Big Man for Christmas - Penny Wylder Page 0,6

he scowls at me. “I’m old, Casey, I’m not an invalid.”

I just grin as I push through the door. “Never said you were, Mr. Doubleday.”

“Say,” he calls after me, “you live over by the Farrell Farm, right?”

“Sure do,” I say, glad that I’m facing away from him so that I can roll my eyes.

“Well you’ll never guess who’s back in town.”

Taking a deep breath, I head back outside for the rest of the wood, listening to Mr. Doubleday start the gossip train all over again.

3

Carley

I wake to the sound of running footsteps. Lots of screaming about the fact that it snowed, it’s time for sledding, and the slamming of doors, drawers, and suitcases as all the kids in the house race to see who can get ready to go outside the fastest.

I remember when I was that age and all I wanted to do was get outside and play in the insane amounts of snow that freak Tennessee storms dump on us. But right now all I want to do is go back to sleep.

Not that that would be easy. My neck is already stiff from sleeping on this bed. The thin and lumpy twin mattress is a hand-me-down that my mother seemed determined never to get rid of. I’m not sure why. It is her not subtle punishment for the way I spoke to her at the airport and the fact that I ignored her for the rest of the car ride home.

Normally this would be the kids’ room. A rite of passage that every child and visiting family member has to go through. But since Mom is mad at me, and I’ decided to show up to Christmas alone, the kids are staying in the nice guest room next to my sister Jessica and her husband Rhett. After all, why should one person have a giant bed all to herself when there are two people who need it? That, and the kids ‘could be closer to their parents in case they need something.

As if the room I am in isn’t just ten feet further down the hallway.

No, this is my mother’s revenge. Pure and simple revenge for not doing what she thinks I should do: sucking it up and staying with a cheater, no matter what that costs me personally.

Dragging myself up off the bed, I sigh, rolling my neck to try to get out the kinks. I’m sure that I’ll get used to it after a couple days, but man, it’s uncomfortable. I pull up the shade and look outside. Sure enough, it did snow. But it’s a Tennessee snow. It’ll probably melt by tonight and refreeze into ice by morning. Which is why the kids were rushing to get to it while it’s still fun to play in.

I laugh to myself, wishing them luck It will probably be more mud than snow in a couple of hours. For the adults, the roads will be hell both today and tomorrow.

Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I dig through my suitcase for some clothes. If the kids are up that means the rest of the house is up, and I’m not about to give my mother more ammunition by sleeping late. That’s the last thing I need.

My phone chimes. I ignore the sound because I know it’s Tyler. That’s his text tone, and I have less than zero interest in anything that he has to say right now. He probably spent last night at Andi’s house, fucking her silly.

I dismiss the notification and turn off the sound on my phone. That will fix the problem. After another moment of thinking, I toss my phone into my bag and leave it there. The only person that will call me on it now that I’m here is Tyler, and I’m not going to answer it anyway.

My mom and sister are in the kitchen when I go downstairs, prepping breakfast for everyone. The big Farrell family breakfasts are a staple of Christmas vacation. They’re expected. My mom spots me. “There you are, thought you would sleep all morning.”

Glancing at the clock, it’s only eight in the morning. I take a deep breath. Clearly she’s still pissed. That’s fine. I’m still pissed at her too. “What are we making?”

“Pancakes,” Jessica says. “Fruit salad, bacon, sausage. The works, since it’s the first day that everyone is together.”

My mother snorts under her breath.

Jessica looks at me cautiously. “We’ll get it done while the menfolk are outside making sure the kids don’t kill each other.”

“What do