Honky Tonk Christmas (26 page)

“Where is your mind?” Merle asked softly.

“Somewhere where it damn sure shouldn’t go on a regular basis.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s scary as hell when I go there.”

Merle frowned. “Why?”

“Can’t explain. It just is. Let’s talk about the guest list. Is Chigger coming?”

“She called last night. She’ll be here but she’s leaving her daughter with Billy Bob’s wife. Larissa is coming and bringing Ruby and Henry. Hank has to be off in Abilene at a cattle sale. Daisy and Cathy neither one can come but said they’d drop by and have coffee with me when they come for the Honky Tonk Christmas,” Merle said.

“I can’t wait. We’re going to have a grand opening for the new addition and I’m going to have books there to sign for anyone who wants to buy one, and we’re going to play that song. The maintenance man already has an order for it to be installed that week,” Sharlene said.

“You ever listen to the words real good? Alan Jackson says that he’s going to have a Honky Tonk Christmas because his woman broke his heart. He says that he’s going to be over her by New Year’s Eve,” Merle asked.

“Sounds like a damn fine plan to me. It’s my new favorite song,” Sharlene answered.

“Whooeee,” Chigger whistled under her breath when Holt walked into Merle’s new room. “If that ain’t sex on a stick then there ain’t no heaven. Where’d he come from and where y’all been hidin’ him?”

“He’s the contractor and he’s been right out in the open and girl, you are married,” Merle said.

“Yeah, but I can still admire the candy in the window even if I am on a diet,” Chigger laughed.

Holt scanned the room. JC, Frank, and Elmer were over beside the new pool table. Betty and Janice were staring out the window into what would be gardens come next spring. Finally, his eyes rested on Sharlene standing beside a tall blonde. She wore a lacy blouse and jeans. The sparkle of a double heart rhinestone belt buckle took his eye and he wished her entwined hearts was a symbol of their relationship. But after last night that door was shut forever. He’d lain awake for hours wishing he could redo the whole scene.

Merle motioned to him. “Holt, come in and meet Chigger.”

The tall blonde extended her hand. “Hello, handsome.”

“I’m pleased to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Holt shook her hand.

Chigger laughed. “I expect you have and hopefully it wasn’t all good. Darlin’, if I wasn’t married you’d be at the top of my list today.”

She was as tall as Holt. Her hair was blonder than what God gave her, thanks to good hair dye. Dark brown eyes sparkled with mischief.

Merle stepped between them. “Don’t you love my new room?”

“It’s almost as pretty as the contractor,” Chigger flirted.

Holt blushed.

Sharlene grinned.

“Down, girl,” Merle laughed. “Jim Bob would hate to have to defend your honor.”

Chigger laughed. “It don’t hurt to look, Merle. The ring on my finger just says I’d better not touch. Where’s Cathy and Daisy?”

“They are not coming until Sharlene’s Christmas thing.”

Chigger gave Holt a broad sexy wink. “Honey, wild horses or wild men couldn’t keep me away that day if this is what’s going to the Honky Tonk these days.”

“You could have warned me,” Holt whispered to Sharlene when Chigger moved across the room toward the refreshment table.

“I did. You didn’t believe me. Aren’t you glad you weren’t adding on to the Honky Tonk back when she was there every Friday and Saturday night?” Sharlene’s green eyes twinkled.

“Some friend you are. You’d let her back me up in a corner and do mean things to me,” Holt said.

“I expect Jim Bob would keep that from happening.”

“Sharlene!” Judd tugged on her hand. “Look at me. Do you like it? I fixed it up all by myself.” She wore a denim skirt, a hot pink sweater, and her new pink cowboy boots.

“You are simply gorgeous, princess. And did Waylon get himself dressed too or did Holt help him?”

“Uncle Holt picked out his shirt and jeans. Boys ain’t supposed to be all fancy. Just us girls. You look beautiful,” Judd said.

“Can I have her?” Chigger asked as she rejoined the group.

“You got one,” Sharlene told her.

“But she’s not old enough to tell me I’m beautiful yet. Where’s your momma, darlin’?” Chigger asked.

“She got dead in a wreck. Uncle Holt takes care of us now. I got to go find Waylon. He gets scared at big people things.”

“You’ve got to fill me in on that story, Sharlene. I’ve missed the Honky Tonk and all the gossip. I’m probably so far behind I couldn’t ever catch up now,” Chigger said.

“It’s a very long story.”

“Then give me the sixty-second news clip version and save the rest until later,” Chigger said.

