Southern Fried Christmas

by Marian Merritt

  Six

  December 21

  Kelly stood in the discount store and reached for the boxes of candy canes Eula handed her. “That’s twelve.”

  “That’s one hundred forty-four canes, so we should have enough to decorate the tree and cover Mama’s giving.” Eula added a roll of red satin ribbon to the cart.

  “Your mama’s giving?”

  “Each year on Christmas Eve, Mama sits in her rocking chair next to the cane tree and passes out candy canes to each child, grandchild, great-grandchild, and each year a few more, great-great-grandchildren. This year we need seventy-five candy canes.”

  “Wow seventy-five family members together at your house on Christmas Eve. I can’t imagine cooking for so many.”

  “Oh, no, honey, by the end of the evening we’ll have well over a hundred people come. They start coming about noon. At midnight, those that can, go to church together.”

  Kelly couldn’t imagine that many people in one family much less that many in Eula’s house. She marveled at the woman’s calm and patient manner. If she had over a hundred people coming to her house, she’d be stressing out trying to get everything perfect and ready.

  The woman had exhibited the same type of patience and calm yesterday when she’d taught her how to cook jambalaya.

  Kelly picked up a snow globe and shook it. Tiny flakes fell on the idyllic village inside, making her sigh. No snow for her this Christmas. It was eighty degrees outdoors. The familiar things of her life, her Dad’s baked ham, his spiced hot chocolate and even the silly Christmas sweaters her wore were just memories now. Christmas would never be the same without him. She returned the globe to the shelf and squeezed her lips together swallowing the threatening sob.

  Her heart clenched when she thought of last night. Denny and Chelsea had eaten then left early to return home. Although, Denny had been warm and friendly, Kelly wondered if his abrupt departure had something to do with his response to the women they’d encountered yesterday during lunch. Or had he simply been tired and needed to get to bed early?

  Eula glanced at her watch. “It’s almost eleven. Denny’s serving lunch in a few minutes.”

  Kelly looked forward to seeing Denny again, but the thought of encountering Earline’s icy glare unnerved her.

  Farther down the aisle, with twinkling eyes and a broad smile, Chelsea skipped alongside the motorized cart Mameré Milla operated. From the smile adorning Mameré’s face, Kelly couldn’t tell who was having more fun, Mameré or Chelsea.

  Eula added a box of tea candles to the cart. “There, that’s everything.”

  Kelly whispered near Eula’s ear, “I’d like to get Chelsea something for Christmas. Cover me?”

  “No problem.” Eula smiled.

  As Kelly walked away, Eula called Chelsea over to ask her opinion about a gift for Tante Lulu.

  Tante Lulu? She made a mental note to ask Eula about that one then headed for the jewelry department. As she scanned the case, the perfect gift came into view. A pair of gold necklaces with one part of a separated heart on each. When placed together to form a whole heart, it read, Best Friends. Perfect. Chelsea could share her gift with her best friend. She paid for the chain then tucked it into her purse.

  ****

  Denny scribbled his signature on the last of the approval vouchers. Thank you, Lord. A few months ago things looked bleak. Decreased drilling activity had put Labouve Pipe and Supply dangerously close to the red. But just when he thought he’d have to lay off a few of his men, a major oil company had called. He’d gotten the bid on a huge deep-water drilling job. Soon after, he’d been awarded the bids on several land jobs. Other jobs filtered in through the next months, easing his worry about layoffs.

  “Here you go.” He handed the stack of invoices to Earline.

  With an arched brow and inclined head, Earline reached for the documents. “Are you ready to eat?”

  “Not yet. I’m waiting for my family to get here.” Denny had ordered in a feast for the employees. He stifled a yawn. The last few nights he’d fought insomnia. Kelly consumed his thoughts. The last time he’d lost sleep had been those many months after Andrea’s death. Night after night he had lain awake battling with God. Before long, he finally gave up and prayed. That’s when the peace came. After a while, he’d come to accept that his wife was gone. He needed to move on, if not for his own sake, for Chelsea’s. Now he wondered if these new emotions were proof that he had moved on? Or were they emotions brought on by a beautiful kind woman? He’d only met Kelly a couple of days ago. How could he be sure? Lord, I need Your help on this one.

