Southern Fried Christmas

by Marian Merritt

  Kelly ran her finger along the edge of Denny’s card then over the embossed lettering of his name. His voice on the phone had expanded the ache in her heart. But it was nice to know someone cared about her safety. Her mind wandered back to the day in the swamp. When they’d connected and shared.

  Her ringing phone jolted her back to her present reality.

  “Hello.”

  “Kelly, you’re home. It’s Brent. I’ve left several messages on your machine. Didn’t you get them?”

  “Sorry, I’ve only been home a short while.” She slid Denny’s card back into her wallet. Next to the picture of Chelsea and Denny that the young girl had slipped into her purse.

  “I called to tell you what the plans are for New Year’s Eve. I’ll pick you up at six. There’s a mixer at the hotel for the hospital doctors and their guests. You’ll love meeting all my co-workers. If I play my cards right, I may be asked to join one of the local practices. I can’t wait for you to see how fancy this party will be. Be sure to wear something elegant and tasteful.”

  Elegant and tasteful. Did he not think she had the ability to choose an appropriate dress for his party? A rush of memories flashed before her. He’d always told her what to do and what to wear. Why had she not noticed?

  “Brent, why did you ask me to this gala?” She’d seen him with several women since they’d gone separate ways, and he’d seemed quite happy.

  “C’mon, Kelly, what difference does it make? I asked you, didn’t I?”

  “It makes a big difference. Is this an attempt to get us back together?” She glanced at the picture of Chelsea and Denny. Their smiling faces stared back.

  “No. I just needed a date.”

  “What happened to the woman you were dating a few weeks ago?” She’d seen him escorting the scantily dressed blonde at a local restaurant. Where was elegant and tasteful then?

  Silence filled the phone. Brent Garrison without a date. While Kelly waited for his response, things started to make sense.

  “She had other plans for that night.”

  “I see. And conservative Kelly fit the bill for your prospective partners, right?” How did she not see this before? Had her desire to patch things up with him been so strong that she overlooked the obvious?

  More silence. Then a sigh.

  “Right. But it’s not as bad as it sounds. This is an established group of doctors looking for a new young doctor to bring in. They would like you, and I thought you’d enjoy the party. You know win-win.”

  “And you’d be looked at favorably by having a nice conservative date.”

  “Well, yeah, that too.”

  “Brent, I think I’ll pass on the party. I’m sure a good-looking young doctor like you won’t have a problem getting an appropriate date.”

  “But, Kelly, you can’t do this.”

  “Yes, I can. Good-bye, Brent.”

  Dix-Hiut

  December 28

  Kelly returned to work but not with the same enthusiasm she’d had before. She stared at her computer screen not seeing the words. From the corner of her eye she noticed a movement. It was her editor approaching her desk.

  “Good job on the Christmas article. We’ve received many positive comments from our readers. I was hoping to expand this into a feature on the Cajun culture. What do you think?”

  She liked the idea. The article would keep her busy for the next few days and she could continue to immerse herself in Denny’s world. “Sure, I would like that.”

  “With all the current Cajun reality shows, it might spark reader interest.” He turned away from her desk, took a step, and then turned back.

  “Kelly, are you OK?” He sat in the chair in front of her desk.

  She met his kind gray eyes. “Yes, Mr. Randall, I am. I fell in love with the culture and people there and I’m missing them a little.”

  He smiled. “Got to you, did they?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, Carroll Labouve was impressed with you. He told me he was going to offer you an editor’s position.”

  “He did.” The mention of Denny’s last name tightened her chest.

  “Are you considering taking it?”

  “I’m not sure, Mr. Randall. There’s a lot to think about.”

  “Well, I think you can handle the job, if that helps you any.” He slid his hand along the edge of her desk. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I would hate to lose you, but you’ve got talent, and I know you’d be a big asset to that paper. Anything I can do to help, let me know.” He stood then walked back to his office.

