The Trouble With Christmas: A holiday novella. by Tia Louise

Author:Tia Louise [Louise, Tia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TLM Productions LLC
Published: 2022-12-11T16:00:00+00:00

“I’ve got on my Adios! I can chase the bandit down if it comes to it. Let’s go!” Ms. Alice is in the kitchen at Regina’s massive Tudor estate when I open the back door, waving at Ollie to hold our new addition outside.

“Adidas, GA!” Scout calls from the living room. “It’s Adidas, not Adios.”

“Well, that doesn’t make any sense,” the old woman fusses. “Why would you say Adidas when you’re running away? You’d say Adios!”

“It’s a brand name. It’s not a sign-off.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Joselyn snorts in her glass, but when her eyes meet mine, she must see the worry in them. Her pretty brow furrows, and she closes the space between us.

“What’s wrong?”

Courtney is in the living room with Tom and Daisy, and I catch Joselyn by the arm, pulling her closer. “I’ve got some good news, and some potentially problematic news.”

She frowns harder. “What does that mean?”

I tilt my head towards the door, and Ollie’s jumping up and down holding the infant doll. “Aunt Sly! We found Baby Jesus! We found him!”

Joselyn’s frown disappears as her eyebrows shoot up her forehead, and she shouts, “You found him!”

My brow collapses as everyone runs to where my bride has just darted out the back door to inspect all the booty we recovered.

“You found Casper!” She’s so loud. “And Tobias! And… whose dog is this?”

Courtney is outside with her son, who I hear extolling the virtues of his newfound friend, explaining how he’s misunderstood and lonely, and how everyone deserves a second chance.

Scout trots down the stairs to give our little friend a high-five and scrub the dog’s ears, but Daisy stops inside the kitchen door beside me.

“You don’t look happy.” Her blue eyes narrow.

“I don’t know why.” I feign aloofness. “Have you heard the good news?”

“Don’t say it.”

“I found Jesus.”

“Spencer!” She rests a hand on her baby bump. “That’s really terrible.”

Lifting my chin towards the scene transpiring outside, I grow serious. “He wants that dog so bad. I wonder if Courtney would say yes if I offered to bankroll it.”

“You’re so sweet to him.” Daisy shoves her hand in the crook of my arm. “I can’t wait to see you with your own little girl or boy.”

My chest tightens, and I glance at my small friend. “I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”

“You as a dad? Are you kidding me? Between you and Sly, that child will be so spoiled.”

“I think you’re high on pregnancy hormones.”

She squeezes my arm. “Why would you say that? You’ll be such a good daddy.”

“How could you even know something like that?” My tone is cynical, but she’s undeterred.

“I have mountains of evidence, starting with how kind you were to me when we worked together. You gave Ms. Nelly that vase you’d been searching for for years—”

“Which you said I’d get back when she dies.” My eyes slide to the window, where it appears Courtney has agreed to Ollie’s demands. “That woman is going to outlive me.”

“Stop it.” Daisy touches my cheek, and I look down to meet her pixie eyes.

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