Christmas Steele Read Online Free Page A

Lacy
felt.
    “I’ll help,” Lacy volunteered. “It’ll go
faster.” With that, they turned their attention to culinary matters
and began assembling the cake.

Chapter 4
     
    “Really, mother, was prune cake necessary
with eight dozen cookies?” Frannie asked as the family sat down to
supper.
    “The cookies are for the holiday party, Mom,”
Lacy said.
    “Ugh. I can feel myself getting fatter by the
second,” Frannie said.
    “I think you’re perfect, Frannie,” her
husband added.
    Lacy’s mother rolled her eyes, but didn’t
comment further, much to Lacy’s relief. Maybe it was the stubborn
streak in her, but when her mother got on her about her diet, it
only made her want to eat more. She had always used food as an
escape, and when she was a teenager she had wanted to escape her
mother and sister and their constant drama. That was probably why
she had been such a chubby teenager. College had been much calmer,
and the weight had dropped easily. Since Robert’s abandonment and
the subsequent turmoil in Lacy’s life, the battle of the bulge had
become an issue once again. Now with her mother here and in such a
bad mood, it was all Lacy could do not to pick up a fork and begin
shoveling warm prune cake straight from the pan.
    She needed to get a breather from the house
or she would once again end up on the couch at three in the
morning, trying to decide if the absence of PABA was a good enough
reason to spend a hundred dollars on shampoo. That was why, when
her grandmother hinted that they might need more confectioners
sugar to finish icing the cookies, Lacy practically vaulted over
the counter in her enthusiasm to volunteer for a grocery run.
    “We can get it tomorrow, dear,” Lucinda said,
eyeing Lacy with concern as she rubbed her shin, the one she had
bashed as she was jumping for her purse.
    “No, Grandma, really, I’m happy to go. Is
there anything else we need? Something from the next state,
perhaps? I would be happy to drive wherever you need.”
    Her grandmother gave her a sympathetic smile
and loving pat on the shoulder. “I think the sugar will be enough,
but take your time. Maybe you could see if Pastor Underhill is
available for a coffee.”
    “That would be great, but this is Tosh’s busy
season. He has another party tonight. I’ll get the sugar, and maybe
I’ll get some coffee on my own.”
    “Whatever you need, dear,” Lucinda said. With
a sigh, she turned toward the counter and stared helplessly at the
cookies. Mr. Middleton had gone home, probably thinking it would
help ease the tension in the house. Lacy hated that he no longer
felt welcome here. She had come to dearly love him, and she knew
her grandmother already missed him; they had been inseparable the
last few months. How ironic that the thing that should cause a
wedge between them now was their daughter.
    “Mom will come around, Grandma,” Lacy said,
hoping she sounded convincing.
    “Of course she will,” Lucinda replied,
sounding equally unconvincing.
    Lacy gave her a hug from behind, kissing her
cheek. Lucinda smiled and rested her head against Lacy’s for a few
beats. “Want to take the car?” her grandmother offered.
    “Thanks, Grandma, but I’ll walk. I had two
pieces of prune cake,” she added miserably, doing a mental calorie
calculation.
    “Lacy, don’t let Frannie get you down about
your weight. You’re perfect,” her grandmother said. “You eat as
much cake as you want.”
    Lacy laughed. “I’m not sure my figure would
remain perfect if I ate as much cake as I want, but thanks for the
vote of confidence, Grandma.” She waved and left the house,
breathing in the crisp winter air. It was cold, wet, and dreary,
but she really did need the exercise, and the store wasn’t that far
away—one of the best things about living in a small town. With
every step, she felt her tension draining away. She could survive
her parents’ visit. The key would be getting a daily break. Of
course, getting a daily break