  Lord, I trust You to lead me in this situation. I want to be in Your will. Please open my eyes to the path You would have me follow.

  She glanced out the window and tried to organize her thoughts for the feature. Memories surfaced along with emotions that threatened to send her on a plane back to Louisiana.

  The ding from her computer signaling the arrival of a message brought her back to the present. When she switched to her e-mail program a message from Denny waited in her inbox. Her pulse quickened. What would he have to say?

  She opened his message.

  Dear Kelly,

  I hope things are going well for you. Chelsea has talked non-stop about taking a trip to the mountains. She misses you. In fact, everyone here in Caneville misses you. How’s work going? I hope things are settling back to normal.

  Take care and let us know how you’re doing.

  Denny

  Kelly sighed. She wasn’t sure what she expected. A confession? A letter professing his enduring love? Everyone missed her. Did Denny include himself in the everyone? She missed them. More than she thought she would. The Labouve family had left an indelible mark on her heart.

  ****

  Denny stared at his computer screen. His lack of concentration at work had become worse since Kelly left. Even his employees had made snide comments about that northern woman stealing his heart and his mind. Sadly enough, he couldn’t deny their claims. She had his heart and his attention. Kelly filled his waking thoughts. She also filled his dreams.

  It had taken a few days to get the courage to e-mail her after their last phone call. She hadn’t had much to say when she’d called him to let him know she’d arrived safely. Maybe it was for the best. Too many miles separated them.

  Denny arrived home from work to find Chelsea and his mama in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on several sandwiches. “What’s this?”

  “I didn’t think you’d feel like cooking tonight.”

  No. He didn’t. He didn’t feel like doing much of anything but booking a flight to Denver.

  Eula patted his shoulder. “Good night, Denny. I’ll see you later. I’m bringing Mamére one of these sandwiches.”

  “G’night, Mama. Thanks for the dinner.” He walked her to the door and watched her trek across the yard.

  He sat on the couch and flipped through the mail he’d brought in. Minutes later Chelsea plopped down next to him and sighed.

  “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

  “I miss Miss Kelly.”

  Denny placed his hand on her tiny leg. “I miss her, too. Would you rather go out for hamburgers? That might cheer you up.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Nah, sandwiches are fine. Can we call Miss Kelly instead?”

  “What’s wrong, half-pint? Don’t you want to go out with your dad?”

  “I wish Miss Kelly was here to go out with us. Daddy, please, please can we call her?”

  Denny’s chest tightened. Kelly hadn’t yet responded to the e-mail he’d sent yesterday. He didn’t want to seem pushy. He wasn’t sure what hearing her voice would do to his already shredded heart. He glanced toward the clock: 5:00 PM. Kelly would still be at work.

  “Let’s go have an early dinner then we can call her when we get back. She should be home then. OK?”

  Her angelic face brightened with a brilliant smile. “OK.”

  ****

  Kelly plopped onto the overstuffed cushion of her
couch and propped her feet on the ottoman. Despite working on the new feature, being at the paper had exhausted her. She had to struggle to keep her attention on her work. Thoughts of Denny and Chelsea kept creeping into her mind.

  The elegant décor throughout the small apartment had brought her joy just a few months ago. Today she looked around and sighed. The rich fabric of the couch and chairs only emphasized that the seats were empty. No one shared her beautifully decorated home.

  The ringing of the phone snatched her attention. “Hello.”

  “Miss Kelly, it’s Chelsea.”

  A smile spread across Kelly’s face—the first time today that she did so from the depths of her heart. Chelsea. She imagined silky-fine blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Suddenly, the sound of the girl’s voice lifted her from the doldrums she had allowed herself to sink into.

  “It’s so good to hear your voice. I’m glad you called.”

  “I miss you very much, Miss Kelly.”

  “I miss you, too.”

  “Guess what?” Chelsea teased.

  “What?”

