Page 3 of Wicked Christmas Eve

Leave it to my mother, the tax accountant, to explain away my being let go just days before the biggest holiday of the year. Besides, I didn’t give one toot about the company bottom line.

“That’s not what I heard.”

Again I glared at my sister. How in the hell could she have heard about anything? Was she spying on me? I was going to have to corner her later and get to the truth. The last thing I needed was the rest of the family hearing all the sordid details of my big mistake.

“Shut up, Sarah. You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I seethed through clenched teeth. I was half a hot minute away from yanking my sister out of this room by her hair and taking her outside. I wasn’t sure what bug had crawled up her ass, but if we needed to hash this out then so be it.

“That’s enough from both of you.” My mother turned to me. “We’ll table this discussion for now. But I think you should consider taking a position at my firm. With tax season nearly upon us, we always need extra temporary help. It would give you some time to plan something a little more permanent.”

“And no married men to seduce,” Sarah muttered under her breath.

That was it. I was definitely going to kill my sister. I had a lot of things in my past I wasn’t totally proud of, but mistress to a married man wasn’t one of them.

To my surprise my mother said nothing more as she finished setting the table. I don’t know what she was thinking about the bomb that Sarah had dropped, but for once in my life it looked like I was going to get a reprieve from the twenty questions.

I should have known that wouldn’t last.

Thirty minutes later my entire extended family had gathered at the table for our second traditional meal. We did the big “together” thing over the two days before the holiday so that no one would have to travel on Christmas.

My mother and father, before he died, were big on sitting back and just enjoying the day. I liked the tradition because it always meant we got to spend an entire day in our pajamas where we did nothing but open presents and eat leftovers and special desserts.

Since about thirteen I chose to spend my Christmas curled up in a chair with a cozy blanket and a book. Sometimes here with my family around me and sometimes at my own place in the blissful peace and quiet that I longed for now.

I’d already picked out a new book for tomorrow and I couldn’t wait. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the present exchange as much as the next person. But there was just something special about the quiet tradition that my family had started way back before I was born.

But first I had to get through the rest of today.

“So Megan, how’s things going for you in Charlotte? You enjoying that fancy big city law firm still?” My uncle, a judge who’d missed dinner and the long discussion the night before, asked.

I glanced at Sarah first because I had a feeling she was waiting for an opening like this. Although why she was out for my blood this year I had no idea. We’d always had a bit of a bitter rivalry going on, but that thing about my boss had been low even for her.

“She got laid off.” Fortunately or unfortunately, my mother cut her off at the pass by offering up all the details of my layoff. I could have said something, hell anything, to change the subject, but I was too busy scooping my grandmother’s biscuits and gravy into my mouth.

Way to avoid.

Yep. I’d rather eat my way through my feelings this holiday than encourage more talk about my life.

“Sorry to hear that. Although I’m sure in a city the size of Charlotte you’ll bounce right back. Budgets shrink and grow, but crime rates just keep getting bigger. I’d hate to be a judge in a city like that.”

I was about to say something when my mother again interrupted.

“Actually, she’s thinking about moving back home.”

That was pretty much a lie, but I wasn’t about to get into an argument over semantics.

“Oh that’s great news,” my aunt exclaimed. “We just knew you would get tired of the big city eventually.”

While I fought not to roll my eyes and let loose with some sarcastic comment, my mother again injected her fairytale details.

“I couldn’t agree more. In fact, I’m going to talk to my attorney after the holiday and see about getting her a job interview. He mentioned to me last time I was in his office that good help was hard to find. I think he’s on his third or fourth temp. He could use someone like Megan to fix his office right up. He and his son work together you know.”

I stared blankly in my mother’s direction wondering if I’d heard her correctly. She was going to get me a job interview. Here?

Wait.

“Mom. Uhm. Why do you have an attorney?”

“Every woman worth her salt needs an attorney these days, honey. You should know that.”

I turned to my Aunt Helen. “Do you have one too?”

She smiled. “Of course I do. Although I haven’t needed his services lately.”

I shook my head, unsure what to say, so I kept my mouth shut. I clearly had a case of foot in mouth disease this year.

To my surprise the discussion of legal necessities drew the conversation away from me as the rest of the family discussed their real estate investments and will preparations.

The moment I thought an appropriate amount of time had passed I excused myself so that I could get back in the kitchen to finish preparing our desserts for Christmas Day.

“I’m going back in the kitchen to finish the pies. If anyone needs anything you know where to find me.”

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