Free A Magical Christmas by Heather Graham

hadn’t slept with Jennie.
    She didn’t know where the real problem lay, but she suddenly decided she didn’t like the way she looked in her ragtag robe.
    She didn’t say a word. She quickly escaped the kitchen to shower.
    When she emerged and reentered the kitchen, dressed for the day herself, makeup and hair in place, the morning was no longer moving along quite so gracefully. All three of their children were in the kitchen, giving Jon a hard time.
    Even Ashley was protesting.
    “No T.V., Daddy? No videotapes, no stereo, no movies to go to, no Chuck E. Cheese’s?”
    “It’s an adventure, Pumpkin,” Jon was trying to tell Ashley. “We can bring some books, we can color—”
    “She can color right here at home,” Christie said.
    “We can’t go away for Christmas. I was going to spend the day with Trevor and Mike; we’re all three getting new in-line skates,” Jordan protested.
    “Let Jordan and me stay home,” Christie pleaded.“I’m nearly eighteen, I’m an adult, I can watch out for myself and my brother—”
    “Oh, right!” Jon snapped angrily. “You and Jamie Rodriguez—looking out for Jordan, is that it? Should I leave you my car as well?”
    “Yeah, Dad, that would be nice,” Christie snapped back angrily.
    “Christie, we’re going away for a
family
vacation.”
    “Count me out.”
    “Christie, you’re coming.”
    “Why on earth are we going?” Jordan demanded. “You and Mom hate each other—”
    “We don’t hate each other,” Jon and Julie protested simultaneously.
    Yeah, sure
.
    Jordan didn’t say it out loud; Julie could tell he was thinking the words. He didn’t miss a beat, though, he just continued with, “Christie only tolerates any of us when she has Jamie around, and I can only stand Christie when Jamie has her locked up in the bedroom.”
    “Thanks, you little toad head!” Christie snapped at Jordan. Julie didn’t think that Christie meant to do it, but she had been eating her low-fat cereal while talking to her brother, and her spoon was suddenly flying across the room.
    Jordan ducked.
    The spoon hit Ashley squarely on the nose.Ashley was dead silent for a second, then with a shriek, she began to cry.
    “Ashley, Ashley, I’m sorry!” Christie said, but by that time, Julie was on her way into the kitchen, scooping up her youngest child and giving her eldest a narrow-eyed look of fury. “I didn’t mean to hit her, Mom. Jerk face ducked—but I didn’t even mean to hit him, the spoon just flew. I didn’t mean it, honestly—”
    “You hit her in the head, Christie!” Jordan bellowed.
    “Right, yeah, like you’re so good to her!” Christie yelled back.
    “Christie, can’t you just run away from home, elope or something, and live on love and food stamps?” Jordan demanded.
    “Jordan!” Jon barked.
    “She’s a witch when she’s on the rag, Dad.”
    “Jordan!” Julie snapped. “That sounds just horrible! I won’t have you saying things like that!”
    “At least there’s an excuse for my personality,” Christie jumped in. “Jordan’s just a jerk-faced dick head and—”
    “I don’t want to hear it!” Jon jumped in angrily.
    The doorbell started to ring.
    Christie let out a shriek. “It’s Jamie; I’m going.”
    “I told you, Christie—” Jon began angrily, standing,staring furiously at his daughter, then striding out to answer the bell.
    “Dad, please!”
    Christie stared at Julie, alarm in her wide blue eyes, then went tearing out after her father. Ashley was holding her nose and sobbing in big gasps.
    Jordan had quit with the argument. Head down, he was diligently finishing his cereal.
    Julie, with Ashley attached to her skirt, hobbled her way out to the living room. Jamie Rodriguez was in the foyer. He was a tall, lanky, attractive boy. His hair was very dark, his eyes deep-set and also dark brown. Julie was sure he set many a young female heart to fluttering. But there was a serious side to the boy, and despite her deep