12 Naughty Days of Christmas 2018

by Isabella Kole

  Abby Aaron

  Chapter 1

  The harmony of Destiny’s Child performing The Carol of the Bells over the sound system filled the cluttered breakroom. One of the nursing home volunteers had taken it upon herself to decorate the room with images of Dr. Seuss’ Grinch. The effort might have been a hit, but the middle-aged associate chose trimmings from the mid-sixties’ popular cartoon and not the more modern Jim Carry version preferred by the younger staff.

  The current sole occupant of the room shook her head as she remembered the disappointment the dear woman had felt when others complained on the theme. Kelli Kinler had rushed to smooth over hurt feelings that morning. “I prefer the classic version too. Boris Karloff’s voice is much sexier.”

  Pacified, the volunteer had rushed off to try to remove the red glitter on the gathering room’s newly installed taupe carpet. In hindsight, as a supervisor, it might have been better to discourage the use of the shiny flecks. Kelli smiled, assuring herself it was worth the extra bother to clean up. The residents had acted like delighted children as they decorated their paper Christmas ornaments which now adorned the fresh Fraser Fir tree near the fireplace.

  Kelli quickly finished eating her sandwich when she noticed the clock. Her break ended in ten minutes, so she rushed to power up her iPad and access the link to her favorite website. One cover caught her attention right away. Pinching the screen, she enlarged the image. A huge smile lit up her comely face as three bare-chested men filled her screen. The author’s name was new to her, but she was intrigued. She scanned the book’s description.

  In a post-apocalyptic world there is a city inhabited by women only. Outside its walls are villages with warriors, women and children. Once a cycle, a woman leaves the city to become a new member of a village. It’s an honor to be chosen.

  Attie is chosen, but not by chance. She has a plan to escape the protective life of the city to search for her lost friend Naysa. But she soon finds herself married to three handsome but forceful men and taken to their village – which was not part of her plan. Luckily, Naysa is there, too, now heavy with child. Will they chance running back to the city of women, or forge a new path within the hostile settlement of men?

  The usual disclaimers followed, but the warnings only enticed her more: This steamy post-apocalyptic, reverse harem romance contains elements of power exchange, mystery and suspense. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.

  Kelli was a romantic and not ashamed to admit it. She was old fashioned and determined not to settle for anything less than her dreams. Her friends and coworkers often teased her about being doomed to a life of being single because no real man could live up to her hero standards. Not true. She was not trying to find some perfect male to live out her fantasy. Kelli had a secret even her closest friends did not know. She’d always had a preference for the number three. Turning her head side to side, she made sure no one was spying on her as she clicked the buy now button. How she wished she could dive right into the story, but she had another few hours of work. She did not want to do anything to jeopardize this new job.

  It had been sheer luck getting hired on at the best assisted living residence in her home town parish a few months before. Mississippi River Manor was renowned for their patient care. People from around the state vied for the chance to get loved ones into the home. There was a waiting list with hundreds of names. The line was even longer for those hoping to work there. The pay and working conditions were great.

  Privately owned and operated, the home was a not for profit business. There was no penny pinching at the detriment of patient care. Rumor had it that a rich family used the place as a tax write-off. None of that mattered to Kelli. The staff was well compensated and the residents were pampered. She had seen enough neglect in other nursing homes while visiting her dad in his last years. She had watched those who were not lucky enough to have daily visitors spend their final days alone.

  Foolish to think she could make a difference, Kelli had gone back as a nurse to change the situation. After two years of frustration, budget cuts and deplorable conditions, she’d left behind her naïve dreams to find something which didn’t send her into a depressive state of despair. She applied at this home, but had resolved herself to going to work in the ER had she not gotten hired. There was no way she was going to do anything to jeopardize this perfect position.

  Abruptly, an angry male voice drowned out the holiday music. “There you are. Mrs. Maggie is trying to track you down.”

