Ten Minutes for Christmas Read online

  “I think so.” She slips in behind me and encircles her arms around my waist. She’s warm and solid. I lean back into the feel of her pressed against me. Is something in my life finally easier than I thought? Is Ev what I’ve needed all along?

  Chapter 5

  Everly-

  My mind is spinning as the city streets we grew up on fly past in the darkness. Everything’s happened so quick, I feel like I’m in someone else’s body. I pinch my wrist. No. I’m in mine. I still feel Logan’s kiss. I run my tongue over my lips hoping to catch a taste of him.

  “Are you freezing to death back there?” Logan says over his shoulder.

  “Nope.” I run my hands under his leather jacket and over his shirt. He’s warm like a heated blanket. When I raise my hands a little higher, I feel his lungs pull in a breath. I tuck my head against his back. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.”

  We travel a little farther, until he drives the motorcycle into an empty lot. He turns off the ignition and swings his leg off. He pulls off his helmet. “You remember this place?”

  I look around in the darkness. “It’s a parking lot and a park. Am I supposed to?”

  He moves to the building in front of us. He scans the parking lot. He pulls a key from his jeans pocket. In a quick move, he pushes the silver key into the lock and wiggles it until the lock hanging on the door pops open.

  “What are you doing? Why do you have a key? We’re not supposed to be here, are we?”

  “So many questions. You heard my dad, I’m trouble. Are you in or out?”

  I pause, not sure what to say.

  “Come on, Ev. Have you ever done anything bad your whole life?”

  I cross my arms. “Of course I have. Lots of things.”

  “Bullshit.”

  I can’t help but smile. “Okay… you’re right.”

  He steps closer, spins me around and puts his hands over my eyes. I hear a click and then the hum of electricity. “Walk with me,” he whispers in my ear and pushes me forward.

  When he lifts his hands, the trees in the park are lit with sparkling Christmas lights. A giant wooden Santa stands in front of us.

  “I remember this park!” I clap my hands. “We came here when we were kids. I can’t believe Santa’s still here! I haven’t been here in over ten years. But, why do you have a key to turn on the lights?”

  “I help out the old guy who runs the Santa train on the weekend. I volunteer to help keep it in shape and clean it up at the end of the weekend.”

  “You work on a Santa train?”

  “Is that so hard to believe?”

  “No. You’ve always been good with anything that’s broken. I’ve seen you fix just about everything.” I look up at the figure looming over us. “Can you still go up the steps at the back of Santa and stick your head out?”

  “At least you remember that.”

  “I remember a lot of things.”

  “Good times. It was always fun memories here. That’s why when Ralph came into the garage asking if I knew anyone who could help him out with the train, I volunteered. This is actually the second year I’ve helped him, and he trusts me with the key. I come in and out to work when I can.”

  Logan starts to take a step, stops, and disappears inside the work shed for a second. When he reappears, he’s holding a blanket. He takes my hand and we wind our way up the steps to the top.

  “Hey, they built a little platform. This wasn’t here before.” I lean out over the railing and take in the blinking Christmas lights. “The air seems to be filled with little ice crystals. It’s so beautiful.”

  “Beautiful.” Logan touches my cheek and then wraps the blanket around my shoulders. He gives me a gentle kiss.

  We sit on the platform and hang our legs over the edge. “It’s too cold not to share the blanket.” I say.

  “I won’t argue with that.”

  I scooch so it’s around both of us.

  “It’s been over ten minutes,” he says. “Can I have another ten?”

  “Not until you tell me what that means.”

  He closes his eyes and tips his head back against the old red painted wood of Santa’s shoulder. “Growing up, things were never very good. When my mom left, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. When things were bad, the only way I could get through it was to tell myself, I only needed to make it for another ten minutes. When those ten minutes were up, then I’d tell myself I could make it for the next ten.”

  I lift his jacket sleeve and touch his wrist. “Is this why you always wear a watch?” The gold of the band glints in the lights above us.

  “Yes. I can keep track of my minutes this way. It was my Grandfather’s. He gave it to me before he died.”

  “What’s going on between you and your dad about the remodel? If your looks were daggers, Brett would have been impaled.”

  “If I tell you this, do you promise not to hate me?”

  “Now you have to tell me.” I swallow anticipating the worst of what he’ll say.

  He stares at me, his eyes dark. “It’s just that our dads are business partners. I’d never do anything to hurt your dad.”

  “Come on. Whatever you’re keeping inside is tearing you up.” I put a hand against his cheek and tip his chin up until he meets my gaze.

  “My dad has a gambling problem. A big gambling problem. It started about eight years ago, when mom left us. Probably why mom left us, but I was too young to know the truth. She said she was coming back for me, but then met another guy… and that was that. No room for me. Dad would go to the casino after work. He always thought if he played just one more game, this time he’d win. We moved to a smaller house, but the money we saved didn’t seem to matter. Did you ever wonder why you were never invited over to our house?”

  I thought about it and shook my head.