  “You have to guess.”

  Kelly smiled into the receiver. “You got your driver’s license.”

  “Nooo.” Chelsea giggled. “I have a secret to tell you.”

  “Really. And what might that be?”

  “You have to promise not to tell that I told you.” Chelsea lowered her voice to a whisper that Kelly could barely hear. “My dad said he missed you too.”

  Kelly’s breath caught for a brief moment. Could Denny be feeling the same way she did?

  “And he—”

  “He wants to know when he’s going to see you again.” Denny voice flowed through the receiver. It didn’t take much imagination to visualize his brilliant smile and the scar on his left eyebrow. The thought of being in the humid air of Louisiana made Kelly smile. She wanted to be there, not for the air, but to see Denny and Chelsea again.

  Chelsea’s protest echoed from the background. “Hey, I want to talk more.”

  “Denny, hello. It’s good to hear your voice.”

  “It’s good to hear yours, too. But I have to hand the receiver back to my irate ten-year-old. I’ll talk to you when she’s done.”

  “OK.”

  Kelly chatted with Chelsea for another thirty minutes, and when the young girl had finally run out of things to say, she’d said a quick good-bye then handed the phone to Denny without any advance notice to Kelly.

  “Hello.” His voice beamed through the phone.

  “So, tell me, what’s new.”

  The drumming of her heart made concentrating on the conversation difficult at first, but as she answered his questions and asked questions of her own, her heartbeat eased. It was as though she’d never left the bayou. They talked about so much and she shared easily with him all about her last two days at home as though he sat in the comfortable couch right next to her. He filled her in on his days and the latest challenges he met at work. Two hours flew by.

  “Oh, no. Kelly, I’m so sorry, but I have to go. It’s past Chelsea’s bedtime, and I need to get her tucked in.”

  “No, problem. Denny, I enjoyed the call. Talking to Chelsea and to you brightened my day.”

  “I’m glad. I know you made one little girl’s day, and you cheered her dad up as well. Sleep well. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  When Kelly disconnected the call, sadness gripped. Chelsea’s voice pierced the corners of her heart that lay vulnerable and longing. Her love for the little girl had grown stronger and not dulled as she’d hope. And what about Denny? Had she forgotten his absence on Christmas Eve? But despite her misgivings about his actions that night, she couldn’t ignore her reactions when she’d heard his voice.

  Carroll’s job offer came to mind. Should she consider taking it? Even if things didn’t work out with Denny, she’d still have a job she loved. But could she leave Colorado? Lord, please make Your will clear. Close the door You don’t want me to go through.

  Dix-Neuf

  December 31

  Kelly held the bag of groceries against her, hoping to ward off the chill that bit through her coat, sending a shiver the length of her body. The cold seemed much colder than normal this year. The only warmth she’d felt came from Denny’s daily e-mails and evening phone calls. She’d gotten to know him through those conversations in a way she’d hoped to but could never have dreamed she would. He explained his Christmas Eve actions to her the day after she’d asked the Lord for guidance. She’d taken that as a good sign. And also of what kind of person Denny was. He’d cared enough about Franny to make sure she’d get home safely, even though he didn’t want her in his life.

  With each cautious step on the slippery sidewalk to reach her apartment door, she balanced the bag of groceries. She dreaded spending New Year’s Eve alone, but knew she could count on a call from Denny and Chelsea. But would that be enough to fill the void she had since leaving them?

  As she slid her key in the lock, the ring of her phone floated from inside. The rings continued as she struggled to unlock the door and rushed inside. Just as she reached the handset, the ringing stopped. The voice on the answering machine sent shivers more severe than the freezing temperatures. “Step outside, there’s something out there for you.” Denny’s deep throaty voice echoed through her apartment and seeped into her heart.

