EXCERPT 6/7
Melonie followed Patricia through the
living room, only half-listening as her hostess chatted about Starlight Lodge’s
plans for the week. The rooms passed in a flash of green, red, and gold.
Melonie hoisted her suitcase higher and walked up the wooden steps, her elbow brushing
against the garland that wrapped around the banister. Little red ornament balls
hung tastefully from the greenery.
“It’s beautiful in here!” Melonie
inserted when Patricia paused in her monologue.
“Why, thank you, dear.” Patricia twisted
her head slightly toward Melonie and gave a genuine smile. “Decorating for
Christmas is one of my most favorite things of the year. Richard set his foot
down, and I can’t pull out any of the boxes until after Thanksgiving, which I’m
fine with. I get all decked out for the fall too. But Christmas…” She gave a
happy sigh as she walked up the last few steps. “Christmas is my season.”
Melonie had thought Christmas was her
season too. Differences were always pushed aside for Christmas, wrongs made
right. Holiday cheer hid all of the dirt and grime of daily living. At least,
it was supposed to. She had been cheated of her joy this year.
(From "Finding Christmas Joy" by Amanda Tero;
No comments:
Post a Comment