  A startled Kelli dropped her iPad on the floor. Powering it down without even looking at the screen, she blushed as she glanced up to see her co-worker. Jeffrey was the caretaker at the home. Ever since she had been forced to reprimand him for sleeping on the job, things between the forty-year-old man and Kelli had been tense.

  Shoving her device into her locker, she fought against allowing him the power to make her feel guilty. She was on her mandatory break, dang it. There was no rule about what a person could do on their time off. Just the same, it was best to keep her unusual choice of reading material private. “Thank you, Jeff. I appreciate you letting me know.” She forced herself to adapt a professional voice. “When my break is over, I will make sure to go check on her.”

  The older man frowned at her for a moment before sulking away. Jeffrey had been itching to catch her doing something wrong. He did not try to lower his voice when he complained about her to others. Just yesterday she had caught him gossiping openly about her.

  “All y’all believe that new girl is sweet and innocent, just because she has a baby face. I know better. She’s a plant from the top, probably reporting back on our every move. How do you think the management knows so much about everything going on here? They are getting daily updates by someone from the inside. I’m going to prove she’s a bitch if it’s the last thing I do.”

  Kelli slammed her locker shut and checked to make sure it was locked before walking away. She stopped in the restroom to freshen up. It didn’t do any good to try brushing the mop on her head. The natural curls refused to behave, and Louisiana’s humidity encouraged the utter rebellion of every strand. Maybe she ought to consider dying it. Anything would be an improvement from the mousy brown she’d inherited from her father.

  At least she got her mother’s dimples and emerald eyes. Frowning at her reflection, she wondered again who Shirley Temple was and why a few of the residents of the home always claimed she favored her. Kelli promised herself she would google the name when she got off later. After reading her new book, of course. A lady had to set priorities.

  Maggie Trehan was indeed trying to locate her. The dear old lady was walking up and down the hallway calling “Shirley!” Taking the time to pull out her medicine cart, Kelli started off to catch up with the seventy-something year old resident.

  “Looking for me, Mrs. Trehan?” she called out.

  Many times, Kelli felt as if Maggie looked out of place in the memory care unit. Most patients wore comfortable clothes or just roamed around in their favorite sleep apparel. Not Mrs. Trehan. She dressed more like a society member going out for a fundraising event. Today she had on a designer label teal pants suit, an impressive set of authentic looking pearls and carried a name brand purse. Of course, all three were no doubt from knockoff companies. No person in their right mind would allow their loved one to sport the genuine thing in a community living environment, even one as prestigious of Mississippi River Manor. Things disappeared all the time, from forgetful residents to unscrupulous employees.

  “There you are, dear. I was afraid you forgot about our dinner plans. Shall I drive tonight, or would you rather we take your car?” The older woman started rummaging through her purse. “Well, drat! I seemed to have misplaced my keys. You better drive.”

  Kelli was not concerned about the missing keys. The only items stuffed in the handbag were lace handkerchiefs and a tube of bright red lipstick. Besides, Maggie had already eaten her dinner, and they had never made any plans to go ou
t. Only family members could sign out residents for outings, but it would be nice to spend some time away from the home with the sweet lady.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. My car is acting up again. We better stay in tonight. Give me a second, and I will help you take your medicine.”

  Pulling out a drawer, she ran her fingers along the different names until she located the tab with Trahan on it. Double checking the records, she popped the prescribed pills into a small, plastic cup. Pouring water into another cup, she turned to smile at Maggie. “Just three pills tonight. Ready?”

  “You need a new car, Shirley. I was telling my son Storm so just this morning. He said I am being too nosy.” An expression of confusion crossed the older woman’s face as she accepted the cup of water.

  From experience, Kelli knew it would be a waste of time to try explaining the process of taking medicine. Poor Maggie suffered from dementia and simple, everyday tasks often confounded her. Taking the cup back, Kelli mimicked popping a pill in her own mouth. Then she pretended to drink some water to help swallow it.

