'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  “No. It was good.” I lean back so I can look up at him. “He’s really happy, which is good. I don’t think it’ll ever be the same again, but he said he’d always answer a call from me.”

  “What about your parents?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrug. “I told them to call him, so…” My voice trails off and I look over my shoulder at the front door, wondering if they will.

  “You did the right thing.”

  “Yeah, thanks. It’ll never be what it was, I don’t think. He has Charlie now and he doesn’t need me like he used to. But at least we’ve connected again. I guess that’s something.”

  “I know it’s hard, but you’ve got me, and Maya, and Luke, and…”

  “I know.” I smile, scratching my nails through his morning stubble. It feels cool. “You’re enough. All of you guys are.” Wrapping my arms around his waist, I snuggle against him. “I’m seriously the luckiest girl in the world.”

  He rubs my back, kissing the top of my head again. I kind of love it how he does that.

  “You two will freeze out there. The least you can do is invite her in.” Aunt Joy’s sharp voice pulls us apart.

  Nate groans, tipping his head back while I laugh and give him an expectant look.

  Fighting a grin, he sighs. “Would you like to come in for some cocoa, my girlfriend?”

  “Why, thank you, my boyfriend. I would love that.”

  Threading my fingers between his, I walk through the snow, glancing once more at my house before slipping into the warmth of Joy’s place.

  “It smells so good in here.”

  “Thank you, darling girl.” Joy kisses my cheek, then hands me a drink. “Sit down and eat yourself a pre-lunch gingerbread man.”

  “Shay!” Hailey jumps up from the floor and runs to give me a hug. “Oh my gosh, were you like the scaredest ever? Being locked in a cellar sounds so creepy.” She shudders, her cute curls bouncing around her shoulders.

  Luke grins and plunks onto the couch. “I heard she had pretty good company, Hails. They probably kept each other warm.”

  His wiggling eyebrows make my cheeks blush. Thankfully Hailey misses it and starts chattering about what she got for Christmas. Nate smacks his brother on the shoulder and sits on the couch beside him, yanking my wrist so I tumble down next to him.

  My hot cocoa splashes over the side of the mug and I quickly lick the dribble before it spills too much.

  “Whoops. Sorry.” Nate chuckles, handing me a napkin and helping me.

  He kisses the side of my head and I lean into it, loving the shift in our relationship.

  I’m soon nestled up beside him, nibbling on a gingerbread cookie and laughing at Hailey, who is still convinced the Barrett house is haunted. But if it got me and Nate kissing then she forgives us for going there.

  That makes me laugh.

  “You’ll stay for lunch, right Shay?” Nate’s mom asks me.

  “Actually, I should probably head home.” I share a glance with Nate. “My parents are probably—”

  “Coming over.” Nate’s mom has a tinkling, cheerful laugh and it carries through the house as she walks to the door and opens it before the doorbell rings. “Welcome. Come on in.”

  Christmas greetings and hugs ensue and before I know it, I’m sitting around Joy’s dinner table with a whole bunch of people I adore.

  I guess Christmas doesn’t have to be the Grinch-fest I thought it would.

  Mom’s smiling, and even Dad’s grinning as Joy loads his plate with food from both of our houses.

  “This smells delicious, Daphne. What did you put in here?” Joy sniffs the sweet potato bake, making Mom’s face flush with pride.

  “It’s a family recipe.” Mom winks at me and I can tell by the twinkling sparkle in her eye that she spoke to Spencer. He was the guy who came up with the Landers Sweet Potato Bake, and if she hadn’t spoken to him this morning, I’m guessing she’d be serving it up with a bucketload of tears. But she just winked and smiled.

  Yes! Good job, Spence.

  I grin at her, then smile at my new boyfriend. He reaches under the table and gives my leg a soft squeeze.

  And yep, there it is. I’m being overcome with a serious case of the happies.

  Christmas cheer is in the air and for the first time this season, I am one hundred percent willing to embrace it.

