Battle of the Bulbs (Holidays in Willow Valley Book 1)

by Shannyn Leah

  He held his up hand. “Millie, do not turn around and put that apple crumble in the oven.”

  Cheyenne reached up and pulled Booker’s hand back to his side. The fingers from his other hand pressed against his closed eyes. He shook his head, pressing his lips tightly together.

  “Why do you get naked, boy?” Eddie asked.

  Booker’s head snapped up to look at his grandfather, looking irritated by the question. “To dress. To bathe. To…” he paused. “Oh shit, they had sex.”

  “What? No!” Cheyenne’s eyes met her guilty grandma’s face. “Grandma, no, you did not.”

  “He had my baking pan,” Millie said. “You gave him my baking pan this morning. And he wouldn’t open the front door so I went through the wall.”

  “You can’t just go through someone’s wall,” Cheyenne said.

  “That’s what I told her,” Eddie said. “Crazy old bat.”

  “Would you hush. No one wants to hear your side of the story. It’s about a boring old man who let a little old woman break down his house.”

  “More like the big bad wolf. You huffed at my front door and huffed at my window…”

  “Grandpa, stop moving,” Booker said. “We’ve all seen enough of your bare ass for one day.”

  “Then you blew a hole in the wall.”

  “At least you didn’t scamper like a scared little piggy.”

  Cheyenne felt her lips scrunch together in disgust. Gross. They were flirting. Eww, they were flirting, naked, with company watching.

  “One thing led to another and…” Millie grinned at Eddie. “…and he had a hunger for pie.”

  “Gross,” Booker said.

  “Sex is a natural thing,” Eddie said.

  “Do not say the word sex again, Grandpa.”

  “Intercourse. Slamming. Banging. There’s lots of words I can use.”

  Booker groaned, turning around and leaving Cheyenne alone in the kitchen with the naked bakers.

  “That’s my apron,” she said to Eddie, unable to think of anything else to say. She suppressed a laugh.

  “You can have it back.” Eddie’s hands moved to his neck.

  “No!” Cheyenne shouted, this time her hands flying up to stop him. “It’s yours now. You keep it.”

  Quickly she turned, following Booker’s path into the living room, only to find him nowhere to be found.

  She glared at Lily on her way to the stairs. “You knew didn’t you?”

  Her wide smile answered. “I told you they’ve been at it for an hour.”

  “No, no, no. I’m going to…to…shower or something…”

  Chapter Twelve

  “GRANDPA, DO NOT bring Grandma over here,” Booker shouted from Millie’s side of the house as Eddie hobbled away through the hole. They were going to have to fix that. They needed a wall between them, regardless of whether they were friends, lovers or enemies…but at least they were dressed now

  “Bring her over,” Millie said.

  “Yeah, bring her over,” Cheyenne agreed.

  Eddie came back through the wall, carrying Ellen’s urn with a beaming smile.

  “Set her on the fireplace,” Millie said. “The best view in the house.”

  Cheyenne’s grandma helped him steady the urn on the fireplace.

  “They’re weird,” Lily whispered to Cheyenne. They stood in the dining room where she couldn’t pour enough special sauce into her punch. “Eggnog?” She held out a full glass.

  “There’s no egg in this,” Cheyenne said.

  “No, but there’s a lot of nog.”

  She took the glass. “Thanks.”

  “Do not forget me,” Booker said, coming up behind them.

  “And for you…” Lily dunked the ladle into the punch and then handed it to him.

  They watched Eddie and Millie decorating the tree. They looked cute, happy and sweet giving doe-eyed looks to one another and giggling.

  “They’re going to fight,” Lily said.

  “Yup,” Cheyenne and Booker agreed.

  Then, like fate itself, the two began to bicker. Slowly at first, with pauses and smiles, but the longer they were alone, the louder their voices rose, until they were full on shouting at each other.

  “You’re up first,” Lily said to Booker.

  “Why me?”

  “We already voted,” Cheyenne said. “You weren’t here, so you automatically lost.”

