Christmas in Stewart Falls by Shannon Kennedy

Author:Shannon Kennedy [Kennedy, Shannon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798886530810
Publisher: Melange Books, LLC

SIX

Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24th, 2018

* * *

Nikki

The snow tapered off the next day, which meant Grandaunt Liz, Terry, Hannah, and I could go shopping after we dropped B.J. at the teashop in downtown Stewart Falls for the Christmas Party the cheerleaders were having that afternoon. Her boyfriend would bring her home afterwards. That was a bit of a relief because I still felt guilty for being snarky with my cousin Sarah, the previous day.

I knew living with alcoholic Aunt Laurie wasn’t exactly a walk in the park especially when she was off the wagon and being a total witch. Still, at least Sarah didn’t have to worry about her mom dying in a combat zone. Okay, so she did have to be concerned about her dad, the Army colonel who’d adopted her and Warren forever ago and was in Afghanistan. I’d make amends tomorrow when she and Aunt Cathy showed up to celebrate Christmas with us or tonight when we saw them at Midnight Mass.

We didn’t travel far from Stewart Falls because of the weather. The roads were scraped bare except for patches of sparkling ice and snow piled up on the shoulders of the highway. When Grandaunt Liz turned on the radio, holiday music filled the SUV she’d borrowed from Jocelyn’s husband, Zach. In Wal-Mart, I hit the ATM first, so I’d have cash for Hannah and me. Then, it was time to wander the aisles and find a few extra gifts. I’d wrap the ones for Mom and ship them to her on Wednesday, since I couldn’t send them tomorrow. And I didn’t want her to wait until she was back in Washington State for Christmas.

Back home, we found Granduncle Ted entertaining my grandmother, Evelyn Tiernan, owner of the nearby riding stable, Gabe Abbott, the foster kid who’d just aged out of the state system on his 18th birthday who lived at Horse Heaven and his father, Ike, a former Marine visiting from Montana. While I carried the bags with our holiday loot upstairs, Hannah jumped in to help Grandaunt Liz and Terry prepare refreshments.

I needed to wrap the last-minute gifts I’d bought, but I also couldn’t remain upstairs when we had company. I wanted to live here full-time and annoying Grandaunt Liz by ignoring her views on old-time courtesy wasn’t the way to win her over. With Fifi at my heels, we trooped back down to the family room where I saw Gabe’s dad playing chess with my grand-uncle at an antique oak table. Holiday music poured from the stereo, and the other dogs slept around the room on their beds. I went over to sit on the couch next to my grandmother, Evelyn Tiernan.

She was a petite, brown-haired woman with less gray in her hair than most women her age. As usual, she wore jeans and a blue Horse Heaven sweatshirt. I hugged her and asked about the holiday party at the stable. I told her I was sorry I’d missed it and hoped to attend the one next year.

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