Christmas Secrets

By J. Nichole

What's a Christmas celebration without a little family drama?

 

Corrine brings her boyfriend, James, home for the first time. Corrine knows her family has its issues, and at Christmas, the issues are on full display. With James home with her, the drama seems to be in overdrive.

 

But doesn't everyone have a relative who drowns their pity in the eggnog? Or have a past romance that tries to rekindle itself? What about an unknown family member who makes themselves known during the holidays?

 

No, not everyone?

 

Whatever her family drama, Corrine navigates the day with her boyfriend encouraging her that everyone has a little…. or a lot of family drama.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Not The Last Page
• Release date: Oct 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223862390

Book preview

Chapter One

DENISE THE DRUNK

Corrine, girl is that you? My Aunt Denise, with her hands on her hips, looks at me with the door wide open. Guess you aren’t living like most college students. Looks like you are eating very well, she says as she looks me over, staring at my expanding hips.

James stands beside me, waiting for an introduction or entry into the house. Auntie Denise, I say, looking at her and James. This is James. She turns to him and smacks her lips. Are you going to let us in or have us standing in the cold all day?

Denise, I hear someone yelling from inside the house. Let those kids in this house and stop acting crazy.

I grab James by the wrist and pull him into the house past Aunt Denise, who is still standing in the doorway. After we throw our small duffle bags inside the coat closet, we make our way to the kitchen where I smell the familiar scent of homemade biscuits.

Memaw is standing over the island whipping a mixture in a bowl. Corrine, she says. With her arms wide open I walk into her embrace and take in the smell of the herbs and spices she’s probably been cooking with all morning. I’m glad you made it. She pushes me aside and reaches out for James. And this handsome young man. Come here honey, and give me a hug. James walks into Memaw’s arms and they hug for just as long as she and I did. His head towers over hers and his muscular arms wrap around her frail body, causing it to disappear. But she isn’t the least bit intimidated by his size.

James and I traveled in this morning to spend Christmas with my family. This is the first time I’ve ever brought a guy home for the holidays. The first time I’ve ever brought a guy home from college. When my grandmother releases James, she looks at the both of us and says, You two look good together. After wriggling her eyebrows, she returns to the bowl to continue mixing.

Thank you, Mrs. Dean. I quickly look between my grandmother and James and cringe when I hear my grandmother intake her breath. Last names in my family are confusing, and although my grandfather is Duncan Dean, my grandmother never took his last name.

Thankfully for James, my grandmother ignores his mishap. Dean, I hear from behind us. I’m reminded that there is always someone willing to burst a bubble in this family. Aunt Denise sits at the island in front of us. Mama ain’t never been a Dean.

James looks to me and then says, Sorry, I didn’t mean any disrespect. Again my aunt smacks her lips, but my grandmother swats at her arm. With a swig of her drink, which I’m sure is more than juice, although it’s not even noon yet, my Aunt Denise leans against the counter and asks, How long do we have to wait on everyone before we can have breakfast?

Christmas day at my grandmother’s house is a full-day event. As a family, we eat breakfast together,