Page 1 of Jenna's Joyride

1

Tessa

Last year, a battery-operated boyfriend, or rather, a dozen battery-operated boyfriends changed my life. What started out as a gift from my sister Jenna ended up giving me so much more than just one night of fun.

Those vibrating pleasure sticks led me to the life of my dreams with the man of my dreams. Life with Derrick and our precious daughter Lottie is more than I ever imagined. Being with him is feeling beautiful, even without makeup. It’s being seen for who I am. It’s pure, unadulterated, bliss and I’m so grateful.

Our daughter is growing up with an incredible support system. When I look back on the last year, I know that none of this would’ve happened without my sister. I’ll always be grateful to Jenna for being the catalyst for all the love in my life.

Having Jenna back in Findlay with us is another dream come true. She’s reconnected me with old friends who I thought were out of my life for good like Everly and Edel Tiding. Now, I host game nights and paint parties. I go to barbecues on the weekends. I’m surrounded by love.

In this past year, since she ran away from what would’ve been a ghastly marriage, Jenna found love too. But the love she found was for herself. Her real self. I’ve watched my sister step out of the shell of a life she was living and back into the kick-ass woman I’ve always known was hiding in there.

It’s only been Jenna and me since our parents passed away. We’ve always looked out for each other and now that she’s settled, I think something needs to change. Jenna’s too good not to have someone fall head-over-heels for her, I’ve always known that. It’s time for me to return the favor and help her find the true love she deserves.

But Jenna’s comfortable with the world she’s built and she’s been known to have a bit of a stubborn streak. It won’t be easy to get through to her. It’s going to take one hell of a person to break down her walls and there’s only one man I know who is strong enough for the job.

So, the Christmas gift I’m sending her this year is more than just a mistle-toy, it’s a second chance with her first love. Walker Tiding is the gift that she’ll never forget. When I pull this off, Jenna will either never speak to me again or she’ll be living her own happily ever after.

I tap a text message into my phone. The first response comes right away. From there, it only takes a half hour to finalize the details and leave my heart leaping in my chest. Then, before I know it, it’s done. Now all that’s left to do is wait.

How is Jenna going to handle this? Will she be upset with the intrusion? Annoyed that I’ve gone and dredged up the past? Or will she thank her lucky stars that this year for Christmas I’m sending the one thing that she thought she lost forever?

2

Jenna

The prospect of taking time off for the holidays wouldn’t even have occurred to me this time last year. But I have to admit that having nothing to do is a nice break. I’ve had time for phone calls with my sister and my friend Edel while sipping hot tea. I’ve baked my favorite holiday cookies.

The snow is floating outside, a white, magical blanket stretches across my yard. It’s peaceful. I take a look around my bungalow. The glowing white strands of Christmas lights draped casually around my potted fiddle leaf fig look surprisingly festive. My cinnamon candle is working overtime filling this place with Christmas spirit.

I inhale and let my shoulders fall. It feels good to be settled into my new life, finally. Sure, this place isn’t anything like the luxury mansion on the coast promised to me by a life with my ex, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

My small house in Findlay is my home now. I found a nursing job at the local hospital where I work directly with patients again, which is nice. Being here is so rewarding, so…right.

The absolute cherry on the top is my proximity to my sister and her adorable family. I babysit my niece Lottie as often as they’ll let me. As it turns out, that little baby is the love of my life. She’s all cute, angelic-rolls with cheeks so squishy, I want to bite them.

I feel more like myself than I have in a long time and I cherish the feeling. I can’t believe I almost gave all of this up for a life with a man I wasn’t even in love with.

I shake off the memory and pull the lid off a black, plastic tote labeled Deck the Halls. I pull out vinyl snowflakes, beautiful, glass blown ornaments in every color, and a massive package of green garland.

The reality of living alone tugs at the corner of my mind. Sure, it’s lonely from time to time, but I can decorate my house however I want to and leave Christmas lights up all year. The thought makes me almost giddy.

As I wrap my chandelier with garland, I keep one eye on the clock. The delivery truck should be here by now. I pull back my white sheer curtains just to make sure I didn’t miss it, but my porch is bare.

Tessa is out of town spending the holiday with her in-laws. She and Derrick took the baby with them, which I expected. But I can admit it was still a bit of a letdown. I hate not seeing Lottie, even for a few days. She grows and changes every minute.

Before they left for their trip, Tessa insisted that I stay home this morning. Apparently, whatever she got me for Christmas is arriving early and being delivered to my front porch. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s a camera. My sister knows how much I love photography. She’s always encouraging me to leave the crazy schedule of the hospital behind and create my own path with my art. But then again, after the present I got her last year, there’s a chance that it could be just a very large plastic peen. Which, now that I think of it, wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

Ding-dong.

“One minute! I’m hanging my stocking by the chimney with care,” I call out with a chuckle at my own cleverness. I climb down from the chair I’m standing on and make my way to my front door.

Let’s see what you’ve got up your sleeve, Tess.

The old handle creaks from the cold when I turn it. But when I look outside, it isn’t the weather that makes me freeze. My jaw falls open. My eyes try to blink away my shock. My body goes rigid. There’s a package, but it’s the man holding it who makes my heart stop. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.

Walker Tiding, my first love is standing in front of me. How is this possible?

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