Page 196 of Christmas Kisses

“So it’s bad, then. Bone marrow transplant won’t do the trick?”

He felt his eyes widen on the older man.

Doc shrugged. “You’d be surprised what a good doctor can tell from an external exam.”

Sighing, Bobby gave in. “I’m on the list. None of my sons are compatible.”

Doc nodded. “How far advanced are you?”

“They gave me three months and that was three months ago. I just want to have a nice, hometown kind of Christmas with my family before I have to break the news. That’s all. Just one old-fashioned family holiday. The kind I never gave them. So please, leave this room with a smile on your face and make it convincing.”

Doc nodded slow. “You’ve got it.” He heaved a big sigh, extended a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McIntyre. I only wish–”

“Nice to meet you, too.” Bobby Joe swung his legs around and put his sock feet on the floor, so he’d be sitting up, not lying down in the bed when the door opened. “Merry Christmas, Doc.”

“Merry Christmas.” He opened the door, lifted his head and put on a smile for the crowd gathered in the hall outside it. Three strapping men, and Vidalia standing among them, a foot shorter and a mile prettier. Of them all, only Jason knew the truth, and he was standing there waiting, probably expecting Doc Shelby to share the grim news with them all and ruin the holiday for everyone.

Instead, Doc said, “Can’t find a thing wrong with him, but I did extract a promise he’d come see me once the holidays are over.”

Jason frowned and looked past the doctor to his dad, who told him without a word to keep quiet. Just a look, and Jason read it, pressed his lips, but then gave a nod so slight no one but Bobby Joe could’ve seen it.

Vidalia didn’t look convinced, and she came inside, marched right up to the bed, clasped his face between her palms and stared hard into his eyes. Her dark brown ones were filled with questions, speculation, and worry.

“I’m holding you to that Sunday dinner invitation, Vidalia Brand,” Bobby Joe said.

“Well that’s good, because I’m bringing it here. This place needs a good breaking in before you throw it open to an unsuspecting public.”

“You don’t have to–”

“Don’t start with me, Jason Robert Joseph McIntyre. And after dinner, we’re gonna decorate that tree of yours. I presume you have some ornaments around here somewhere.”

He smiled at her, at the way she was taking charge and making this about anything and everything other than his health. “I do. I’ve been doing a lot of shopping in between flirting with you every chance I get.”

She rolled her eyes, pretended a lightness he knew she wasn’t feeling. She’d question him later, when they were alone, he thought. But for now, she was putting on a show for his sake and for his sons. “I’ve got to go get everything together. You boys,” she said, addressing his sons, “You might want to childproof the place just a little. Put anything breakable out of reach, and set your mechanical bull to Slow.”

She leaned down and pressed a kiss to Bobby’s mouth, not caring what his sons might think about that. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours. I want you to rest until then.”

Then she turned and left, her steps brisk and purposeful all the way down the hall, down the stairs, and out the front door. He heard her pickup start and heard her drive away. Shaking his head, he looked at his sons. “That right there is one hell of a woman, boys. And you might as well know now as later, I love her. I’ve loved her most of my life.”

* * *

Vidalia Brand was nobody’s fool. She’d raised five girls practically on her own, so she knew bullshit when she saw it. Doc had been shoveling it when he’d come out of Bobby Joe’s room, and Bobby Joe had been dealing it all along.

He was not well. She’d managed to put it all together while directing his sons to raise that Christmas tree, get it upright, straight, and properly placed.

When she arrived at home, the family was already there, every last one of them. The twins were running in and out of the living room, hanging a fresh batch of ornaments, freshly made for her in their pre-school class, on her tree. Tyler was keeping right up with them, helping them reach the higher branches. The braces he’d once worn on his legs were a thing of the past, and while he still walked with a slight limp, he was on his way to complete healing.

The men, her sons in law, were gathered in the living room, sipping beers, talking and watching the kids, while the girls were in the kitchen, bustling. Every Sunday was like a holiday around here.

When she walked in, everyone went silent and looked her way.

“How is he, Mama?” Selene asked.

Vidalia took a deep breath and decided to respect Bobby Joe’s wishes by not sharing her suspicions just yet. “Doc Shelby said he couldn’t find a thing wrong with him. Just a fluke, I think.” Selene’s eyes said she knew better, but Vidalia hurried on. “If you will all indulge me, I would like to take our Sunday Dinner over to the Long Branch.”

“If that’s what you want, Mom, sure we will,” Melusine said.

“It won’t even be hard,” Maya added. “We’ve got the sides all made already.”

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