Page 14 of December Wishes
“That’s why we split it!”
Sunny relented, but only because she was tired of Brandy nagging her.True married life right there. I nag her to lay off the wine at the end of the week, she nags me to smoke pot. Makes total sense.“What kind of peer pressure is this, huh?” She had almost forgotten how to hold a blunt. How long had it been, again? Maybe she was too old for this. “Did you miss all those D.A.R.E. programs in the ‘90s?”
“The whatta?”
“Right.” Sunny took a hit, amazed that she didn’t have an instant reaction.Maybe I remember how to do this after all…“You’re older than me. War on drugs hadn’t screwed up your high school life yet.”
Sunny had to reorient herself after a minute.Whoa.This stuff was kinda strong. Nice flavor, but where in the world had Brandy procured it? The only place to legally get pot in Paradise Valley was the single dispensary on the edge of town, and Sunny had heard mixed reviews. Then again, Brandy had some money. She could spring for the good stuff. Like good stuff from Portland, where every street boasted at least one dispensary – or so Sunny heard.
“Good, huh?” Brandy cleared her throat and passed the blunt back to her wife. “Feeling any better?”
“Yeah. Feeling… kinda loose.”
“Loose?What definition of the word are we using here, Ms. Croker?”
Sunny propped her chin upon her wife’s shoulder and gazed at nothing in particular. “Whatever definition makes you happy.”
“Uh, we have guests.”
Sunny took one last hit. “You are the best person in the world, Brandy. You always know exactly what I need.”
“I am your doctor, after all.”
That was a lie. Conflict of interest, yes? Sunny got her first opinions from a medical complex in the next big town over. Brandy always disagreed with what Sunny’s primary care provider said, but that was part of the fun of being married to a doctor.
“What do you prescribe after this?”
“After the party? I think youknowwhat I prescribe!”
“Yeah, you’re high. You’re verbally horny.” Sunny sputtered in laughter. “Verbally horny?I’m high, too.”
She also really wanted some pizza.
Chapter 9
KAREN & DAHLIA
Any party Karen didn’t have to throw was a good one in her book.
She was sousedto throwing parties, after all. As the mayor of a lively little town, there was always something to orchestrate and organize. That time of year, she got a small reprieve. No Pride. No Paradise Days. No Fourth of July. Instead, she kicked back and…
…Talked about the town Christmas Tree Lighting.
“I’m serious,” said Casper Quaid, one of Dahlia’s film industry besties who had come up from California to check out Paradise Valley before Christmas. He was, after all, helping a production company edit the documentary about the town. “Think about it. Real candles. Not on the tree, of course…”
“I should hope note,” Dahlia snorted. “Talk about a fire hazard.”
“…But offer a lit candle to every townsperson and tourist who comes by to check out the lighting.Greatphoto-op.”
“Still a fire hazard,” Karen said. Speaking of, was someone keeping an eye on that fire blazing only a few feet away? While Karen appreciated the heat, she would rather have no fire and no need to worry about Waterlily House going down in a blaze. “I don’t trust half the people in this town tonotintentionally start something.”
Karen nearly chortled. “Really? Half?”
“Bless their hearts, but lots of people aren’t that bright.”
“Got anyone in mind when you say that?”
“You’re nuts if you think I’m naming names.”Let’s start with my own daughter.Oh, Christina was pretty book smart. She got good grades. She did not, however, make great life decisions.