  Her patient followed her example.

  “Good job.” Smiling, Kelli encouraged the woman to come along with her as she made her rounds checking on other patients. They found Mr. Vincent in his room, his attention glued to the news network playing on his new television.

  “I see you got a new television. Did Santa Claus some early this year?” Kelli asked the man. Just last week the newest resident had been complaining because no one in the gathering room wanted to watch his favorite broadcast. He argued with the others about having to watch old movies. Maggie had laughed when ‘Shirley’ had to send the grown man to his own room for a ‘timeout.’

  “If I had enough money,” Kelli had told the older woman, “I’d buy him his own tv so he could leave the rest of us to our Halmark movies.” Kelli often shared things with Maggie because the dear was more like a friend than a patient. Besides, the dear lady could not remember her own son’s name, much less more mundane information.

  “Hush, girlie. How am I supposed to hear what’s happening in the world with you gabbing so much?” Vincent groused.

  Ignoring his tone, Kelli check the status of a wound on his leg and gave him his nightly meds.

  Maggie was not as quick to ignore his rudeness. Grabbing the remote from the man’s hand, she hit the mute button. “Nobody can hear anything with this stupid thing blaring so loud. My Stan gave you this contraption and he can always take it back. Now cooperate with Shirley and take your medicine.”

  Kelli wondered for a moment if Maggie’s son had gifted the man with the device. “Why would Storm give Mr. Vincent a tv?”

  “Because you said he needed one, of course.” The older lady’s raised eyebrow, lined perfectly in light brown, suggested Kelli might be suffering from a memory lapse or something. “Stan knows how hard you work, so when you offer insight into the running of this place, he takes notice.”

  Vincent was put out by the intrusion and screwed up his face as he tried to yank his remote back, but Maggie started tapping her toe on the floor and frowning down at him. On the small sofa in his room, he had to crane his neck back to look up at the stern-faced woman. “God save us from bossy women.”

  “You best be on your best behavior, Vincent Depont. I won’t think twice about reporting you to Steven. Then you will be sorry. Steven doesn’t suffer fools, sir.”

  “Steven doesn’t suffer fools…” he mocked her haughty tone as Maggie turned her back and walked away. “Who the hell is Steven, anyway?”

  Kelli giggled and started to explain that Steven, Stan or Storm, depending on which name Mrs. Trehan was using at any particular moment in time, was her son. But Vincent had his remote back and he drowned out her words. “Close the door on your way out, Shirley,” he ordered.

  Being dismissed might have offended some people, but Kelli – ‘Shirley’ – loved her job. Evidently, Maggie wasn’t the only person who took to changing people’s names on a whim. The residents here were not starving for attention. It was a nice change from her past experience.

  Pondering the mystery of Mrs. Trehan’s son’s true name, the nurse went about her remaining rounds. Her mind quickly recalled the pictures of the attractive, versatile offspring which were proudly displayed around Maggie’s residence. Now there was a man who could stir up some genuine longing in Kelli’s nether region. She chuckled. In some, the striking dark-haired man, probably in his mid-thirties with squared jaw and soulful green eyes, wore an expensive business suit. He held himself rigid, authority pouring from his grim expression.

  Then there were the photos of a more relaxed man near her bed. A huge redfish held aloft in his large, callused hands, a mischievous smile playing across his thin lips.

  But the picture which obsessed her the most was the image of the same face scowling at the world as he straddled a motorbike. No wonder poor Maggie struggled to recall his name, Kelli thought. Her son was complex, having three strong, dominate personalities, each coming to the surface depending on his location.

  Given the opportunity, which would she choose? Giggling, she told herself there was nothing wrong with daydreaming. The easygoing sportsman, she decided, securing her medicine cart in her office. He would be a giving lover. She lacked much experience in such matters and would need a skilled guide to help her find the elusive release that books bragged about.

