Page 71 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

“It was twenty years ago.”

“And the face hasn’t changed.”

He might not have had any family by blood, but these people knew him just as well, if not better.And as much as he hated to bring it up now, he had to tell them.

“While you’re all here, I have something I need to tell you.”

“You and Ashley are eloping?”Tiny blurted.

Carter blinked.“What?No.”

“Damn it,” Tiny muttered and reached into her pocket to hand Ms.Porter a twenty-dollar bill.He had questions, but he would ask them later.Right now, he had to tell these people news that wasn’t very jolly.

“Some of you may have noticed a bit of a change in Mr.Wetherby.”

Hawthorne dropped his spoon into his bowl, a loud clang echoing through the now mostly quiet kitchen.Tiny grabbed a stool and sat.

“Well, go on,” Clint urged.

“He’s sick.”

“How sick?”Hawthorne demanded.

“Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Six months ago, the doctors gave him six months to a year.”

Tiny gasped; Clint cursed under his breath.Wendell turned away, and Hawthorne’s face paled.

“That’s why he pulled that ridiculous stunt,” Hawthorne said.“To get the family here.”

“Exactly.He just told them at dinner.”

“Is there nothing that can be done?”Tiny asked, wiping her nose with a tissue.

“He was accepted into a trial treatment that his doctor is optimistic about.And if we know Bill Wetherby, that stubborn bastard will not go without a fight.”

“Damn straight!”Bill’s voice echoed through the kitchen, and all the staff turned.He stood in the doorway, one hand pressed against the frame.He looked tired, older… yet somehow, larger than life.The room fell silent as Tiny and Ms.Porter sniffled.

“Now don’t start,” he said, pointing.“You know I can’t handle crying women.”

“You’ve handled me for forty years,” Ms.Porter said as she blotted her eyes.

“There is no handling you,” he said, and everyone shared in the laugh.He stepped farther into the kitchen.His gaze moved from one person to the next.

Bill didn’t have to say it, but his staff, the people standing in this room with him now, had long since become part of the Wetherby family.They were the ones who had been there for him when his own family wasn’t.They helped him through the death of the love of his life and had seen him at his worst.

Bill smiled as his gaze landed on Carter.“I have no plans of going anywhere anytime soon.”

Carter nodded.

“You better not,” Tiny warned.

“You have my word,” he said, and just like Carter, they all knew the weight of that statement.“Now, is this my Lily’s spice cake?”

Tiny sighed.“I’m trying, sir.This is my latest attempt, but I don’t want to get your hopes up.They’ve all been failures.”

“Even if it’s not the same, I’m sure it’s delicious.So what are you waiting for?Are you going to cut me a piece or not?”

With a smile, she grabbed a knife and a stack of plates, dividing up the cake.On the count of three, they all took a bite.