  “We had no furniture. No TV. Stereo. Game consoles. He pawned it all. In high school, that’s why he pulled me out of our school and sent me across town. He figured that I would be farther away from your family and a better chance I’d stay quiet.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  “I don’t know. Embarrassed, I guess. How would you start that conversation? My dad’s a gambling addict. Do you mind if I stay for dinner, and by the way, can we borrow five-hundred dollars?”

  “You should have said something.”

  “He always used emotional blackmail against me to keep me quiet. Made me feel like it was my fault that mom left and why he was doing what he was doing.”

  “You were just a kid when this started. That’s not true.”

  He smiles faintly and looks away. “Yeah… but still hits home.”

  “Why did he make up that story about the remodel?”

  “He threw me out. That’s why I showed up on your doorstep a few weeks ago. I didn’t know where else to go. I could have gone somewhere else, but I…” He stops and swallows.

  “You needed us?”

  “Yeah.” He raises my hand and kisses my knuckles.

  “What happened?”

  “I delayed doing anything with my life the past three years just to keep our heads above water. I figured if I got a full-time job and worked hard, it would help him financially. But, it doesn’t matter how much I work, the money is never enough. A few week ago, Dad took the money I left in an envelope on the kitchen table. He told me he’d taken it in and paid the power bill. A few days later when I came home from work, the house was like a fucking freezer. They’d turned off the electricity.”

  “What did he do with the money?”

  “What do you think? One more game. One more table. One more buy in. Same shit different day.”

  “But why did he kick you out?”

  “I told him I was do
ne. I wouldn’t loan him any more money. Logan’s bank was closed. Not another dime. That was when he told me to get the hell out. Then he said he was going to tell your family that he found meth in my room. I knew he was bluffing. He wouldn’t do anything that could blow back on his ass. For once, I‘m the one who took a gamble that he wouldn’t do it. That’s when I showed up.”

  “You said that night that you had nowhere else to go.”

  He smiles faintly. “That was a little lie. I could have gone to a few places, but your house was where I wanted to go. Now I have finally stood my ground to him. So why do I feel like a shit?”

  “He’s still your dad.”

  “Life would have been easier if I’d never showed up.”

  I laughed. “I doubt that. You are the only thing standing between me and failure of calculus.”

  “So you don’t hate me?”

  “No… I could never hate you for anything.”

  “You used to when we were kids.”

  “No. I never hated you.” This time, I’m the one who pulls him to me and I kiss him.

  Kissing Logan stirs feelings I’ve never felt before. I try and calm my pulse with the taste of him again. He rubs my back and the kiss goes on. I’m warmed from the heat of his body.

  He pulls back. “I need to get you home. Your mom will worry about me killing you on my bike.” He pulls a cell out of his inside pocket and hands it to me. “In fact, call her and tell her you’ll be home in about twenty minutes.”

  I take the phone from his hand, but not before one more kiss. I slide my tongue along his lower lip and hear him groan. I call my mom and hand him back the phone.

  “I really need to take you home, or I may not.” He unwraps us from the warmth of the blanket, takes my hand, and pulls me to my feet.

  Logan drops me off. Most of the house is dark.

  “I think I’ll go sleep on a friend’s couch tonight,” he says.

  “Are you sure? You’re more than welcome here.” I shiver and try to pull my scarf higher to keep my teeth from chattering.

  “I think I need to process… all of this.” He sighs, but then smiles.

  “Are you talking about me?” I ask.

  “Well… you’re part of it. But, that’s not a bad thing. I’m beginning to think you’re a very good thing in my life. I’ll call you tomorrow. You don’t need to say anything about this to your family. It’s me and my dad’s problem. It can stay that way.”

  I lift his hand “Your fingers are cold.” I kiss his knuckles and then blow warm air across them. His handsome face is lit by moonlight. “Thanks for telling me.”

  He snakes a hand behind my neck and kisses me. I could stand here all night. Suddenly I’m not cold.

  “Goodnight, Ev,” he whispers as he shoves his helmet on, jumps down to start the engine and pulls out of the driveway.

  I watch until he disappears around the corner. When I go inside, my dad’s sitting at the kitchen table eating Christmas cookies with a glass of milk.

  “I didn’t know banks were open this late,” he says with a cocked eyebrow.

  “Dad, there’s some things I need to tell you about. You’ve always been there for me, and I never realized how important that was until tonight. But now, you need to trust and believe in me, because I would never lie to you.”

  He sits the half-full glass down. “This sounds important.”

  “Yeah…” I let out a shaky laugh. “You can say that.”

  First I tell him about the problems I’ve had with my classes. Then, I tell him that his best friend and business partner for the last twenty years has a gambling problem. Brett’s impacting and hurting the people around him.

  Especially Logan.

  Chapter 6

  Everly-

  I raise my hand in the air and do a fist pump. After three weeks of Logan’s help, I finally did the complete sheet of calc problems on my own. He comes up behind me and squats down. “You did it. Tomorrow’s final will be easy.”