  Of course, the business man might be more of an authority on achieving long term goals. He would take his time, wear away her barriers and ease her into lovemaking. A blush crept across her face.

  Shaking her head, she decided the bad boy version would be her real pick. To hell with winning her over and introducing her to the joys of lovemaking. He would demand her response, telling her what he expected her to do to please him.

  Tingling from head to toe, Kelli rushed off to finish her duties so she could turn over the reins to her replacement. She laughed at thinking of Maggie’s son as three different individuals. Maybe she had been reading too many reverse harem romances. Steven, Stan or Storm, Maggie’s handsome but mysterious son, was likely a boring man. Maybe the pictures were taken when he was younger and more outgoing. He was probably a middle-aged man who spent his time remember his youthful antics.

  Chapter 2

  “No, no, no!” The words were so pitiful, the woman coming on duty ran to help, sure something horrible was going on. She found Kelli clutching her iPad, eyeing the screen with horror. It flashed the blue screen of death.

  “What happened?” Jill asked, prying the device from Kelli’s hands. She turned it over and pushed a few buttons.

  “I dropped it earlier,” Kelli explained, wanting to kick herself for not taking the warranty out on the thing. She was still paying for it. “Instead of making sure it was okay, I turned it off and went back to work. It’s the blue screen of death, isn’t it?”

  “I know someone who might be able to fix it.” The other woman suggested. “It’s Tuesday, right? This hot, but geeky, guy comes by once a week to check things. He’s really talented, though not very chatty. He’s got mad skills. I’ve seen him fix everything from a clogged toilet to the main frame of the computer system. Maybe he can check it out.”

  Turning over her personal device to her coworker was difficult, more so knowing it would fall into the control of some guy she had never even met. “Maybe I should just take it home and charge it. If it doesn’t work after that, I could always ask you friend to check it out.”

  “I am pretty sure he only fixes things on Tuesday, Kelli. And next week is Christmas, so I can’t promise he will be willing to work on it then.”

  Groaning, Kelli realized she would not be reading her new story tonight. If she didn’t hand it over to Jill’s mysterious contact, she might not get to read it for weeks. She certainly could not afford to go out and purchase a new iPad. Christmas had already taken a major bite out of her limited budget. Scribbling down her password, she made her coworker promise to guard it carefully.

/>   “Make sure to tell him not to spend a lot of money trying to fix it. I can’t swing more than a hundred or so on parts and labor.”

  Jill secured the device in her own locker. “Have you found a Santa for Christmas Eve yet? It’s a shame you can’t get a volunteer and pocket the budget money to buy a new iPad.”

  Kelli immediately starting spouting off about never even considering doing such an immoral thing when her co-worker laughed at her.

  “Calm down, girlfriend. I was teasing you. Sometimes I worry you are too honest and moral for your own good, though. You are too young to be so set in your ways, honey.”

  “Have you ever considered you don’t know the real me?” Kelli demanded. “You would be surprised if you knew more about me.” She hated being pegged as a dull, goody-goody.

  “Yeah, I doubt it. Head home. Hopefully the geek will have your iPad up and running by the time you get back to work. Then you can get back to your wild life. Searching the web for proof of vampire existence… No, visiting psychic sites… Wait, I bet you post videos online.”

  While walking to her car, Jill’s list of suggestions rang in Kelli’s ears. It seemed to her that none of the jokingly tossed out ideas were as damning as reality. What if people found out she enjoyed reading about having intimate relationships with multiple men at the same time? She would be fired for sure.

  A thick, sealed envelope with her name sat on the cleaned desk in the nurse’s office when she came back the next day. Her iPad was inside; a sticky note hung over the screen. Locking her office door, Kelli rounded her desk and lifted the device. The color drained out of her face as she read. You’ve been a naughty girl. It was signed Santas. The usage error went unnoticed at first. With a push of the button, her device powered up easily. Her ibook app was open and the title of the latest reverse harem novel she had purchased popped into view.