Secret Santa (4 page)

"Hey buddy. How are you doing today?" Annie
cooed to Justin, their large, hairy bearded collie who sat in the
backseat. "I see daddy picked you up from the groomers," she said
more to Cade than to Justin as she noted the red bow with snowmen
on it.

"At least it's not pink anymore," Cade
responded as he closed his door. "Come on, let's get going. We’ve
got a ton of country ham biscuits to make for the party
tomorrow."

"Have you heard from Cy at all? I still
can't believe he didn't make it home for Thanksgiving. Do you think
he'll make it for Christmas?" Annie asked about the black sheep of
the Davies family.

"No one has heard from him. It's like he
dropped off the face of the earth. I really wish he'd confide in us
what he's doing and just let us know he's safe," Cade worried. "We
don't know if he's finding himself by backpacking through Europe,
climbing some mountain somewhere, or Lord knows what."

Cy was his younger brother and they had been
very close. But after 9/11 when he, Marshall, and Miles joined the
Rangers, the two grew apart. Cy hadn't been old enough to join and
was forced to stay at home.

"I'm sure he's okay. You all have given him
the love and support he needs to go out and do whatever it is he's
doing. Hopefully he'll come back home soon." Annie squeezed his
hand.

He decided it was time to tell her the big
news. "So, the school gave me six weeks of paternity leave so I can
help you with the baby!"

"That's wonderful!" She leaned across the
seat and gave him a kiss. "I love you. I couldn't imagine doing
this without you."

"I love you too, my beautiful, strong
wife."

Chapter Six

Lily Rae Rose tipped up another fifth of
bourbon and poured it into the ten-gallon storage container that
already held around seven gallons of apple cider. "Do you think
this is enough?" she asked her sisters, Daisy Mae and Violet
Fae.

"Mmm. That's good. Just add some more
cinnamon and then it'll be perfect," Daisy told her.

"What's the final count Violet?" Lily asked
as she stirred in the cinnamon.

"It looks like all the combined bets from
this year made us fifteen thousand, six hundred ninety-three
dollars." Her sister set down the last pile of bills in a line on
the old worn kitchen table Lily had in her bed and breakfast.

"That's more than last year! Looks like
we're finally getting Keeneston hopping! What's the biggest
outstanding bet?" Daisy rubbed her thin hands, now covered with age
spots, together in anticipation.

"The due date of Dani and Mo's royal baby
with a side bet if she's going to be pregnant this year or not.
Looking like not though. I sure hope everything is okay. Cheryl's
second cousin's husband works on the farm and said Mo had a
helicopter drop him off at the house a couple months ago," Violet
answered.

"So? He's always flying here or there."
Daisy pointed out.

"Not when he's supposed to be at the EU,"
Violet explained.

"Bless her heart, we'll pray for her and Mo.
Now, what are we going to do with the money?" Lily handed a small
glass of punch to each of her sisters.

"Well, little Trey Everett needs about
thirty-five hundred to pay for his spring semester. Tammy Fields is
studying to be a paralegal, but isn't telling anyone. She's
embarrassed about the fact she didn't go to college and doesn't
really have the funds to do more than one class at a time. I think
if we could pay another four thousand that should help get her into
another class or two." Daisy flipped her order pad closed. She
heard everything when she was working and wrote it all down.

"That's a great start. I also heard the
playground equipment at the park needs to be replaced. I think
that's another five thousand or so," Lily put in.

"And I want to donate the remainder to that
great animal rescue group that helped out after the dog
fights."

"Great idea, Violet. Are we all in agreement
then?" Lily asked her sisters.

They all nodded and lifted their glasses to
mark the final decision. They had been helping out members of the
community or the community as a whole for the last fifteen years.
And it was always done anonymously. They paid for the "Say No to
Drugs in Our Schools" campaign, part of the college tuition for at
least eight teenagers from Keeneston, and they practically built a
whole wing on the town's library over the course of three years
from their cut of the bets they ran out of the Café.

