A Christmas Memory 2 Read online

  A Christmas Memory 2

  Max Vos

  2015

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  A Christmas Memory 2

  Copyright © 2015 by Max Vos

  Editor: K.C. Wells, Taylor Law

  Cover Art by A.J. Corza

  Cover content is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

  The trademarked products mentioned in this book are the property of their respective owners, and are recognized as such

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law.

  DEDICATION

  To my friends, Lauren, Kimberly, Julie and Dan

  who I have decided to include in this story.

  A Christmas Memory 2

  “Do you ever think he’ll get tired of that video?”

  Maggie Sutton stopped and turned around to look at her son-in-law, J.J. “I’m sure he will… in ten years or so.” She laughed.

  J.J. could hear his husband, Adam Sutton, doing a step-by-step narration in the living room, no doubt boring the others to tears. They must have seen it at least five times or so in the last seven months.

  J.J. sighed. “It’s just so—embarrassing.”

  “Sweetie, he's just proud, is all. It was such a beautiful wedding. The two of you were so handsome in your white suits, and when he said his vows to you, it was really heartwarming. I knew it would be. That’s why I refused to let Andrea put mascara on me. I knew I’d cry and didn’t want it running all down my face. You not only made Adam happy, but me as well.”

  J.J. stirred the creamed spinach before looking at his new mother-in-law. “I still feel guilty.”

  “Pfft, I know why you're feeling that way and you have no reason to. As far as I’m concerned, you did this family a big favor.”

  “When things went sour between Matt and Leanne, it must have ripped Matt’s heart out,” J.J. said with a sigh.

  “J.J., that relationship was doomed from the beginning. Whether it was because of you and Adam or something else, it was bound to occur and I’m glad it did before they tied the knot.” Maggie shook her head. “Leanne would never have been happy with Matt, and I’m relieved there were no kids involved.”

  “I was sure Matt would resent me for it.”

  J.J. pulled a bowl close to put the spinach in as Maggie handed him a potholder. “Matt knew she was wrong in what she said, and he loves his brothers, especially Adam. Besides, Andrea had a good long talk with him.”

  “Still—”

  “Don’t. Just don’t. What she did was nothing less than appalling. And then, there was where she did it.”

  “Did I just hear my name?” Andrea came waddling into the kitchen, her stomach arriving first.

  “Andrea, what are you doing up? You need to stay off your feet, dear, and don’t you dare have that baby in my kitchen.”

  J.J.’s very pregnant sister-in-law took a chair at the large kitchen table, her belly jutting out. She smiled at her mother-in-law. “Don’t worry, Mom, I’m not due for another week.”

  Maggie Sutton smirked. “Babies come when they’re ready, not on someone else’s schedule.”

  Andrea regarded her new brother-in-law. “No offense, J.J., but I can’t sit through that video one more time. I think I know it word for word, along with Adam’s constant narration.”

  “Don’t be sorry, Andy, I’m just as over it as you are,” J.J. huffed, a frown crossing his brow. “I think I need to put a stop to this before Luke throttles him.”

  Maggie chuckled. “Don’t be too hard on him, dear. Like I said, he’s just proud.”

  “Yeah, proud, my patootie. He’s gonna bore everyone to death before dinner.” J.J. turned the corner into the living room. Just as he’d expected, Luke seemed as if he was ready to chew nails and Matt looked miserable. J.J. could see Luke’s three boys outside through the window, playing with their new football.

  “Hey, babe, I was just—”

  “I can see and hear what you were ‘just doing’, babe. If you don't turn that thing off, I’m going to stomp on it and grind it to dust. If we have to see, hear, or listen to you go on about that video one more time, I’ll make sure every copy made disappears.”

  “But, baby—”

  J.J. lowered his head slightly and tried for his best stop, now, or else look.

  “Yeah, okay.”

  J.J. shook his head slightly before spinning around. I must have gotten that just right. He chuckled to himself as he returned to the kitchen.

  “Thanks, J.J.,” Luke called out as he was about to leave the room. “I was about to punch him in the face if I heard, ‘And then—’”

  J.J. glanced over his shoulder, then turned back around, watching the interaction between the brothers. He loved watching them together. It was something he’d never experienced, being an older child.

  “Oh, come on, Luke, it isn’t that bad.” Adam scowled at his eldest brother.

  “Yeah, it is,” Matt said. “Every time we get together, you pull out that damn video.”

  “Fine. I’ll not play it again, if that’s the way you feel.” Adam huffed as he got up and went to the DVD player. “How about—”

  “How about you put on some nice music?” J.J. interjected, still standing there, hands on his hips. “Dinner is just about ready.”

  “Great, I’m starving.” Luke got up and stretched, the tips of his fingers touching the ten foot high ceilings.

  “Me too,” Matt added, also getting up.

  J.J. stood there. Looking at the three Sutton brothers, he could understood full well why they used to be called ‘the wall’ while playing high school football.

  “You boys get washed up for dinner,” Andrea yelled from the kitchen.

