Mistletoe Deadline
Prologue|The Thanksgiving Song
Grateful for each hand we hold, Gathered round this table.
From far and near we travel home, Blessed that we are able.
-The Thanksgiving Song Mary Chapin Carpenter
For as long as I could remember Christmas had been my favourite time year. I could never pinpoint what exactly it was, the days spent sledding and building snowmen, the nights spent with hot chocolate and storytelling, or Liam. But as I trudged towards my childhood home a Thanksgiving wreath on the door I was plotting on how to tell my mother I wanted to spend this Christmas alone.
Holidays had always been a big Brooks' tradition. It was the one time of year that we were all together. My dad for one was home; no business trips scheduled, my mother always went all out with the food and the decorations. Some of my happiest memories were during this time of year. It was a time that for once Heather wasn't on my back about everything, but this year something didn't feel right. The house seemed off, an air of tension settling over the small brick townhome.
As I opened the door the deafening shriek of the fire alarms going off and the sound of my parents arguing in the kitchen had my muffling my ears to the noise. With a shake of my head, I left my duffel bag next to the stairs.
"You could have killed us!"
My mother's frantic voice told me that her meal plans were not on time this year. According to my mother, Thanksgiving dinner had to be perfect. I was ten before my mother even let me into the kitchen to watch her work. Anything that kept the meal from being perfect had my mother in a frenzy.
"I was just trying to help." Came my father's much calmer reply.
With I scoff I knocked on the kitchen door telling my parents that I'd arrived. The kitchen looked like a natural disaster had shaken the house with flour and who knows what else all over the counter and the floor. My parents both gave me smiles as my mother rushed to embrace me drastically lightening the foul mood.
"Riley it's so good to see you."
Giving in to my mother's embrace, I decided that coming home for Thanksgiving might not have been the worst idea. I'd planned on microwaving a turkey premade meal and spending the holiday with Paul Wesley and a Vampire Diaries marathon. But my parents had sent me the plane ticket to get here, so I wasn't going to let it go to waste.
"Where are the stooges?" I asked noting the now silence of the house which never happened when my younger siblings were around.
"At the neighbours." My mother noted before shaking her head.
"Audrey decided that she was going to make cookies for dinner."
That explained the mess in the kitchen. Although my youngest sister meant well, she still didn't get the meaning of cleanliness. Shaking my head, I excused myself to get ready for dinner. The last thing I wanted was to be in my mother's hair.
My childhood bedroom hadn't changed a bit. There was a little more dust on the shelves, but that was something I expected. With a pat on the head for Mr. Snuggly, my adored teddy bear that was too embarrassing to take to college, I collapsed back onto the bed. Soon the house would be crawling with extended family, and I would be expected to give an account of what I was accomplishing, which honestly wasn't that much.
"You're here."
With a glance towards the bathroom door, I saw Heather standing in the doorway a straightener in her hair. Her wide smile and glowing skin told me that her dead-beat boyfriend Anthony would be joining us for dinner this year. Practically skipping over to my bed she sat next to me.
"Boy do I have news for you!" She exclaimed placing her hands over mine.
My confused stare was evident as Heather looked at me expectantly. I scanned my sister, she didn't look pregnant, and her hair wasn't different. That was when I noticed the diamond planted on her ring finger. I kept myself from pursing my lips in both disappointment that she'd obviously waited to tell me and disapproval of the entire situation -- instead, I just managed to let out the slight squeal that I knew she was expecting.
"When did this happen?" I asked with a smile.
"About a month ago," Heather stated with a giggly grin.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
I rolled my eyes. Even though my sister was organised and bossy, she sure loved her surprises. Honestly, I was happy for her, I didn't like Anthony, but he made her happy. Shaking my head, I tried to think of how to get her to spill all of the details. At least all of the pertinent ones, not the random ones she thought were important and would make us very late for dinner.
"Did you ask or did he?"
