Page 45 of Charlie Takes a Chance

“Of course you are,” Dad says gruffly. He doesn’t sign up for a spill-your-guts session the way Mom does—Dad’s old school. I’ve only seen him cry when he’s lost someone he loves. To him, that’s the only acceptable time to cry. But he was never a skimper when it came to affection. I had the luxury of growing up with a dad that was constantly telling me he loved me and was proud of the man I was becoming.

“I know you didn’t want to come to Christmas this year, what with Logan and his fiancée being there?—”

“Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to be here. For one, I still have cows calving. I can’t be gone for long. For two, it’d just be weird to be here this year with Logan and Jessica.”

Dad starts coughing loudly and jerking his head in the direction of the kitchen.

Mom looks around in a panic when the back door slams and a low murmur of voices reaches my ears. I look sharply at Dad. He holds up his hands and mouths at me, “Not my idea.”

In walks my brother Logan and his fiancée Jessica. My ex-girlfriend.

“Bloody…” I mumble as I rip off my baseball cap and tap it against my leg as I stare at a blue eyed version of me. The St. James mold is strong, and even though Logan’s a year and a half older than me, we could almost pass for twins.

“Hey, Max,” Logan greets me as he takes slow, tentative steps into the living room. He’s trying to smile, but he has a furrow in his brow.

“Hi, Max,” Jessica smiles brightly and gives me a little wave. It’s like nothing ever happened.

“Let’s all sit down a minute before we eat lunch,” Mom says with a nervous laugh.

I look to Dad, who grimaces and shakes his head as he walks for his recliner that’s older than me.

This is ridiculous. Mom knew I was coming to visit today to avoid this exact situation.

But to avoid causing a scene, I walk into the living room after her and lean against the mantle.

“Sit down, sweetie,” Mom urges me.

“I’ve been sitting for the last three hours. It feels good to stand.”

Logan and Jessica sit down on the loveseat couch next to each other.

“How have things been?” Logan asks me as he scoots forward on the couch.

“Good.” Because it’s the quickest possible answer to give.

“That’s good.”

It’s dead silent in the living room until the fire pops. Mom jumps at the sound.

“How are the dogs?” Logan tries again.

I’m about to give him the same answer but then I see the worried look in my mom’s eyes. “They got into a skunk.”

Jessica laughs at that. “Of course they did. They’re always doing that.” She wouldn’t know that. She wasn’t around long enough to ever smell them when they got sprayed by a skunk.

Charlie’s been exposed to more of my dogs’ bad habits than Jessica ever was.

I meet her eyes and don’t say anything. I hold her gaze until the smile falls from her face. She’s trying too hard to pretend like there is nothing strange about this whole situation. And honestly, I don’t have a desire to get to know her.

Logan shifts uncomfortably and Mom buries her face in her hands.

I glance at Dad and see that he’s on the verge of laughing. I kind of feel like joining him.

“We’re getting married in April,” Logan finally says.

“Good.”

“We’re getting married here,” Jessica says. “And we’re making it a destination wedding.”

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