Page 223 of Screwged for Christmas

“Oh my God, we haven’t done that in, what? Forever? I think I was ten the last time.”

Their childhood game on the holidays came back and brought with it bittersweet memories. Her sister had invented the little rhyme when she wouldn’t stop crying over a broken doll one year. She’d told her to make a Christmas wish on the next star she saw in the winter sky and that her wish would come true. Sure enough that Christmas a new doll was under the little tree they had in their home the year before everything changed.

Maybe. Just maybe.

“Zahara. Good to see you.”

With a heavy sigh of frustration, Ivy eyed the doctor as he sauntered through the same door the nurse left minutes before. They both turned to the door as the middle-aged doctor walked back in with her sister’s files and printouts of her ultrasound.

“Depending on how you look at it, I have some very good news to share.”

Ivy crossed her legs and let her frustration out by swinging her leg. “Out with it, Doc. Can’t you tell she’s on pins and needles.”

“Yes! The suspense is killing me.” Zahara sat up and reached across the desk to take the ultrasound pictures the doctor handed her.

“As you can see, Ms. Kennedy, you’re going to have twins.”

Zahara rounded in her chair and the wide-eyed stare she had was beyond anything she’d ever seen on her sister. Joy, nervousness, and more joy poured out of her like a fountain with no shut-off valve. Her sister reached out andsqueed, something else she’d never seen from her sister. Alaska really did change her.

Zahara looked back at the images and stroked the tiny bubbles that were her little babies. “I’m so happy for you,” she offered, squeezing her hand between both of hers. And she was happy. Happy to know that when she left here Zahara would have a wonderful big family like she’d always dreamed of.

“It’s actually very common in the Savage family. I don’t know why I’m shocked. So are triplets according to Mrs. Savage.” Her sister went pale at the mention of three babies and the doctor smiled.

“Rest assured, Zahara, there are only two little tikes waiting to be spring babies. In your earlier visits we talked about a home birth. Do you still want to go that route?”

“Yes. Does having twins change that? Should I reconsider?”

“You’ll be fine. Besides, the clinic is only across the street from you and you are in perfect health.”

That’s one thing Ivy noticed right off about Savage Ridge. Everything was close by if not right next door. Probably so they didn’t freeze to death trying to get somewhere!

“I’ll see you next month for your next checkup. In the meantime, stay away from icy sidewalks and tell your husbands congratulations for me.”

“Will do! Thank you so much, Doctor.” Zahara pushed up and Ivy grabbed the door for them.

“Come on, let’s get outta here and get you back to your men so you can share the good news.”

“Yes. That sounds perfect.”

“I’ll drop you off and meet back up with you late this evening. How does that sound? Dinner at my place, well Damon’s. I can cook or we can find a private booth and catch up?”

“That sounds perfect.”

A tiny speck of jealousy wanted to take root, but Ivy refused to let the ugly green ball of gloom stick around. Something spectacular was happening for her sister and she needed to be there for her. It had been only them for so long and now her sister had so many other people.

Fact: She’d never felt more alone than she did now.

CHAPTER 6

Half an hour later Ivy passed her sister off to her overly ecstatic men and made her way back to the bar to find Damon kicking back on a bar stool, a large cup of something on the bar in front of him. Low Christmas tunes greeted her from the jukebox along with the soft jingle of the bell over the door.

Everyone had cleared out except Damon who sat at the bar. The barely noticeable shift in his posture as she walked in signaled he knew she was there. Her knowledge base may be limited, but she was a quick study of human nature.

If he turned to study her, he’d find her heartbeat going into overdrive at seeing his broad shoulders and wanting to find out what they felt like beneath the bite of her nails again.

Over the line of bottles situated on the back bar, Damon caught her gaze in the mirror and for half a heartbeat she faltered, shaken by the flash of amber staring at her.

“Everything go okay with your sister?”

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