Page 44 of Holly, Jolly, and Oh So Naughty

“James?” Mom prompts sharply with all sadness gone from her voice. “What do you mean, you’ve moved on?”

“Well… I just meant that I’m in a new town, living a new life that I’m really enjoying with new people. So of course I’ve moved on.” It’s hard to dodge a mother who is so skilled at getting answers out of me. “So in that regard, it’s only fair that Bernice does the same.”

“Is that what you told her? To move on and bring so much shame down on her family that her mother’s hair is graying faster than a bear in winter?”

I bite back a snort of amusement. “I told her to be happy. If this is what makes her happy, then as I said, I support her. Nothing you can say will change that. And actually, things would go a lot better if you and her parents just got rid of this stupid, snobbish way of looking down on people because the only thing that matters is whether that man is kind to her. Literally nothing else.”

“You’re a tornado, James. You just create carnage and then run away like nothing happened.”

“Can you tell me, honestly, that you were in love with Dad when Grandpa set you two up?”

Mom is silent for a few seconds. “Yes,” she replies stiffly. “I was.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I loved your father dearly!”

“I’m not saying you didn’t. I’m just saying back then, when you were introduced and told you were to be together, was there no part of you that ached to be free? To go and do your own thing, find someone you loved instead?”

Again, she is silent. As she contemplates that, there’s a knock at the door to my office. I mute my call as Margret sticks her head around the door.

“James, your last couple of patients have canceled because of the storm. I’m waiving the cancelation fee and we’re going to close up early, so when you’re done here, you might want to head. Best try and get ahead of this thing.”

“Thanks, Margret. I’ll pop my head in before I leave.”

“Thanks.”

With that, she’s gone, and I glance out the window. There’s been heavy snowfall for three days straight now, which I’ve found to be utterly amazing. In the city, the snow would fall and then melt far too quickly to be enjoyed. But out here? The snow falls and it stays.

Sure, there’s the downside of ice and compacted snow becoming so slippery that it can be dangerous, but each morning, I’ve seen several kids and people out helping shovel the sidewalks and pour salt everywhere to keep the paths safe.

There’s a real sense of community here, and this much snow this close to Christmas is utterly magical.

And now there’s a storm coming. It was supposed to roll in last night, but according to the weather this morning, the winds got caught in the nearby mountains and the storm was swinging down to the south.

Seems like it’s coming back with a vengeance.

“Mom?” I return the phone to my ear.

“—and another thing. Even if I wasn’t feeling that way, we have a duty to uphold traditions. I don’t know where I went wrong with you, James, I really don’t. You used to be such a good, decent boy.”

“I know,” I sigh. “But then my dad died and I realized I didn’t want to die miserable.”

Just mentioning him sends a sharp jolt through my chest, and I press my lips together. Not a day goes by where I don’t miss him, but I’m trying to be happyforhim.

“I know,” Mom says, her voice softer. “I miss him.”

“Me too.” I clear my throat, refusing to let the emotion overtake me. “Look, I have to go. There’s a storm rolling in, and this town is in a valley, so I don’t want to get stuck at work.”

“Will you be safe?” Mom asks.

“Yes, Mom, I promise.”

“Will youpleasecall Bernice?” She just can’t let it go.

“Sure,” I sigh, exasperated and eager to just get her off the phone. “I’ll call her to say congratulations.”

“James!”

---