Some links may be affiliate links. We get money if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site.

Christmas All The Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Jenny From Accounting

‘Holly, I’m saying your husband is not your dad.’ She pushed through the kitchen door.

Holly followed her from the old house to a crowded Christmas party. “I remember this.”

‘Hmm, you certainly think you do.’ Grammy pushed through friendly conversations and corporate schmooze sessions. ‘Follow me.’

“I saw this the first time. Don’t make me go through this again.”

‘Come on, Holly.’

“Grammy, no. I can’t do this.”

‘You don’t have to do anything but keep your eyes and ears open.’

“Grammy, no, please.”

‘There she is.’

“I don’t want to see that tramp.”

‘Stop judging and just watch. Go!’

Holly stepped through to the coat closet. She saw a scuffle.

“Let go of me!”

“C’mon, Jenny. I know you want it.”

“Henry, you’re drunk. Get your hands off.”

He draped himself over her and whispered in her ear. “Yuh, I’m drunk tonight but tomorrow I’ll still be Regional VP.”

“What the heck is he doing?” Holly turned to her grandmother.

‘It’s appalling.’

“Why didn’t she tell somebody?”

‘She did.’ Grammy nodded. ‘Look how that worked out for her.’

“What am I supposed to do? Henry just attacked me in the coat closet.” Jenny said.

Another woman shook her head and handed her a drink. “There’s nothing you can do, Jenny. It’s your word against his.”

“That’s not right.” She took the drink and kicked it back hard. “I’m taking him to HR on Monday.”

“It’ll go over like a fart in church, honey.” She signaled the bartender for another drink. “You have to let it go. That’s just how these corner office jerks are.”

“I’ll report him to the police.”

The woman handed her another drink. “He said, she said. You’ll be out on your ear in a heartbeat.”

Jenny sloshed down another drink and another as her coworker continued to downplay the matter.

“Grammy, why would she believe her? That’s what HR is for. Henry should be gone, not her.”

Her grandmother shrugged. ‘I guess we’ll never know. Jenny turned her grief to tragedy.’

Holly watched in horror as Jenny got more and more inebriated. As she did, her behavior became increasingly lewd.

“Why doesn’t somebody stop her, Grammy?”

‘They’re trying, Holly. Look at them. She’s too far gone to care anymore.’

“Oh, no. There’s Frank.”

‘Yes, there he is. Look and learn.’ Grammy swatted her upside the head.

“Ow! What did you do that for?”

‘I wanted to ensure you’re present and focused. Now watch!’

“Jeez, you’re pretty mean for somebody who’s in Heaven.”

“Shh!” She pointed at Frank.

“Jenny, you really ought to slow down.”

“Whazza matter, Frankenstud? Don’t like fast women?” She hung on him like a wet blanket.

“Look, I know this isn’t you. Do you have somebody to take you home?”

“Oh!” She laughed. “That’s how it is, huh?” She pushed him onto a chair. “I don’t need anybody to take me home, buster. I can get my kicks right here!”

‘Merciful heavens!’ Grammy gasped.

“Exactly how I remember it.” Holly snarled.

Jenny had Frank’s neck wrapped tight in her arms, forcing his face into her chest while she ground her hips on him.

“Jenny! Stop it! What’s the matter with you?” Frank tried to wriggle free without hurting her.

“I’m just trash, Frank. Hump me and dump me. That’s all I’m good for and everybody knows it.”

Frank wrapped her in a gentle hug. “Jenny, I’m sorry that anyone made you feel that way. Please stop what you’re doing and let me call you a taxi.”

“Don’t be nice to me.” She cried into his shoulder. “I’m trash.”

“That’s not true. Never believe that, Jenny.”

Jenny collapsed on top of Frank and began wailing. Holly saw herself push through the crowd.

“I didn’t know, Grammy. That’s all I saw.”

‘And it never occurred to you to ask him.’ Her grandmother pinched her earlobe and dragged her out to the sidewalk. ‘You’re a very exasperating child, Holly. Keep watching.’

“Frank, I can pay my own way home.” Jenny sobbed.

“I know, but you shouldn’t have to. You’ve had it hard enough tonight and you’re going to need a taxi back to pick up your car tomorrow.”

“You’re a very nice man.”

“Thank you. I just want to be sure you get home safely.” Frank waved for a taxi.

‘What did you do, Holly? You never asked him. It never occurred to you to trust your own husband. The father of your children. He takes wonderful care of all of you. It wouldn’t kill you to give him the benefit of the doubt, Holly.’

“I saw what I saw, Grammy!”

‘And you didn’t see what you didn’t see until now. Are you telling me the whole story makes no difference? You’re punishing him because you want to. You can’t even get past the lie when it’s exposed. Do you really want to wind up where your mother was?’

“People don’t go to-”

‘Detention.’

“They don’t go there for being angry, Grammy.”

‘No, the place would be full if that’s all it took.’ She paced angrily. ‘It’s holding onto the anger and letting it fester. It’s all the little jibes that come from holding onto that fury. It’s snapping at your own little girls. And why?’

“Because he humiliated me in front of his entire company.”

‘You only think he did. Everybody knew what antics Jenny was up to that night. They saw him set her straight and get her home. Everybody respects your husband but you. You’ve seen what kind of man he really is, girl. Are you still going to let that anger fester into hate? Don’t you think that’s going to poison the whole family? You’re carrying a baby, Holly. Don’t you think he feels like he’s swimming in all that hate you’re storing up?’

“Grammy, I don’t know how to let it go. It hurt me so deeply seeing him there with her grinding on his lap like that.”

‘Well, it was clearly uncomfortable for him, too.’ She pointed at Frank as he trudged back into the Christmas party. ‘It was embarrassing enough for him to have to go through that with all of his colleagues watching. The rumor mill would be chatting that up for ages. Add to it that he had to deal with you being irrational. It’s a wonder the man is sane.’

“It’s not irrational to be mad at your husband for getting a public lap dance, Grammy!”

Her grandmother threw her fists into the air and waved them around. ‘Me, me, me! Confound it, Holly! That’s what gets you into detention when you pass. If you don’t clear your books, you just sit in a prison you built for yourself like your mom did. I don’t want that for you. I want you to be happy, girl! Why can’t you be happy?’