Darlene Gardner - The Christmas Gift

She left Alex and Krista and headed for Rayna.

“Nice misdirection,” Alex said.

“Thank you.” Krista executed a little bow. “I learned that from my Grandma. Anytime Mom says something Grandma doesn’t like, Grandma changes the subject. That’s probably how she’s been able to live under the same roof with my mom all these years.”

“I think it’s because Grandma Novak doesn’t take herself too seriously.” Alex had resumed walking toward the next house on their list, and Krista fell into step beside him. “She keeps things in the house light.”

“You mean because my dad’s in a wheelchair?” Krista couldn’t hold back the question, both wanting to hear how her father was coping eight and a half years after the accident and not wanting to know. Except couldn’t she make an educated guess? Her father had been mostly sequestered in the office by himself since she arrived. That didn’t paint a picture of a well-adjusted man.

“Well, yeah,” he said, “but not only because your dad’s paralyzed. Rayna’s twenty-one going on thirty-one, and your parents…how can I say this…? They like to agree to disagree.”

Krista couldn’t have summed up her family more succinctly than that, especially Rayna. She didn’t know her sister well enough to make an astute observation.

“Diplomatically put,” she said.

“Eleanor and Joe don’t put anything diplomatically,” Alex said with a grin. “Used to freak me out until I caught on that was the way they interacted.”

It had taken Krista most of her childhood to reach that realization. “You know my family awfully well.”

“That happens when you live next door,” he said.

Even though he openly disapproved of her own dealings with her family, Krista couldn’t pass up this chance to find out more about her sister’s life. She already knew Rayna had five months of school left. It was the personal stuff that interested Krista more.

“Do you know what the deal is with Rayna’s boyfriend?” she asked. “Any guess why he didn’t show tonight?”

“Trey? It’s hard to sum him up. He’s a bit of a free spirit.”

“So he’s irresponsible?” Krista asked.

“More like irrepressible. It’s impossible not to like the guy. If there’s a good time to be had, Trey will find it,” Alex said. “But he’s not the caroling type.”

“Neither are you,” Krista pointed out.

“Hey, I come every year,” he said.

“Do you always sing so loud?”

“Pretty much. I fake confidence.” He laughed. “That’s what us guys do when we’re in over our heads.”

“Good thing I’m here to keep you in line,” Krista said.

“Oh, yeah. I just love having a woman around who’s blunt enough to tell me I sound like I’m dying.”

“Not dying—wounded,” Krista said. “The wounded have greater lung capacity.”

He threw back his head and let out another deep chuckle. Krista joined in. They’d laughed a lot in the past, too, including over the spilled poinsettias. She found it attractive that he didn’t take himself too seriously.

Grandma Novak caught up to them on the sidewalk with Charlie Crosby next to her. “We’re sticking with you two. You’re having more fun than everyone else.”

“It does the heart good to see a young couple enjoying each other,” Charlie remarked.

Krista shook her head. “We’re not a couple.”

“Really?” Charlie wore a long black coat with a top hat that might have looked foolish on anyone else. On Charlie, it looked dignified. “You’ve never been a couple?”

Krista exchanged a look with Alex, silently requesting help in how to handle the situation. He shrugged.

“Aha! I saw that look!” Grandma cried. “I knew something went on between you after the poinsettias dropped!”

“It was a long time ago, Grandma.” To Charlie, she clarified, “Eight years.”

Charlie tipped his top hat. “Bully for you for managing to keep the spark alive.”

Charlie could tell there was still fire between them? That could only lead to problems. “Alex and I didn’t keep in touch.”

“So the spark reignited?” Charlie asked.

“There is no spark,” Krista lied. She tugged on Alex’s arm. “Tell them, Alex.”

“No spark,” he agreed.

“Can both the lady and gentleman protest too much?” Grandma asked.

Krista was about to object more vigorously when her grandmother laughed. “You should see your face, Krista. We’re teasing!”

“I wasn’t,” Charlie stated. “I really think they look like a couple.”

The rest of the carolers were gaining on them. Krista expected her mother to be leading the way, demanding to know what they’d been discussing. Her mom, though, must have kept her word and returned home.

“Appearances can be deceiving,” Krista told Charlie with more levity than she felt.

At the next house, Milo was deputized to ring the doorbell because he carried the care basket corresponding to the address.

Alex stepped aside so his father could move to the front of the group. “It’s come to my attention that it’s better if I keep to the rear,” Alex remarked.

Milo patted his son on the shoulder. “Somebody finally told you that you can’t sing, huh?” He nodded at Krista. “Good girl.”

“I took it like a man,” Alex said. “Didn’t even cry.”

Krista grinned at him. Alex smiled back.

“You two are the cutest couple!” the neighbor lady who sang in the church choir remarked as she passed by with her husband to their rightful place at the front and center of the carolers.

“Did I hear right?” Rayna was the last to arrive. She addressed her question to Alex, not even glancing at Krista. “Do you and my sister have something going on?”

“Nope,” Alex said. “Not a thing.”

Krista listened to Alex’s casual denial with dismay. He seemed to think this troubling development was no big deal. If she were a member of just about any other family, she’d be inclined to agree. Priority number one was getting Alex alone so she could explain the precariousness of their situation.

It was either that or suffer through a couple days of hell.

ALEX HAD NEVER BEEN more glad for a song to be over.

The temperature seemed to have dropped at least ten degrees since they’d started caroling, although there was no sign of the snow that was in the forecast.

Grandma Novak had invited everybody to her house for hot chocolate and eggnog. The group made excellent time traveling the few blocks back to White Point Road, possibly because the wind was at their back.

“Mulled wine would be good, too,” Grandma remarked before she went into the house. “I know we have mulling spices but I’m not sure how much wine we’ve got.”

“We have some wine,” Alex offered. “I’ll stop by next door and get a bottle.”

“I’ll come with you,” Krista offered.

Alex wondered at her change of heart. Since they’d been mistaken for a couple, Krista had maneuvered to keep one caroler between them at all times.

“I’m anxious to see what Alex and his dad have done with the house. I used to play over there all the time when I was a kid.” Krista broadcast her reason as though she were a politician addressing an assembly. It gained her curious looks.

“We haven’t done much.” Milo stomped his feet and rubbed his hands to keep warm. “Why do you think we always hang out at your parents’ house?”

“Go on, you two.” Grandma Novak swept her right arm toward the house next door. “And take your time. There’s no rush on the mulled wine.”

The inside of the one-story ranch-style home where Alex lived with his father was nearly identical in layout to the Novaks’. A living room, kitchen and dining room accounted for one side of the house. A hall leading to the bedrooms and bathroom took up the other. The warmth from the radiator heating system made it feel cozy after the chill of the outdoors. Alex cocked an eyebrow at Krista’s scarf, hat and red winter coat.