A Christmas Arrangement Read Online Free

marriage, and I didn’t get a pass because I had been married before.  Actually, I was still married, wasn’t I?  Just not to the guy I was having sex with.  I was pretty sure she wouldn’t be approving of my situation either way.  Especially if she knew I was still married.  Which she didn’t and couldn’t.  Ever. 
    K.C. just stood there with the hobby horse between her knees, holding on to the reigns with both hands.  My greatest fear at the moment was that she would speak.  K.C. suffered with a serious affliction of her own, called lack of filter . 
    “Oh hi, Mrs. McKay,” Daphne said.  “K.C. was just telling us about her cowgirl days, how she used to ride um—horses.  Isn’t that right, K.C.?”  Daphne, bless her, had just earned herself a raise.
    “Is that so?” Mom said.  “My father used to be in the Sheriff’s posse.  He and my mother rode together, in fact.  Did you know that, Quincy?”  She turned to look at me and gasped.
    “Are you alright, dear?”  She rushed over and held the back of her hand to my forehead.  “You’re burning up.  You must have a fever.”  She put her fingers under either side of my jaw, probing for swollen glands. 
    “Ouch.  Mom, stop, please.  I don’t have a fever.  I was just—laughing—at something K.C. said.”  I shot the look of death at K.C. who stood there grinning behind my mother’s back.
    “You need to take better care of yourself, Quincy McKay,” Mom said.  “Anyway, I came here for a reason.  I wanted to know what you’re going to make for the Christmas dinner party.  I was thinking you and Alex could bring stuffing for the turkey.
    Hysterical laughter erupted from K.C. like lava from Vesuvius, splashing off the high ceilings of our shop.  K.C. wheezed between bouts of giggling and knee slapping.  Daphne, the traitor, let her giggles escape from around her hands, which covered her mouth. 
    My mother glanced from my face, which was now probably green, to the other two women. 
    " What is so funny?" Mom said. 
    "Nothing.  Absolutely nothing."  I said.
    The front doorbell chimed and Alex walked in.  My knees weakened, whether from embarrassment or just the sight of him, I wasn’t sure.
    "Hey everyone."  He surveyed the room with his beautiful brown eyes, walked past K.C. and Daphne, then looked at me with a "what's going on" expression.  "Hi, Mrs. McKay."
    "Call me Annette," Mom said.
    He came over and put his arm around my shoulders.  "What's so funny?"
    "I don't know.  I was just wondering the same thing,” Mom said.  “Well, anyway I was just asking Quincy if you two would like to bring stuffing to our family Christmas party."
    "I've got a great recipe for stuffing with sausage and chestnuts," Alex said.
    "You should show it to my daughter," Mom said.  “She could learn a thing or two."
    K.C. snorted, Daphne doubled over and then K.C.’s laughter morphed into something that might come out of a braying donkey and she dropped to her knees. 
    "I don't think I know what's going on," Mom said. 
    Alex rushed over to K.C.  "Are you okay?"
    “Oh honey, the best I’ve been in years, thanks to you.” 
    He helped her stand then glanced over at Daphne who covered her mouth with her fingertips again.  “I don’t want to know the joke, do I?” he asked.
    “Mmm maybe, but your girlfriend definitely doesn’t want you to know,” Daphne said through laughter.  “I think she might be looking for a new delivery driver right now.”
    He grinned and winked at me.  It had been that wink that stole my heart in the beginning.  It helped to soothe the mortification just a bit.
    "So...Annette," Alex continued.  "I'm glad we're talking about your party.  I have a surprise.  And something to ask.”  His eyes twinkled with excitement.  “Since Quincy can't leave work to go meet my parents over the holiday, I decided to ask them to come here.”
    He looked at me expectantly, gauging my reaction.  I tried to