Page 72 of Santa of the Creek
I extend my hand warily toward her furry tummy. Ariel has two approaches to belly rubs.Oh, more pleaseandNasty hand, die!The trouble is, you never know which one you’re going to get because both start with her offering her belly. Today it is purrsand pleases and don’t stop or I’ll kill your hand. I don’t mind giving Ariel lots of loving.
Dean is due over soon. We’re spending Christmas together. He has officially handed back the Santa suit and is ready to put the whole thing behind him. But he’d promised to go visit Curtis this morning. He and the older guy have hit it off since that first visit. My boy is making friends. I tease him about it, but really I’m grateful he feels relaxed enough to quit worrying what the town thinks about him and his life.
Tomorrow I’ve been invited to the mayor’s house for Christmas lunch. I’m having a freakout about that. The mayor! Iknowhe’sDean’s brother. That’s not the point. But Dean always goes there for Christmas Day after church, and I’ve been invited too. Dean isn’t bothered whether I go with him to church or not. I’m still deciding. I have a rocky relationship with religion, he understands that, but I won’t stop Dean going. It’s important to him. I love the compromises we can make already.
In the evening we’re visiting Aunt Hebe, as I hate the thought of her and Heather being on their own on Christmas Day. The mayor invited them to join his family, but Aunt Hebe declined, saying she and Heather like spending time with the residents as not all of them have family. I think she’s as freaked out as me at the thought of spending family time with the mayor. They aren’t always on the same side where town issues are concerned. But as long as I see her at some point, I don’t mind where she spends Christmas Day,
More than one resident has stopped me in the street to promise they’ll look after Hebe now that I’m taking care of Dean. They mean well, I know they do.
I think about breakfast, okay brunch, okay lunch, but in my sleep-haze when he kissed me goodbye this morning, I seem to remember Dean saying he’ll stop via CC’s and bring back sandwiches. I hope he’s not too long. My stomach gives ananticipatory rumble. But the idea of coffee is just as good. I stand, swiftly moving my hand as Ariel lashes out, unhappy at me moving.
“You can stop that, princess,” I scold gently, risking my fingers to give her a belly rub before I shuffle into the kitchen.
She grumbles but it turns into a purr. My girl is easily pleased.
I yawn and scratch my belly as I wait for the coffee. The last of the water drips into the pot as there is a knock at the door. I can’t help the soppy smile that crosses my face as I limp to the door and fling it open…
To find Gloria holding a CC’s box.
“What are you doing here?”
I look past her to see if Dean is there too, but she’s on her own.
She rolls her eyes. “Hello to you too.”
“Sorry,” I mutter.
Maybe I don’t sound as welcoming as I should to a friend, but I want Dean here to start our first Christmas together.
She sniffs, thrusts the box at me, and brushes past me in her faux fur coat. “Coffee! You don’t know how much I need this.”
“Hands off the pot,” I bark.
Gloria freezes, hands almost at the coffee pot.
I slid between her and my precious caffeine. “Sit on the couch, and I’ll pour the coffee.”
“I can pour my own coffee.”
“Iknowyou,” I point out. “I’ve watched you drink an entire pot by yourself.”
She smirks as though she’s proud of herself. I grunt, knowing I’m right.
“This ismycoffee, and I haven’t had a cup yet.”
But because she’s my guest and I love her, I fill two cups almost to the brim and doctor them both with creamer. I bring them and the box to the coffee table and slump down beside her.
Gloria takes a long slurp and sighs happily. “I needed this.”
I take a long swallow of mine and agree with her. “I thought you were working today.”
“Marion asked if I could swap shifts as her little one has a tummy upset. I said I’d cover both shifts and for her to stay home. She’s done the same for me. So Rena is covering this shift, and I’ll work a double from tonight. I don’t mind. It’ll save me from my mom’s lumpy gravy.”
I know Gloria adores her mom and Christmas, so I pat her knee. “That’s kind of you.”
She shrugs one shoulder. “You know what those viruses are like. She brings it in, and we all spend Christmas barfing. I can celebrate with my family later in the week.”
She has a point. The current virus is nasty. I’ve missed it so far, but it’s run through the staff at Randy’s, including the big man himself.
