Stealing Home (Callahan Family Book 2) by Carrie Aarons

Author:Carrie Aarons [Aarons, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-21T18:30:00+00:00

18

Hannah

The holidays are the gateway to a new year, and I can’t wait for this one to be over.

It seems like Christmas snuck up on me; from working almost full time, to taking care of the girls, to getting a lot of documentation and statements ready for both the domestic violence trial and my divorce case … well, I haven’t completely been Mrs. Claus this season. Plus, if I’m being honest, this Christmas won’t be a normal one for us.

In the past, even if my marriage was in turmoil, Shane always turned up the charm for the holidays. He was Mr. Attentive Dad, spoiling the girls with tons of presents. He’d tell me to spend whatever I wanted on decorations and food, gifts out the wazoo, and then he’d get to put on his show. I think he loved the pomp and spectacle of it. And even if I hated him, I loved him so much during that time, which felt like being a rose-colored snow globe.

This year, I don’t have nearly as much money to dedicate to the girls’ presents. I bought as much as my singular, in-my-name-only credit card could handle, but it’s not nearly the stash they usually get. We’re also not living on our estate, with its massive living room that could fit a fifteen-foot Christmas tree.

And then there is the fact that I don’t get to be with Noelle and Breanna on Christmas Eve. Because it’s a major holiday, the court has mandated that Shane is allowed a visitation. Since I couldn’t bear the thought of being alone on Christmas Day, I gave him the night before, even allowing the girls to sleepover. Dahlia will pick them up first thing tomorrow morning, and we’ll do presents and celebrate all of our traditions. But it’s not the same. They’re not here in my home, baking cookies and singing their favorite Christmas carols. Tonight, I won’t snuggle up against their tiny bodies and hear everyone argue about if we should watch Rudolph, or Frosty the Snowman.

I’m sad, incredibly so, and there is nothing I can do about it. This is what life will be like now, a division of everything, especially my children. It feels like a part of my soul is being ripped out.

So Dahlia suggested the only thing that will make me feel better; a ton of alcohol and girl-power songs.

Currently, we’re on our second eggnog and rum, mostly rum, and belting it out to one of Miranda Lambert’s biggest hits about her abusive partner. And I’m thanking the universe that at least my sister is here with me to keep me from spiraling too hard out of control tonight.

“His fist is big, but my gun’s bigger!” we both shout, and I feel giddy with power.

Dahlia’s phone rings just as Miranda Lambert goes into the heart-smashing chorus.

“It’s Shane,” she says, flashing the screen my way.

My stomach drops. “The girls.”

“Everything is fine, I’m sure.” She rubs my arm and presses accept.

“Hello?” she asks, in a tone that conveys the sentiment, I hope you rot in hell.

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