  The ding sounded from the front door’s chime. He glanced at his watch, eleven thirty. His heart responded to the sound. Was his family here? With Kelly? The increased heart rate and antsy feeling in his gut reminded him of his high-school years every time Andrea had walked near him. Many women had entered his life in the past five years. Several had tried to win his heart, but none had stirred his dormant feelings like Kelly did. He stood on less-than-steady knees and headed for the kitchen.

  ****

  Kelly held the door for Eula, Camilla, and Chelsea. She followed them into the building past Earline’s empty chair. Voices filtered into the hallway from the kitchen. When Kelly walked into the spacious kitchen, the roar of voices dropped to a low murmur. Eyes turned toward her. Denny’s employees stood or sat in various places throughout the kitchen. Words drifted toward her. “Who’s dat?”

  Denny appeared next to her then bent over to brush a kiss on Chelsea’s cheek. “So glad you made it.” His gaze met Kelly’s. “Ready for lunch?” He guided her toward the spread of food on the far end of the kitchen. When she and Denny’s family walked toward the decorated tables, several of the seated men stood and pointed to their chairs. “Have a seat right here.”

  Once they sat, Denny stood, several envelopes in his hand, near the door trimmed with cedar boughs and gold ribbon. “Everyone, can I have your attention.” He called each employee by name, shook their hand, and then with a smile and a twinkle in his eye, he handed each a sealed envelope. His obvious enjoyment warmed her heart. She’d never seen anyone enjoy the act of giving so much. His laughter rang through the kitchen. When the employees collected their bonuses, an unbridled look of respect for Denny shone on their faces.

  With each new introduction, she had to explain she was not his girlfriend, just someone in town to write a story. Their reactions surprised her. Many responded with a shake of their head and a “tsk tsk” or “too bad.”

  Denny patted a burly guy on the shoulder then burst into unrestrained laughter. Kelly admired how his honesty and genuine character shown through. The more she saw of this man, the more she wanted to see. He seemed too good to be true.

  “How do you like the fried turkey?” Denny slid into the empty chair next to her. The same smile and intense gaze he’d shared with his employees he now lavished on her. Only his gaze seemed more intense. Or was it her imagination? Maybe wishful thinking?

  “I like it.”

  He scooted his chair closer to hers. “Ready for your swamp tour tomorrow?”

  She swam in the warmth of his brown eyes. “Sure am.” A whole day with this interesting man. The anticipation that brewed within had nothing to do with an alligator named Gaston or the swamp.

  Sept

  December 22

  Kelly lifted her face into the air. She sat next to Denny as he navigated his twenty-foot boat down Bayou Lebourche.

  He stole a glance toward her. “I can’t believe Chelsea chose another shopping trip with Mama over a ride in the swamp with us.”

  Kelly wondered the same thing but hadn’t questioned Chelsea’s decision when she told her.

  Tree roots, exposed by the water’s relentless intrusion, lined the shore. She pointed to an oak with very little dirt beneath its roots. “How does it keep from falling in?”

  “Eventually it will. Right now, the root system on the other side is enough to hold it up, but as the gr
ound wears away it’ll succumb. Those logs in the water are casualties of the bayou’s advancing erosion.”

  The swamp transported her into another world. Denny’s world. One she never imagined she’d visit. A unique beauty existed in the gnarly exposed roots, the turtles sunning on protruding logs, and the moss-draped tree limbs hanging over murky water. Denny’s erect posture, confident handling of the craft, and keen eye assured her of her safety. Of course, the safety of her heart was another matter altogether.

  “It’s different than I expected.” A ripple ahead of the boat grabbed her attention. A sign that something lurked beneath.

  He tapped on the controls, slowing to a snail’s pace then steered into a small channel. “This is where Gaston usually hides in the winter. We won’t be able to go too far in because of the low tide, but you should get a good glimpse.”