"Riley Maria Brooks get down here your cousins are arriving!"
My mother's voice was a lot calmer but still shrill as I was given my third warning that I needed to make an appearance soon. Smoothing down my dress, I fastened my necklace around my neck, steeling myself for a barrage of questions from family members I hadn't seen in a year.
"Riley, my skirt is twirly!" Kylie exclaimed as she twirled into Heather and I's room her dress billowing around her.
"It is!" I agreed, smiling at my little sister before spot checking my lips in the mirror. "Do you know what would also look good with that dress?"
"What?"
"This."
With a smile, I wiped my red lipstick onto her lips. Kylie gave me a huge smile as she hopped up onto the seat next to me to look into the mirror. My mother would think it was entirely too dark, but she wouldn't have it on for long since at ten Kylie was more interested in food than preserving makeup.
"Really?" Kylie asked sweetly obviously worried about getting in trouble.
"I think it looks beautiful."
Ruffling her naturally straight hair, I let my little sister prance downstairs. My younger siblings had been my only drawback when I'd chosen an out of state university. But at least I was usually home for breaks when I could afford it. Not giving my mother another chance to yell at me yet again I took the stairs two at a time as the doorbell rang.
"Hi, Anthony," I stated looking down at my soon to be brother-in-law.
Short, well-muscled and with a chiselled jaw Anthony was the definition of an egotistical frat boy. The first time that Heather had brought him home he'd had a little too much of my grandmother's seasonal hard cider and had spent nearly an hour trying to convince me to ditch the party and go out with him. Needless to say, since he was still marrying my sister I never told her about the incident and was beginning to regret that.
"Riley!" He exclaimed with an upwards nod that had me cringing as he attempted to sling his arm over my shoulder, "Heather told me that you weren't going to make it this year."
"Well she was wrong," I answered glad he couldn't see the scowl that now adorned my face.
Leaves glinted a golden colour outside of the window. My family bustled around me filling their plates and chatting amiably. However, instead of engaging in conversation my attention was diverted as usual away from the discussion and onto the squirrel sitting on the branch outside. I suppose I should have been paying attention to my family it being thanksgiving but I was preoccupied. I watched the squirrel as its beady eyes peered around at its surroundings, before sitting up and chattering at something I couldn't quite see.
"Riley?" My mother's voice was stern.
"Hmmm…," I said turning back towards her the squirrel momentarily forgotten.
"It's Thanksgiving do you think you could pay some attention to your family?"
"Sorry," I admitted ducking my head slightly.
"So what are the plans for Christmas this year?" Heather asked from next to me.
We had finally earned a spot at the adults' table instead of with the kids in the kitchen, but I was missing the easy and rowdy conversation in the unsupervised kitchen. Heather's hand was on Anthony's forearm telling me that we were in for the first of the Thanksgiving fights.
Heather was used to getting her way, and her mission was for Anthony to join us for Christmas this year.
My mother had a rule that Christmas was for spending with family and the few friends that either shared the cabin with us or had earned my mother's approval. And since my mother was about as much of a fan of Anthony's as I was, it was unlikely that was going to happen.
"We're going to the cabin as always dear." My mother answered curtly.
With a glance in my direction, I could see the usual signs of Heather tensing into her persuasive mode. Trying to stay out of it I tuned out of the conversation digging into the pumpkin casserole that had always been my favourite.
"What about you Riley?"
My name distracted me from my food as I looked up confused. From Heather's glances in my direction, I knew she had probably backed me into some corner again. She tended to use me to back up her arguments whether I wanted to or not.
"Do you have anyone special in your life?"
I nearly spluttered the food out of my mouth but managed to compose myself. Between school and work, I didn't really have time for a guy. But everyone didn't need to know that.
"She's still hung up on Liam." Heather scoffed causing me to send her a glare.
The Payne's were old family friends. We had shared a cabin for Christmas for as long as I could remember. Liam was precisely the reason I didn't want to come home for Christmas this year. The post-breakup awkwardness wasn't really my thing.
