AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Needless to say, dealing with families is not my favorite part of the job. Dealing with the Northup family? Not my favorite thing to do, either.
I still don’t understand what Ellis wants to do with them or why she was so eager to come here. I know that she just made up all that stuff about being a fan of Suzannah or needing sponsors in the future. What she didn’t lie about? The fact that she loves Christmas parties.
Right now, she’s wearing a reindeer headband that doesn’t go with her royal blue dress, talking to some women near the cupcake table. I don’t know what they’re talking about, but the women seem to like her. I can see some men gazing in her direction as well, which is no wonder because the dress she’s wearing definitely goes with her body. It tapers just below her breasts, making them look plumper and more distinct, and the slit at the side reveals a slender leg.
Brenda did too much of a good job picking Ellis’s wardrobe. Thank goodness I convinced her to put that diamond ring on.
I turn my head as I hear a commotion from the other side of the room. I crane my neck and realize that Suzannah has walked in with her cousin, Calvin. As usual, she looks fabulous, and immediately, everyone starts fawning over her. Not me. I’d rather finish my glass of scotch.
I’ve just drunk another gulp when a hush falls over the room. All heads turn up as Samuel Northup appears on the balcony that looks like an opera box. Vivian, the ever dutiful daughter, is pushing his wheelchair and her own daughter, Christine, is standing behind her.
Samuel looks older than when I last saw him. He looks thinner and his skin looks paler, nearly translucent. As he coughs, his entire body seems to shake. I frown.
My father might have saved Samuel Northup’s life once, but there doesn’t seem to be much that can be done for him now.
“Thank you… all for coming… this year,” Samuel speaks slowly after Vivian and Christine help him to his feet. “I am… happy… to see so many… familiar faces. I wish you all… the very best… in this Christmas season… and…”
“And that’s all,” Gabriel interrupts the speech as he claps his hands.
Samuel’s eyes grow wide as he turns his head. Vivian gasps and looks like she’s about to faint.
I take another sip of scotch. Well, well, well, it looks like the party is getting started.
“Daddy, what are you doing here?” Suzannah stomps over to her father. “Didn’t Grandpa tell you not to come?”
My eyebrows arch at that last bit of information. Samuel did, did he? And still Gabriel came. This is going to be good.
“Did he?” Gabriel glances at his father as he takes a sip from a bottle of brandy. “Well, thanks for informing everyone, sweetheart.”
“Give me that.”
Suzannah tries to take the bottle from him, but Gabriel holds it out of reach.
“Just for everyone’s information, I’m not here for the annual Christmas party or whatever it’s called,” Gabriel says in a slur. “I just came home. I mean, this still is my home, right? You all just happened to be here.”
“Gabriel.” Vivian gives her brother a pleading look.
“Hi, sis.” He waves at her. “Still in black, I see. Well, that’s convenient, since it seems like there’s going to be a funeral in the family soon.”
That remark renders Vivian gaping, speechless. The crowd gasps.
“Daddy!” Suzannah scolds her father with a look of horror.
“That’s enough, Uncle Gabe,” Calvin speaks up as well.
“What?” Gabriel lifts his shoulders. “I was just joking. It’s Christmas, right? I’m just having fun because none of you seem to be.”
“That’s enough!” Samuel raises his voice. “I won’t have you…”
Suddenly, he sinks into his wheelchair and starts coughing. Vivian and Christine fuss over him.
“Daddy, look what you did!” Suzannah wails like a little girl who’s just had her doll broken. She looks like she’s about to throw one of her tantrums, too.
“What did I do?” Gabriel shrugs. “I was just trying to prevent him from killing himself with his speech. He needs to be in bed and we’ve all heard all that crap before anyway.”
In the opera box, Samuel continues to cough. Vivian and Christine usher him away.
“There, see, he’s going back to bed,” Gabriel says before drinking more brandy.
Suzannah points to the door. “Get out.”
“Okay, okay. It seems like the party’s over anyway.” He cradles his bottle in an arm and waves to the crowd. “Merry Christmas, everyone!”
He proceeds to leave the room with Calvin, who keeps him from tripping after his foot gets caught in the rug around the giant snow globe. Suzannah rolls her eyes and slaps her forehead.
And then there was one Northup.
As the guests gather around her to comfort her, Ellis comes to me.
