The frigging needles are poking my eyes. This is the best I can do, Frazier complained in what sounded suspiciously like a growl.
His tone was sure to aggravate his father, she thought.
Some people got Christmas cheer; she got David and Frazier fighting over the tree.
Where the hell had the spirit of the season gone, at least in her family? Actually, if she wanted to get philosophical, where had the spirit of the season gone in a large part of the known world? There were no real Norman Rockwell paintings. People walked by the Salvation Army volunteers without a glance; it seemed as if the only reason anyone put money in the kettle was that they were burdened by so much change that it was actually too heavy for comfort. Then they beat each other up over the latest electronic toy to hit the market.
Its nowhere near straight, David roared.
Put up your own fucking tree, then, Frazier shouted.
Son of a bitch David swore.
walkin in a winter wonderland.
Please, God, Skyler prayed silently, dont let my husband and my son come to blows on Christmas Eve.
Hey, Kat, you there?
Great, Skyler thought. Now David was getting their daughter involved.
Yeah, Dad, Im here. But I cant hold that tree any straighter. And I hope Brenda didnt hear you two yelling, Kat said.
Skyler headed out toward the living room, ready to head off a major family disaster, and paused just out of sight in the hall.
Had she been wrong? Should she have told her son he shouldnt bring Brenda home for the holidays? Hed turned twenty-two. He could have told her that he wasnt coming home, in that case, and was going to spend the holidays with Brendas family. And then she would have been without her first-born child. Of course, that was going to happen somewhere along the line anyway; that was life. With the kids getting older, it was already hard to get the entire family together.
Oh, so now I have to worryin my own houseabout offending the girl who came here to sleep with my son? David complained.
David wasnt a bad man, Skyler thought. He wasnt even a bad father. But he had different ideas about what was proper and what wasnt. They had been children themselves, really, when they had gotten married. She had been eighteen, and he had been nineteen. But even as desperately in love as they had been, there was no way either of them could have told their parents that they were going to live together.
Current mores might be much wiser, she reflected. Most of her generation seemed to be divorced.
What century are you living in, Dad? Frazier demanded. Apparently his train of thought was running alongside hers. Theres nothing wrong with Brenda staying in my room. Its not as if we dont sleep together back at school. You should trust my judgment. And dont go getting all Im so respectable, this girl better be golden. Were not exactly royalty, Dad. We own a bar, he finished dryly.
We own a pub, a fine family place, David snapped back irritably. And whats that supposed to mean, anyway? That pub is paying for college for both you and your sister.
Im just saying that some people wouldnt consider owning a bar the height of morality.
Morality? David exploded. Weve never once been cited for underage drinking, and were known across the country for bringing the best in Celtic music to the States.
Dad, its all right, Kat said soothingly. And youshut the hell up, she said, and elbowed her brother in the ribs. Both of youplay nice.
Skyler held her breath as Frazier walked away and headed upstairs, probably to make sure his girlfriend hadnt heard her name evoked in the family fight.
It was probably best. Her husband and son were always at each others throats, it seemed, while Kat was the family peacemaker, who could ease the toughest situation. Shed gone through her own period of teenage rebellion on the way to becoming an adult, and getting along with her had been hell for a while. But that was over, and now Kat was like Skylers miracle of optimism, beautiful and sweet. A dove of peace.
She wanted to think that she was a dove of peace herself, but she wasnt and she knew it.
She was just a chicken. A chicken who hated harsh tones and the sounds of disagreement. Sometimes she was even a lying chicken, for the sake of keeping the peace.
But this was Christmas. She had to say something to David. He really shouldnt be using that tonenot here, not now and not with Frazier.
Frazier justHe just wasnt a child anymore. He didnt always act like an adult, but that didnt make him a child. David was far too quick to judge and to judge harshly, while she was too quick to let anything go, all for the sake of peace. There had been hundreds of times through the years when she should have stepped in, put her foot down. Shed failed. So how could she blame others now for doing what shed always allowed them to do?
At last she stepped out of the shadows of the hallway and looked at the tree. Its lovely, she said.
Its crooked, David told her, his mouth set in a hard line.
Its fine, she insisted softly.