“Okay. Their mother was killed in a drunk driver accident. Holt is her brother and only living relative so he took charge of the kids. I’ve been watching them some. They are a hoot. Someday I’m…” Sharlene stopped. She’d been about to say that she intended to have a dozen just like them. She couldn’t have a dozen kids with no husband and besides, she wouldn’t do that to a child. In today’s world a kid had to have two parents to survive, or did they? Holt seemed to be doing a fine job of being a single parent.

“Someday you are going to what?” Chigger asked.

“I’m going to miss them when Holt’s construction company finishes up their jobs around here and moves away from here. Look, there’s Amos. How long’s it been since you’ve seen him?”

Chigger smiled. “Too damn long. Amos, you old sinner, come over here and give me a hug.”

“That’s the pot calling the kettle black, ain’t it, Chigger,” Amos yelled.

Sharlene left them to visit and made sure the punch bowl was full. The room was absolutely beautiful. She loved the way the glass walls brought the sun into the room. The garden was just stone pathways and dirt now but next spring it would come alive with color and that would flow into the room with the bright light.

“So?” Holt asked from behind her.

Her heart skipped a beat. “So what?”

“Do you like it?”

“The room?” she asked.

“What else would I be talking about?”

“I’m pea green with envy. I wish I’d put my money into a room like this for myself rather than adding on to the Tonk,” she answered.

He cocked his head to one side. “Seriously?”

“No, but someday I’m having a house with a room just like this. If you aren’t around to build it for me, I’ll bring the carpenter out here to see exactly what I want. You didn’t file a patent on the room, did you?”

“Thank you and no, I’m not sure you can file a patent on a room design. And if you could, then that would be up to Merle. She’s the one who designed it; I just followed her directions.” His eyes locked with Sharlene’s and neither of them could break the gaze.

The house was full of people standing in groups of two to five discussing everything from the new room, to how long Merle had lived in Mingus, to hay crops. Elmer Cantrell said a few words to Frank and JC and started toward the refreshment table. But Holt and Sharlene were alone. He wanted to lean forward and kiss her. She wanted to drag him out of the house and back to her apartment for more than hot steamy kisses.

Elmer was talking when they both blinked at the same time. “…got every woman in the county talking about how she’d like a room like this nailed up to the back of their house and what they’d do with it. Betty says she’d use it for a den. Sounds like a hell of an idea to me. I couldn’t even see the television until after the sun set every evening for the glare.”

Betty turned around and poked him in the arm. “Don’t be thinking you can put that old fossil of a television in my new room. It’s not going to have a television in it.”

“But a den isn’t a den without a television,” Elmer argued.

“It’s not going to be a den like that. It’s going to be a place where friends gather up to talk and where when the kids all come home we can have extra tables set up so everyone can sit down at the same time to eat. But don’t worry, Holt. I won’t need the room for a few years. This year’s oil royalties are going for a fancy new barn. Tell me something, honey, where are you going to put a television or an eating table in that new barn?” Betty asked.

“I suppose they could sit on hay bales to eat and if we put a couple of momma cats out there, the kids would have kittens to play with,” Elmer said cheerfully.

“Momma cats? Where are momma cats? Do they have kittens? Can I see them? What color are they? If there’s an orange one can I name it and play with it?” Judd talked fast and furious.

Elmer nodded toward Judd. “See, I was right. The kids will love a barn with a bunch of cats and eatin’ on hay bales instead of tables with fancy cloths on them. Just ask Judd, here.”

Merle elbowed Elmer. “So you don’t like my room?”

“It’s a very nice addition to your home, Merle,” Elmer said.

“You see any fancy little tables other than the one with the cookies and punch?”

Judd crossed her arms across her chest. “I don’t see any momma cats or kittens.”

“I rest my case.” Elmer hurried off to talk to JC and Frank about the new pool table in the corner.

Betty refilled her punch cup. “I’ve got to have this recipe, Sharlene. We’ve got a Christmas party at the church and I’m going to volunteer for punch. What’s the secret?”

“A bottle of almond extract. It cuts the sweet,” Sharlene said.

“You making this for the Honky Tonk Christmas?”

“Yes, I am.”

“You closing down after the party that day or are you going to open up that night?” Betty asked.

“I’m going to close on Christmas Eve and Christmas both. There wouldn’t be enough folks out to warrant opening the doors. Besides, Tessa, Darla, and Luther are going up to Ardmore soon as the party is over. I’d have to run it by myself,” Sharlene answered.

“Where are you going for the holidays?” Betty asked.

Judd popped her hands on her hips and said, “Well, we aren’t going anywhere for Christmas. I done told Santa Claus to leave our present in the orange rocking chair on the front porch. There ain’t a chimney in our house so me and Waylon told him to leave our present in the rocking chair.”

“And what’s he going to leave in your orange rocking chair? A big teddy bear with a red bow around its neck?” Betty asked.

