A Seagrove Christmas (South Carolina Sunsets #6) - Rachel Hanna Page 0,11
ones next Christmas.”
“I know. Of course, he wishes that it would’ve been for this Christmas, but it’s okay. Any progress is good progress.”
Janine leaned against the counter and took a bite of her sandwich, washing it down with a big gulp of sweet tea. “William is nervous because he’s going to be in the Christmas boat parade.”
“I didn’t know there was a boat parade.”
“Yeah. The town council asked him to be a part of it. It’s going to be great for his business because he gets to have a big sign on the side of his boat as it moves through the marsh during the parade. But we need to go out and buy all the decorations for it. I think I talked him in to dressing up like Santa Claus and waving at the kids. I’m going to be an elf and throw candy.”
Colleen laughed. “Aunt Janine, I love you, but you don’t have a powerful arm. How in the world are you going to get candy from the boat all the way over to the side of the marsh where the kids would stand?”
“Let me show you what I got.” Janine put her sandwich back on the plate and trotted over to the living room. She reached into a large plastic bag and pulled out a long plastic thing that launched tennis balls for dogs.
“You’re going to throw the candy at the children like they’re dogs?”
Janine nodded her head. “Kids love candy. They don’t care how they get it.”
* * *
Dixie sat on the porch, the night air crisp against her skin. Even though it was December, she still couldn’t stop wearing her favorite pajamas. But they weren’t nearly thick enough. She’d have to move to her flannel PJs soon enough.
When she heard the door open, she was expecting to see Harry standing there. Instead, it was Carrie. For a moment, she looked as though she wanted to back up into the house and pretend she’d never opened the door, obviously having assumed the porch was empty. Instead, she found Dixie sitting there on the swing, her slippered feet pushing off the concrete front porch.
“Come on out. There’s plenty of room,” Dixie said, always trying to be the friendly host. Her mother had taught her to welcome everyone, especially the ones you really didn’t want to welcome. She had been a devout Christian woman, and the strength she’d shown over her lifetime was something Dixie still aspired to at her age.
The last few days of Carrie being there had been difficult, to say the least. She barely uttered five words a day to Dixie, but Harry didn’t see it. Not wanting to cause a rift between Harry and his daughter, Dixie had smiled and played along.
“Thanks,” Carrie said, stepping out onto the porch with a cup of coffee in her hand. She was still wearing her day clothes, a thick gray sweater and a pair of jeans. She sat down in one of the white wicker rockers Dixie kept on her porch and took a sip of her coffee, warming her hands on the sides of the mug.
“I hope you enjoyed dinner.” Dixie had made her famous country fried steak with gravy and homemade biscuits. It was her favorite meal to make, and Harry said it’s what kept “meat on his bones” even with Parkinson’s.
“It was good. Thanks.”
The silence was deafening. Those uncomfortable pauses in conversation had always been hard for Dixie. She liked to hear people talking, laughing, interacting. When it was quiet, she struggled with what to say and do.
“So, any idea how long you plan to stay?”
Carrie looked at her, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “Is there a time limit?”
Dixie put her hand on her chest. “Of course not. I didn’t mean it that way…”
“It sounds like you’re ready for me to leave.”
Oh, now she’d really stepped in it. “No. Your father is really enjoying you being here.”
“Just my father, though, right? I mean, let’s be honest, Dixie. You’re not enjoying my presence here at all.”
Dixie bit her lips, trying not to let her feisty southern side out. That was a part of her personality she tried to keep under wraps unless she was fighting with a bill collector or talking to the IRS. “Carrie, I’d like to be honest with you.”
“Please do.”
The tension was so thick that Dixie was sure she could cut it with the dullest of butter knives. “I’ve felt very uncomfortable since you got here.”
“Well, at least