"I am not." I protested probably too loudly for anyone to believe me. "I have a boyfriend."
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew I was going to regret them. The entire table had their eyes on me like I had three eyes or something. My father cleared his throat awkwardly. I had interrupted his conversation with my uncle probably about how he needed new tools or something. I didn't know why exactly me having a boyfriend caused such shock, but from the looks on everybody's faces it was.
"Why haven't we heard about this young lady?"
My mind scrambled for an answer to his question. The fake boyfriend was a move I had pulled before but never around my family. Usually it on a guy whose attention I was trying to divert and he didn't ask any further questions.
"It's kinda new," I answered lamely, and the glances told me that no one believed me.
"Well not really I just didn't want anyone to make a big deal about it. I mean we have other news to celebrate." I stated gesturing to Heather and Anthony.
Apparently, I had been better at lying this time because most of the table nodded and went back to their conversations. My mother however just looked at me an excited smile on her face. I had long figured out that instead of swapping embarrassing baby stories mothers, once their kids reached a certain age, started to play matchmaker like old ladies.
"Riley, that's wonderful you should bring him home for Christmas." My mother exclaimed causing me to sink even further into my seat.
A gasp from Heather had her glare turned on me.
"Daddy." She whined knowing he was more inclined to give in to her.
"What baby?"
"Riley is bringing her boyfriend home for Christmas and Conner is bringing Sarah. Why can't Anthony come?"
My father was unamused at being interrupted again.
"Sure bring him along we have room." He grumbled not paying much attention.
My mother shook her head. Apparently Heather had lost the argument earlier.
"Fine, fine, if Riley brings her boyfriend Anthony can come."
"We are headed to the cabin on the 15th Riley." My mother instructed as I made sure my suitcases were fully zipped.
The past couple of days had been constant pesters from my mom and sister (even though Heather didn't believe me) about Mr. Non-existent boyfriend and it had tired me out. ‘What colour's his hair?' ‘Brown.' ‘Taller than you or shorter?' ‘Taller.' ‘Can he sing?' ‘Yep.' I knew all these lies would get me in trouble eventually, but every time I had told them I didn't want to talk about it, I just got pestered harder.
"I expect you there on the 15th and not a day late with Mr. Perfect in tow got it." She pestered with a sly grin. My mother was just ecstatic about the new boyfriend or at the least the idea of one.
"Yes, mom," I said kissing her on the cheek. "Now I have to go, or I'll miss my flight."
"Okay dear, and thank you, Heather, for taking your sister to the airport."
My sister just smiled and opened the door. "No problem mom."
I followed my sister to the car and helped her put my suitcases into the trunk. The drive to the airport was rather quiet only the sound of Christmas carols echoing between us; I was beginning to think I was being given the silent treatment. Pulling up to departures, I turned to go out the door but was blocked by Heather's arm that pushed across my chest. Facing her, I found her face in mine.
"Now listen Riley." She started, and I didn't like her tone at all. "You heard mom at Thanksgiving. Anthony can come to Christmas if you bring home your boyfriend. Now I'm pretty sure that you made your so-called Mr. perfect up. You better find a boyfriend by Christmas. I don't care if you bribe one of your colleagues but bring someone. Got it?"
I nodded my head. Heather threatening me wasn't anything new. But this one had me wincing from both the seatbelt pressing into me and the implications. Heather pulled back, and a smile lit up her features like she hadn't been threatening me a second before.
"Bye Riley! I'll miss you! love ya." She stated.
Rolling my eyes, I got out of the car. "Love ya too," I muttered.
I had been pulled into their games, and I didn't know how to get out this time.
From far and near we travel home, Blessed that we are able.
