Take a Chance: A Collection of Taking Chances Short Stories: Taking Chances, #9

By Katrina Marie

Celebrate the holidays with the Taking Chances crew.

 

A proposal gone wrong.

 

New additions to the family… Will it be a puppy? Baby? Both?

 

And who gives a house as a gift?!?

 

Hang out with your favorite characters this holiday season to see if they get the gifts they never knew they wanted.

 

This is a peek into the lives of these characters. To enjoy the full experience, the Taking Chances standalone series should be read first.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Katrina Marie
• Release date: Dec 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393229803

Book preview

tonya & reaf

ONE

tonya

You know there’s supposed to be bad weather, right? Amelia is sitting on my bed, shaking her head at me while I pack.

She’s trying her best to keep me from going on this trip. It’s one I’m determined to make, though. Christmas at Mama Lala’s was one of my favorite childhood memories, and I want Layla to experience that as much as she can. As much as I wish Mama Lala would live forever, I know that’s not realistic. Making sure Layla has as much great-great grandma time as possible is a priority. Don’t get me wrong, I’m being selfish because I miss her. I need that time with her as much as anyone else. If we’re lucky, and we leave early enough, I’m hoping we’ll be there before it hits.

If you say so, she shakes her head.

You should come with us. I pull a sweater off the hanger and toss it on the bed. I’m sure Lala would love to meet Randall.

I glance over my shoulder, trying to see what her reaction is, but she’s pulling the sweater I threw off her head. She’ll meet him one day. I’m not sure what we’re doing for Christmas, yet. She folds the sweater into a neat square and places it in my suitcase. I think he wants to try to spend it with his dad since he’s been alcohol free for over a year.

That’s good. And it is, but at the same time, I wish she’d come with us. It’d be like when we were kids and camped out in the living room. If you change your mind, you know you’ll have a place to stay.

And hot food to eat, no matter the time, she laughs. She’s not wrong. We could pull into her driveway at two in the morning, and she’d make sure we had something to eat. Seriously, though, Tonya. Be careful. The roads are supposed to get really bad tomorrow.

We’ll be fine. Reaf is driving, thank God. I’ll be spending the four-hour drive appeasing Layla. This will be her first road trip, and I have no idea what’s in store for us. Hopefully, everyone still shows up. And if not…I get my great-grandmother all to myself.

She stands and walks to me before throwing her arms around me. Text me when you leave and when you get there. Don’t make me brave the roads to find you.

I promise, I grin and push her off me. But right now, I have to go pick up Layla since Mom and Dad aren’t going down there.

I’m sure they’re waiting to go see her until it’s less crowded. You know how our family can be. She starts toward the living room.

Following behind, I grab my coat off the bed. You mean loud as hell?

Yep, that’s it.

I definitely don’t blame them, but that’s part of the fun. We’ll see how Layla adjusts to the noise.

It can be, Amelia agrees. I’ll talk to you later. I have to meet Randall for dinner. She wraps in another quick hug and hurries down the stairs. Have a safe trip, she calls over her shoulder before she disappears inside her car.

It’ll be different without her there, but I can’t focus on that right now. I need to go pick up my baby girl, and finish getting our stuff packed. I wasn’t kidding when I said we were leaving at the ass crack of dawn.

It’s way too early to be up, but I feel like it’s the only way we’re going to beat the storm. Not going at all isn’t an option. Reaf is moving around in the living room while I’m trying to get Layla’s stuff packed up. Hey, Babe, I call out. Hopefully he can hear me over the news. Can you come help me?

Yeah, he hollers back. He comes into Layla’s room and his mouth drops open. What is all that? He points to the three additional bags he’ll have to carry to the car.

Um, extra clothes for Layla, just in case. I pause and point to one of the bags. And some toys. It's been a while since Mama Lala has had a baby in the house and I’m not sure she has anything for Layla to play with.

He’s shaking his head, a tiny grin turning up the corner of his mouth. I’m sure she doesn’t need her entire toy box.

It’s only a quarter of her toys. Shrugging my shoulders, I continue packing. Besides, we’re going to be there longer than the rest of the family. I want her to have a way to occupy herself until everyone else gets there.

He looks like he wants to laugh. I can see him trying to hold it in. Doing everything in his power to tamp it down. I’m not sure if I should be offended or not. You act like your grandmother is going to let Layla out of her sight. But I can take these down to the car. He grabs two of the bags and turns toward the door. We probably need to get on the road soon, though. It looks like that storm is going to hit sooner than expected and I’d like to be off the road when it does.

We’re almost ready. I zip up the bag of extra clothes, grab Layla’s coat off the hook, and bend down to where she’s playing with blocks on the floor. Layla, can you go potty before we leave.

I don’t have to, she whines in her adorable toddler voice. She probably does, she’s only refusing because I’m the one asking her to.

Maybe Reaf can talk her into it. A little help here?

