One Silent Night (Romeo Family Romance #9) - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,6
this very minute. They’d ride off into the sunset, forgetting all the painful events that had wrenched them apart. Unfortunately, life wasn’t a fairytale. Noelle was certainly no princess and Holden wasn’t her knight in shining armor.
Birdie pointed. “What happened to your hand?”
Noelle sighed. “Oh, that.” She proceeded to tell Birdie about the accident. When she finished, a giggle burst through Birdie’s lips.
“You fell into Holden?” Her tone was incredulous.
“Yeah, can you believe it?” Noelle shook her head. “It was the perfect end to a perfect day,” she said sarcastically.
“I knew y’all would cross paths eventually, but I didn’t expect your first meeting to be quite so explosive.” Birdie’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Maybe that was fate’s way of giving you a little nudge.”
“More like fate’s way of hitting me square between the eyes.” She groaned. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do about Aiden. He’s out of control. I know the divorce has been tough on him, but he can’t keep bullying kids.”
Birdie frowned. “Did something happen today at school?” She stepped up to the island and reached her hand in a grocery bag. Together, she and Noelle worked to put the food away.
“He pushed a kid off the slide. His teacher called me.”
“Oh, wow. Have you talked to Aiden about it?”
“Yeah, we talked, but I don’t know if anything got through.”
Birdie placed a hand on Noelle’s arm. “It’ll get better. You’ll see.”
Tears pricked Noelle’s eyes as she looked away. “I hope so,” she sighed. “There’s just so much to deal with right now. Dottie is pressuring me to let Aiden go to Tybee Island with her, Trent, Kyle, and his bimbo actress girlfriend.” Acid rose in her throat.
Birdie’s eyes hardened. “What is that woman trying to pull? Y’all have a deal. You spent Thanksgiving in Atlanta and you’ll spend Christmas here.”
“That’s exactly what I told Dottie, but she keeps hounding me.”
Birdie’s voice went sharp, her eyes flashing fire. “Do you need me to talk to her?” Her blonde hair swished as her head moved.
A grin touched Noelle’s lips. “No, I can handle it.”
“If you need my help,” Birdie harrumphed, “just say the word.”
Oh, how Noelle loved her feisty aunt. Birdie was so much like Noelle’s mom in looks, mannerisms, and temperament. Birdie was a little taller and thinner than Joleigh had been, but otherwise, they could’ve passed for twins. Both sisters were beautiful and capable. Noelle’s mom had owned and run a bakery in Franklin, up until the day she died. Even from her hospital bed, she was on the phone, barking out orders to her employees, making sure that the bakery was running smoothly. Noelle hoped she could tap into the strength that her mom and Birdie had. She needed it now more than ever.
“How did your first day go at the salon?”
“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,” Noelle smirked.
“Try me.”
She told Birdie about Mrs. Smalley’s purple highlights.
Birdie’s jaw dropped to her feet. “Marjorie Smalley?”
Noelle bit down on her lower lip as she nodded.
Birdie let out a nervous giggle, her hand going over her mouth. “Oh, no. What did you do?”
“The only thing I could—put a dark rinse on it.”
“Wow, you have had an interesting day. How did Vivian react to the hair disaster? Marjorie is one of her best clients. And Marjorie has a loud mouth.” Birdie grimaced. “I’m sure news of her hair has circumvented Franklin several times by now.”
“I’m sure you’re right. Vivian wasn’t happy. She told me the only reason she didn’t fire me on the spot was because of my beauty pageant title. She thinks my former crown will bring in business.”
Birdie’s eyes rounded. “Are you serious?”
“Yep,” Noelle snipped. “It would seem that my graduating from one of the top cosmetology schools in the nation means absolutely nothing. The only reason Vivian hired me was because I’m a former Miss Georgia Royal.” Noelle had entered the pageant because her college roommate talked her into it, saying that it was something they could do together. Noelle had no idea that she would actually win.
Birdie grinned. “Well, it was quite the honor. Your mama was bursting with pride over it.” Her voice grew sentimental. “Remember how she put that picture of you up at the bakery?”
Laughter rose in Noelle’s throat. “You mean the one with me wearing a bikini?”
“That’s the one,” Birdie sang. “You had on that mile-high crown with your Miss Georgia sash draped over you.” Her hand flourished from her shoulder to her waist.