Unexpected, a Holiday Short by DL White

Author:DL White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DL White

6

“I’m so looking forward to a few days off,” Faith mused, weaving between the aisles at HomeGoods, one of her favorite stores. Sure, there was Williams Sonoma, Kitchen Virtue or the Food Network shops, but Faith found the best gems on the racks and shelves at HomeGoods. “The kitchen closes tomorrow and we don’t open up again until New Year’s Eve.”

“I hear you.”

She glanced over her shoulder to cut her eyes at me. “Mkay, says she who has been off work for a week already. I knew I should have been a teacher. You get all kinds of vacation.”

“I need all kinds of vacation. Those kids are two full-time jobs. Add the ‘at risk’ qualifier and I don’t even know why you’re complaining about me getting time off. I don’t want to see those beautiful brown faces until January 3rd at the earliest.”

“I guess,” she said, sighing. “Then can I be jealous about your post-Christmas plans, at least? I mean…” She reached for a ceramic tea-kettle and tipped it up to peer at the price tag. She grimaced and set it back down. “Jamaica? Isn’t Will laying it on a little thick?”

“You know what this is? Payback. You’ve been married, what… thirteen years now? Do you know how many stories I’ve had to listen to about your happily ever after? Dozens. Dozens, I say. You just settle down over there, old married lady, and listen to my happy stories.”

“Well, not-so-quietly, I’m excited that you have happy stories. Especially this time of year. It’s so nice to see you smiling, and out and about, your place all decorated again. Tell your stories, girl. Don’t let the fact that Anthony has never surprised me with a trip to Jamaica over the holidays deter you from bragging your face off, okay?”

“How come you don’t sound committed to that statement?”

“Cause I’m not. I’m salty as hell. Tell Will to tell Anthony the honeymoon ain't over in the Thomas household. He can still woo me. I can still be impressed.”

Faith waved a hand over the hodgepodge collection of cookware and utensils and frowned. “There’s nothing here I can’t live without. Let’s go get some hot chocolate and a cookie. You can help me finalize Christmas dinner.”

Faith and I left the store and headed to her small SUV parked a few spots from the door. As we climbed into the vehicle, I uttered a quiet admission. “I’m a little nervous about this trip to Jamaica. I mean, I told him I wanted to go, because it was the last trip my parents took before…”

I swallowed the lump trying to form in my throat. Nearly six years and I still couldn’t talk about my parents. I was working through it, though. I’d finally started seeing a therapist to take my life back from the tragic accident that took them from this world.

“It’s not the same resort, is it?”

“No, no. Not the same resort.” I shook my head. “But it’s still… I don’t know. Is it creepy to

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