Wild Abandon Christmas by Jeannine Colette

Author:Jeannine Colette [Colette, Jeannine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance / Holiday
Publisher: Jeannine Colette
Published: 2016-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

“Good thing you made reservations,” I say, standing in line at Macy’s Santaland.

“What did you think? That it’s our first rodeo?” my dad jokes.

Georgie Reid loves a holiday. He’s currently wearing a biker jacket over a bright red sweater with a reindeer drinking a martini on it. Dad’s lower face is clad with a goatee, and he’s pierced his ear since the last time I saw him. I asked Mom if he was going through a midlife crisis. She confirmed that it was quite possible.

“Look at all those toys.” Austin points to the huge display near the exit.

“Where’s Mom? We’re almost at the front of the line.” I look around for the woman who said she’d be back in five minutes, and that was about twenty minutes ago.

“She went to buy toys for the shelter. They had a new family register for the holiday celebration,” Dad answers, adjusting his wire-framed glasses.

My parents are professional philanthropists and all-around do-gooders. The only negative while growing up was that we were allowed to ask for six gifts—three for ourselves and three to give away to a kid in need.

Austin crawls under the green bars that are supposed to keep the children away from the holiday displays. I lean over the fence and pull him back into the line. Snowmen, Christmas trees, reindeer, and trains line the path to the jolly old guy. It makes the wait pass quickly. Even if it is with an impatient toddler.

“How much longer?” Austin whines.

“Don’t pout. Only three people are in front of us,” I say. Then, I turn to my dad. “What time do you want me and Nate at the house tomorrow?”

Dad pulls Austin back as he tries to escape from the line again. “Dinner will be served at seven.”

I tilt my head in confusion. “How is Nate supposed to cook—wait, are you having Christmas Eve dinner catered? We told you, Nate would be cooking. He already ordered all the food.”

“We want the seven fishes for Christmas Eve, so we’re having everything catered. Nate can cook on Christmas Day.” My dad is not Italian, but he is an old-school New Yorker; therefore, he demands his fish on December 24.

“Whatever you want,” I say with a head shake.

“This gives Nate a break. He should be spending the day with his family, having fun. Not slaving away in the kitchen. Besides, that’s women’s work,” he says that last line with a sly smile and a wink.

“Har-har, funny man. We’ve come a long way from the sexual revolution.”

Dad puts his hands on my shoulders and gives them a little shake. “You know I’d never wish that life upon you. Besides, you’re a terrible cook.”

I punch him in the gut. He grabs his side and rubs it with a pretend grimace.

“I thought you and Mom were going to the shelter on Christmas Day?” I ask, taking our place closer to Santa.

“We are. We’ll be back around noon. That gives you three plenty of time to open presents as a family.” He pats my head and runs his hand down my braid.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.