This is my entry for the
Winter Holidays Story Contest 2022
, and my first ever contest. I hope you enjoy it. Happy holidays.
All characters are over eighteen.
Please try to leave feedback in the comments section. Constructive criticism is invaluable for every author. I encourage everyone to vote and leave ideas for future stories as well. Finally, I would like to thank kenjisato for his time and help.
*****
"Go on," I seethed. "Say it. 'I told you so.'"
My not-small pride hated admitting that my husband had a point about not inviting my parents over for Christmas Eve. What started as an attempt to rebuild some bridges had somehow turned into all my brothers and sisters being invited to our house.
Pete responded to my outburst by slipping his arm in and around until he was holding my hand. "Don't worry. It'll be alright."
"No, it won't!" I barked angrily. "My fashion business takes off and I become the richest member of the family, and they're still treating me like I'm a baby!"
"Gwen, can we get some more cookies? My son would like some more."
Throwing my husband a look, I yelled back, "Sure thing, Daryl. Be right out."
Filling another platter of the Christmas treats my husband had the foresight to cook, I wove through several people to reach the food table. We'd ordered several pizzas, but the thought of waiting until they were ready for pickup never occurred to most of the guests.
"Thanks, Auntie Gwen," my four-year-old nephew thanked me as I placed the new cookies on the table.
"You're welcome, Leo," I smiled, noticing that the children seemed more inclined to thank me than the adults.
My bad mood returned as soon as I passed the garbage bags full of wrapping on the way back. Our family had a tradition of exchanging presents whenever we all gathered together on Christmas Eve. There was plenty of torn tissue to clean up, but no one had thought to bring a single gift for me.
"Why did I even bother inviting my parents?" I complained to Pete. "It's not like they approve of us or anything."
By then, I was so short-tempered that I didn't care if anyone heard me. Since the kitchen faced the living room, anyone watching us from behind the bar table would've heard me. Fortunately, no one was interested. The men were watching sports on our jumbo-sized TV, the women were chatting, and the kids were all playing.
I had the satisfaction of seeing Pete's face darken, if only slightly. My parents made no secret of their opposition to my marriage.
"Can't argue with that one," he admitted.
"First they thought you weren't good enough for me. When my business took off, they complained I was too good for you."
"You don't have to remind me," he grumbled. "Trust me, I want everyone gone just as badly as you."
The look we shared was of two co-conspirators. We made a great team, despite being an odd match. I was a short, hot blonde with a fierce temper and an inclination to stress over every detail. Pete was the opposite: tall, brooding, and handsome, with brown hair and matching eyes that revealed his relaxed, methodical approach to life.
"I am this close to just screaming for everyone to get the fuck—"
"No," he said unexpectedly sternly. "Trust me, I have something better planned."
"Like what?" I questioned.
Pete bent down to look at me closer. "I'm going to pick up the pizza. While I'm gone, bring the cooler in the basement up to the living room. Afterward, you will find a box waiting for you on the bed. Open it, then come back down."
I looked at him, befuddled. He answered with a sly grin.
"Trust me, this little Christmas helper has a trick up his sleeve."
He turned and left without another word, leaving me scowling. His cryptic words did nothing to lessen my mounting frustration.
I found the cooler at the bottom of the basement stairs. It was our largest one, and I wondered why he'd saved it when we could've used it earlier. I got my answer when I opened the chilled cover.
"Are you kidding me?!" I said as I held the bottle. "What's he gonna do with this much beer?"
Not just any beer, either. It was from a local brand with a much, much higher level of alcohol than any big brand. It tasted like regular beer, but it could leave a grown man groggy in just a few cans.
I'd always thought Pete was above this, but I was angry enough by that point to decide that if he wanted to spend Christmas with a hangover, that was his problem. So I pulled out the extendable handle and hauled it up, one step at a time, then rolled it to the side of our couch.
It was like a treasure chest had been cracked open. The whole room went wild as the men scrambled for the golden stuff. I still wasn't pleased, but I did notice that in all the commotion, nobody was paying any attention to me, so I used the distraction to head upstairs and check for that gift Pete mentioned.
The noise thankfully died down the further I got. When I got to the bedroom, it was silent for the first time in nearly twelve hours.