Page 3 of No Time for Traditions

In true NYC holiday fashion, the Briarwood Tavern had lights as well. From the front entrance to the rooftop bar, white circular lights draped over every entryway. Brittany entered, and was pleased to see festive greenery adorning the staircase as she made her way to the top floor.

Kinsley, the club’s founding member, waved her over to their usual booth. Brittany grinned when she saw Melody sitting across from her.

Brittany adored all the women in the group—more than a dozen total—and their tight-knit bond that she hadn’t found otherwise in New York. But she had instantly connected on a deeper level with Melody since they both grew up in the South and both wrote. Well, Melody wrote songs and music, while Brittany mainly daydreamed about writing a novel.

“Hey, girl.” Kinsley smiled at Brittany as she picked up her cocktail. “How was work?”

Melody patted the leather bench next to her, and Brittany plopped down, letting out a sigh. “Let’s just say I’m overdue for my vacation.”

“There’s nothing quite like a hometown Christmas to reset your system.” Melody’s green eyes glistened as she spoke.

“I agree.” Brittany smiled at her friend as the waiter appeared. After spending every Thursday night here for the past two years, Brittany didn’t need to look at the menu.

“I’ll have the Poinsettia and fried shrimp.”

“Thanks. I’ll be back with your drink.” The waiter rushed away through the crowd.

“How are you still so small eating like that all the time?” Kinsley shook her head and laughed.

“Running Central Park and Pilates, I guess.” Brittany shrugged. “Besides, of all the things I’ve had here, the fried shrimp is an instant mood lifter.”

Brittany remembered well the night she stumbled upon Briarwood Tavern for the first time. She’d walked by after work one Thursday and decided to stop and grab a bite to eat. The place was crowded, so she’d sat alone at the bar. Big mistake.

By the time Brittany had taken only a few bites of her shrimp, at least three random men had come by and tried to chat. Brittany brushed them all away, the last not quite receiving the message. That’s when Kinsley came out of nowhere and invited her to sit with the group Brittany would soon learn called themselves the No Brides Club. Like a guardian angel in designer fashion, she’d swept in and saved Brittany from a bunch of smarmy suits.

Ever since that night, Brittany had made Thursdays at Briarwood a thing and enjoyed getting to know all the ladies. Some had since married, including Kinsley and Melody, but the bonds they formed kept their camaraderie intact despite changes in life.

The waiter placed Brittany’s Christmas cocktail in front of her. A sprig of mint adorned the red drink, giving it a festive feel.

“Where’s everyone else?” Often, they had to pull extra chairs over to accommodate everyone.

“A few of the girls are popping in later, but everyone else is either at a holiday event for work or out of town,” Melody said.

“I’m surprised you’re in town.” Brittany hadn’t expected Melody to show up this week since she now lived in Kentucky and was married, with a little girl.

“I have a Christmas album event tomorrow and flew in early to catch up.”

“Well, I’m glad you did.” Kinsley tucked her blonde locks behind her ear and took another sip of her drink. “I’m heading back to the reserve sometime tomorrow after a few closings and won’t be back in town myself until the New Year.”

Like Melody, Kinsley spent most of her time out of town. She now lived a few hours away upstate at a wildlife sanctuary she inherited from her aunt. While her husband ran Forever Wild, Kinsley still owned King Realty and traveled into the city often for work. Brittany sometimes envied how both women found a way to balance their personal and professional lives while living in more rural areas. It wasn’t like she never wanted to have a family or return to Alabama. But for now, her career wouldn’t allow her to do so.

“So, Brittany, when do you leave?” Kinsley asked.

“Tomorrow morning. With any luck, I’ll land in Birmingham around noon.”

“Small towns are the best at Christmas.” Melody’s gaze went dreamy again. “It’s even sweeter once you get to relive all those traditions through the eyes of a child.”

“I’m sure my brother will have all kinds of activities planned for us to do with his son.”

Brittany popped the last piece of shrimp in her mouth about the time a few other women were headed for the table. They exchanged greetings, and the conversation shifted to what each had planned for the holidays.

In all her excitement, a bit of worry welled up in the pit of Brittany’s stomach. This would make the first year her grandpa wasn’t next door. And every year, she spent less time with her cousins. Between busy careers and new marriages and more children, her family didn’t celebrate quite the way it once did. A small part of her worried she would arrive to find they had no time for traditions.

Chapter 2

Brittany spent the morning staring out plane windows, watching as the scenery transitioned from snowy cities to more mild-weathered countrysides. A two-hour layover in Atlanta wasn’t ideal, but it allowed her time to grab a chicken biscuit from one of her favorite chain restaurants and browse some stores as she stretched her legs.

It didn’t take long at all to fly from Atlanta to Birmingham, giving Brittany just enough time to journal. What started as thoughts about the holidays quickly transitioned into the makings of a Christmas novel. Brittany had written a novel back in grad school and started a few more since then. However, in the past two years, she hadn’t found the time or creativity to let her words flow. Something about helping mold others’ stories all the time drained her brain by the end of the day.

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