  “Yes, ma’am,” the brothers called out in unison.

  “Boys, come get cleaned up for dinner,” Luke called from the front door to his three rowdy sons.

  J.J. went back into the kitchen to help Maggie finish dishing up their Christmas dinner. “I swear, Maggie, I don’t know how you did it. Your grocery bill must have been sky-high while they were all three at home.”

  “Tell me about it. It wasn’t always easy keeping enough food on the table for those three. There were times when I thought I was surely going to die, either from going to the store or standing up cooking. Thank goodness for their father. As you know, he could cook as well as I could. Only reason why I didn’t go bonkers.” She laughed.

  “Here,” J.J. said, taking the huge ham out of the elder woman’s hands. “I’ll take that on out to the dining room.”

  He had just sat the large glazed ham on the table when Adam came into the dining room, a scolded puppy-dog look on his face.

  J.J. crooked his finger at Adam, motioning him to come closer. He reached up and pulled Adam down for a quick kiss.

  “Thought you were mad at me,” Adam said softly, his lower lip protruding slightly.

  “No, hun, not mad at you, just irritated, as everyone else is when you keep showing our wedding video.”

  “Is it so wrong to want to relive the happiest day of my life?”

  “No, Adam, it isn’t wrong, but enough is enough. Everyone’s seen it at least once a month since the wedding. That makes a minimum of six times you
’ve shown that movie, and it’s getting a bit old.”

  Adam Sutton hung his head, his chin almost touching his chest. “Okay. I get it.”

  “Come on. Help me carry the rest of the food to the table.” J.J. kissed his husband quickly before turning back towards the kitchen.

  Once all the food was on the table and everyone seated, Maggie cleared her throat. They all knew it was time to join hands and wait for the expected prayer over the Christmas feast. Although J.J. wasn’t religious, he bowed his head and closed his eyes, more out of respect than anything else, as Maggie said a quick prayer for their lavish meal. As soon as the word ‘Amen’ was out of her mouth, the food started making its way around the table. The atmosphere was jovial and good-natured as the youngsters regaled, in great detail, all the new treasures they had received for Christmas.

  When everyone had started eating and paying compliments to the cooks, primarily Maggie and J.J., the matriarch seated at one end of the table cleared her throat. “I have a little announcement.” All faces turned toward her. “I’m going to let Luke and Andrea take the house.”

  Everyone at the table froze, all looking at Maggie.

  “Ma…what are you talking about?” Luke managed to ask after swallowing a mouthful of ham.

  “If you and Andrea want it, that is.” Maggie took a bite of orange-cranberry relish that J.J. had made. “Oh, J.J., this is delicious. You must give me the recipe.”

  “Uh, sure, Maggie.” He felt as confused as everyone else looked. Is Maggie going somewhere?

  Luke gazed at his very pregnant wife before turning his gaze back to his mother. “Ma, you want to clue us in as to what you’re thinking about here?”

  “It’s quite simple really. I don’t need this big ol’ house, and you do. You’ve been trying to get a bigger house and every time you find one, it gets bought right out from under you. It makes perfect sense that you take this one.” J.J. looked on, open mouthed like everyone else, stunned, as she took a sip of water. “There are five bedrooms up stairs, and that little girl you’re about to have is going to need her own room.”

  “But what about you, Maggie? Where would you go?” J.J. inquired.

  “I’ve been looking around, and I think one of those lovely retirement apartments would do quite nicely.”

  Luke shook his head, his face stern. “Ma, I am not going to put you out of yours and dad's house and let you live in some tiny apartment.”

  “Luke, I’m getting older and this ol’ place is more than I can handle. I’m tired of cleaning this big house. You’d be doing me a favor.”

  “Mom, I appreciate the gesture, but I think I'm with Luke on this one,” Andrea interjected. “You would be miserable in those little apartments, and besides, you would miss your garden.”

  “You’re just going to give him the house?” Matt asked.

  “No, dear, I’m not just giving him the house.” Maggie patted her middle son’s hand that was resting on the table. “I’m giving him and Andrea one-third. They will have to buy the remaining two-thirds from you and Adam.”

  The three brothers looked at each other, then back to their mother.

  “I’ve checked into it, and it's close to the price range you were looking at, and this way, the house stays in the family. Your father and I had discussed this before he passed, and well… we loved this place and all the great memories that go with it, and we wanted one of you boys to have it.”

  Adam cleared his throat. “Luke, I think Ma is right on this one. It does make sense for you to take the house. However, I’m thinking the whole apartment idea isn’t such a good one.”

  “Why not move in with me?” Everyone turned to Matt in surprise. “I mean, I bought that house for me and Leanne, and since we aren’t together anymore, I have the house all to myself. There’s more than enough room.”

  “No, I am not going to be a burden to any of my children. You all have lives of your own now, and I'm not one to interfere. You know that. Beside, Matt, you’re gonna meet someone new and then I’ll just be in the way.” Her eyes twinkled. “I also like my independence.”

