by Dylann Crush
She’d only worked two shifts since she had arrived, but she could already tell it wasn’t going to be a good fit. Giant big-screen TVs and glaring neon signs filled every square inch of wall space. Management played a headache-inducing mix of techno crap. All the songs sounded the same. And the staff—everyone seemed super nice on the surface, but it was obvious there was major tension going on underneath. Even the customers had attitude. A kid had pinched her ass yesterday, and Jamie had to restrain her from beating the crap out of him. He couldn’t have been more than seventeen.
She missed the laid-back family feel of the Rambling Rose. She missed the comforting camaraderie between the regular customers. But most of all, she missed Kenzie and Cash.
She’d finally felt like she belonged somewhere when she was with them. Her mood had been in the garbage since she had driven out of Holiday. No sense crying over things that weren’t meant to be. As long as she was wallowing in a pity party for one, she figured she may as well get her annual phone call to her mom over with. She dialed the number by heart.
“Hello?” Her mom’s voice rasped through the line.
“Merry Christmas, Mom.” Jinx took in a slow breath, bracing herself for the onslaught of accusations—she didn’t call often enough, the least she could do was send a few bucks home. Which angle would her mother work tonight?
“What’s so merry about it?” her mother growled through the phone line.
“I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
“How the hell do you think I’m doing? Randy left last month. Cleaned out my checking account on his way out of town. You making good money where you are?”
Jinx braced herself for the inevitable guilt trip. “I’m doing okay.”
A hacking cough racked through her mother. “I’m not going to be able to make rent next month. I couldn’t make it through a shift without breaking down, so I got fired.”
“I’m sorry you’re having a tough time.” Why did she think it would ever be any different? Her mother’s worth had always been so wrapped up in whichever man she’d hitched herself to.
“Randy left me. You left me,” her mother keened. “That’s not what family does. Family sticks around. Supports each other through the tough times.”
Jinx’s pulse throbbed in her temple. “You’re right.”
“I need money, Jinxy girl. Wasn’t I always good to you? I don’t even have your phone number. That’s no way to treat family.”
Her mother was absolutely right. That was no way to treat family. But that was the kicker. The revelation began to crystallize in her mind. Her mother was no more family to her than the guy at the Texaco station where she’d filled up with gas this morning. And at least he’d wished her a merry Christmas.
“You’re right, Mom.”
“So what do you say? I’m the only family you’ve got left. Can you be a good girl and help your mama out?”
Jinx swallowed hard. There would be no turning back after this. “The thing is, Mom, you’re not my family. You never have been. I’ve learned a little bit about families in the past couple of months.”
“Why, I—”
“Let me finish. You’re right. Family does stick around. Families do support each other through the tough times. Families love each other unconditionally.” Like the way everyone had rallied around Ann and Tom when he’d broken his hip. Like the way the Walker family had welcomed her into its fold with open arms. Like the way Cash and Kenzie had gifted her their hearts without expecting anything in return.
“I’m your mother, Jinx.”
No. She’d never been much of a mother. Mothers didn’t berate their kids for being kids. Mothers didn’t choose to believe strangers over the word of their own flesh and blood. Mothers didn’t turn their backs on their daughters. Her mom had never been the kind of mom Jinx needed. Or any kind of mom at all.
“You had a chance at being my mom, but you blew it. I hope things turn around for you. I really do. But I can’t be your daughter anymore. I’ve got to go. Bye.”
Jinx disconnected to the sound of her mother’s protests.
That hadn’t been as hard as she’d thought it would be. Her mother had never given her much, but tonight, she’d given her the best gift possible—clarity.
Jinx had done the same kinds of unforgivable things to Cash and Kenzie her own mother had done to her. She’d turned her back on them. She’d left them high and dry when they needed her. She hadn’t even told them how much she loved them.
With a crystal-clear sense of purpose, she headed to the break room to grab her things.
“Hey, some of us are heading down to see the bonfires across the levees after work. Want to come?” Jamie asked.
Jinx shook her head. “Nope. I’ve got to go.”
“Oh, okay. So see you at home later?”
“No. I’ve got to go back. Will you let them know I quit?”
“What?” Jamie grabbed her arm. “You sure about this?”
“Yeah. It’s the only thing I’ve ever been one hundred percent sure of in my entire life.”
Jamie didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Okay then. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Jinx nodded. She didn’t have to go looking for anything. She already knew where to find exactly what she needed. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late.
* * *
Cash woke to the vibration of his phone alarm in his pocket. He must have fallen asleep right after Kenzie last night. He’d tucked her in and started reading The Night Before Christmas. They both must have crashed hard. Her head rested in the crook of his arm. Before he slipped out from under the covers, he took a moment to watch the rise and fall of her breath. She’d be devastated this morning when Santa didn’t deliver. How was he going to piece her little heart back together? Especially since his own had cracked in two?
As he padded across her bedroom floor on bare feet, Hendrix hopped off the bed to follow.