  “That seems fair,” he said sarcastically. He slugged back his punch and approached the fighting couple. “Come on you two.”

  “What’s going on between you two?” Lily asked Cheyenne.

  “Nothing.”

  She laughed. “Liar.”

  “I honestly don’t know,” she said. “He broke my heart when he left and as much as I miss him and want him back, my heart hasn’t forgiven him.” She looked at her niece. “I’m scared he’ll walk away again. My whole life they’ve all walked away. Lilith, my mom, Booker.”

  Lily squeezed her hand. “You walk away too. I know I was young when you were admitted to the hospital, but when you left, Grandma looked everywhere for you. She spent weeks in the city with your picture, going door to door and frequenting all the bars and hang out places. I know you were scared, and you did what you had to do, but it was running. If you change and stabilize yourself in one place, why can’t Booker? The Lilith House grounded you, why can’t you be what grounds Booker?”

  Cheyenne stared at her niece in shock. “Did you make that up all by yourself or have you been talking to Grandma?”

  Lily playfully shoved her side. “Don’t let one of his mistakes dictate who he is.”

  Cheyenne shook her head. “Where is this all coming from? I’m awe stricken.”

  She shrugged. “I have my moments.”

  “I’m tagging out,” Booker said. “Lily, you live with them, get in there and end this.”

  Lily stood up in defense mode. “I know what’s happening here,” she said, pointing her finger between Booker and Cheyenne. “You hurt her again and you won’t be able to outrun my wrath.” She let her threat hang, holding a killer stare at him before she walked around the corner. “Oh, and a Mary Banks called here this afternoon,” she said, bending back into the room. “She wanted to speak to you Cheyenne, and I told her you were out with Booker for the day.” Lily shrugged. “She seemed to like that answer and we had a nice long talk. Sweet lady. I was awe-stricken.” She winked at her aunt as she walked away and defused the Millie/Eddie situation in five seconds.

  “She scares me,” Booker said.

  Cheyenne laughed. “She scares everyone. And beware, she’s not joking.”

  ***

  BOOKER SAT ON Eddie’s couch waiting for Cheyenne’s nightly walk around the house. He had noticed her on more than one occasion during the night walking around. He didn’t know how long he had to wait, but at midnight he heard her coming down Millie’s stairs.

  He carried her favorite night time snack to the hole in the wall and watched as her feet stopped on the bottom stairs.

  She was wide awake. “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “What are you doing?”

  He held up the plate of vanilla cookies.

  She grinned. “What is this?” She reached for one and he pulled the plate back over to the Banks’ side. “Thank you…” she said, eyeing him.

  “I’m willing to give up all my cookies if you sit down here and eat them with me.”

  She looked at the floor. “Here?”

  He nodded.

  “You could always come into the living room…on a couch.”

  He looked up and down at her. “Here. You’re a Collins and I wouldn’t dare cross the line.”

  Cheyenne sunk to the floor, chuckling. “Alright. Cookie.” She held out her hand.

  Booker sat across from her and gave her the plate. “There’s more to this bribe.”

  She sent him a glare as she chewed a mouthful of cookie.

  Booker held his cell phone in
front of them. “I know it’s late, but my mom wants to talk to you.”

  Guilt crossed her face and he passed her his water bottle. “You haven’t called her since you arrived and she’d worried. She’s certainly not taking my word that you’re okay. She doesn’t even believe we are on talking terms, when here we are sharing cookies.”

  Cheyenne took a drink. “Alright, give me the phone.”

  Booker pressed the contact number for his mother and held the phone out to Cheyenne. “I’m not sharing by the way,” she said, sliding the plate to the Collins side of the duplex. “Hey Mary, this is Cheyenne.”

  Booker stood, giving her space to talk to his mother. He hadn’t been around for the report release so he didn’t know the specifics of the situation or how comfortable Cheyenne felt discussing it in front of him. As much as he wanted to help, right now it wasn’t his place. He waited until Cheyenne’s voice subdued before joining her again.

  She’d moved under the archway’s hole, sitting on the floor with her back leaning against a cushion she’d grabbed from Millie’s bench. She tossed a second one at him as he passed and he mimicked her position, directly across from her.

