The Last Noel Read Online Free Page B

sheriff’s deputy had just come to the house and commented on how easily calls could be traced these days.
    â€œYou’re behaving, right?” she said to him now.
    He’d been in his room since they’d gotten there. Of course, he’d made no secret of the fact that he thought she and Frazier should deal with their father on holidays, seeing as the two of them got to escape back to college after a few days, while he had to deal with his parents on a daily basis.
    Jamie just grinned and nodded toward Uncle Paddy, who had taken offense at Jamie’s last comment and was staring at his youngest nephew with his head held high in indignation.
    â€œAt my age, a bit of whiskey is medicinal,” he announced.
    â€œYeah, whatever,” Jamie said irreverently. “But the whiskey is downstairs. So grab your cane, and we’ll be your escort.”
    Kat grinned. Maybe this Christmas would be okay after all, despite its somewhat rocky start.
    â€œCome on, Uncle Paddy. You’re not that old, so move it,” Jamie said.
    â€œThere is simply no respect for seniors in this house,” Paddy said. “The abuse your poor wee mother takes…” He shook his head.
    â€œMy mother is neither poor nor wee,” Kat retorted. “Now come on. It’s Christmas, and we’re going to have fun and be happy.”
    â€œYes, dammit. Whether we like it or not,” Jamie agreed.
    Kat reached for Paddy’s arm. With a groan, he rose. “Ah, me old bones.”
    â€œYour old palate can have a wee dram the minute we get you down the stairs,” Jamie assured him.
    Paddy arched a brow. “Are ye joinin’ me then, lad?”
    â€œSure, it’s Christmas.”
    â€œYe’re not of an age.”
    â€œLike you were?” Jamie said, rolling his eyes.
    â€œThis is America.”
    â€œSo?” Jamie said. “My parents run a bar. It’s not like I haven’t had a shot now and then.”
    Paddy let out an oath. Kat knew what it was because she’d been told as a child never to learn Gaelic from Uncle Paddy. Luckily, not many people spoke Gaelic, so they seldom knew what he was saying when he was out and about and swearing at the world.
    Now he waved a hand at them and headed for the stairs under his own power. “The young. No respect,” he muttered, then raised his cane and shook it at them.
    They both laughed and followed him downstairs.
    Â 
    Skyler had all but the last of the food on the table when Uncle Paddy entered the kitchen and headed straight for the liquor cabinet.
    â€œYour beer’s on the table,” she said, her tone slightly sharp. She realized that she was looking over her shoulder, hoping that David hadn’t seen Paddy heading straight for the whiskey.
    â€œI’ll take a beer, too,” Jamie said cheerfully, coming in behind Paddy.
    â€œJamie…” she said warningly.
    â€œIt’s better than the hard stuff, right?” Jamie asked.
    â€œActually, I think a beer and a shot have about the same alcohol content,” Kat said, following her brother into the kitchen.
    â€œWhat, now our son is heading straight for the liquor, too?” David demanded harshly from behind Kat.
    His words tightened the knot of tension already forming between Skyler’s shoulder blades as she remembered the “incident” with Jamie.
    â€œJeez, Dad, would you lighten up?” Jamie demanded.
    â€œGreat. I knew we should have gone to your family,” Frazier murmured to Brenda, as they walked into the middle of the argument.
    Take control, Skyler told herself angrily. All your life, you let things go, trying to maintain the peace. Now for once in your life, do something. “David, Jamie, please,” she said. “It’s Christmas Eve.”
    â€œWe own a bar,” Jamie said. “What’s the big deal?”
    â€œStop it, Jamie. Stop it now,” she said firmly, wondering why family