Hating Christmas (Holiday Series) by Carol Rose Page A
Authors: Carol Rose
dinner.
* * * * * * *
* *
CHAPTER SIX
Wiping her mouth with a cloth napkin, Audrey said,
“Holly, guess what I saw when I got the ornaments out of the shed
yesterday?”
“I have no idea.” Holly lifted her head to look at
her mother and her reddish hair glinted in the light streaming from
the dining room’s bay window.
Levi found himself wondering if she’d ever succumbed
to a natural desire to see what blonde hair did for her. It would
be a shame to tame that wild fire on her head, but he knew from
something his girl cousin had said once that kids could be cruel to
anyone who was different.
“…maybe Levi would like to go with you.”
The sound of his name jerked Levi back to the moment
and he realized that both Audrey and Holly were looking at him—the
one with smiling encouragement and the other with skepticism.
“Mom,” Holly chided, “Levi grew up in California.
He’s never been sledding. I’m sure he has no interest in it and he
probably doesn’t even have the clothes for it.”
If he thought she was really concerned for his
well-being, Levi might have appreciated her intervention, but from
the look on her face, she clearly didn’t think he was capable of a
little simple sledding. The realization fired his competitive
spirit.
“I have some warm things that might fit you, son,”
his dad spoke up eagerly before Levi could respond. “We’re about
the same size.”
“It would be a shame not to try out your old sled,”
Audrey insisted. “I saw it and your spare one hanging in the shed
rafters. Remember how you used to love sledding when we came on our
holiday visits?”
“Sledding sounds like fun.” Levi sent her a
challenging look.
Holly flashed him a glance that conveyed both
annoyance and doubt. “Mom, it’s not polite to insist on Levi
sledding. He didn’t have the benefit of regular visits here. He’s
probably never ridden a sled before in his life.”
“How hard can it be?” Levi placed his napkin next to
his plate, feeling as if his manhood was being challenged. He’d
seen the old Hollywood movies—people laughing as they sailed down
hill— and it didn’t look that hard. Daring her with a grin, Levi
waited.
“That’s my boy!” His dad got up and came around the
table. “Let’s go get you suited up.”
“Mom…? I don’t think….” Holly stopped, seeming to
realize no one was listening.
Michael chortled. “Levi’s always been an athlete.
Good at everything he tried in high school and college. You better
watch out, Holly, he’ll leave you in the snowy dust!”
“Thanks, Dad.” Levi got up from the table, following
his dad, and throwing Holly another smile.
“Holly’s been sledding at Christmas since our first
visit back here when she was eight!” Audrey championed her daughter
as she started to clear the table.
Holly looked even more irritated. “Mom, I’m sure
those old sleds are rusted and unusable and I should stay to help
you clean up.”
“Nonsense. They looked perfectly fine. The cobwebs
probably protected them.” Her mother started stacking the plates.
“Michael will help me. Besides, I bet you could easily beat Levi
down the hill. After all, you’re the one who’s been sledding since
you were eight. You can wear my snowsuit.”
“I’ll get bundled up and meet you on the porch in ten
minutes,” Levi promised. “Remember, I still owe you for the
snowball incident this morning.”
Twenty minutes later, Holly stood at the bottom of
the snowy hill that rose behind her mother’s home, clutching an old
wooden sled that looked way smaller than she remembered. The sun
was a watery yellow above them. She hadn’t been sledding since her
first year of college, but she remembered the basics. She was a
little surprised that Levi agreed to this. He had no idea what he
was getting into here and the thought made her giggle to herself.
The first few times she’d tried to control a sled, she’d struggled
to get the pull just right to direct
* * * * * * *
* *
CHAPTER SIX
Wiping her mouth with a cloth napkin, Audrey said,
“Holly, guess what I saw when I got the ornaments out of the shed
yesterday?”
“I have no idea.” Holly lifted her head to look at
her mother and her reddish hair glinted in the light streaming from
the dining room’s bay window.
Levi found himself wondering if she’d ever succumbed
to a natural desire to see what blonde hair did for her. It would
be a shame to tame that wild fire on her head, but he knew from
something his girl cousin had said once that kids could be cruel to
anyone who was different.
“…maybe Levi would like to go with you.”
The sound of his name jerked Levi back to the moment
and he realized that both Audrey and Holly were looking at him—the
one with smiling encouragement and the other with skepticism.
“Mom,” Holly chided, “Levi grew up in California.
He’s never been sledding. I’m sure he has no interest in it and he
probably doesn’t even have the clothes for it.”
If he thought she was really concerned for his
well-being, Levi might have appreciated her intervention, but from
the look on her face, she clearly didn’t think he was capable of a
little simple sledding. The realization fired his competitive
spirit.
“I have some warm things that might fit you, son,”
his dad spoke up eagerly before Levi could respond. “We’re about
the same size.”
“It would be a shame not to try out your old sled,”
Audrey insisted. “I saw it and your spare one hanging in the shed
rafters. Remember how you used to love sledding when we came on our
holiday visits?”
“Sledding sounds like fun.” Levi sent her a
challenging look.
Holly flashed him a glance that conveyed both
annoyance and doubt. “Mom, it’s not polite to insist on Levi
sledding. He didn’t have the benefit of regular visits here. He’s
probably never ridden a sled before in his life.”
“How hard can it be?” Levi placed his napkin next to
his plate, feeling as if his manhood was being challenged. He’d
seen the old Hollywood movies—people laughing as they sailed down
hill— and it didn’t look that hard. Daring her with a grin, Levi
waited.
“That’s my boy!” His dad got up and came around the
table. “Let’s go get you suited up.”
“Mom…? I don’t think….” Holly stopped, seeming to
realize no one was listening.
Michael chortled. “Levi’s always been an athlete.
Good at everything he tried in high school and college. You better
watch out, Holly, he’ll leave you in the snowy dust!”
“Thanks, Dad.” Levi got up from the table, following
his dad, and throwing Holly another smile.
“Holly’s been sledding at Christmas since our first
visit back here when she was eight!” Audrey championed her daughter
as she started to clear the table.
Holly looked even more irritated. “Mom, I’m sure
those old sleds are rusted and unusable and I should stay to help
you clean up.”
“Nonsense. They looked perfectly fine. The cobwebs
probably protected them.” Her mother started stacking the plates.
“Michael will help me. Besides, I bet you could easily beat Levi
down the hill. After all, you’re the one who’s been sledding since
you were eight. You can wear my snowsuit.”
“I’ll get bundled up and meet you on the porch in ten
minutes,” Levi promised. “Remember, I still owe you for the
snowball incident this morning.”
Twenty minutes later, Holly stood at the bottom of
the snowy hill that rose behind her mother’s home, clutching an old
wooden sled that looked way smaller than she remembered. The sun
was a watery yellow above them. She hadn’t been sledding since her
first year of college, but she remembered the basics. She was a
little surprised that Levi agreed to this. He had no idea what he
was getting into here and the thought made her giggle to herself.
The first few times she’d tried to control a sled, she’d struggled
to get the pull just right to direct