-The Thanksgiving Song Mary Chapin Carpenter
For as long as I could remember Christmas had been my favourite time year. I could never pinpoint what exactly it was, the days spent sledding and building snowmen, the nights spent with hot chocolate and storytelling, or Liam. But as I trudged towards my childhood home a Thanksgiving wreath on the door I was plotting on how to tell my mother I wanted to spend this Christmas alone.
Holidays had always been a big Brooks' tradition. It was the one time of year that we were all together. My dad for one was home; no business trips scheduled, my mother always went all out with the food and the decorations. Some of my happiest memories were during this time of year. It was a time that for once Heather wasn't on my back about everything, but this year something didn't feel right. The house seemed off, an air of tension settling over the small brick townhome.
As I opened the door the deafening shriek of the fire alarms going off and the sound of my parents arguing in the kitchen had my muffling my ears to the noise. With a shake of my head, I left my duffel bag next to the stairs.
"You could have killed us!"
My mother's frantic voice told me that her meal plans were not on time this year. According to my mother, Thanksgiving dinner had to be perfect. I was ten before my mother even let me into the kitchen to watch her work. Anything that kept the meal from being perfect had my mother in a frenzy.
"I was just trying to help." Came my father's much calmer reply.
With I scoff I knocked on the kitchen door telling my parents that I'd arrived. The kitchen looked like a natural disaster had shaken the house with flour and who knows what else all over the counter and the floor. My parents both gave me smiles as my mother rushed to embrace me drastically lightening the foul mood.
"Riley it's so good to see you."
Giving in to my mother's embrace, I decided that coming home for Thanksgiving might not have been the worst idea. I'd planned on microwaving a turkey premade meal and spending the holiday with Paul Wesley and a Vampire Diaries marathon. But my parents had sent me the plane ticket to get here, so I wasn't going to let it go to waste.
"Where are the stooges?" I asked noting the now silence of the house which never happened when my younger siblings were around.
"At the neighbours." My mother noted before shaking her head.
"Audrey decided that she was going to make cookies for dinner."
That explained the mess in the kitchen. Although my youngest sister meant well, she still didn't get the meaning of cleanliness. Shaking my head, I excused myself to get ready for dinner. The last thing I wanted was to be in my mother's hair.
My childhood bedroom hadn't changed a bit. There was a little more dust on the shelves, but that was something I expected. With a pat on the head for Mr. Snuggly, my adored teddy bear that was too embarrassing to take to college, I collapsed back onto the bed. Soon the house would be crawling with extended family, and I would be expected to give an account of what I was accomplishing, which honestly wasn't that much.
"You're here."
With a glance towards the bathroom door, I saw Heather standing in the doorway a straightener in her hair. Her wide smile and glowing skin told me that her dead-beat boyfriend Anthony would be joining us for dinner this year. Practically skipping over to my bed she sat next to me.
"Boy do I have news for you!" She exclaimed placing her hands over mine.
My confused stare was evident as Heather looked at me expectantly. I scanned my sister, she didn't look pregnant, and her hair wasn't different. That was when I noticed the diamond planted on her ring finger. I kept myself from pursing my lips in both disappointment that she'd obviously waited to tell me and disapproval of the entire situation -- instead, I just managed to let out the slight squeal that I knew she was expecting.
"When did this happen?" I asked with a smile.
"About a month ago," Heather stated with a giggly grin.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
I rolled my eyes. Even though my sister was organised and bossy, she sure loved her surprises. Honestly, I was happy for her, I didn't like Anthony, but he made her happy. Shaking my head, I tried to think of how to get her to spill all of the details. At least all of the pertinent ones, not the random ones she thought were important and would make us very late for dinner.
"Did you ask or did he?"
"Riley Maria Brooks get down here your cousins are arriving!"
My mother's voice was a lot calmer but still shrill as I was given my third warning that I needed to make an appearance soon. Smoothing down my dress, I fastened my necklace around my neck, steeling myself for a barrage of questions from family members I hadn't seen in a year.