  Epilogue

  NATE

  I glance at Shay in the passenger seat, not even bothering to hide my grin.

  It’s been two months of dating, and I am loving every minute of being her boyfriend. It’s so easy, and interesting. I can’t ever imagine getting bored.

  We hang out all the time. She comes to my games, I help her with Stats homework, we eat lunch together. That’s not new, but it’s different. She’s my girl now, and everybody knows it.

  I can lean over and kiss her, I can hold her hand when we’re walking through school. No more of this insane pining.

  We’ve had to tell the story of how we got together so many freaking times. In spite of that fart-smelling cellar, people think it’s romantic. Although we’ve been grilled by both our parents on trespassing and Mom even made me write a letter of apology to Mr. and Mrs. Winters.

  Nell was very forgiving. Shay told me she would be.

  She’s actually invited us over for lunch. Hailey’s in the back seat humming to herself as we drive out into the country. She wanted to say hi to the horses, and I just couldn’t refuse her.

  Adjusting her New York beanie, Shay scratches the side of her nose, looking kind of pensive.

  “You good?” I turn down the music so I can hear her reply.

  “Yeah. I was just thinking about the Barrett house. Those photos. I can’t get them out of my head.”

  “I know what you mean. I can’t stop thinking about where they all ended up.”

  “Do you think Nell might know?”

  I nod. “We could ask her.”

  “I don’t think she likes talking about it.”

  “Well, there’s only one way to truly find out.”

  She gives me a sideways look and shakes her head. “You with your approaching things head-on.”

  “It works, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah,” she whines. “But it’s hard. I mean, you never know how people will respond to difficult conversations.”

  “True, but that doesn’t mean we should stop having them.” I grin, thinking about Dad’s words. He told me that when he and Mom first broke up. I was wounded and hurting, angry at him for leaving us, but then one day he sat me down and told me to tell it to him straight. He wouldn’t let up until I’d gotten it all out. After that, he was able to clear up some of my confusion.

  The talk took hours and when we finally wrapped it all up, Dad patted me on the knee. “I know that was hard, but some of the best things in life take work. Just because your mother and I don’t love each other that way anymore doesn’t mean I’m giving up on my family. Don’t shy away from the tough conversations, Nathan. Be bold. Be kind. Be honest.”

  It’s always stuck with me, and that’s what gave me the courage to break up with Sheridan, and to put Aunt Joy in her place when she really starts to rile me.

  “If you don’t want to ask her, I can.” I run my hand over Shay’s thigh.

  She grabs it and kisses my knuckles. “You seriously are the best boyfriend EVER!”

  I laugh as she yells the last part, scaring Hailey out of her musical stupor.

  “You guys are weird!” she shouts before looking out the window, a cute, contented smile on her lips.

  A few minutes later we pull up to the Winters’s ranch house and Hailey busts out the door, running up to Nell’s front porch before I even get the car into Park.

  Shay laughs as she shuts the car door. Taking her hand, we walk into the Winters’s welcoming house and are ushered into the living area. Hot tea and cookies are laid out on the coffee table. Hailey’s already munching on one.

  Man, it smells good in
here. Nothing like fresh, home-baked treats to make your mouth water.

  I take a seat beside my sister and resist the urge to reach for a cookie. Mom taught me that it’s better to wait until I’m offered one. I hope Hailey used her manners.

  Nell picks up the plate and holds it out for Shay, then me. I take one with a grin of thanks. She winks at me, then starts pouring tea.

  “Thomas is out with the horses if you want to go and say hi, Hailey.”

  “Yes!” She jumps up and runs out the back door.

  “Thank you so much.” I grin. “She loves coming here.”

  “Well she’s welcome anytime. It’s nice to have a little youth in this place again. When the Barrett boys…” Her voice trails off, sadness swamping her expression.

  Shay looks up at me, her brown eyes sad yet curious.

  I can’t believe this is happening. Nell’s just given us the perfect opening. It feels freakishly easy, but I jump all over it.

