Page 119 of Holiday on the Rocks
I stood next to the Christmas tree as We Wish You a Merry Christmas played quietly in the distance while fat snowflakes fell outside the window making it a picture perfect day.
But my morning was quickly swirling down the toilet. What in the bloody hell happened to change perfect Allie to a fire breathing hate machine?
I paced the living room when Evan entered. “We have a few hours before the wedding; you want to play cards?”
“Cards on are my list of things I don’t give a shit about.”
“Wow.”
“Sorry, but everything’s taken a turn this morning, and I don’t know why. It’s hard now.”
He shrugged. “Life is a dick, sometimes it gets hard for no reason.”
“You’re clearly the fountain of knowledge I’m not looking for today.”
“Calm down Karen.”
He sat in the chair next to the roaring fire I suddenly wanted to toss him into.
“Everything was good with Allie.” I looked around to make sure we were alone. “And now she suddenly hates me. Like hates me.”
“She’s probably overwhelmed. All her friends are here, Clint, and now her brother. If you didn’t do anything wrong, maybe just back off and give her some time.”
“Maybe. Nothing happened or changed, she’s just dealing with a lot. Yeah, that makes sense.”
Allie and Kristina walked down the stairs, and I whispered to Evan. “Get Kristina out of here.”
Evan sprung to his feet. “Kristina, Rachel’s been looking for you.”
“What?”
He walked past her. “Follow me.”
With that we were alone.
“Can I have a word with you?”
Her hands popped on her hips. “I thought I smelled something burning, are you trying to think again?”
“Allie, I don’t like this attitude.”
“That’s a shame. I’ll need one minute to recover from that tragedy.”
“Why are you saying these things?”
“If the things I say shock you, can you even imagine the things I’ve left unsaid? It’d blow your effing mind.”
Lexi came in from the kitchen as her eyes darted between us. “Allie, I made a little coffee bar in the kitchen with mocha and all the yummy stuff. Can I get you some?”
“I’ll have a vodka valium latte, please.”
I sat on the couch as Will came down the stairs and pointed to Lexi. “Hey, can you get everyone in here for a minute.”
Lexi yelled and everyone filtered in and found seats. Allie was looking everywhere but in my direction, and other than kidnapping her, I couldn’t think of another way to get a conversation to figure out what the hell had transpired today.
I stood next to the fireplace as Royce and Clint came down the stairs. Some days the supply of available curse words isn’t sufficient to meet my needs.
Evan walked over and spoke quietly. “Hey, are you feeling calmer?”