  “Your mom’s hired someone to make a statement for me to release,” she said. “She wants to get it out in the New Year so she will need some more information from me. I promised to call her before January first.”

  “Good. How are the girls?”

  “Your mom says they’re fine.”

  “Good.”

  “Yeah…” Her eyes drifted away. “What if I don’t release a statement?” she said. “Maybe I should resign and let the board of directors take over. They know how everything works, how to get by smoothly. They’ll be fine without me.”

  “You built the Lilith House. It’s your dream, Cheyenne.”

  “It’s not for me. It was never for me. If the house stays afloat and continues on, it’s better if I walk away. Why would I stay and make things worse?”

  “You don’t know that staying on board will make things worse.”

  “It will.”

  “Well.” Booker clapped his hands together, placing them on his lap. “When did you become such a scaredy-pants?

  “When other people’s chances are on the line. This is me fighting for them.”

  “Or giving up.”

  “It depends on how you look at it,” she said. “It’s a memory of my sister and of Annie.” Booker had seen a grand picture of Annie Carmen, the founder of the center, hanging in the Lilith House.

  “There was once a girl who broke into a house…” Booker said, telling Cheyenne the story she’d told him.

  “Stop.” She laughed.

  “Instead of phoning the police, this amazing lady named Annie let her live in an apartment above her garage in exchange for helping her out.”

  “I know the story,” Cheyenne said.

  “A place for this girl to bath and wash clean clothes…maybe even brush her hair.”

  She grabbed the pillow from behind her back and threw it at him. “You’re a jerk.”

  “Do you want me to finish my version of the story? Or would you like to?”

  Cheyenne rolled her eyes, rushing the end of the story out. “Years later, I thanked Annie for saving me and said if the world had more people like her we would have less pain and wished there was a place in Oakston for women to get out of their ruts. That week, she came to me with an offer, including investing a large chunk of change into the Lilith House.”

  “Annie doesn’t sound like a quitter,” Booker said.

  “I know what you’re doing.”

  “Then save me the time so I can return to trying to win you back.”

  She shook her head and reached for the pillow, but he held it in the air. “If it’s anything like the sleigh wagon ride, count me out.”

  “I didn’t ask to ride with a sleigh full of kids,” Booker said, shifting the pillow to the other side. Cheyenne reached for it again. “And I didn’t start the caroling,” he pointed out, the voices still ringing in his ears.

  She laughed, and folded her legs beneath her. “Outline your plan for me? So I can see what I’m up against.”

  Booker folded his legs, leaning toward her. “It’s very easy. Cookies,” he whispered. “Bags of cookies.”

  “I can’t say no to cookies.”

  “Then my plan is foolproof.”

  She grinned. “So, where do we get more of these cookies?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “FIVE, FOUR, THREE, two…one” the crowd counted down and the mayor of Willow Valley flicked the main switch lighting the trees along the beach. The light show sprung to life in an amazing color display straight down the beach, looped in trees, and draped along the street lights. It was incredible, especially sharing the experience with Booker.

  Applauds of approval sounded from the locals and their cheers were rewarded with warm beverages and fresh baked treats inside the community center. The room boomed louder than outside with everyone in the holiday spirit. Laughter also echoed louder than usual, smiles beamed wider and even enemies shared a bite to eat without a mean word. Christmas was amazing in Willow Valley but the evening ended all too quickly, with everyone going their separate ways.

  The snow had been cleared from the sidewalk, but the snow falling from the sky gave a light dusting on their walk back home. Millie and Eddie’s street was only two blocks from the main strip, and although Booker had offered to drop them off and pick them up on Main Street, they’d declined and had insisted on walking the long walk home.

  Millie and Eddie took the lead, moving at the pace of turtles, but with the mouths of wolves, basically howling and barking their disapproval at the decorations on the passing houses.

  “I like the green and red, traditional lights,” Booker whispered to Cheyenne after Eddie grunted at them. Cheyenne smiled up at him and looped her arm in his. “Oh,” he said. “I didn’t know we were at this phase in our relationship.”

