Page 93 of Christmas Kisses

“Model, yes. Super, never,” Edie said. “So you took one look at my gorgeous little sister and thought she must be the one making a living as a model.”

“Edie, don’t—” Kara began.

Jimmy held up a hand. “No, she’s right. That’s exactly what I thought. I hardly recognized you, Kara.”

She shrugged. “Thank Edie for that. Giving me makeovers is her favorite hobby.”

“Thank your mother, Kara. I think it’s got more to do with genetics than cosmetics.” His eyes were on her as he said it and they were warm enough to raise her body temperature.

Selene popped into the room then. She’d been upstairs in her room, and Kara had noticed interesting aromas coming out of there for the past hour, while she’d been in her own room trying on everything she owned. She came in slowly, a tiny red drawstring pouch in her hand. “Sorry I’m late,” she said.

“That’s okay,” Jimmy replied. “You have to be Selene. I think you were twelve or thirteen when I last saw you, but that blond hair is a dead giveaway.”

“Hi, Jimmy. Long time, no see. I have something for you.” She held out the little pouch.

He took it, frowning. “And this is...?”

“It’s for protection.”

Kara saw Jimmy’s face change instantly. His brows drew together and his eyes narrowed. A quick look passed between him and Colby. “What makes you think I need protection?”

“Am I wrong?”

He watched her for a long moment, saying nothing. Selene just shrugged. “Keep it close to you. Better yet, close to your boy.”

“You think Ty needs protection?”

Kara put a hand on his arm, drawing his gaze. “Selene... sometimes gets feelings about things.”

“And she’s usually right,” Edie put in.

Jim shot a look at Caleb, then at Wade. They only nodded in agreement. “If she says you need protection, you probably better buy a guard dog.”

“Speaking of dogs,” Edie said, “anyone seen Sally?”

At the sound of her name Sally gave a loud woof, from the living room. The entire bunch of them trooped through the house into the living room, where the three children surrounded the dog, stroking her, feeding her bites of their cookies under the giant, Christmas tree with its flashing lights and glittering ornaments. The Great Dane, her tail wagging so hard that getting too close seemed risky, actually seemed to be smiling.

Tyler turned toward his father, his eyes wide. “Kara was right, Dad. This dogisas big as a pony!”

* * *

Dinner was too delicious and too plentiful to make moderation even possible. Jim only stopped on his third helping because his stomach would have exploded if he’d eaten any more.

It had been a pleasant evening. Tyler wore himself out playing with the other two kids and the Godzilla-size dog and then he ate more than Jim thought he’d ever seen him eat. He’d taken to calling Vidalia “Gramma Vi,” so Jim figured those cookies of hers had passed muster. And if he didn’t know for sure, he supposed he would find out, because she’d packed piles of them into a gallon sized zipper bag to go with him back to the boarding house.

After dinner he offered to help clear up, but Vi shooed him away. She and Selene handled cleanup. Maya and Caleb took the twins home, and Edie and Wade walked them to their house, on the hill behind this one so that Wade could listen to the noise Maya’s car had been making. Colby had gone up with them to help walk off the dinner, he said. They said they’d stop on the way back out to pick up their monster-size pet.

Tyler curled up on the floor with his head pillowed by the big dog. Jim took a seat on the sofa, and Kara brought in coffee, a cup for each of them, then took a seat in a nearby chair.

“He had fun,” she said.

“More fun than he’s had in ages.” He watched as his little boy’s eyes fell closed. “And he didn’t complain once.”

Kara’s heart twisted a little. “Is he in pain, Jimmy?”

“No, not usually. The braces chafe sometimes, and physical therapy is hell. One more surgery, though, and he’ll be... well, if it goes the way it should.”

Sally turned her head to watch over him, seemed almost protective of the child. “Look how much she loves him already,” Kara said. “Jimmy, if it’s rude of me to ask, say so. But, what happened to him?”

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