  “Actually, Nell, we were gonna ask you about that.” I adjust my jeans and shift on the couch, stretching my arm past Shay’s shoulders. “When we were in the cellar, we found photos of Ray and the boys. They looked really happy.”

  Nell’s smile is wistful and nostalgic. “They were. Not when they first got here. Ray kept them very close.” Her brow furrowed. “He never told me why, just… that they needed protecting.” She shakes her head. “I’m not sure what happened with Ray’s daughter, Lily. She was an odd girl. Very quiet and mysterious. Well-behaved…until she turned about seventeen, and then all hell broke loose. I think it might have been a reaction to Edie doing a little too much smothering. She was their only child and they had a hard time conceiving. She was the miracle they’d been praying for,” she ends in a whisper.

  I want to ask more and lick my lips, wondering where to begin. “We noticed she wasn’t in a lot of photos.”

  “Well, she left home straight after graduating and cut ties. Poor Edie and Ray were heartbroken.”

  “But, then there’s photos of them with their grandkids.” Shay starts playing with the ends of her hair.

  “Yeah, she contacted them right out of the blue. Invited them to Florida and it became an annual trip. Brought the life right back into Edie. She lived for those trips…” Nell’s shoulders sagged. “Until they stopped.”

  “Why?” Shay asks, taking the cup of tea Nell passes her.

  The old woman bites her lips together and blinks. “They never would say, but…” She shrugs, her hands running up and down her legs quickly. “I think there may have been some abuse going on. Edie was mighty worried about her boys. She wouldn’t talk about it, but I could sense her stress. I sometimes wonder if that’s what killed her in the end.” She looks about ready to cry and shuffles in her seat, sniffing quietly. “I’m not really supposed to talk about this. But one day Ray just suddenly left, drove away from that house like the devil was chasing him. Two weeks later, he had five grandsons in tow. Ray made me promise after they arrived that I wouldn’t tell a soul.” Her eyes dart between us and then her shoulders slump. “But I don’t suppose it makes too much difference now. Those boys were wounded sparrows when they arrived. I’ve got a feeling that Ray probably wasn’t supposed to have them here, but he loved them too much to let them go. He brought out their sunshine, and the boys I came to know were loud and raucous and full of adventure and fun.” Her broad smile starts to fade. “It breaks my heart that they lost Ray and were sent away so quickly. I wanted to keep in touch with them all, but… it didn’t work out. I would have taken them in myself, but—Lord, it was such a mess. Something happened up at that house the night Ray died. Those boys wouldn’t say a word, but they were haunted by somethin’ terrifying. You could see it in their eyes.”

  My stomach goes cold and Shay shifts on the couch, inching her butt a little closer to my leg. I run my hand across her shoulder and lightly hold the back of her neck.

  “All I can pray is that they will deal with those demons and come on home one day. That ranch is theirs. They belong here. It was their happy place. Their safety net. Ray left it to them in his will. Thomas and I are the caretakers, but not very good ones at that. The money’s gonna dry up soon enough and then… I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”

  “Maybe they’ll come back,” Shay whispers, her eyes skimming mine before going back to Nell’s.

  I can sense her hope, her dire need for it to come true.

  Because maybe if the Barrett boys come home, her brother will too. She’s desperate for him to visit, but her parents haven’t agreed to meet Charlie yet. Spencer is welcome anytime, but the man who stole their son away… they’re not ready for that introduction. It sucks. I don’t get why her parents are being so stubborn over this. If they’d just relent and let Spencer be Spencer. Let him bring a huge part of who he is into their house.

  Families can be so complicated, and Shay just wants to see hers whole again. Just like Nell wants to see the Barrett boys back where they belong—happy and home.

  I run my fingers through Shay’s hair then trail my hand down her back and score myself a sweet smile.

  I hope she’s right. I hope they do make it back.

  Now that I’ve walked through the Barrett’s house and seen those pictures, I know that it used to be a place of love. Surely there’s something in each of them that’s beckoning them home again.

