Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Bellamie
My colorful bins of sequins, beads, and felt are spread across my parents’ kitchen table as Jolene, Starla, and our other close friend, Penny, help me with the last few stockings I promised to make for the foster kid agency.
Spending time with Krampus left me scrambling to get them finished. But a text to my besties brought them rushing to my rescue. That’s what friends are for–and hopefully talking Penny into taking my place in the auction.
As added incentive to show up, I made the crowd-pleasing tater-tot taco casserole so they could have a meal too.
“Four days until the auction. So exciting!”
Jolene ties the last gold bead onto a felt reindeer’s neck and gives me a pensive glare. She knows I’m up to something, but focuses on the fun. “Any of your stepbrothers give a hint they know about the auction yet?”
No luck for any of us, even Starla, although my stepbrother’s such an overprotective jerk sometimes, maybe that’s for the best. We’d all hoped our stepbrothers would win us, but definitely won’t be upset if other guys do.
Starla sews silver beads onto a felt snowflake. “I checked the weather and it’s not supposed to snow Friday.”
Jolene whoops. “Good thing. I’d lose my mind if we got snowed out like the virgins from last year.”
Penny attaches reindeer Jolene passed to her onto a felt stocking. “I can’t believe the waitresses stepped up to help. That would be too much for me.”
This is my segue. “Do you regret turning the invitation down, Penny?”
Penny pauses her sewing. We give her a second. “I don’t know how they chose who to send invitations to. Why me? I’ve thought about it so many times–how simple it should be to get on stage, let the men bid, and find a happily ever after.”
“I bet you could still do it.” Jolene grabs her phone.
Penny moves her hands to her lap.“I said it would be simple, not easy. I get anxious just thinking about stepping on stage, presenting myself to the bidders.”
Her breathing heightens, so I rub her shoulder, consoling her as much as my own hopes. “It’s okay, Penny. No one will force you.”
Jolene grins at me. “She’s right, Penny, there’s no pressure for you to participate in the auction if you don’t want to. But–”
A buzz from Jolene’s phone draws her attention, but she taps the screen and continues playfully. “But, I think it’s time we force Bellamie to tell us why she couldn’t finish these stockings last night.”
I set my sewing down and steeple my fingers in front of my mouth. “I took your advice and went out with Krampus.”
“You did?!” Jolene is far too surprised.
It would be pointless to hide what happened, so I explain that he thinks kids are awesome and wants to go on another date Sunday. “I think there’s something real between us.”
“It’s called lust,” Starla says. “You can work out the sexual frustration on Friday.”
“It’s crazy that I scared away every guy I dated, and then less than a week before the auction…”
“Did you agree to the date?” Penny asks.
“I told him I’d let him know if he should come back.”
Jolene's eyes go bright. “Excellent backup plan. Not that you'll need one.”
Starla knocks on the wooden table. “Let’s hope none of us need one.”
Another text message alert draws Jolene's attention and all the levity washes from her face. Her phone instantly rings. “I need to take this.”
She rushes outside.
“That was weird.” My concern for Jolene is quickly replaced when a text message alert on my phone draws my attention.
Krampus:
Can I see you tonight?
Holding the phone to my chest, I try not to swoon. I love calling him Krampus. The only thing better might be Daddy, but we’re a few dates off from that. And that can only happen if I break the auction. Then it hits me. “I still can’t believe Molly didn’t get an invitation for the auction.”
“Maybe she’s too new in town,” Starla says.
I make a mental note to ask her if she was serious about wanting to be in the auction. If so, I can reach out to the organizers. But Krampus said he has a secret too. Should I trust how perfect he seems or go with plan A–auction myself?
I take a picture of the craft items all over the table and send it to Krampus.
Me:
Sorry, I have to get these finished, since I didn't work on them last night.
Krampus:
What are those for?
Me:
They're for foster kids and I have to deliver them tomorrow.
Krampus:
You are going to make such an amazing mom.
That seriously makes him too perfect.
“What’s so important you can’t sew stockings?” Starla asks.
“It's him.” I move my gaze to Penny, and wait for a moment until she feels the weight of it. “Are you sure you don’t want to do the auction? You don't have to do anything fancy, just stand on the stage.”
Penny goes stark-white and shakes her head.
Jolene re-enters the room, and her face has gone white as Penny’s. “I have to leave.”
“What's wrong?”
We all get up from the table and help her get her things.
“Am I cursed?” She's totally distraught.
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t do the auction.”
“Why?”
“I've just been named guardian of my cousin’s two-year-old daughter."
None of us know what to say. We give Jolene a minute to share the tragic details of her cousin’s car wreck. She was a single mom and had the foresight to name a guardian, but no one ever expects anything to happen.
But in a flash, Jolene is a mom and none of us really know what to say.
Starla turns to Penny. “I’m betting you don’t want to take Jolene’s place either?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. But Jolene can still do the auction.”
Jolene’s shoulders slump. “I have a kid now. Don’t get me wrong. I love her.”
Penny’s tone is calm. “You're still a virgin.”
“Who would want to bid on a mom?” Jolene has a distant stare. “Oh my god. I’d have to hire a babysitter.”
My phone rings. I return to the table to silence it but when I see Krampus’ name, I decide to answer. My entire focus has shifted. I can’t have him calling and texting right now. “Hello.”
“Hey, I had to hear your voice.”
“I have to be quick. Look, I'm sorry. I have a friend in crisis. I have to focus on helping her the next few days. I have to go.”
“Okay.”
I say goodbye and hang up, my heart pounding, tears in my eyes, and sadness consuming me. I grab two tissues as I rush back to Jolene, dabbing my eyes with one and handing her the other. “Time to make a game plan for Mama Jo.”
Jolene smiles weakly. She may be in shock, but this is my forte. Time to support her as she always supports me.
“I can whip up some casseroles for your freezer and coordinate meals so that you don't have to do any cooking while you transition into motherhood. And I'll definitely help with babysitting, because I'm guessing you're going to have to get some affairs in order.”
Starla offers to help with anything Jolene needs. Penny says,”I'll cook meals for you and I can run errands, but don't ask me to babysit.”
“I have the best friends.” Jolene’s tone is flat. She’s in shock.
On my mental checklist to see if Molly can sub for me, I scratch off me and write Jolene.
“You don’t have to go into motherhood alone. We’re here for you. And if I can remain a virgin by turning down sex with the hottest, most perfect guy I've ever met, we can certainly find you a babysitter for Friday night.”