Page 23 of A Dye Hard Holiday
How dare he? Gabe was supposed to know me better than anyone, but he thought I actually hit that woman over a thirty-dollar plastic toy.
I wanted to hold onto that anger, but I had to admit that the atmosphere at the Christmas tree farm was majestic. The buildings looked like rustic log cabins you’d expect to see in the mountains. I saw a gift shop, a café where you could buy hot beverages and other goodies to eat on your excursion, and the stable where you boarded the sled. Each of the buildings were decorated with tasteful white Christmas lights. I guess I expected something cheesy like dancing snowmen or Santa inflatables instead of the Norman Rockwell experience it turned out to be.
“Mom, can you take the twins a minute, so I can talk to Josh?”
“Sure,” both moms replied.
“I’m not sure I want to talk to you right now, Gabe,” I said after he pulled me to the rear of the vehicle.
“I know that you don’t, but I don’t like this tension between us.” Gabe breathed deeply, held it for a few heartbeats, then released it slowly. “I know damn well that you didn’t hit some lady at the fucking toy store. I knew it before my mom snatched me by the shirt and made me watch that woman throw herself down and scream foul.” He ran the back of his hand over my cheek before trailing his fingers over my lips. “I was just worried that you could’ve been hurt. You know I don’t react well when your safety is in question.”
“I know,” I replied softly. I couldn’t hold onto my hissy fit when he looked at me with his melted-chocolate eyes. Damn him. “What about the rest of it?”
“Sunshine, I will never be the father who stifles his children. If Dylan wants to be a cheerleader then I promise to be the best cheer dad on the planet. If Destiny wants to play softball, I’ll teach her how to slide into home base. Tell me that you believe me.”
“I do.” I knew in my heart that Gabe was just using examples earlier and not trying to pigeonhole our kids into gender specific roles. “I’m sorry too. I should’ve been smarter.”
“Hopefully, it will all blow over,” Gabe said. “If not, my mom is ready to release her video on You TV.” He rolled his eyes. “Even I know it’s called YouTube.”
“What else is bothering you?” I asked when I saw that our reconciliation only chipped away at his tension.
“Damn Christmas Bandits struck again.”
“Bandits?” I questioned.
“They hit too many houses for it to be one person and not get caught.”
“What happened this time?”
“They cut the wires for exterior lights and stole a bunch of lawn ornaments,” Gabe replied. “I had hoped the incident at Santa’s Village was going to be an isolated stupid prank, but it’s not looking good.”
“I’m sorry, babe. I know you’re going to arrest these Christmas Bandits.”
“We better get going if we’re going to find a tree while there’s still light,” Al said, interrupting us.
“Be right there, Dad,” Gabe replied. “But not before I do this.” He gave me a quick kiss full of passion and promise. “Let’s go find our perfect tree.”
The sleigh ride was fun, the hot chocolate was delicious, and we found the most amazing tree for our family room. As nice as all of that was, my favorite part was when Gabe took off his coat to reveal a red-and-black-checked flannel shirt. He rolled up his sleeves and began chopping down the tree with the ax in smooth, steady swings. His big strong hands, and thick forearms made me shiver hard and sweat beneath the fur-lined flannel blanket.
I finally understood the hype about lumbersexuals, and I was going to show him my wood at my earliest opportunity.
DAMN, WHOSE BRIGHT IDEAwas it to cut down the fucking tree and drag the fucker home? Oh, yeah. Mine.I was starting to get grumpy until I saw that familiar, but never old, gleam in Josh’s eyes that told me something I was doing turned him on. I was so getting lucky, even though I’d acted like a jerk. Because I wanted to please my husband, I really gave him a show. I put everything I had into my swings and went full-out Paul Bunyan on that bitch.
“You might want to take it easy,” my dad called out. “You don’t want to throw your back out.”
I scoffed of course because I was in the best shape of my… “Oh, fuck!” I dropped the ax to the ground, narrowly missing my toes on my right foot, when the mother of all spasms wracked my lower back. “Son of a bitch!”
“Gabe!” my mother admonished. “The children.” She and Bertie placed their hands over Dylan and Destiny’s ears, which were covered with both a thick, knit hat and the hood of their snowsuits. They were a scarf away from looking like Randy fromA Christmas Story. Even if they did hear through the multiple layers, those kids had heard far worse from the birds.
“Hurts bad.”Damn me and all my showing off.
Josh was there in a flash, his hands rubbing up and down my back. “Baby, what can I do?” I tried to stand up but another spasm wracked my body hard. It hurt so bad I thought I was going to puke.
“I have muscle relaxers at home, son,” my dad said when he joined Josh and me. “I get spasms occasionally and they’re the very devil. Add in a hot shower and you’ll be just fine. Let me help you to the sleigh.” My dad was the only one big enough to support my weight. I threw my arm around his neck and leaned into him while Josh walked ahead to move everyone around so I could sit in the front row. I was pissy that I was missing my chance to grope him beneath the blanket in the back row of the sleigh.
“We can’t leave without the tree,” I said between gritted teeth.
“I’ll finish it,” he said. “You could’ve had that thing cut in two by now if you weren’t showing off for your man.” His chuckle rumbled from his chest. “I swear to God, you’re just like your old man. Flexing your muscles and carrying on.”