Married This Christmas
Page 8
Lori opened her door and glanced over her shoulder. “Come on, let’s go get your mum and send the nurse home to her family. I promise this is the start of many great Christmases together.”
“No, Mum, put it back.” Fish gently removed the souvenir dish from her hands twenty minutes later. “You can’t give away your belongings.”
“I don’t have a gift, though, and now we’re going to a Christmas lunch!” She put her hand out, demanding he return it.
“We don’t need a gift. We were invited at the last minute, and it’s going to be casual and fun.”
“It’s rude to attend without a gift.”
Lori leaned down to speak to her. “How about we stop at a service station and buy a box of chocolates or some flowers? I’ll run in and get them for you.”
Trina smiled at Lori and clasped her hands together. “That would be lovely, dear. Can you get those shiny, gold chocolates in the clear, hard box?
“I definitely can.”
“Thank you so much.” She looked at Fish and smiled again. “I’m ready to go, since the gift is taken care of. Stella helped me dress after you called.”
“Perfect! Let’s go.” He pushed her wheelchair out to her car and set about moving her into her seat. Lori jumped into the front once Trina was settled, and they set off in the direction of the restaurant.
Luke, Trina, and Lori arrived just as Jordan updated everyone on the details of their abandoned lunch.
“I got into the line pretty early, but from what I could tell, about a quarter of the guests decided to leave and get a refund. It could have been much worse for the restaurant.”
“I heard some of the kids getting excited about having a swim while they waited for lunch. As long as everyone stays relaxed, they might just have a great time.” The woman holding Andrea’s hand turned toward Fish. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” she said.
“Oh, I’m Fish,” he said, “and this is Lori and my mum, Trina. You are?”
“You won’t believe it, but I’m Lori!”
Surprise crossed his face. “Wow. What are the chances? That’s not a common name.” The two Loris shook hands and Fish asked, “Do we need to call you Lori One and Lori Two? Or A and B?”
“Are you likely to get us mixed up?” his Lori asked with tightened lips.
“No, I just thought in conversation it might be easier. Forget I mentioned it.” He raised his hands and backed away as the two women laughed at him. He turned to his mother, “Save me, Mum! Let me get you a drink.”
“Thank you. Do they have lemonade?”
“Do we?” Henry appeared in the doorway. “We have everything you can think of! Luke has taken on the job of barman, and he’ll make you whatever you want.” He stuck his hand out to Trina, “I’m Henry.”
She put her hands out and narrowed her eyes at him. “I’ve seen you on the television.”
He laughed and shook her hand. “You probably have.”
“You make that show with the kitchen disasters—the new one. I like it. I didn’t like the first one last year.”
“I’m glad you like the new one. Now when you watch, you can remember our Christmas lunch, which was nearly ruined by our own disaster.”
Luke poured drinks at the bar and handed a glass of lemonade to Fish. “You had a lucky escape with the Loris. I thought yours was going to implode!”
“Yeah, I have to remember what you do and don’t say to women.” He laughed as he picked up the drink.
Jordan appeared beside him. “I like your Lori. I talked to her at the wedding and she was friendly. Plus, she likes you a lot.”
“I know. It took me a while to work it out, but I’m awake and paying attention now.”
“I’m glad. You two are cute together—I saw how she watched you at the casino before the power went out.”
“Are you stalking us?”
“Hardly.” She nudged his shoulder. “Just making sure you know what’s what. I know you hate all the attention at work.” She patted him on the shoulder and motioned Luke to the table as Henry and Rachel appeared with large platters of food. “Lunch time, finally!”
Everyone took their places at the long table that Emily and Cooper had quickly set up.
“We even have Christmas crackers. How did you manage this?” Andrea asked as she picked hers up and waved it at her Lori, who sat beside her.
“We bought them on the way here at great expense,” Luke laughed.
“Yes, and we had to visit three service stations to find them. Christmas Day shopping is not recommended.”
Fish leaned in close to Lori as the conversation flowed around the table. “When they’re doing presents later, I have one for you.”
Two hours later, Fish and Lori stood near the bar while sounds of laughter and shouting came from behind. The gift swap was a game in which you stole what gift you wanted from other people, and the giggling made Lori smile. “I’m so glad we met this group of friends. They’re hilarious.”
“They sure are. I love that they’ve included Mum with her box of chocolates. She’ll be talking about this for weeks. We’re not here to talk about them, though. Here.” He held out a small gift wrapped in red paper with gold ribbon. “Merry Christmas.”
“I feel bad that I didn’t get you one.”
“Don’t. You came to spend the whole day with me when you could have made plans of your own, and that’s the perfect gift. Open it.” He pushed it toward her, and she pulled off the ribbon and paper to reveal a square box. “Don’t get excited—it’s not what it looks like.”
