Page 25 of A Tinsel Tale

His eyes widen in mock outrage. “You don’t have to agree.”

“What’s the current kid tally?” I ask.

“Three boys and a baby girl. Twelve going on thirty, nine, six, and oops… two,” he says, dark eyes twinkling.

I shake my head. “I can’t believe Chance is twelve already.”

“Right? I miss the days when he thought I was funny. We’ve entered the sullen stage. Too cool for Dad, but hey, at least Uncle Cam and Uncle Jamie are still cool, except cool ain’t cool… so they’re dope.”

I laugh. “It’s impossible to keep up. No fair,” I say sympathetically. “By the way, did you name your youngest Oops?”

He throws back his head, belting out a hearty laugh. “Aubrey wouldn’t let me. I thought it had a nice ring to it. Her name is Rose. She’s the opposite of Chance. All I have to do is make a funny face and she bursts into a fit of giggles. So easy,” he says beaming.

“Are you still aiming for a basketball team?”

He leans in close to my ear and whispers, “Got snipped after Rose was born.”

I snort out a laugh. “So soon?” I tease.

“Wife insisted.”

I shake my head. “Party pooper.”

He laughs heartily. “Help yourself to the hot chocolate and cookies. But I don’t need to tell you that. You’ve done this once or twice.”

“Dad, what do you think? Should we wait until we’ve cut the tree and we’re frozen solid?”

He rubs his gloved hands together. “Let’s find our tree first.”

“My brothers are out there somewhere. Jamie will findyou, I’m sure.” My cheeks heat when he winks at me.

“Come on Dad. Tell Aubrey hello for me.” I grab the ax in one hand and slip my other through Dad’s. We wander through the rows of trees, sizing them up, stopping to chat when we recognize people we know. Everybody’s cheeks are rosy from the cold and there is a happy festive atmosphere with kids running through the trees laughing and screaming in their outdoor voices. I look up, a smile splitting my face as the first big fat snowflakes start to fall. “Dad, it’s snowing,” I exclaim. I stick my tongue out like a little kid, catching the flakes. Ifeellike a little kid. His warm eyes crinkle down at me with so much affection that I have to swallow yet another lump in my throat.

Suddenly I’m grabbed from behind and lifted off my feet then twirled around in circles. I squeal, then cry out, “Hey!”

“Bout time you came home,” says a male voice I recognize immediately… Jamie’s youngest brother and closest in age, Cameron. “We’ve missed you.”

“Put me down, you lug,” I say elbowing him in the ribs.

He complies then faces me. Plunking his huge hands on my shoulders, he pierces me with those Barrington eyes. “How are you?”

“I’m hanging in there. It’s hard without Mom, but Dad and I are actually finding our Christmas spirit this year.”

“Ginny would love that.”

“How about you? What grade are you teaching?” I ask.

“Ninth grade social studies. Plus, I’m coaching football. We made it to state finals this year.”

“That’s fantastic.”

Cam slings his arm across my dad’s shoulders. “Learned from the best. Coach taught me everything I needed to know.”

Dad says, “I’m sure you learned a thing or two playing in college. You and your brothers were all born athletes.”

I squint up at him. “So, are you seeing anyone?”

“Still single ready to mingle,” he says waggling his eyebrows.

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