He bends down next to me. Hey, Layla, can you please try to go potty for Mommy before we leave. It’s going to be a long drive and cold anytime we have to stop to get out. Do you want to be super cold?

Layla shakes her head. I want to see Mama Llama.

I giggle at what she calls Mama Lala. It’s thanks to those Llama, Llama books. We will, but you need to go potty first. Reaf points to the bathroom. Go with Mommy and we’ll leave right after.

Layla grabs my hand and we head toward the bathroom. I mouth, thank you over my shoulder on the way. I wish I had whatever magical powers Reaf has. Either way, I’m happy we can get on the road.

TWO

reaf

Maybe it won’t be so bad, Tonya says from the passenger seat. She’s staring out the window, and noticing the lack of dark, ominous clouds.

We’re not even halfway to her grandmother’s and she’s already writing the storm off as no big deal. It probably won’t in Asheville until later tonight. I’m more worried about what we’re heading into. There are a lot of inclines we’ll have to drive up. Technically they are hills, but they look like tiny mountains. These storms almost always hit the western side of the state first.

I didn’t think about that, Tonya nods. That makes sense. Hopefully it hasn’t hit yet.

Layla is clapping her hands, and singing, to the music on the radio. I swear we lucked out with her being a great car rider. My nephew, on the other hand, is a freaking terror on road trips. He’s constantly asking if we’re there yet, and has to pee in every town we come across. He may be the reason my sister hates road trips. One day I’d love to take Layla and our future kids, if we should have any, on a trip across the country. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and what better way than with family?

Do you think we should stop in the next town to see if Layla needs to go p-o-t-t-y? I keep my voice low and jerk my head toward the backseat.

I put her in a pullup before we left, just in case, Tonya glances in the back. But she might be enticed to do it for a snack. She taps her finger against her chin, and adds, I could go for some snacks, too. I don’t want any of what I packed.

Layla is definitely your child.

What’s that supposed to mean?

I glance at her before turning my attention back to the road. It means the both of you will do anything for food.

Hmmpf, she pouts and crosses her arms. You can blame my mom for that. Her answer to all of life's problems is a baked good. Anytime something didn’t go quite the way I wanted she’d have brownies cooking in the oven before I could protest.

It’s not a bad thing. I rest my elbow on the console and open my hand, waiting for her to place hers in mine. I just know how to make you do anything I want, now. I’ll be sure to send a thank you card to your mom.

Please, I’m pretty sure she’s rolling her eyes, but her fingers intertwined with mine and I know she’s not really mad. You act like I’m swayed so easily.

Well, I argue. You do pretty much anything to get me to cook.

That’s not fair. She tries to pull her hand away, but I hold onto it. You know I can’t cook to save my life.

It’s not that bad. I give her hand a squeeze. I would live on your macaroni and cheese forever if it means keeping you by my side.

That’s a good answer. She picks up her phone from the door handle. There should be a gas station a couple of miles up the road. We can stop there for snacks and to fill up.

We have plenty of gas. Seriously, the gas gauge has hardly moved.

I may be nuts for wanting to take this trip despite an ice storm, but better safe than sorry when it comes to being prepared.

I guess, I mutter. It is smart, but I’m not sure I want to tell her she’s right. It’s her favorite thing to hear and I refuse since she made me wake up at the ass crack of dawn. I’ll do as she says, though. I’m smart enough to know it’s in my best interest. Plus, I hate hearing the words I told you so.

Did Layla go potty? Tonya is holding Layla’s hand while they make their way to me. I swear potty training her has been interesting.

Yeah. Finally, after a bit of bribing. Tonya rolls her eyes. She is so freaking stubborn. It’s no secret where she gets it from. My wife is one of the most hard headed people I know.

What did you use to bribe her with? This feels like it’s going to be an expensive gas station stop.

Tonya passes Layla off to me and strolls down the candy aisle, and that right there is my answer to how much we’ll be spending. Oh, you know, candy, ice cream, and one of those overpriced stuffies.

Because that’s exactly what we need...more toys. Layla is pulling me toward the baskets holding the stuffies. You know all that sugar is going to have her bouncing off the walls, right?

I’m hoping it won’t be too bad. Maybe it will keep her occupied. It’s a pipe dream and she knows it. She’s grabbing a couple of packages from the shelf. She grabs one candy in particular and shrieks. Oh my gosh. These are so hard to find and it’s my favorite.

What is it? It’s in a long black package, and she’s not once mentioned a favorite candy to me. The only thing she’s ever told me is to give her anything covered in chocolate.

It’s a nougat bar with nuts. I scrunch up my nose. That doesn’t sound good at all. She takes the opportunity to laugh at me. While it’s at my expense, I love hearing her let go and enjoy the little things. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. I think I’ll get a couple so you can get in on this yummy goodness.

Okay, I draw out. We should probably get whatever we need and get back on the road. Tonya scoops up a few more snacks and heads to the counter. Layla, can you pick out a toy so we can get back in the car and go to Mama Lala’s?

"Mama Llama needs a