Page 67 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
“What’s this?” she asked.
“It’s your no-worries insurance,” Molly said. “Sunny started a GoFundMe account for you and we’ve all contributed.”
“We’re going to make sure you don’t have to worry while you’re getting your business off the ground,” Sunny added. That sounded a lot better than mentioning the fact that Arianna was dealing with her mother’s health crisis.
For a moment Arianna could only stare at them through the tears in her eyes. Finally she managed to say, “You all are amazing.”
“No,” Sunny said, “amazing is what you and Mia are doing.”
“We’re with you all the way,” Molly said.
With you all the way. After the party Arianna pulled out her laptop and wrote a blog post for the website.When you’re at your weakest your friends will be at their strongest, she concluded. How true!
In some ways it had been nice not to have the two-legged black cloud that was Bella at the Christmas-in-March party, but Sunny still regretted both her absence and Dylan’s. Part of the point was to try to break down the barriers between them.
Afterward she put some of the cookies in a plastic container and she and Travis drove to Tansy’s house to leave them on the porch. It was a shock to see the living room lights on and the TV screen flickering.
“What’s this?” she wondered.
“We’re gonna find out,” said Travis. He looked ready to punch something. Or someone. Not good. He got out of the car and began marching up the walk with Sunny hurrying behind.
Not only was the TV on, but there were also bodies on couch and in chairs. Including two kid-shaped bodies.
Travis gave the doorbell an angry push.
Tansy quickly covered her surprised look when she opened the door and saw them. She narrowed her eyes at her husband. “What are you doing here?”
“I guess you didn’t go to Grandma’s,” Travis observed.
Tansy’s chin lifted a notch. “She got sick.”
A likely story. If she did, it was the thought of seeing Tansy that had made her sick.
“What do you want?” Tansy demanded.
“How about to see my kids when I’m supposed to, you lying bitch,” snarled Travis.
Sunny stepped in before things could get ugly. She held out the container. “Things happen. We really just came to drop off some cookies from the party for the kids.”
Tansy took it from her. “I’m cutting down on their sugar intake.”
Travis was going to explode. Sunny took his arm. “Well, maybe they can have one.”
“We’ll see,” said Tansy, and tossed the container on the hall table. Then, before either of them could speak, she shut the door.
Travis began banging on it.
“Travis, stop,” Sunny begged. “Let’s deal with this when you’re calmer.”
He scowled, gave the door an angry slap and then stalked back to the car.
“Now I know how a door-to-door salesman feels,” Sunny muttered as she followed him. If there even was such a thing anymore. If there wasn’t, she could figure out why. Having a door slammed in your face sucked.
“Grandma got sick, my ass,” he growled as he started the car.
“I don’t blame her. Tansy makes me sick, too,” said Sunny. “I’m so tired of playing these games. She needs to grow up.”
“Yes, she does,” he agreed. “And I’m done letting her get away with this BS.”
