme,” she said through gritted teeth. “Where would you be without me, hm? After everything I did for you, everything I taught you?” She flung her arms out. “Nick and I, webuiltthis together. He’d want me to help out. Hell, he’d have welcomed me back with open arms.”
Mike squared his shoulders. “I don’t think so.” Polly gaped at him, and he nodded. “I might not have known Nick all that well when I got older, but I sure knew him when I was a kid. You know what was the most important thing to him?” He looked her in the eye. “Family. Not just the flesh-and-blood members of his family, but the ones he chose to live with, laugh with…” He swallowed. “Die with.” Mike straightened. “So no, I don’t think wedoneed you.”
Sam walked over to the door and opened it. “Sorry, sweetie, but there is no room at the inn.”
“Not even a manger,” Anthony added with a pasted-on smile.
“Ms. Amoray is ready to head back to Boston for her flight home,” Mike told the driver, who was following the conversation with wide eyes.
He snickered as he picked up her bags. “All this needed was popcorn and a soda,” he muttered. Then he straightened when Polly strode out of the lobby and down the steps, then followed her.
“Careful on the ice,” Mike called out. He closed the door behind them, then turned and wiped his hands together, not bothering to watch her departure. “Anthony, I think we’re ready for lunch, don’t you?”
There was silence for a moment, and then the air was filled with rapturous applause.
