A Holiday Prayer

The right side of his face, around the temple, forehead, and eye, was covered with very real bandages.

Surprise registered only momentarily on his face before he grinned and shrugged. “I see you caught me. Your Phantom is more like the real Phantom of the Opera than you anticipated, huh?”

Maddie tried to speak, but her mouth was dry. “I…uh…”

“I’m sorry. I can see I startled you. I—”

“Mom! I fed all of the ducks!” Nicky bounded between them, bouncing on his toes.

“He did, too!” her Phantom confirmed, smiling in a way that made Maddie’s heart turn over. Something about those lips. Perhaps it was the bandages that shadowed the rest of his face, just as the Phantom’s mask had. Or maybe she was remembering the sweet tenderness of his kiss.

She shook her head, trying to dispel the thought. Nicky latched on to her arm and peered timidly at the bandaged-faced man. “It’s okay, Nicky. This man is my—” she hesitated over the word “—friend.”

“I’m Mr. M…” His sentence trailed. “Um, Nicky, do you want to ride the train?”

That was all it took to make a fast friend of the young boy, who grabbed the man’s hand and pulled him toward the train.

The Phantom scooped Nicky into his arms, placing the boy on his broad shoulders. “Look, there, Nicky! You’re as tall as the giraffes, now!”

He was a natural with children, Maddie thought as they headed for the train, and Nicky was eating up his attention, squealing with glee. Warning bells rang in Maddie’s mind, and she quickly installed mental barriers. The more she knew of this man, the more there was to like. But fairy tales didn’t translate into reality, and she was setting herself up to be left with a crushed pumpkin and a couple of mice for company.

Something she definitely could do without. She’d have to be more careful.

Maddie’s eyes met the Phantom’s and he smiled, sharing with her in Nicky’s delight. It was a small gesture, yet it warmed her heart like a woodstove on a brisk morning.

“I didn’t quite catch your name,” she reminded him as he planted Nicky on the train, waving as the locomotive powered up.

A surprised look crossed his face, but was quickly shadowed. “Hmm?” he asked, as if he hadn’t heard her question.

“Your name. You know, what people call you to get your attention. I can’t keep calling you Phantom all the time. It would be embarrassing for me and humiliating for you.”

Neil glanced at his watch, stalling for time. He hadn’t anticipated seeing her again—or rather, having her see him. And now she was demanding his name.

What was he supposed to say? Hi, my name is Neil March, the man responsible for your husband’s death.

“I…um,” he mumbled, looking right and left, wishing desperately that a gap in the earth would open up and give him an escape route. Swallow him whole. He couldn’t tell her the truth, though he knew she deserved to hear it.

“Rory,” he said, making a split-second decision. “My friends call me Rory.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie. He had, in fact, been raised as Rory. Neil Rory March III. His father was already Neil Jr., so adding another Neil to the family clan had seemed a bit confusing. Neil had gone by his middle name until he graduated from college and claimed his inheritance.

“Rory,” Maddie repeated, running her low, melodic voice over the syllables. The sound was like a balm to his soul.

“Mrs. Carlton!” The master of ceremonies for the grand opening of the Pachyderm Pavilion rushed upon them, startling Neil. He took a step backwards and turned his face away from any who might recognize him. “It’s time. We’ve been looking all over for you. Everyone is waiting.”

A tumult of confusion ensued as Maddie gathered Nicky under her arm and muttered about not noticing the time. Several others in charge of seeing the grand opening go off without a hitch converged on her, giving her instructions on speaking and wishing her luck.

Neil slipped quietly away into the night, away from Maddie, feeling the cold closing around him with every step he took. His hands clenched into fists, trying to force from his mind the lie still ringing in his ears.

My friends call me Rory.

Chapter Five (#ulink_ce6811e4-79ff-56f7-aeff-e85bfdead226)

Keeping to the shadows of the makeshift tent, Neil adjusted the collar of his knee-length wool coat high around his neck. From his pocket he pulled a Colorado Rockies baseball cap which he placed low over his brow, shadowing his ravaged face from the crowd.

He couldn’t afford to have anyone recognize him and uncover his deception.

It was the very same reason that, up until last night, he never went out in public: to keep the world from finding out the truth about that one accursed night. Finding out the truth about him.

Until Maddie.

She forced him out of his self-imposed solitude, though she was the last person on earth with whom he wanted to come face-to-face. The irony of his situation cut him like a razor.

He watched her approach the podium nervously, hesitating before the clamoring crowd. From his vantage point near the front and to the right, he could see her hand shaking as she stepped before the microphone. She tapped it gently with her forefinger, then stepped back when the speakers crackled. Neil couldn’t help chuckling.

He tamped down the desire to rescue her. She was putting on a good show for the crowd, but he could see the lines of strain around her mouth, the fear shining in her eyes. He wanted to burst forward, take over the situation, put her at ease. He was good with people, had no trouble speaking in public. He could stand by her side, make things easier for her.

But this was her night. As tough as speaking before this crowd was, it was something she needed to do. He couldn’t rush in and take her place, not only because it wouldn’t be fair to Maddie, but because he’d be recognized. He needed to stay under the cover of darkness.

Clearing her throat, she began again, quietly at first, and then with growing passion, to tell the agonizing story that began and ended with March’s Department Store.

She was so beautiful, even with her features laced with pain and sadness. She looked like an angel from heaven under the stage lights, glowing with a warmth and purity that pervaded even the pain.

Neil’s chest tightened. If only it were another place, another time. If he could erase the past, he would be in grave danger of losing his heart.

But the past could never be changed. He would forever live in the cold shadow of Peter Carlton’s death.

The chill of the night air enveloped him, the dampness of the light snowfall weighing him down as surely as the guilt burdening his shoulders.

The crowd applauded and Maddie stepped away from the microphone. She grasped Nicky’s hand and then wandered through the throng, looking for a familiar face.

Looking for him.

He stepped out of the shadows and turned quickly to leave. He was a coward. His mind berated him even as he walked away. But he couldn’t play the game anymore.

He wouldn’t. The truth might show in his eyes.

And if she didn’t find out…if her big brown eyes met his, he might throw caution to the wind and act on his feelings. He didn’t know which was worse. And he didn’t want to find out.

He increased his stride and pushed through the crowds, making good his escape.

“Rory, wait!”

She’d seen him. His shoulders stiffened and he slackened his pace. Her words burned inside his chest, but he couldn’t help smiling when he looked into her shining eyes. “How did it feel to be up there in front of everyone?” he asked around the guilt clogging his throat.

“I can’t believe it. I was so nervous, but once I got up there I just forgot about everything except telling the story. My adrenaline’s pumping a mile a minute. It was so…invigorating!”

She reached up and swiped the cap from his head, swatting him playfully in the chest with it.