She laughed and opened it to find a gold necklace with a tiny gold fish. The body was designed to move and wiggle, and Lori’s eyes teared up as she watched it. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
“I figured, since you plan to call me William, we’d have a little reminder of the discarded nickname.”
“I love it.” He took it from her hand and put it around her neck, fastening the clasp under her hair. She turned around to face him. “Thank you again.”
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“It’s a question.”
“Ask away.”
“I was wondering if you want to go steady.” He blushed as he said the words and then laughed as she squealed and threw her arms around his neck. “Only if you want to,” he gasped as she kissed him over and over.
“Of course I want to! I want that more than anything.”
“Thought so.” He grinned down at her. “I’ve waited a long time to ask someone that question.”
“I promise you won’t regret taking a chance on me.” They kissed again, and the voices behind them quieted.
“Why are you two screaming?” Trina’s voice was loud and curious.
They broke apart and returned to the table holding hands. “We’re getting a little more serious for Christmas, that’s all.” Fish grinned as he took his seat.
“You didn’t just—”
“No!” Lori held the fish on her necklace up for everyone to see. “William gave me my Christmas present.”
“Oh.” Rachel let out a loud sigh. “We thought maybe we were witnessing a big moment.”
“You were. Just not the one you think.” Lori grinned and reached for her wine. “Anyway, don’t let the party atmosphere disappear. Your gift giving was hilarious, and I want in on it next year.”
“It would be fun to do this again next year. This is one Christmas tradition I could happily embrace,” Jordan said.
“I propose a toast.” Henry raised his glass and they each followed. “To new and old friendships. May we have as much fun next year as we’ve had today!”
“Hear, hear,” the group murmured as each person took a drink.
“And to Henry, for saving the day and taking us all in to feed and water us.” Cooper raised his glass again and tipped his head to Henry. “Thanks for this. It was cheese on toast for us, otherwise.”
“We might have had to fight Andr
ew for some of his seeds,” Emily clinked her glass against Cooper’s.
Jordan laughed as glasses clinked around the table. “Oh, you should have gone home and gotten him. He would have been hilarious here. Rex misses him—I’m sure of it!”
“He loves to perform, and he did love teasing Rex. I’ll tell him you said hi,” Emily chuckled.
Trina then spoke up from the end of the table. “I want to thank you for including me today. I’m enjoying being here with you all. William and I haven’t had a big family lunch in years.”
“Sometimes the best celebrations are the ones you organize at short notice.”
“Thanks again for inviting us,” Fish and Lori spoke at the same time before laughing together as everyone dug into their dessert.
“Mmm… Henry, this is amazing. I’m so jealous you can make food like this without even having to plan! I’m so lucky to be married to you.” Rachel smoothed her foot along his jeans under the table, not wanting to put down her spoon and delay eating her Pavlova.
“As much as I wanted to be in Vegas right now, I’m thrilled we got to have lunch together. This is fun. I don’t have many big family dinners either, Trina.” He smiled at her.
“Look at all of us.” Emily glanced around the table where almost all the couples held hands or were touching in some way. Fish’s hand on Trina’s arm drew her eye, and she raised her own glass. “We need another toast.”
Everyone held their glass in the centre of the table and waited for Emily to speak again.
“To love, family, and new friends—and Christmas traditions that last a lifetime and bring people together.”
“To love.”
The End
Acknowledgment
Writing a book can be harder than people think. How many people do you know who want to write a book? Heaps, I’ll bet! When it comes time to start writing, I often just have a feeling or a scene in my head that I’ve dreamt up, and an entire book grows from there. It helps that I’m a busy body – always listening to conversations around me and getting a giggle out of what people say when they don’t realise others can hear them.
This book series has grown, from the seed of an idea for Married This Year, into what will probably end as a six-book series (of which this novella is number 5). All because I asked other people to offer up their stories and ideas.
A big thank you to the original group of prize winners who sent in their funny dating situations. Six books grew from those ideas and I’m thrilled with the way they’ve been received.
A big thank you is due as always to my Beta readers and my advance review team. Without you guys dinner would have been eaten twice in this book, and Lori would have had to sleep outside on the grass!
Tracey
xx
Also by Tracey Pedersen
Finding Sweet Love Series
All At Sea
All Afloat
All Adrift
All About Us
One Week Love Stories
Seven Days To Me
Seven Days To Us
Married This Year Series
Married This Year
Married This Year 2: Simmering Love
Married This Year 3: Adventures In Hiring
Married This Year 4: Ticket To Ride
Married This Christmas
Men About Town (steamy)
Tap That!
Tempt Me!
Tight Ass!
Thigh High!
Famous Love Series
Contracted For Love
About the Author
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Before you go…
Before you go, please consider leaving an honest review for Married This Christmas on the Amazon site where you purchased this book. Authors live and die by reviews and I would love it if you did me the honour of leaving one. Thanks in advance for giving up your precious time. I am eternally grateful. Tracey. xx