  She raced for the receiver leaving the front door ajar. She grabbed the phone. “Denny? Hello, I’m here.” But when she grabbed the phone only a dial tone filled her ears. Step outside? What in the world? She turned toward the opened door. “He must have sent something by carrier.” Her heart leapt when she thought of what Denny could have sent. Flowers? Chocolates? The anticipation edged her forward. How could she have gotten so lucky?

  Just then as though a voice boomed from the heavens the words reeled through her mind. Luck had nothing to do with it. God had guided their steps.

  Kelly glanced near her doorstep. Nothing there. Must be in the mailbox. With each step toward the bank of mailboxes near her apartment, her smile increased and her heart pattered, excited to see what Denny had arranged. As she peered into the box, her excitement sunk. Only two letters, one a bill and the other an invitation to get another credit card. She tucked the envelopes into her pocket and sighed. Denny’s timing must be off.

  She trudged back to her apartment with drooped shoulders and sadness seeping into her heart. May was so far away. How could she wait so long to see Denny and Chelsea again? How would she fill those long, lonely days? The mountains didn’t bring the peace they once had. Not without her father here to share them with her. More and more she’d come to realize, it wasn’t the place that filled her heart. It was loved ones who shared it with her.

  Work didn’t satisfy her as it once did. In fact, it left her empty. With each word she’d written for the feature, she’d missed Denny and Chelsea more and more. Carroll’s offer commanded her thoughts more often these days.

  As she turned the corner to enter her apartment, she gasped. A man leaned against her door. Wait. Not just any man. Those broad shoulders turned her legs to gelatin. She tried to take a step, but stopped.

  Denny? At her house?

  As her shaking limbs carried her closer, she clearly saw the lopsided-grin. He leaned against the door, both thumbs hooked on the loops of his Wranglers, his left foot crossed over his right. “Hello.”

  Her breath caught, and she covered her mouth with her hand. Denny right here in front of her. She blinked. Twice. Tears spilled onto her cold cheeks. “Denny, what are you doing here? Why didn’t you call me?”

  He simply smiled and wiggled the pinky finger on his left hand. “Had a question to ask and didn’t really want to over the phone.”

  Her gazed zoomed closer to his hand. That’s when she noticed the solitaire diamond glittering on his finger. She stood, unable to move for what seemed an eternity. As his intention became clear, thousands of questions jostled through her mind. Along with thousands of excuses.
None of which were convincing.

  He removed the ring from his finger then reached for her hand. “Kelly Shepherd.” He knelt in the snow before her. Warmth and love dripped from his honey-brown eyes. “Will you marry me?”

  Kelly inhaled, her heart pounding. Only one word bounced through her brain “Yes. Yes, I can’t wait to be your wife and a part of your family, Denny Labouve.”

  Denny kissed the tips of her fingers, placed the ring on her hand, and embraced her in his strong, arms. “In my heart, you already are.”

  Epilogue

  December 24 - One Year Later

  Denny stood at Eula’s door and scanned the sea of smiling faces. Another packed house for Christmas Eve.

  “Daddy, hurry. Mameré is telling her story.”

  “I’m coming.” He rushed to stand behind Kelly. As he listened to the familiar story and the rasp of the familiar voice, something new twinged his heart. Life goes on regardless of the past heartaches and disappointments. And for those who rely on God, He carries them through to the other side. And in his case, he’d been blessed with more than he could have imagined. He’d learned about God’s timing. His perfect timing.

  Mameré finished her story and glanced toward Denny. “I believe my grandson has some excitin’ news to share.”

  Denny grabbed Kelly and Chelsea’s hand and guided them to the front of the room. He gazed into excited faces, with expectant grins and curious looks. He turned to Kelly and brushed a kiss on her cheek. Her eyes creased in the corners the way they’d done that first day a year ago when he’d driven her home from the airport.

  “Are you going to tell them or should I?” she asked.

  He placed his hand on his wife’s belly. “It seems that next year there will be another LaBouve to get a candy cane from Mameré. We’re having a baby.”