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Tangles and Tinsel

By Jennifer Sienes

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Chapter One

Kimberley
Why was it people made such a fuss over the holidays? Seemed to me, even if you had a perfect family, which I surely didn’t, it was still a crazy time when everyone one-upped each other. It was kind of like playing holiday poker. I’ll take your worries over how to seat twenty of your closest relatives and raise you one need to order a pre-cooked meal because I can’t even find time to shop. Of course, the shame of not having a homemade Thanksgiving supper raised the ante quite a bit, so I generally won.
Because Daddy and me would have a couple of kids with us this year, I vowed things would be different. I was even willing to shop, cook, and bake, which was the trifecta of disaster as far as I was concerned. I had nothing against shopping—it was part of my everyday life. Hunting down great deals on vintage furniture was in my job description. But food? Only as a source of survival. Spent too many years cooking for Daddy after Mama left us, and baking was downright messy and time consuming. I’d never be held up as a great example of a Southern lady. But I’d push through it for Nora and Chandler. And if I was going to be completely honest, maybe a little for their daddy, too.
Never could see myself with my own children. For one thing, though it might stretch the imagination of most to believe it, I was a traditionalist. Even if I hadn’t stepped foot into a church since I was fifteen, there was an order to life and love that shouldn’t be forsaken. Since I hadn’t been on a date for more months than I could count on both hands, it wasn’t likely I’d be getting married anytime soon. Might be my lack of culinary skills played into that some.
For another thing, I’d heard a couple of the older ladies in my apartment complex refer to me as a spinster. It would appear, unless God miraculously plopped Mr. Perfect-for-me on my doorstep this very day, I’d be too old to have kids even if I ever did get married. At thirty-five, I was already stretching the limits of my biological clock. Add to that a year or two of dating, then a proper engagement, and I might as well accept my lot in life—once I figured out what that was exactly.
Daddy’s kitchen windows were steamed up from the potatoes boiling on the stovetop and the turkey roasting in the oven. The smells had my stomach rumbling like the rolling thunder of a summer storm, but it was still more than an hour before supper time. I got the potatoes mashed up and put into the crockpot to keep warm, pulled out the green bean casserole from the fridge, and started on the cranberry sauce. Daddy said I should just get the store-bought stuff, but the thought of it jiggling out of the can was enough to make me gag.
“You want me to help?” Daddy peered over my shoulder as I swiped the back of my wrist across my sweaty brow. Never did have that problem when I bought the pre-cooked meals.
“Shouldn’t Jax and the kids be here by now?” If that man bailed at the last minute, we’d have more food than we could eat in a month of Sundays. I even went so far as to bake three pies, because Nora wanted apple, Chandler wanted sweet potato, and Daddy insisted on pecan. I’d been running around like a chicken with its head cut off all week. Getting back to work would be a vacation.
“He’ll be here. Where else is he gonna find a looker like you to fix him a home-cooked meal?” He reached around me and tucked a spoon into the mixture of cranberries, sugar, and orange zest then popped it into his mouth. His smile along with the wriggling of his eyebrows was enough to convince me I’d made the right choice.
“You need to wipe those romantic ideas right outta your head. And then you and Jax’s daddy need to stay away from the Hallmark Channel.”
“Hallmark Channel?” He snorted. “You wouldn’t catch us watching that sissy stuff, even if we was dead.”
I slid the pot of cranberries from the burner and turned to Daddy with a smile. “No, y’all just make it up in your heads. Jax and me are just friends. Neither of us has time for more.” I stepped around him so he wouldn’t catch the disappointment in my eyes. If I was going to take a leap into crazy and get married, Jax might could fit the bill. “Besides which, he’s still hung up on Callie.”
Daddy put an arm around my shoulders and gave me little shake. “That’s where you’re wrong, Kim. She’s been gone more ’an three years.”
Time didn’t matter. Mama had been gone near twenty-two years, and the pain of that loss still stung every bit as much as the day she left. Only difference was, Jax’s wife was snatched from them, and Mama chose to leave us.
“You gonna tell me you went to all this trouble cookin’ just for me?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time, Daddy.” Hadn’t I been taking care of him since Mama left? Up until he got sober two years ago, I was doing a lot more than cooking and cleaning. Even dragged him out of a bar a time or two. “But honestly, I also wanted to make it nice for Nora and Chandler so they might want to spend Christmas here, too.” Kids always made the holidays brighter, and Jax was certainly easy on the eyes.
“Jax is takin’ them to see his folks for Christmas.”
I scowled, even though Daddy couldn’t see my face. “Christmas in Florida? What’re they gonna do, decorate a palm tree with ornaments and tinsel?”
“We can go, too, if you want. They invited us. Might be nice to see their place.” He nudged me on the shoulder. “Think I hear his car pulling in now.” Daddy reached around me and dropped his taste-testing spoon into the sink then left the kitchen as I cleared the steam from the window and peered out.