"Riley, my skirt is twirly!" Kylie exclaimed as she twirled into Heather and I's room her dress billowing around her.
"It is!" I agreed, smiling at my little sister before spot checking my lips in the mirror. "Do you know what would also look good with that dress?"
"What?"
"This."
With a smile, I wiped my red lipstick onto her lips. Kylie gave me a huge smile as she hopped up onto the seat next to me to look into the mirror. My mother would think it was entirely too dark, but she wouldn't have it on for long since at ten Kylie was more interested in food than preserving makeup.
"Really?" Kylie asked sweetly obviously worried about getting in trouble.
"I think it looks beautiful."
Ruffling her naturally straight hair, I let my little sister prance downstairs. My younger siblings had been my only drawback when I'd chosen an out of state university. But at least I was usually home for breaks when I could afford it. Not giving my mother another chance to yell at me yet again I took the stairs two at a time as the doorbell rang.
"Hi, Anthony," I stated looking down at my soon to be brother-in-law.
Short, well-muscled and with a chiselled jaw Anthony was the definition of an egotistical frat boy. The first time that Heather had brought him home he'd had a little too much of my grandmother's seasonal hard cider and had spent nearly an hour trying to convince me to ditch the party and go out with him. Needless to say, since he was still marrying my sister I never told her about the incident and was beginning to regret that.
"Riley!" He exclaimed with an upwards nod that had me cringing as he attempted to sling his arm over my shoulder, "Heather told me that you weren't going to make it this year."
"Well she was wrong," I answered glad he couldn't see the scowl that now adorned my face.
Leaves glinted a golden colour outside of the window. My family bustled around me filling their plates and chatting amiably. However, instead of engaging in conversation my attention was diverted as usual away from the discussion and onto the squirrel sitting on the branch outside. I suppose I should have been paying attention to my family it being thanksgiving but I was preoccupied. I watched the squirrel as its beady eyes peered around at its surroundings, before sitting up and chattering at something I couldn't quite see.
"Riley?" My mother's voice was stern.
"Hmmm…," I said turning back towards her the squirrel momentarily forgotten.
"It's Thanksgiving do you think you could pay some attention to your family?"
"Sorry," I admitted ducking my head slightly.
"So what are the plans for Christmas this year?" Heather asked from next to me.
We had finally earned a spot at the adults' table instead of with the kids in the kitchen, but I was missing the easy and rowdy conversation in the unsupervised kitchen. Heather's hand was on Anthony's forearm telling me that we were in for the first of the Thanksgiving fights.
Heather was used to getting her way, and her mission was for Anthony to join us for Christmas this year.
My mother had a rule that Christmas was for spending with family and the few friends that either shared the cabin with us or had earned my mother's approval. And since my mother was about as much of a fan of Anthony's as I was, it was unlikely that was going to happen.
"We're going to the cabin as always dear." My mother answered curtly.
With a glance in my direction, I could see the usual signs of Heather tensing into her persuasive mode. Trying to stay out of it I tuned out of the conversation digging into the pumpkin casserole that had always been my favourite.
"What about you Riley?"
My name distracted me from my food as I looked up confused. From Heather's glances in my direction, I knew she had probably backed me into some corner again. She tended to use me to back up her arguments whether I wanted to or not.
"Do you have anyone special in your life?"
I nearly spluttered the food out of my mouth but managed to compose myself. Between school and work, I didn't really have time for a guy. But everyone didn't need to know that.
"She's still hung up on Liam." Heather scoffed causing me to send her a glare.
The Payne's were old family friends. We had shared a cabin for Christmas for as long as I could remember. Liam was precisely the reason I didn't want to come home for Christmas this year. The post-breakup awkwardness wasn't really my thing.
"I am not." I protested probably too loudly for anyone to believe me. "I have a boyfriend."
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I knew I was going to regret them. The entire table had their eyes on me like I had three eyes or something. My father cleared his throat awkwardly. I had interrupted his conversation with my uncle probably about how he needed new tools or something. I didn't know why exactly me having a boyfriend caused such shock, but from the looks on everybody's faces it was.