  J.J. nudged Adam, making him look his way. “Um, there is that little house next door to us. I could buy that and you could pay me what you would for that apartment. I need a tax write off and investment anyway.”

  “Oh no—” Maggie started, shaking her head.

  “That’s a great idea, babe.” Adam cut her off. “This way you have your own place. It's small enough for you to manage, and J.J. and I will be right next door if you need anything.”

  “Oh, Mom, that’s a great idea,” Andrea all but squealed, clasping her hands together.

  “I don’t know—”

  Luke cut his mother off before she could finish. “It's a good, safe location, and you know that J.J. and I would make sure you’d be all right.”

  “What about me? She’s my mother too,” Adam said indignantly.

  “Yeah, you too, bro.” Luke snickered as Adam glared at him.

  Matt looked at his mother. “I like the idea, Ma. I’d feel better knowing that Adam and J.J. were close by. Better than some strangers in an apartment.”

  “Can you afford it, J.J.?” Andrea asked, appearing to be a bit concerned. “I know you’ve been putting yourself through school.”

  “Uh, I may need to take some time off from school and do some number crunching, but—”

  “No, you’re not going to quit school.” Adam had that look on his face that everyone knew to be his ‘mule’ look. He wasn’t going to change his mind. Adam glanced around the table. “I’ll take my third and help with the down payment on the house. It will be our house.” He indicated with his big hand between himself and J.J. “I was planning on putting J.J. on the deed to our place anyway. This way, both properties are in each of our names.”

  J.J. scowled at his new husband. Adam saw it and added quickly before J.J. could say anything, “It’s what married people do, hun, so don’t even start.”

  “Will it need much work?” Andrea had a look of concern on her face. “I mean, you did a lot of work on yours, Adam.”

  “Not too much,” Adam answered around a mouthful of mashed potatoes. “The Jamisons really kept the place up. Sure, the kitchen and bathrooms need a little updating, but I think it's in relatively good shape.”

  “We can take care of that without much problem,” Luke said, grinning. “Good excuse to pull out the power tools. Brumm. Brumm.”

  “I got that new tile saw, too,” Matt added, also smiling.

  “Excuse me, but do I get a say in all this? I mean, it is me that you’re all talking about.” Maggie glared at those gathered around the table.

  Luke’s oldest son giggled. “Uh-oh, Grandma’s about to blow.” He got a stern look from his grandmother and quickly looked down at his plate.

  “Maggie, I’d love to have you next door.” J.J. spoke quietly while staring at his plate, then chanced a hasty glance at the older woman.

  “Aww, J.J., I would love to have you as a neighbor, too. It’s that big galoot of a husband you have that worries me.”

  “Hey, I’m your son!” Adam exclaimed.

  “And your point is?” Maggie strained to keep a straight face, the corners of her mouth twitching, a smile just below the surface.

  Luke started laughing. His very pregnant wife reached over and smacked him on the head. “You have no room to talk.”

  Luke stared at his wife, eyes blinking rapidly, a stunned look on his face. Matt began to laugh, and before long, the rest were laughing just as hard. All but Luke, who turned to scowl at his two brothers.

  The jovial, good-natured feeling was interrupted by the doorbell. “I’ll get it.” Adam smirked, trying not to laugh with the others as he got up.

  “Who on earth could that be on Christmas Day?” Maggie asked as she wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes.

  A moment later, Leanne, Matt’s ex-fiancé walked into the room. “Merry Christmas, everybody.”

 
The laughter that had filled the room died away. The air in the large dining room changed from warm and loving to cool and heavy.

  “What are you doing here, Leanne?” Matt stood to address his former wife-to-be.

  “I wanted to drop something off for Mom.” She sauntered over to Maggie, handed her a large, brown paper bag with colorful tissue paper exploding from the top. “Merry Christmas, Mom.” She bent over and kissed her cheek.

  Maggie’s face was strained as she responded to Leanne. “Um, thank you, dear.”

  “I thought you might be through with your dinner by now. Sorry to have interrupted.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Maggie said, a little hesitantly.

  “Mind if I pull up a chair and visit for a bit?” Not waiting for an answer, she dragged a chair from against the wall and positioned it at the corner of the long table, between Matt and Maggie. “So… how has everyone been?”

  Matt and Luke were still standing. Luke, however, was clenching and unclenching his fists. Andrea reached out and took her husband’s hand, attempting to calm him.

  “Leanne, we were just in the middle of dinner, as you can see. Perhaps you could come back and visit me another time.” Maggie tried to defuse the situation with her usual grace and good manners.

  Matt looked down at the woman next to him. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you leave and never come back?”

  J.J. fully expected Maggie to object to Matt’s rudeness, but his mother-in-law remained silent.

  “I think that's the best idea I’ve heard all day,” Luke all but growled.

  “Oh, I see how it is.” Leanne’s face contorted in anger. “It's fine to sit and break bread on our Savior’s birthday with abominations like them.” She tilted her head towards Adam and J.J. “But you won’t visit with a longtime friend of the family?”

  “I think that friendship ended exactly one year ago today,” Andrea spat out.