Couldn’t help but smile as seven-year-old Nora tumbled from the backseat of Jax’s SUV. Curly blond hair, big blue eyes, and a smile that never seemed to slip. She was the spitting image of her mama. Then there was Chandler. Same blond hair, but his green eyes and dimpled chin were all Jax.
“Keep it together girl,” I whispered. Didn’t know why Daddy had to go and plant the notion in my head that Jax saw me as anything more than what I was—which wasn’t marriage material. It was a full-time job I had no time or skills to take on. I’d heard once that a housewife should get paid something like a million dollars a year for all the work she did—cooking, cleaning, car-pooling, doctoring. The one about taking care of her man in the bedroom had my cheeks burning, and I flung the window open to let the fall air cool my face. Foolish girl.
“Kim!” Nora flew into the kitchen, arms spread wide for a hug.
I caught her up with an oomph and gave her a squeeze. The scent of her flowery shampoo tickled my nose as joy filled my heart. The girl could charm the ugly off a Christmas sweater. “I’m so glad y’all came to celebrate Thanksgiving with us.” I stepped back and offered an arm to Chandler as he meandered into the kitchen, nose high as he sniffed like a hound dog searching for food.
With an eye roll and slight grin, he allowed me to pull him into a three-way hug. “Did you make us a sweet potato pie?” Leave it to a ten-year-old boy to get right to the point.
“Yes, sir. I sure did.” I held my hands up and wriggled my fingers. “Been baking these little babies clear to the bone just to make sure y’all got what you ordered.”
“You got one of them for me?” Jax’s deep voice drew my focus. He was standing with Daddy in the kitchen doorway, his perfect posture making the best of his six-one-frame.
I dropped my gaze from his twinkling eyes. “A pie?”
“No, ma’am. A hug.” He ambled over and gave me a quick, one-armed side hug, the kind that reminded me we were just friends. Now if my heart would get on board, I’d be able to get through this evening without making a fool of myself.
#
Jax
The weather was mild for late November, which wouldn’t have made one whit of difference to the kids. Could’ve been pouring cats and dogs, and they’d still wanna be outside tossing the football with Kimberley. Wasn’t another woman alive, including their nanas, they liked to be around more than her. Suppose that was proof right there she was someone special. Just too bad no one had taken notice and snatched her up.
I sat myself down in the chair alongside of Bob. The Christmas lights strung across the porch overhang were on, even though it wasn’t yet dark enough to get the full effect. It’d be a miracle if I could get any decorations put up this year. Just like last year and the one before. Setting aside my failures for the time being, I focused on the antics happening on the front lawn. Chandler was doing his level best to tackle Kim, even though I could’ve sworn we’d agreed it’d only be touch football. Good thing she was too quick for him.
Bob shifted in his seat and leaned toward me. “Can I get you anything? Kim brought some apple cider I can heat up.”
“Are you kidding?” I patted my full belly. “Couldn’t eat or drink another thing.” Chandler tripped over his own feet, hit the grass, then popped up like it didn’t hurt a bit. Bet it did, though. “Talk to my dad lately?”
He eased back into the chair with a nod. “Yep. Gene and me had us a good conversation just yesterday. Sounds like he and your mama are settling in real nice. Invited us down for Christmas, along with y’all. Kim doesn’t seem all that keen on the idea. Said something about tinsel on palm trees or some such.”
I chuckled. “I think they’ll get their hands on an honest-to-goodness Christmas tree. The kids are lookin’ forward to it.” And so was I, even though it’d mean shutting down the practice for a week. Learned the hard way that money wasn’t everything. Didn’t buy back time with my kids or heal their mama.
“Bet you miss them.”
It took a blink for me to realize he was talking about Mama and Dad. “That I do.” Depended on them too much after Callie passed. Best thing for them was to get on with their plans, even if it meant I was staggering through parenting without their help. Speaking of which, Chandler yanked the ball from Nora’s hands and had her toppling to the ground. Before I could reprimand him, Kim had the girl back on her feet.
“Time out.” She held her hands up to form a T, hair loose and wild about her flushed face. Looked so much like Nora, they could’ve been related. “Y’all, this is supposed to be a friendly game of touch football. That means no yanking,” she punched a finger toward Chandler, “and no tackling. I’m too old for this rough housing. You land me on your daddy’s adjusting table, I’m gonna make you pay for it.”
Bob chuckled. “Think maybe you should be down there supervising this motley crew?”
“She’s got it covered.” Although, sure as I was sitting there, she’d be needing my chiropractic services after Chandler’s antics.
Bob grunted. “Seems to me, you think a lot of my daughter.”
Warning bells sounded. Bob and Dad needed a hobby other than trying to wrestle Kim and me into a relationship. Being eight hundred miles apart didn’t seem to deter them any, either. “Yep. She’s a fine woman.” Needed to implement the strategy I used on the kids when they were little. Distract and dissuade. “Speaking of which, how are you and Ms. Amy gettin’ on?”