Thats what I say, Mom, Kat said. She was twenty-two, as well, their second-born child and Fraziers twin. She walked over to Skyler and set an arm around her mothers shoulders. Ill get going on the lights.
Ill get the lights up, David said. You can take it from there.
Skyler looked at her daughter. Kat could still show her temper on occasion, but she could stand against her father with less friction than Frazier. Maybe the problem with David and Frazier was a testosterone thing, like in a pride of lions. There was only room for one alpha male.
But this was Christmas. Couldnt they all get along? At least on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Other people counted their blessings; shouldnt they do the same? They had three beautiful, healthy children: Jamie, their youngest son, was sixteen, and then there were the twins. None of them had ever been in serious troublejust that one prank of Jamies, and that should be enough for anyone, shouldnt it?
Mom, Kat said, Ill decorate. Anyone who wants to can just pitch in.
David was already struggling with the lights, but he paused to look at Skyler for a moment. He still had the powerful look of a young man. His hair was thick and dark, with just a few strands of what she privately felt were a very dignified gray. She had been the one to pass on the rich red hair to her children, but the emerald-gold eyes that were so bewitching on Kat had come from her father.
Where have the years gone? she wondered, looking at him. He was still a good-looking and interesting man, but it was easy to forget that sometimes. And sometimes it was easy to wonder if being married wasnt more a habit than a commitment of the heart.
Skyler winced. She loved her family. Desperately.
Too desperately?
David cursed beneath his breath, then exploded. They can put a man on the moon, but they cant invent Christmas lights that dont tangle and make you check every freaking bulb.
Dad, they do make lights where the whole string doesnt go if one bulb is blown. Our lights are just old, Kat explained patiently.
Skyler looked at her daughter, feeling a rush of emotion that threatened to become tears. She loved her children equally, but at this moment Kat seemed exceptionally precious. She was stunning, of course, with her long auburn hair. Tall and slimthough, like many young women, she was convinced she needed to take off ten pounds. Those eyes like gold-flecked emeralds. And she had an amazing head on her shoulders.
Skyler looked at her daughter, feeling a rush of emotion that threatened to become tears. She loved her children equally, but at this moment Kat seemed exceptionally precious. She was stunning, of course, with her long auburn hair. Tall and slimthough, like many young women, she was convinced she needed to take off ten pounds. Those eyes like gold-flecked emeralds. And she had an amazing head on her shoulders.
Yeah, wellif we stayed in Boston and prepared for Christmas David muttered.
Not fair, she thought. He was the one who had found this place years ago and hed fallen in love with it first. Once upon a time, they had come here often. The kids had loved to leave the city and drive the two hours out to the country. They never left the state, but they went from the sea to the mountains. And everyone loved it.
She realized why she had wanted to come here so badly. It was a way to keep her family around her. It was a way to make sure that if her son and his father got into a fight over the Christmas turkey, Frazier couldnt just get up and drive off to a friends house. Was it wrong to cling so desperately to her children and her dream of family?
Mom, need any help in the kitchen? Kat asked. It was clearly going to be a while until the lights were up and she could start on the ornaments.
Skyler shook her head. Actually, Im fine. Everything is more or less ready. Were going traditional Irish tonightcorned beef, bacon, cabbage and potatoes, and its all in one pot. We can eat soon. Tomorrow well have turkey.
Want me to set the table while Dad argues with the lights? Kat asked.
Skyler grinned. See if you can help him argue with the lights, and Ill set the table. Well just eat in the kitchen, where its warm and cozy.
Kat smiled at her mother.
Skyler couldnt have asked for a better daughter, she thought as she made her way back to the kitchen. They shared clothes and confidences, and she had learned not to worry every time her daughter drove away.
With her daughter here
Skyler felt as if there were a chance for a Norman Rockwell Christmas after all.
Frazier came running down the stairs, followed by Brenda. They were an attractive couple, she had to admit. He was so tall, muscled without being bulky, with hair a deeper shade of red than his sisters. And he, too, had his fathers eyes. Next to him, Brenda was tiny, delicate. And blond.
Way too perfect, Kat had told her mother teasingly, since shed met Brenda first.