  “Easy?” I laugh. “There is no way that the test will be easy, but I think I can do it.”

  “I know you can do it.” He kisses my cheek.

  There’s a knock on my door. “Can I come in?” my dad asks.

  I rise off the chair and open the door for him. Dad sits on the end of the bed and drops his hands between his knees.

  “I’m happy you’re here, Logan. I want to talk to you about your dad.” His brows are knit in a frown.

  “You told him?” Logan asks as he looks from my dad to me.

  “Don’t blame her. It’s the right thing to do and a long time coming. I’m the one who should have seen the writing on the wall years ago, but Brett’s my friend. My best friend.”

  “I know, Mr. Paulson.”

  “I talked to him at work, and of course, he denies everything.” My dad sighs. “Things haven’t seemed right for a while. I called Brenda the bookkeeper to check into the finances. Starting with last year, she found that there are chunks of unaccounted spending.”

  “I’m sorry,” Logan says.

  “Son, you have nothing to be sorry for. Ever in this house. Do you hear me? I should have been there for you. Helped you.”

  “You didn’t know. No one did.”

  My dad scrubbed a hand over his face. “That doesn’t make me feel any better. When I talked to him today, I told him it’s right before Christmas but on the 26th, he needs to show me that he is in some kind of help program for his gambling addiction or I’ll file legal charges against him.”

  My eyes grow wide. “Really, Dad?”

  “Yes.” He continues. “We have to account for our spending. We’re partners. I won’t to be put out of business or face legal issues because my partner lied to me. I have to think of my business and my family first.”

  “What did Brett say when you told him that?” I ask.

  “He agreed. I didn’t really give him a choice and I will stand by what I said.” He leans forward. “And speaking of the truth, what’s going on between you and my daughter?”

  Logan stands. My dad stands.

  “I care very much for your daughter. We’re dating.” Even with my dad’s stare down, Logan doesn’t flinch.

  “I see… You never asked permission.”

  “Dad! This isn’t 1950.”

  “Mr. Paulson, I care for her and I’d like to date her.”

  “That’s more like it. I wondered when you two would get together.” My dad grins and turns towards me. “Your mom and I knew each other when we were kids too. Friends first… love later. It works best that way.” He puts out his hand. “Welcome to the family, Logan. Though I think you’ve already been a part of it for many years.”

  “Thanks, sir.”

  “You’re a man now. Cut the formality. Kasey. Please, call me Kasey. I feel old enough as it is.” He didn’t drop the grasp on Logan’s hand. “I don’t know everything, but I know you must have been through a lot with you dad these past years.”

  “It’s okay. We survived.”

  “You need to do more than that. Mary and I have some extra money saved up. Everly’s been telling me how you’ve been helping her with calculus. We put money in an account for you to start college next quarter… or when you’re ready.”

  “I… I can’t have you do that.”

  “Like hell you can’t. Thanks to your help with her calc class, my daughter has a great career ahead of her. Call it a loan. When you move on to better things, pay the money back if you want.”

  “I…”

  “Stop.” My dad holds up a hand. “The money’s already in the account. It’s the lease we can do.” He grabs Logan and pulls him in for a hug. When he steps back, he ruffles his hair. “You’re a good man. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” He
smiled. “If you weren’t, I wouldn’t let you date my daughter.

  He walks out of the room and shuts the door. When Logan turned to me, his eyes are damp with tears. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “He doesn’t expect you to say anything. He loves you, Logan. Family are the ones who love you.” I kiss him.

  We come down for dinner and after we eat, Logan helps my dad to get the tree into the house and set up in the stand.

  “I can’t be getting older,” my dad says, and laughs. “Christmas trees must be getting heavier.” He puts a fist in the middle of his back and stretches.

  Katy, mom and I make a chain up to the attic crawl space and bring down all the tree decorations and lights. We carry the boxes into the living room and the guys string the lights on the tree. Mom kneels down and opens the storage bin with the tree ornaments.

  She takes out a few boxes and places them on the floor until she finds the box she’s searching for. She stands, moves to Logan, and hands him the box. “Do you remember these?”

  He shakes his head and opens the lid. He runs his hands over the ornaments.

  “Your family was never very much into decorating for Christmas, so when you would make things at school, you brought them to me.”

  Logan lifts a star made from a Styrofoam carton covered with glitter. “You kept them?”

  “Of course I did, dear boy. You gave them to me, so they are just as special as the ones Everly and Katy made.” My mom touches his cheek. “I didn’t figure you would care much about them when you were a teenage, so I waited until now to bring out the box again. If you want, I’ll keep them until you have a tree of your own.”

  Logan lifts out a silver bell and then a pottery snowflake. “I don’t remember these,” he says.

  “Well…” My mom shrugs. “You know how I love Christmas. The years you didn’t spend Christmas with us, I still got you an ornament with the year on it. I knew you would come back to our family one way or the other and you couldn’t have missing years.” She winked at him and then smiles at me.