  Sunlight filtered through the clouds in random streaks of gold and reflected off Denny’s deep brown hair. He navigated to the center of the narrow channel and cut the engine.

  “Listen.”

  The cawcaw of a crow echoed through the trees along with a symphony of other bird sounds. The essence of the swamp enveloped her.

  Denny’s warm expression put her at ease. A sense of belonging washed over her, one she tried to understand. This was not her world. And probably never could be.

  “I’m surprised. It’s beautiful out here. In its own way.” She smiled.

  “It is. Even in the winter, this place has a uniqueness that captures me each time I come out here. I used to visit a lot after Andrea died. This is the only place I could find peace. Where I could grieve openly. Here, God told me that He hadn’t abandoned me. Funny, that’s when I met Gaston.” As though Denny remembered the reason for their visit, he scanned the bayou.

  Kelly sighed. “Denny, that’s exactly how I feel when I’m in the mountains. I look around at their majesty and know that God is there. Of course, I know He’s everywhere, but it’s where I feel Him the most.” She watched a long-legged bird scour the shoreline.

  “Kelly, I’m sorry you won’t have your white Christmas this year. If I could, I’d order snowfall for Caneville on Christmas.” He leaned back onto the seat. The curl of his lip seemed a little mischievous. “You know like in It’s a Wonderful Life when George Bailey offers to lasso the moon for Mary.”

  She smiled. “OK, George. Thanks, that’s really sweet. But being here is my choice. And who says Christmas can’t be blessed even if there’s no snow or mountains.” She smiled up at him and tried to show him as sincere a smile as possible. Although she loved being here with him, her heart longed for snow-capped mountains, piles of snow, and cool, crisp air.

  “Chelsea wants to go skiing. I plan to take her soon. It’s been hard because Andrea and I had so many plans. So many things we said we’d do one day and well…” He lowered his gaze and brushed off a piece of lint from his blue jeans.

  “Chelsea asked me about the mountains. Maybe you two can visit me, and I’ll give you a tour. Share my world with you.” Kelly envisioned athletic Denny on skis in a parka. Not hard to imagine. She smiled at the vision.

  When he lifted his head, his gaze met hers and held her captive. “I’d like that. Very much.”

  A splash in the water severed the connection between them, but Kelly harbored the energy they exchanged in the look.

  He pointed to what appeared to be a log in the water. “There he is.” Denny grabbed a paddle and smacked it on the surface. After a minute, the log began to move toward them. As the animal approached, Kelly recognized beady eyes and the head of the gator. Never had she seen anything so scary. She took a step away from the side. “He won’t ram into us, will he?”

  Denny stood close to her. “No. He only came toward us because of the sound of the paddle.”

  She rose on tippy-toes to peer over the side from where she stood. The large animal floated close enough to touch with the oar. The water droplets on his leathery skin glistened in the mid-morning sun. She scanned the length of his immense body and knew there would be no way she could win a wrestling match with that monster. She shuffled an inch closer.

  “Hey, fella. How ya doin’?” Denny circled the oar above the water. The alligator turned in a circle as well..

  She smiled despite her fear. “You’ve taught him well.”

  “He knows what to expect.” He nodded toward the gator. “Your turn.”

  Kelly inched closer to the side and reached for the paddle, with shaking hands she mimicked Denny’s move. The alligator repeated the performance. “Look. I think he smiled.”

  Denny laughed. “He likes you.”

  She sat next to Denny on the side of the boat while Gaston turned and swam away. Denny shared the history of alligators in Louisiana and how they’ve gone back and forth from being protected to being hunted.

  Denny started the motor and glided back into the main channel. His gentleness had shone through, even toward a sixteen-foot alligator. When he turned toward her and smiled, her heart leapt.

  ****

  Denny stood at the console and tapped the lever to increase the speed of his boat. The action angled the hull upward and forward. Kelly’s presence comforted him more than he expected. He loved sharing his world with her. Enjoyed her enthusiasm. As they slid through the murky waters of Bayou Labourche, Denny smiled, enjoying the sun and his good feelings.