You might want to turn on the TV and check the weather update, Frazier said.
That storm is getting worse, Brenda added shyly.
Really? Skyler said, offering Brenda what she hoped was a welcoming smile. Not only was Brenda tiny and blond, her brilliant blue eyes made her look like a true little snow princess. Skyler had been relieved to learn that she was twenty-one. When shed first met the young woman, shed been terrified that Frazier had fallen for a teenager, but Brenda simply looked young because she was so petite. She tended to be shy, but she certainly seemed very sweet.
Okay, it would be nice if she talked a bit more to someone in the house other than Frazier, but really, what wasnt to like about her?
David was too entangled in the lights to find the remote. Skyler saw it on a chair and flicked the TV on. A serious-looking anchorman was delivering a warning.
Were looking at major power outages, and despite the fact that its Christmas Eve, because the weather is already turning vicious, we suggest that anyone who may have medical or other difficulties in the event of a power loss get to a hospital or a shelter now. And everyone should be prepared, with candles and flashlights within reach.
Ah-ha! David cried, and they all turned to stare at him.
He shrugged weakly. Sorry. I untangled the lights.
Lets get em up, and then lets eat, Skyler suggested cheerfully. With luck we can finish before the power blows, and if it does, we can play Scrabble by candlelight or something.
Wretched weather, Kat muttered, her attention turning back to the television. Mom, Dad, why didnt we buy a house on a Caribbean island?
We couldnt afford a house on a Caribbean island, David said, but he sounded a lot more cheerful than he had earlier. He hesitated, then said, Frazier, will you grab that end?
Frazier hesitated, as well, before saying, Sure, Dad.
Good. You two deal with the lights, and Ill get the food on the table, Skyler said.
Lets get Mister Sixteen and Rebellious down here, too, huh? Kat said. He can give us a hand.
Good idea, and would you get Uncle Paddy, too?
There was a short silence after she spoke. Perhaps shed even imagined it, she thought.
David wasnt thrilled about her uncle being there, she knew, and she was suddenly thankful that theyd both been born the children of Irish immigrants. He would never expect her to actually turn away a relative, even if he felt that Paddy was a drunk who deserved whatever he was suffering now. Which wasnt really fair, she thought, but David was entitled to his opinion.
Often enough, Uncle Paddy was the real Irish entertainment at the pub. In his own way, of course.
Kat sprang to life, dispelling whatever awkwardness there might have been. She grinned and ran halfway up the stairs, then called, Jamie! Jamie OBoyle! Get your delinquent ass down here on the double. Uncle Paddydinner.
I could have yelled myself, Skyler said.
But youd never have used such poetic language, Kat said, and even David laughed.
The first thing Craig realized when he came to was that his head was killing him.
Quintin packed one hell of a wallop.
He didnt know how long hed been out, didnt know how far they had come. All he knew was that even from where he lay, tossed into the backseat of their stolen vehicle, when he first cracked his eyes open it looked like the whole world had turned white.
Impossible.
He closed his eyes again, waited a long moment, then reopened them. The world was still white. It was snow, and not just snow, but fiercely blowing snow. Hell. It was a noreaster and a mean one. A blizzard.
He ached all over and wondered if anything in his body was broken.
And what about the old man they had robbed?
His stomach tightened painfully when he caught sight of a familiar stand of trees and realized he knew exactly where they were. For a moment, memories filled his mind and drove away the pain, and then every muscle in his body tensed in an effort at self-preservation, as the car suddenly spun and came to a violent halt in a snowdrift.
Asshole! Quintin shouted from the front seat.
Youre the asshole, Scooter returned savagely. You try driving in this shit.
Doesnt matter now. Were stuck. Well have to get out and walk.
Were in the middle of nowhere! Scooter protested.
No, were not. Theres a house right up there, Quintin snapped, pointing. I can see the lights in the windows.
What? Were going to drop in for Christmas dinner? Scooter demanded angrily.
Its still Christmas Eve, Quintin said. The season of peace and goodwill toward men.
Fine. Were going to crash somebodys Christmas Eve dinner? Scooter asked, sounding doubtful, even disbelieving, and thoroughly uneasy.