  I wonder if Shay and I will be around to see it happen.

  I sure hope Nell is. I can tell by the look on her face that she’d do anything to see the Barrett Ranch filled with life again.

  Will Nell’s prayers be answered?

  Click here to find out about the first Barrett boy—Michael— in “The Runaway”

  Releasing November 20, 2020

  The Runaway (Barrett Boys #1)

  Keep scrolling! A Wyld Christmas in July by Ann Maree Craven and Michelle MacQueen is up next!!

  Spend the summer in Nashville, they said.

  Your famous brother will show you a good time, they told her.

  Well, maybe he could have if said brother wasn’t so bent on preventing her from having any fun.

  Wylder Anderson likes trouble. Her only real talent is breaking the rules and *sometimes* getting away with it. That, and playing drums, but it’s been a year since she even picked up her sticks.

  Now, stuck in a city she doesn’t know, she does the only thing she knows how to do.

  Rebel.

  It doesn’t matter if it’s a rebellion against having to tag along to all her brother’s work events or even his ridiculous Christmas in July plan.

  And the ultimate rebellion? That’s her summer Christmas present wrapped in a six-foot-tall package of too-old-for-her muscle.

  Sebastian.

  The brother of Wylder’s celebrity crush—who is an epic jerk—and the current object of her trouble making ways.

  Only, the more time they spend together, the more right it starts to feel.

  But they have a time limit, an expiration date, and when their Christmas summer is over, Wylder finds out who he really is.

  What if the one man who could make her leave her rule-breaking ways behind ends up being the most trouble of all?

  Chapter 1

  There were some serious perks to the whole “my brother is a country star” thing. Perks Wylder Anderson took full advantage of.

  Like chairs… chairs at a music festival that she didn’t have to bring herself. Whoever thought of such craziness? Apparently, the people who created the VIP area.

  Did she mention the snacks? Wylder was all about premier snacks.

  From the VIP area, she had a full view of Beckett Anderson—her idiot brother’s—concert across the crowded lawn. But that wasn’t all. Depending on which way she turned, she could catch glimpses of the other acts. There were thirty bands and solo artists scheduled to play over the weekend on one of the five stages spread throughout the park on the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio.

  But there was only one act Wylder
truly wanted to see. And no, it wasn’t her brother’s. Sorry Beckett.

  “If you lean forward any more, you’re going to fall out of your chair.” Nicky St. Germaine, best friend extraordinaire—and also a man who was disgustingly in love with her brother—shot her a very un-Nicky like smirk.

  “Ugh.” Wylder pushed blond dread locks over her shoulder. “You have been spending way too much time with Becks.” She rotated a finger in the air. “That smile spells trouble.”

  Beckett and Nicky only returned from Beckett’s world tour a couple weeks ago, and Wylder had missed them. It was why she’d decided to spend the summer before her senior year in Nashville with them.

  Nicky’s grin widened as Avery joined them at the table with a plate of donuts.

  “Can someone remind me why we’re in the VIP area instead of near the stage?” he asked. “I can barely see Nari from here.”

  Avery’s girlfriend was a member of Beckett’s band, a band Wylder once belonged to. But that was another life, another Wylder. For her, the band had been a way to pass the time while they were in high school. For Nari and Becks, it was life.

  Since then, Wylder had been kicked out of said school and punished with an acceptance into Defiance Academy.

  Fine! She’d admit it wasn’t much of a punishment. The academy was kind of fun… sometimes.

  “Earth to Wylder.” Avery laughed.

  She shook herself. “We’ve seen Becks and Nari perform countless times, Avery. Plus, I’m not hooking up with anyone on that stage.”

  Nicky groaned. He only sometimes appreciated her crassness. Other times, he gave her this disappointed look like she could be so much better.

  At least someone thought she could.

  She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to see the stage in the distance again. No, not Beckett’s stage. This one was currently occupied by Wylder’s celebrity crush.