“Ssh.” Cash picked up the dog and snuggled him against his chest. He hadn’t had a chance to set Kenzie’s bike out by the tree yet, and he couldn’t let Hendrix wake her up before Santa showed. Maybe the excitement of the new bike would make her forget about Jinx. He dismissed the ridiculous thought as soon as it entered his mind. His daughter had too much of him in her. The dogged persistence, sizable stubborn streak, and tenacity were some of his greatest strengths. They’d also proven to be huge weaknesses, seeing as how he hadn’t had the sense to give up on forcing Jinx into a future she didn’t want any part of before it was too late.
The lights on the tree glowed in the otherwise dark living room. He’d have to return it after Christmas. He and Kenzie would buy their own fake one when they went on sale, so they’d be set for next year. Cash set Hendrix on the couch. He’d assembled the bike last week and hid it in the storage shed out back. He slipped his feet into his boots and shrugged his coat on over his shoulders. As he crossed the porch, he could have sworn he smelled something baking. Wishful thinking. His stomach growled.
His mom had sent him home with a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. She’d been disappointed that he and Kenzie wouldn’t be waking up in the big house on Christmas morning but seemed to understand. With the bike under one arm and the new saddle he’d bought her from Whitey’s under the other, he reentered the living room. Two trips later, he’d arranged all the gifts under the tree. Jinx had wrapped everything for him while Kenzie was at school. Everywhere he turned, he saw signs she was no longer there. He wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep, not with the combination of excitement over Kenzie’s first home Christmas and the looming dread of her guaranteed disappointment hovering over him. He settled on the couch to wait for her to wake up.
By the time Kenzie’s feet shuffled to the top of the stairs, the sun had risen, and Cash had downed a full pot of coffee.
“Good morning, Tad
pole.”
She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes while she clutched the stuffed reindeer Jinx had won for her at the Jingle Bell Jamboree.
“Merry Christmas.” Cash met her at the top of the stairs.
“Did Santa come?” She put her arms up, letting Cash pick her up and carry her down the steps.
“He sure did.”
Her eyes lit on the packages arranged under the tree. “It’s a bike. Is that for me?”
Cash set her down, committing the look of sheer joy on her face into his memory. “Doesn’t look like it will fit me, does it?”
Kenzie beamed up at him. “Can I try it?”
“Sure.” He picked up the bike by the handles and set it on the hardwood floor in front of her. This would be her first bike without training wheels. No doubt she was ready for it, but was he?
She straddled the sparkly pink banana seat while he held the bike upright. “Can we take it outside and try it on the driveway?”
“How about you open your other presents first?”
Kenzie nodded, immediately drawn to the brand-new saddle with turquoise trim. “This is for me too?”
“Yeah. I guess Santa knew you needed a new saddle.”
“Oh, Daddy, it’s the best Christmas ever.”
It only took about fifteen minutes to exchange gifts. Kenzie opened the new set of Junie B. Jones books Jinx had suggested. He opened the paper tie she’d colored for him at school. Jinx had left gifts for both of them. Kenzie loved the art set. And Cash appreciated the brand-new twelve-cup coffeepot. Although now that he was back to making coffee for one, he’d probably return it. The living room looked like a paper factory had exploded with all the wrapping paper strewn about. Finally, only a few presents remained—the ones he and Kenzie had wrapped for Jinx. Why hadn’t he thought to put the gifts for Jinx in a closet or something?
“Can we go try my bike now, Daddy? I don’t want to get dressed yet. Can I just wear my pajamas?”
“Sure.” He snagged the new pink helmet he’d bought her along with the bike and lifted Hendrix off the couch to go with them. “Get your shoes and jacket on.”
She raced around him, shoving her footed pajama-covered feet into her boots. “Let’s go.”
Kenzie flung the door open.
There on the red-and-white candy-cane-striped welcome mat, Jinx stood, her hand frozen in a fist, like she’d been just about to knock on the door.
“Jinx!” Kenzie flung her arms around her. “I knew Santa would bring you back!”
Jinx met his gaze over the top of his daughter’s two-toned head of hair. She looked good. Great, actually. It could have been the fact that she was a sight for extremely sore eyes, but most likely, it was the tremulous smile she gave him. His heart stuttered, hopeful she hadn’t just come back for Hendrix.
“Hi.” One arm cradled Kenzie against her. The other held out a foil-wrapped package. “I just wanted to stop by and wish you a merry Christmas.”
“You want to come in?”
“Looks like you’re about to head out.” She nodded toward the bike.
“We were. I mean, we are. But just to the driveway. Kenzie wanted to try out her new bike.”
“Oh, good. I’m not sure how people would respond to your holiday look.”
Cash glanced down. “What’s wrong with this?” He gestured to the pajama pants that matched Kenzie’s footed pj’s. “I’m rocking this look.” They were tiptoeing around the real question. He wanted to toss the bike to the ground, crush her in his arms, and make her swear she’d stay.
“Hendrix too?” She reached out to pet the squirming dog. His mom had made him a special pair of pj’s to match everyone else’s. “And the hat.” Her gaze landed on the Santa hat he’d put on to get a laugh out of Kenzie.
He reached up to take it off.
“No, don’t. I like it. Here. I made you something.” She handed him the package.
“What are you doing here?” He glanced back and forth between the package and her face, looking for an answer, not wanting to get his hopes up.