  A quick glance toward the bank revealed a mama nutria with two babies scurrying toward a tree. He slowed the boat then tapped Kelly’s arm. “Look.” He pointed toward the family.

  Her eyes lit with excitement. “What are they?”

  “They’re nutria.”

  “Oh my, babies. I’ve never seen nutria before. They’re so cute.” She laughed. “Except for the big front teeth.” With widened eyes and fingertips to her cheeks, she watched the animals. Her unchecked delight and childlike enthusiasm brought joy to his heart.

  Minutes later, Denny docked alongside a weathered wharf.

  “Where are we?” Kelly reached for the basket he handed her.

  “This is our fishing camp.” He looped the nylon rope around the tar-coated piling.

  “And, what’s this?” Kelly lifted the basket he had hidden under spare life vests before he’d met her at his mama’s house.

  “That, Miss Kelly, is our lunch.” He climbed onto the dock and reached out to her. When she grasped his hand, her warmth spread through him. The smallness of her fingers in his awakened his senses. A stab of regret pierced his heart when she allowed them to slip from his.

  “Lunch? You brought lunch. How sweet. What gourmet delights did you fix? Or did your mom?”

  “My mom? Ah, I’m hurt.” As he’d done a few nights ago with Chelsea, he clutched his chest in mock pain then shook his head. “Ye of little faith. I fixed club sandwiches with boiled shrimp and cocktail sauce appetizers. Shall we?” He pointed toward the building with the basket and allowed her to lead the way along the dock to the screened porch of the old fishing camp.

  The damp musty odor inside brought a rush of memories: Andrea rocking Chelsea on the old wooden rockers. His father filleting trout at the teetering cleaning station. His mother and grandmother plucking ducks—saving the down in embroidered pillowcases for later use. Chelsea reeling in her first redfish with the Snoopy rod and reel. The memories rolled through his mind and he smiled with each one. When he looked at Kelly he knew today he’d add a new memory.

  Huit

  An oak mission couch with faded plaid cushions, two wooden rocking chairs, and a dinette table with four chairs greeted Kelly when she entered.

  Denny laid the basket on the planked table in the tiny kitchen. “What do you think of our humble little camp?”

  “I like it. Do you come here often?”

  “Not nearly as often as I’d like. I used to bring Chelsea out here a lot, but lately I’ve had so much going on with work, this place has taken a back seat.” He pointed across the sparse living room. “There’s a restro
om through that door if you need it.”

  Kelly laughed. “It doesn’t lead outside does it?”

  “No. Contrary to popular belief, we do have indoor plumbing here. Even in our little camp. Ever hear of septic tanks? We have electricity, too.” He flipped a switch up and down to prove his point.

  When she exited the restroom, Denny rose from one of the wooden rockers. “Ready for lunch? I thought we could sit on the dock. It’s a little musty in here.”

  “Sure.”

  He led her to the expanded part of the dock then reached into the basket and produced a purple and gold blanket. With a flip of his wrist the blanket covered the dock and a large tiger imprinted in the center stared at them.

  She sat and began taking the sandwiches from the basket. “Let me guess, you’re an LSU fan.”

  He laughed then sat next to her. “Yes and no.”

  “OK, Labouve. Do tell.”

  He removed a small insulated bag from the basket. “I will. After grace. Would you like to do the honors?”

  Kelly paused at the request. Praying was such a personal thing for her. She wasn’t sure if she could say what was in her heart in front of Denny. The stirring within prompted her. She cleared her throat and began, “Father, thank You for this wonderful blessed day, for this new adventure, and for this Southern hospitality. Thank You for this food. Bless the hands that prepared it and continue to show us more of Yourself. Amen.” When she lifted her head, she met warm brown eyes drooping with kindness and attentiveness. No basset hound had drawn such a burning desire to embrace him. Was she falling for Denny?

  “OK, now tell.” She needed to get him talking to break the electricity between them. While sitting crossed-legged on the blanket, she took a bite of her sandwich.

  “Not before I do this.” He leaned toward her, mirth dancing in his eyes.