Decking the Halls
If you look closely, you can still see Thanksgiving in the
rear view mirror. Time has a habit of flashing by for me. I’m still trying to
figure out what happened to August and the heat of summer while December is
just peeking around the corner. One of these days, I’ll figure out how to slow
things down.
Meanwhile, I’m doing my part to get things ready for the
holidays. It’s easier to take it in stages, with the Christmas tree, lights and
decorations. No sense rushing around trying to do everything at once.
Before you know it, the radio stations will be playing
Christmas carols around the clock and the networks will be dusting off the
Hollywood holiday movies from the shelves. Of course, Hallmark started showing
Christmas movies in October. I’m still
waiting for “Die Hard” and “Scrooged” to appear, right along with “Jingle All
The Way”.
So between segments of decorating, I’ve been working on a
new Jamie story. This may not turn out
to be a full novel. Maybe a short story or a novella. I’ll have to wait and see
what Jamie has in mind.
Meanwhile, here’s an excerpt from “Devious” to put you in
the holiday mood. In this scene, Jamie has found a new place to live and wants
to get it ready for the holidays.
I really
wanted to spend Christmas in my new place. Part of the magic would be to spring
it on Malone as a holiday surprise. Disappointment was closing in. I knew it
was a last minute decision, but I had to go through with it. Inspiration saved
me.
I didn't
have to move completely, just enough stuff to get through a few nights. Kitchen
gear for cooking, clothes to wear, gifts for the tree. A tree! Not some polyester conglomeration of wires
and bristles. I wanted an honest to God Scotch pine with needles and a thirst,
tinsel and popcorn and ornaments and lights.
It was time to get moving.
*
He
sat there patiently while I drove to the house. It was only a few miles away
and traffic was nonexistent. A light dusting of snow had fallen earlier, making
everything sparkle. I parked by the curb and helped him from the car. He held
my arm gingerly and followed me up the walk and the two short steps to the
front entrance. Inside I made him stand by the door and wait.
"What's going on?"
Malone blinked as his eyes swept the room.
"Welcome home." I patted
the sleeping bag beside me. I was sprawled on top of another one, clutching my
long, wool winter coat around me. A queen-sized air mattress was beneath them,
giving the nest a bed-like quality.
"Home?"
"It's my new place. I rented
it last week."
"Home?"
"Room for two, Malone, if
you're interested."
He stood there by the door,
staring. I couldn't read his reaction from here and started getting nervous.
"Aren't you going to come
in?" I pleaded. "Take the chill off, get cozy."
In front of the picture window was
our tree, five feet of Blue Spruce, trimmed with little lights, ornaments and
strings of popcorn. Outside I'd wrapped the railing in tinfoil and red ribbons.
The fire was burning strongly, throwing heat toward the sleeping bag nest. Beneath the tree were a dozen packages for
Malone.
Timing is everything. As I’m writing this, thinking about
favorite old movies, this classic from the Rolling Stones came up on Pandora.
How appropriate.
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