“Just open it.”
Kenzie spun around in front of Jinx to watch him undo the foil. As he turned it back, it hit him. The smell of fresh-baked pie crust made his mouth water.
“It’s pie!” Kenzie hopped up and down, clapping her hands together.
“It’s pecan pie.” Cash held the pan with both hands. “You made me pecan pie?”
Kenzie looked up to Jinx. “I thought you said you didn’t know how to make pie. When we made cookies, you said pie was too complicated.”
Cash’s brow furrowed.
Jinx took a few steps forward. “Pie is complicated. I used to think it was too big of a commitment.”
“Pie is a commitment?” What did pie have to do with making a commitment?
“Yeah, all that measuring and rolling and rising and baking and mixing…” She tucked her hair behind her ear, casting a quick glance to her feet. “I couldn’t commit to pie before.”
His heart surged. “But now you can make pie?”
“I think I’m going to need some practice. I’ve never wanted to try.”
“Can we make cherry pie? And apple pie?” Kenzie bounced around the porch, unable to contain her excitement at all the kinds of pie she and Jinx would be able to make.
He cleared his throat, not trusting his voice not to crack. “Does this mean what I think it means?”
Jinx nodded. “I want to make pie with you, Cash Walker. I can’t promise I won’t burn the crust or that you won’t get mad at me once in a while when I want to give up because it’s too hard.”
“It won’t be too hard. Daddy and I will help you, right, Daddy?” Kenzie gripped his hand.
“Will you hold this for me a sec, Tadpole?” He handed the pie to Kenzie and set Hendrix down on the porch.
She took it, freeing up his hands to do what he’d wanted to do with them since he’d first laid eyes on Jinx. He tangled one hand in her hair and wrapped the other one around her waist, drawing her close. Her eyes held all the hope he hadn’t wanted to let himself feel.
“We’re going to make some great pie together,” he muttered against her ear.
She nodded.
“Kiss her, Daddy! You’re under the mistletoe.”
Cash and Jinx looked up. Sure enough, a little sprig of mistletoe hung from the doorway.
“I think this is my new very favorite best day.” He brought his lips close to hers, his senses flooded with her scent, the warmth of her breath on his cheek, the feel of her in his arms, back where she belonged.
“I love you, Cash.” Truth shone in her eyes.
“I love you too, Joy.”
“You know, I kind of like the name Jinx now.”
“Really? I thought you hated it?”
“I hated it because I believed it. But you and Kenzie, you’ve shown me that being Jinx isn’t always the curse my mom told me it was.”
“All right then. I love you, Jinx.”
Then he covered her mouth with his while his daughter stuck her finger into his pie and danced around them. They definitely needed to come up with some new family traditions. Maybe he’d start with making out under the mistletoe with the woman of his dreams.
Epilogue
Jinx held tight to Pork Chop’s leash as Kenzie ran ahead to knock on the door of her nana and papa’s house.
“Trick or treat!” Kenzie held out her bag, waiting for her nana to fill it with candy.
“Oh my goodness, you look adorable.” Ann scooped handfuls of candy and dropped them into the bag. “The three little pigs, right?”
Kenzie beamed under the layer of pink stage makeup she and Jinx had worked on all afternoon. “And the big bad wolf too.” She pointed to Hendrix, who sat on top of Pork Chop’s back, looking anything but wolfish.
/> “Good job, girls.” Ann stepped out onto the porch. “You headed over to the party at the Rambling Rose now?”
“Yes. Cash said he’d meet us there. He’s supposed to be the third pig, but since he was running late, Kenzie insisted we bring Pork Chop along for now.” Jinx gave Ann a half hug. “He had to finish some paperwork at the office but wouldn’t miss the party.”
“And how did you get Pork Chop over here?”
“In the Jeep.” Jinx pointed to the sunshine-yellow Jeep she’d bought with her own money last summer. She still had the bike, but the Jeep made it easier to get Kenzie—and the menagerie of animals she’d collected—to and from everywhere.
“Don’t worry, Nana. We buckle her in. She sits up front with Jinx, and me and Hendrix sit in back.” Kenzie reached into the candy bowl for another handful of treats.
“Y’all better get going. Don’t want to miss out. I’ll see you there.”
Fifteen minutes later, Jinx returned Pork Chop to her pen. Hendrix refused to leave her, so Jinx left the lovestruck pup with his soul mate.
“We can’t go in without Pork Chop and Hendrix,” Kenzie insisted. “Then we’d only be the two little pigs.”
Jinx took her hand. “We can tell people the big bad wolf is out chasing the other little pig around the countryside. That’s what he gets for building his house out of peanut shells, right?”
Kenzie giggled. “Straw. The first pig’s house is out of straw.”
“Oh yeah.”
They entered the Rose, and Kenzie forgot all about the need for another pig. Black lights hung from the ceiling, making everything glow. The event had expanded from last year to include games, crafts, and activities. Costumed kids of all sizes and ages milled about.
Jinx searched for Cash in the purple light. He hadn’t had time to get his face done but had strung a piece of pink paper around his head and drawn a pig snout on the front.