Didn’t have to look at him to know he threw me a scowl. Ready. Aim. Fire. “That woman needs to find herself another target for her affections. If she thinks I’m gonna change my ways to appease her sensibilities, she’s got another think comin’.”
Kim, football tucked under one arm and breathing hard, ambled up the steps with the kids tagging along at her heels. There were grass stains on the knees of her jeans, thanks to Chandler’s misunderstanding the basics of touch football, but both kids looked to be more tuckered out than she did. Could tell the second she caught onto my conversation with Bob, because her lips twitched.
“What’re y’all talkin’ about, Daddy?” As if she didn’t know.
I didn’t give Bob a chance to answer. “The admirable qualities of Ms. Amy. Seems your daddy’s havin’ a hard time deterring her.”
Chandler plopped onto the top step. “Deterrin’ her from what?”
“Is she your girlfriend?” Nora snickered at Bob.
“No, little miss, she ain’t my girlfriend,” he said.
Nora’s eyes went wide. “Daddy says we’re not allowed to use the word ain’t.” She patted my knee. “Ain’t that right, Daddy?” Then she giggled like she’d just pulled off the joke of the century.
Bob shook his head. “You’re just a barrel of laughs, young lady.” He pushed out of the chair. “You kids come with me, and I’ll fix you some bowls of ice cream.”
Kim’s mouth dropped open. “Ice cream? Daddy, we just finished us enough food to last till Sunday.”
Chandler hopped up. “Well, I want ice cream. What kind is it?” He and Nora filed behind Bob as he led them inside. Seemed he had tactics of his own, leaving me and Kim alone in the waning evening light. With the Christmas lights now glowing above, some might get it into their heads it was romantic.
“Can you believe him?” Kim plopped into Bob’s abandoned chair. “As if the two pieces of pie he had wasn’t enough.” She waved her hand in front of her red face like it was a fan.
“He’s doin’ real good, Kim. Better a few extra pounds than being drunk.”
“Two years sober.” She dropped her hand and shifted so she was facing me. “Thanks to you and your daddy.” She was offering credit where it didn’t belong.
“Nothin’ to do with me. Nothin’ to do with my dad, either. We can’t force someone to get clean if they’re not ready to do the work. You had the most influence on him, Kim.”
She grunted. “If that’s true, why’d it take twenty years of me harping on him before he got the message?” Bitterness laced her words and gave them a sharp edge.
“Grief’s a funny thing. Just when you think you got it licked, something comes along to knock the wind out of you again. Didn’t matter your mama left him, he still grieved the loss.”
“Not just him,” she murmured, almost to herself. A bird rustling in the trees and the muffled sounds of Bob and the kids drifted into the silence of the night. Her eyes cut my way. “The holidays must be hard for y’all.”
I folded my arms against the sudden chill. Didn’t think it had anything to do with the weather. “Last year was easier than the one before, and I imagine this year will be easier yet.” It’d been more than a month since I heard either of the kids crying. Progress, as far as I was concerned.
“You think it’ll take you twenty years of grieving like it did Daddy?”
Grieving, no. Guilt, maybe. “With two kids and a busy practice, I don’t have a lot of time to wallow. It’d be best for all of us if we could move on. I think a change of scenery for Christmas is just the thing, too.”
“I’m sure you’re right about that. Besides, Nora said something to me about missing your mama like four times during supper.”
“There’s plenty of room for you and your daddy.” She brought out the best in the kids, and it’d be a shame if she wasn’t there.
“Even if I could wrap my head around Christmas in Florida, I gotta work at the shop.”
“Thought you did the interior decorating part of things.” Didn’t know much about Kim’s job, but I knew she’d put a load of time soaking up everything she could from Charlie Van Cleave—Bedford County’s interior whiz kid.
“I do, but I volunteered to cover at the shop since Charlie and Jenna have families. It’s too much for Darlene to do on her own.”
Wasn’t ready to study too close at why the thought of Kim not being with us at Christmas didn’t set well with me. “Surely Charlie’s not gonna have the shop open Christmas day.”
Kim ran her fingers through her hair and combed out the tangles. “It’s not like a quick trip to Florida, Jax. Flights’ll be almost impossible to get this late, and even if I could, it’d cost me a kidney to afford. Driving would eat up two days alone.” She had me there. “I’m guessing you and the kids already have your tickets?”
“Bought ’em two months back.” I frowned. “If your dad decides to come down, that’ll leave you alone for Christmas.”
She quirked an eyebrow at me. “There’re worse things than bein’ alone, you know.”
Seemed to remember a few years back Dad had to help Kim haul Bob out of a bar on Christmas Eve, and that was one of his better times.
She slapped my arm with the back of a hand and huffed out a laugh. “Don’t look so glum. I got plenty of friends I can spend Christmas with. There’s Charlie and her family or Bekah and hers. It’s not like I’m a little orphan girl that needs looking after, Jax.”
Didn’t matter what her words told me, her eyes said something altogether different.

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