  She leaned against his arm as they walked. “I did face time with the girls at the house tonight. They were having a special meal and it was wonderful. They all looked so happy, except, of course, a few who are still adjusting.” Her spirits dropped. “I love being here with Grandma, Lily, Eddie…even you.” She playfully nudged his side. “But before I left, I had an outline to get a few of those girls more settled, relaxed and able to enjoy the holidays. I sort of wish I was there, too.”

  “You can go,” Booker said. “No one is keeping you here. The board didn’t ask you to leave, or give a notice. You heard my mom yesterday, the majority of investors aren’t fazed by the story.”

  “Majority,” Cheyenne said. “There are still some…”

  “And you will find different people to replace them. If you want to go back, we can go. Tonight. Tomorrow. After Christmas.”

  “I want to spend tonight with you,” she said.

  He stopped walking and looked at her.

  “It’s those cookies and all,” she joked.

  His lips lifted.

  “Then, after the holidays, maybe we could go back to the Lilith House together,” she said. “If you don’t have any plans…any running around to do.”

  He covered her hands with his. “No running. I would love to go back to the Lilith House with you.”

  “But I want to spend Christmas with my grandma and your grandpa. Together. I’m afraid if we leave them they’ll kill each other over how long the bird cooks.”

  Booker laughed, leaning in to kiss her. Soft at first, then teasing her lower lip and sucking her upper lip.

  “Get a room!” Eddie called. “And not on my side of the house.”

  Booker groaned and Cheyenne smiled. As he pulled away, he left the delicious taste of hot chocolate and cookies on her lips.

  “I guess that solves it,” she said. “You’re going to have to sneak over to my bedroom tonight.”

  “There’s always the couch,” Booker said.

  She laughed. “No
, I am not getting busted by Grandma and Lily again.” She covered her face with her hands. “It was mortifying.”

  They held hands the two blocks home and were greeted with an overly zealous Lily.

  “Alright, I have the game set up,” she said, helping Millie out of her coat. “I have also dedicated names to the seats, so you sit over here…” She directed Millie to her seat at the dining room table around a game of Scrabble. “And Eddie, you sit across from her.” She patted the chair. “We don’t want another tile flying session,” she said referring to the last game when Millie and Eddie had tossed the others tiles in a fit of anger. Worse than children. “And you two, I don’t care.” Lily waved her hands at them as she poured drinks at the buffet and served them around the table.

  They managed to get through one entire game without an episode. Eddie and Millie were finally beginning to learn how to get along and share. Their struggle was amusingly entertaining. One game was enough for this group. As they packed up the game, Cheyenne picked up the empty mugs. “I’m going to bring these in the kitchen,” she said, nodding at Booker to join her.

  “I’ll help you.” He grabbed the remaining mugs and followed her. The mugs didn’t make it anywhere near the sink. Booker gathered Cheyenne in his arms, kissing her wildly. They had to be quick with all the eyes in this house.

  She pulled away to talk, but Booker’s mouth didn’t stop sprinkling kisses down her chin and over her throat.

  “Grandma has a routine,” she said. “So don’t come sneaking up before she’s finished.”

  He murmured his understanding against her skin.

  “And Lily’s room is the first door, so do not go in there.”

  “Mhmm…” he said.

  She grabbed his face. “Booker, I’m serious. I don’t want anything to ruin this.”

  He kissed her. “How about we stay downstairs together and make out on the couch like teenagers until the coast is clear?”

  Cheyenne grinned. “Okay. Grab some cookies.”

  They pulled themselves together before walking back into the living room, expecting to only find Lily still awake. But another guest had arrived.

  Cheyenne stopped abruptly at the sight of her mother standing in the hallway. She was thin—drug thin. You could tell even under her dirty black jacket and oversized jeans. Where blotches of red didn’t touch her skin, an open wound did, signaling obvious signs of drug use. These signs were easier to make out in the summer when her arms and legs uncovered. Or sometimes she wore long sleeves despite the high temps.