No one thought much about tossing in $20 to
bet on a wedding date or any of the local town gossip. It didn't
occur to them to ask where the money was going and how it was being
divided. The Rose sisters kept 25% of all the wagers and the rest
went to the winners of the bets. Then at Christmas every year the
three sisters got together and decided who to help with the money.
It was their favorite time of year. They'd laugh and giggle as
people were dumbfounded to find things were paid for or when the
playground would just magically have all new equipment one
morning.

Lily had a feeling it was going to be a very
interesting year. These past two had been great, but they still had
some work ahead of them. Half of the Davies family was married, but
they still had three more to walk down that aisle. And their
biggest project hadn't even started yet. Ahmed may scare many
people, but he didn't scare them and he needed a wife. Yes, this
next year was going to be a very busy one.

"To the fairy godmothers!" they cheered in
unison as they took another sip of their drinks.

Chapter Seven

Dani snuggled closer to Mo as Ahmed drove
them through the snow to Southern Charms for the Keeneston
Christmas Party. Mo wrapped his arm around her and pulled her
against his chest. She laid her hand on his abs and absently ran
her fingers up and down over his warm strong body.

"I could put up the partition if you want.
I'd be more than happy to." His warm breath tickled her ear as he
whispered into it, sliding his other hand up her leg. She watched
as it disappeared under her skirt and he hit the partition button
closing Ahmed out of their private moment.

"How are you doing? You've been so quiet
since yesterday. I think my father is even worried. You scared him
when all you did was nod while you looked at the floor when he
started ranting about needing a male grandchild. Normally you argue
back or tell him to go adopt some more sons if it's so
important."

"I know. I just can't muster up the energy
to fight," she said, talking into his chest. "I feel like it's all
my fault. I had a glass of wine that night. Did it cause me to
miscarry? Did I do something wrong? Or is there just something
wrong with me?"

"There's nothing wrong with you and it
certainly wasn't your fault. We've both been tested and know there
is no physical reason why we can't have children. We will, someday
we will. I want nothing more than to have a child with you, boy or
girl. But I will be just as happy if it's just the two of us for
the rest of our lives."

He ran his finger over her smooth cheek and
brushed away the stray tear as it ran down from her eye. It was
true. He loved his country, but he loved her more. It was killing
him to see the pressure his parents were putting on her. He had
begged them not to tell her his middle brother was sterile. They
had found out just a couple days after the miscarriage and he
wanted any children to be a blessing, not a duty. But so much
rested on them having a boy. It was enough to weigh him down, too.
Yet he remained focused on protecting Danielle from any hurt rather
than stopping to think how he felt.

He never wanted to feel as helpless as he
did when he received that phone call from Ahmed telling him he was
at the hospital with Dani. He wasn't leaving her again until she
had had a baby and that baby was safe and sound in her arms. When,
rather if, the time came and they didn't have a boy, Rahmi would
revert control over to his cousin who would surely become a
money-hungry dictator. There would be no choice, no freedom in
Rahmi if he took over.

The antiquated system needed to be changed.
There was no reason why his oldest niece shouldn't be Queen. She
was eight years old now and already showed strength of character
that made Mo very proud. She would be perfect to bring Rahmi into
the future.

The car slowed as they entered town. He
leaned down to kiss his beautiful wife before they got to the
party. His hand came around her neck and brought her closer to him
as his lips closed over hers. She shifted so her breasts were
against his chest and he couldn’t stop himself from pulling her
onto his lap.

"Dammit," he hissed as the car came to a
stop. "I can tell him to drive around town fifteen more times if
you'd like."

Dani laughed and gave him one more quick
kiss before sliding off him. She loved knowing she could excite him
so much. Before she had a chance to consider it, Ahmed opened her
door. The sounds of a party in full swing greeted them.

Noodle stood straight and proud. The most
beautiful and intelligent woman in the world was here with him.
This was the best Christmas ever! He grinned as he watched Dr. Emma
Francis joke with Henry Rooney.

"I think you need help, Henry!" Emma joked.
"Those pickup lines are dead on arrival."