"Why haven't we heard about this young lady?"
My mind scrambled for an answer to his question. The fake boyfriend was a move I had pulled before but never around my family. Usually it on a guy whose attention I was trying to divert and he didn't ask any further questions.
"It's kinda new," I answered lamely, and the glances told me that no one believed me.
"Well not really I just didn't want anyone to make a big deal about it. I mean we have other news to celebrate." I stated gesturing to Heather and Anthony.
Apparently, I had been better at lying this time because most of the table nodded and went back to their conversations. My mother however just looked at me an excited smile on her face. I had long figured out that instead of swapping embarrassing baby stories mothers, once their kids reached a certain age, started to play matchmaker like old ladies.
"Riley, that's wonderful you should bring him home for Christmas." My mother exclaimed causing me to sink even further into my seat.
A gasp from Heather had her glare turned on me.
"Daddy." She whined knowing he was more inclined to give in to her.
"What baby?"
"Riley is bringing her boyfriend home for Christmas and Conner is bringing Sarah. Why can't Anthony come?"
My father was unamused at being interrupted again.
"Sure bring him along we have room." He grumbled not paying much attention.
My mother shook her head. Apparently Heather had lost the argument earlier.
"Fine, fine, if Riley brings her boyfriend Anthony can come."
"We are headed to the cabin on the 15th Riley." My mother instructed as I made sure my suitcases were fully zipped.
The past couple of days had been constant pesters from my mom and sister (even though Heather didn't believe me) about Mr. Non-existent boyfriend and it had tired me out. ‘What colour's his hair?' ‘Brown.' ‘Taller than you or shorter?' ‘Taller.' ‘Can he sing?' ‘Yep.' I knew all these lies would get me in trouble eventually, but every time I had told them I didn't want to talk about it, I just got pestered harder.
"I expect you there on the 15th and not a day late with Mr. Perfect in tow got it." She pestered with a sly grin. My mother was just ecstatic about the new boyfriend or at the least the idea of one.
"Yes, mom," I said kissing her on the cheek. "Now I have to go, or I'll miss my flight."
"Okay dear, and thank you, Heather, for taking your sister to the airport."
My sister just smiled and opened the door. "No problem mom."
I followed my sister to the car and helped her put my suitcases into the trunk. The drive to the airport was rather quiet only the sound of Christmas carols echoing between us; I was beginning to think I was being given the silent treatment. Pulling up to departures, I turned to go out the door but was blocked by Heather's arm that pushed across my chest. Facing her, I found her face in mine.
"Now listen Riley." She started, and I didn't like her tone at all. "You heard mom at Thanksgiving. Anthony can come to Christmas if you bring home your boyfriend. Now I'm pretty sure that you made your so-called Mr. perfect up. You better find a boyfriend by Christmas. I don't care if you bribe one of your colleagues but bring someone. Got it?"
I nodded my head. Heather threatening me wasn't anything new. But this one had me wincing from both the seatbelt pressing into me and the implications. Heather pulled back, and a smile lit up her features like she hadn't been threatening me a second before.
"Bye Riley! I'll miss you! love ya." She stated.
Rolling my eyes, I got out of the car. "Love ya too," I muttered.
I had been pulled into their games, and I didn't know how to get out this time.
Notes
Hey y'all! Welcome to the first chapter of Mistletoe Deadline!
If it looks familiar its probably because the prologue-chapter 2 were up last year before I got to busy to write this. This project is my nanowrimo project this year though and I'm determined to finish! (I already have 10ish chapters written)
Daily updates are the current goal for between now and Christmas (we'll see if I have internet the whole time)
Let me know what you think!
-Abby
P.S. What are y'all's favorite christmas songs/albums/playlists I'm trying to get writing mood?
YAY!!
1/13/19