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There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays

“Want to take a walk?” Veronica asked.

“In the woods where nobody will find my body?” Bryce teased.

“Don’t think I haven’t considered it after that ambush you led me into.”

“I didn’t realize you hadn’t told them.”

“I was waiting for the right time.”

“What? After we got back to the city?”

“That’s what I was thinking.”

“Apparently, I wasn’t thinking. Once the door was open, your dad pulled it wide open.”

“Bob and weave, Bryce. Bob and weave.”

“Veronica, your dad’s arms are the size of my whole body. I do not want to upset the man.”

“Daddy is a pussycat.”

“To you, maybe. You’re his little Ronni. I’m not.”

“Are you kidding me? He loves you, especially since you ratted me out.”

“I didn’t rat you out. I was telling him stuff that parents would want to know. If they know you’re in danger, they won’t be in a hurry to shoo us out of the house.”

“They wouldn’t shoo us.”

“It’s said that house guests and fish stink after three days. We need to stay until after New Year’s.”

“Well, that’s why I’m taking you for so many walks. If we’re not there getting under foot, the clock resets. Right?”

“Maybe.” Bryce looked around nervously.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s just freaky being somewhere that nothing higher than three storeys even exists.”

She took his hand and looked him in the eye. “Hey.”

He looked up into her warm, golden eyes. He saw that look he noticed at the party.

“What are you thinking?” He asked.

“I’m thinking this is crazy.”

“Crazy?”

“I’m back home at Mom and Dad’s like some runaway coming back with her tail between her legs.”

“What? That’s not it at all. We’re someplace safe. We got safely away from some maniac who’s trying to kill you. That’s what really matters.”

“I feel safe when I’m with you. It doesn’t make any sense but I do.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you, Veronica. Never.”

“Then it doesn’t matter where we are.”

“Even so, here is the best place to be for now.”

“Why?”

“There’s no place like home for the holidays.” He said as he swung her hand.

“Oh, don’t get all corny on me.” She laughed.

Marella was pulling a meatloaf from the oven when they walked through the back door. “You’re just in time.”

“Seems like.” Veronica said.

“Smells wonderful, Mrs. Montes.”

“Bryce, please call me Marella.”

“Old habits, ma’am.”

“Clearly, the young man was brought up right.” Charles said. “Marella’s cooking is better than a dinner bell. I could smell this beauty all the way up in the attic.”

“Daddy, what were you doing in the attic?”

“It occurred to me that Bryce was kind enough to share his pictures with us…”

“Oh, no you don’t.” Veronica warned him.

“This is happening, baby girl.” Charles laughed. “Let’s enjoy this meal and we’ll take a walk down Memory Lane for dessert.”

“No. No. No. Double no.”

“Everybody take a seat.” Marella said. “Charles.”

“Thank you, dear. Let’s hold hands. Lord, we thank you for this food and Marella’s skill in cooking it. At this blessed time of year, we thank you for bringing Ronni home to visit with her friend, Bryce.” Charles looked around the table. “For this and all of your many blessings, we are truly thankful.”

Bryce looked across the table at Veronica and said, “Amen.”

“So,” Marella said. “any more secrets we ought to know about?”

They enjoyed a delicious meal and, as promised, Charles produced boxes full of Veronica’s childhood memories. Photos, school projects, newsletter clippings and years of handicrafts were passed among the family members and their guest. Veronica blushed as Bryce teased her about awkward photos and misshapen craft items. Charles and Marella marveled at how their little girl had grown. As the night deepened, Marella tugged at Charles’ arm. They excused themselves and headed off to bed.

“Braces and a big frizzy afro.” Bryce laughed as he snapped a shot of the photo with his phone. “That’s a keeper.”

“No!”

“Oh, yeah. That’s going on in place of the selfie for your profile.”

“Don’t you dare!”

“Can’t stop me.” He laughed as they wrestled over his phone.

“Just you give me that.” She got tangled up in his arms and legs. They fell to the floor and rolled under the Christmas tree.

“Give me that phone or I’ll bonk you on the head with this paper mache cookie.”

“Is that what that’s supposed to be?” He gasped.

“What are you talking about? It looks exactly like a chocolate chip cookie.”

“Not so much.” He wheezed.

“What’s the matter with you?”

“You’re on my diaphragm. I can’t breathe.”

“Oh.” She rolled off of him. “Better?”

“Ahhh, yes.” He tilted his head back. “Look, it’s snowing.”

She rolled over and propped her chin up on her hand. “That’s lake snow. We’ll be up to our ears in it by morning.”

“Six feet of snow and you think nothing of it?”

“At least I’ll still be able to see over top of it. You’ll have to burrow around like one of those mole men in the cartoons.”

“Oh, you’re hilarious. I was wondering how long it would take you to make a short joke.”

“I don’t care anymore.”

“Seems like.”

“What?”

“If you’re digging in with the short jokes, you mustn’t care anymore. I can catch the train tomorrow.”

“No, I mean I don’t care that you’re short.”

“That makes me feel so much better.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you about it. It just looked funny in my brain.”

“What?”

“You tunneling around the back yard like a mole man.” She started laughing.

“That is pretty funny.”

“Yes, it is.” She started snorking.

“Not as funny as you snorking when you laugh.”

“I do not!”

“You were just doing it. Didn’t you know?”

“I can’t hear myself, Bryce. I’m too busy laughing.”

He pulled up his phone and pressed play on the recorder app. Her eyes went wide at the sound of her snorking laughter.

“You’re giving me that phone!”

“Not for a million bucks, girlfriend.”

“A million bucks, huh? How about this?” She leaned in. Their eyes closed. Their lips brushed, nearly touching.

Charles called from the stairwell. “Are you guys alright? I thought I heard a crash.”

“We’re fine, Daddy. I knocked over the magazine stand. Good night.”

“Good night, kids.”

She turned back to Bryce. “Now, give me that phone.”

“Not a chance.”