"For you maybe, but ever since I was listed
on the Keeneston Most Eligible List I've been swimming in dates
with the Belles. There was even a catfight between two of them over
whom I'd take to the University of Kentucky basketball game last
week. Now with Marshall married and what happened to Paul, instead
of being fifth, I'm really third. I'm climbing the charts and
holding out for the number one spot so I can have my pick of the
ladies." Henry rocked back on his heels and smiled at his grand
plan.

"I would think you'd want to wait for the
best woman for you. One who would love you whether you were on that
list or not." Emma took a sip of her drink and watched Henry
process what she just said.

Henry shrugged, "It's all about opportunity.
I'll have more of a chance to find the perfect woman with more
women to choose from. See, I'm smart. I'm a lawyer, after all."

Noodle watched as Emma laughed. Her brown
curls bounced as she laughed. No doubt about it, this was the best
Christmas ever. Of course, if Santa happened to place a catfish
noodling trip to Oklahoma under the Christmas tree, well, he
wouldn't complain.

Dinky felt strange in his suit and kept
pulling at the red tie. He was used to the deputy uniform or jeans.
But a couple times a year he'd put on a suit and tie. After thirty
years he still just felt silly wearing one.

"Deputy, I must say it took me a couple
minutes to recognize you," a cheery voice said from behind him.

He turned and looked into the beautiful face
of Chrystal Sharp. He'd only seen Annie's cousin a handful of times
since he'd met her last year after the Keeneston High School
football team won the state championship. He'd been struck with her
beauty. She had dark red hair with loose curls hanging past her
shoulders. Her green eyes held a quiet confidence behind them that
made him feel inadequate.

She was a family therapist now with her own
practice and he was just a deputy. She was tall, gorgeous, and
smart. He was average in everything. He was five nine, had dark
brown hair, brown eyes, and had graduated in the middle of his law
enforcement class at Eastern Kentucky University. There was no way
a man like him had a shot with a woman like her.

"Hello Miss Sharp. You look beautiful
tonight," he mumbled.

"Thank you. You look very handsome yourself,
but then again, you always look handsome." Dinky felt his eyes go
round, but he couldn't help it. She thought he was handsome? Should
he take a chance and finally ask her out?

He raised his head and saw a most becoming
blush on her cheeks, but she wasn't looking away in embarrassment.
She was looking right at him and smiling. He cleared his throat and
straightened his tie as he tried to remember to breathe.

"I heard there's a great new Italian
restaurant opening in Lexington. Would you like to go out to dinner
with me next week?" Dinky tried to swallow, but forgot how. He also
forgot to breathe, but it didn't seem important right now.

"I'd love to. How's next Friday?"

"It's okay. I understand I'm not really your
type," Dinky sighed.

"You can pick me up at my place at
seven."

"I'll see you around." Dinky turned to leave
and then stopped and turned back to Chrystal. "I missed something,
didn't I?"

Chrystal laughed and Dinky felt his heart
flutter. "Yes, I'll go out with you. Pick me up at seven. Now, how
about you get me some of the Roses' apple cider and we'll plan what
to do after our date."

Dinky was sure someone was playing a trick
on him, but he nodded anyway and walked over to the refreshments.
If this was actually happening, then this was the best Christmas
present ever.

Lily, Daisy and Violet watched as Dinky
picked up two glasses of apple cider and walked back to Chrystal.
They placed their hands under the refreshment table and low-fived
each other. Tiny white Christmas lights twinkled from the ceiling.
Red and green ribbons hung elegantly over each of the doorways.

"I love Christmas, it's so romantic," Violet
sighed.

"Romantic, hah! It’s busy is what it is,"
Daisy grunted.

"That's one down. Now, who's next?" Lily
asked as she surveyed the room. Lily heard the bell over the front
door tinkle as she and her sisters turned to see who the latecomers
were. She cocked her head to one side and tried to figure out why a
big, fat Santa Claus had just walked in. They hadn't hired a Santa
for the party.