Page 2 of Jingle All the Plays

His bark of laughter interrupts me.

“You only wish someone would stay in your life as long as Meredith’s been in mine.”

“That cuts deep, Maisy. Too deep.”

“You know what I mean. You’re a freaking billionaire. You can’t trust half the people that come into your life. And besides that, you’re always too busy.”

“Truth.” He sighs with resignation. “So many reasons to visit Lit Creek.”

“So many? Sounds like there’s something else there.”

“Uh…nope.” The small hesitation in his reply tells me more than anything, but I don’t press him. I’m on a mission, and I have to get back to it.

“Okay, gotta go, Blake. Love you.”

“Love you, too, lil sis. Drive safe.”

Oh, I will drive safe. I’ll drive as safe as a motherfucker because I have one mission today, and I will not fail my big brother. Nope. Failure is not an option.

Chapter 2

Bo

“Are you seriously driving in this weather out in the middle of buttfuck nowhere?” Rafe just had to call me right when I’m looking for my turn…in the middle of buttfuck nowhere. But I’m not going to concede the point here.

“Bro, it’s not even snowing anymore.” I take in the white world around me. The roads are pretty clear for the amount of snow lining the Canadian prairies highway. White capped mountains are in the background. It’s so peaceful here.

“Ya, but it will be snowing soon.”

“Thanks, jackass.” I drum my fingers along the wheel, eyes scanning for a small sign that’s supposed to lead me to a private residence. “This can’t be right…”

“What are you mumbling about? Are you already lost? Is this really even worth it?”

“Hey. Aren’t you usually the quiet one? Brooding somewhere in the corner?”

“Ya, well, you caught me on a good day.”

“Good day? Ha—Oh shit. I think I missed my exit.”

“Where are you going anyway?” He asks me just as I pull a U-ey to head back the other way. Now that I know where the turn off is, I won’t miss it again. If only I could learn life lessons as quickly.

“I gotta get this bat for my nephew.”

“You’re driving hours outside the city for a bat? You know we have a thousand of those just lying around, right? You know…pro baseball players and all.”

“Ya, ya, dumbass. This is a special edition bat from my nephew’s hero, Donnie Ruth.”

“Didn’t know the kid was into the greats.”

“He is. And if I can get this bat for him, it’ll…” I stop, not wanting to actually let it all out. “It’ll make his year.”

“Sounds like you’re his favorite uncle.”

“Something like that. What are you doing for the holidays?”

I hear some rustling through the line and the crack of a can. “Oh, you know. Same old.”

“Finding a dark cave to brood in?”