“Hell no!” Judd said.

Holt whipped around. “Judd Mendoza!”

Judd slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, it just slipped out. It’s hard not to say bad words when they’re in your head, ain’t it? Next week you ain’t goin’ to call me Judd Mendoza no more. You’re goin’ to call me Judd Jackson. I like that, don’t you, Merle?”

“You are trying to get out of trouble. I’ll let you off the hook if you’ll tell me what is Santa supposed to put in that orange rocking chair?” Holt asked.

She shook her head. “We’ll tell Santa when we see him at the Wal-Mart store. He always brings what we want,” Judd said. “Now, can me and Waylon go out there and walk around on those steps?”

Merle squatted down in front of Judd. “Whisper in my ear and I promise I won’t tell anyone. What is it that’s supposed to be in the rocking chair on Christmas morning? What if you miss seeing Santa at the Wal-Mart store? I could tell him for you that way. ”

Judd narrowed her eyes and set her jaw. “Okay, but the only person you can tell is Santa. You promise?”

“I promise I won’t tell anyone but Santa,” Merle agreed.

Judd whispered.

Merle’s eyes widened out so big that half her wrinkles disappeared. “My lips are sealed.”

Judd looked her right in the eye. “Only Santa?”

Holt sighed. Merle was a saint or an angel, maybe a mixture of both. He’d tried guessing for weeks what the twins wanted but they wouldn’t budge.

Merle hugged Judd tightly. “You got it, kid, and you and Waylon can sure enough go out into the garden and walk around. You can even sit on the bench and talk about Christmas and what else you want. If you change your mind or decide you want to add something to that list, then let me know and I’ll visit with Santa about that too.”

“We ain’t askin’ for nothing else. If Santa brings that we’ll be happy.” Judd ran off to grab Waylon’s hand and drag him out to the yard.

Betty and Sharlene were talking punch recipes but Sharlene didn’t miss a single word of what had gone on beside her. Sharlene’s heart dropped to the floor. There was a good chance they wouldn’t even be living in the house at Christmas. Merle’s job had taken five weeks. The next one could easily be done before Christmas even if there was rainy weather. How could Santa leave their present in the orange rocking chair if they had already moved to another location?

“Well?” Holt asked Merle when the kids were finally outside. He had plenty of time. It was only the first of November. He would have Saturdays to shop for Santa’s present. He’d write a note to remind himself to leave it on the rocking chair.

Merle’s eyes twinkled. “Only one thing and they’re willing to share.”

“I know. It’s all I’ve heard since we went out to Larissa’s place and played with the goats. They made a pact that they were only going to tell Santa and I’ve been worried that they’ll be disappointed,” Holt said.

“Hello, everyone. I heard what you said, Holt. I bet you those kids want a goat cart,” Larissa said as she carried Ruby into the new room. Everyone navigated in that direction to get a peek at the cute dark-haired baby dressed in pink ruffles.

Babies always draw the attention,
Sharlene thought.
Even a gorgeous new room and Santa Claus takes a backseat to a baby. Of course, Ruby is at that cute stage when she smiles at everyone. It doesn’t matter if they’re an angel or a homeless beggar.

Holt slung an arm over Merle’s shoulder. “They’re going to see Larissa and the baby and come running here in a minute. Tell me, please.”

“Do you promise to do your best to get it for them?” Merle asked.

“This is our first Christmas together. I want them to have what they want. Is it costly?”

“You’re damn right. You can’t imagine the price,” Merle teased.

Holt shut his eyes. “Okay, enough. Tell me.”

“Sharlene,” Merle said.

“Yes ma’am.” Sharlene turned away from Larissa and the baby to see what Merle needed.

Holt’s eyes popped open. “Good God!”

“Did you need something?” Sharlene asked.

Merle shook her head. “Not me.”

Sharlene let someone else have her place next to Larissa and headed toward Merle and Holt. Merle was grinning like she’d won the lottery. Holt looked like he’d been struck by a lightning bolt.

“What’d the kids want for Christmas?” she asked.

“I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone but Santa. Now he knows and I kept my word,” Merle said.

“So?” Sharlene looked at Holt.

“It’s a secret,” he mumbled.

“You can’t even tell me? I could help you look for it,” Sharlene offered.

“No, it’s something I’ll have to deal with,” he said.

***

Luther didn’t have to turn anyone away when the Tonk opened that night. With the new room the maximum capacity had doubled and now the problem wasn’t getting inside, it was finding a parking spot. Cars lined the sides of the road up to the Tonk and some folks were even parking down in the Smokestack parking lot and riding with friends.

“Looks like everyone and their puppy dog is out tonight. Your cowboy coming around?” Darla asked.