Chapter 1
I hate Christmas!
You dont mean that, Hayley said, gripping her four oversize shopping bags while racing to catch up with Mona, who was veering toward the crowded food court at the Bangor Mall.
Yes, I do! Mona barked as she plowed through a family of four that had failed to get out of her way fast enough. She made a beeline for Sbarro pizza and slapped her hand down on the counter, causing the pimply-faced kid behind the register to jump. Pepperoni slice! Scratch that. Make it a whole pie!
Thanks, Mona, but Im not really that hungry, Hayley said.
Good, because I wasnt offering. If Im going to get through this day, Im going to need a large pizza and a pitcher of beer. I am so sick and tired of these annoying holiday crowds swarming around here in a panic like rats on a sinking ship!
Hayley noticed a little curly-haired blond cherub, around six years old, in an adorable reindeer jumper listening to Mona and fearfully clutching her mothers coat. Mona, lower your voice. Youre scaring children.
Kids are the worst! Snot-nosed, screaming brats! You know Christmas would be so much better if it was adults only. Just some spiked eggnog, a warm fire, and a Duck Dynasty marathon on TV. Heaven!
Mona suddenly noticed the pimply Sbarro employee in his creased paper hat just staring at her. What? Do I have to come back there and knead the dough myself? Hop to it! Im starving!
The kid nodded, turned quickly, and accidentally knocked over a stack of paper cups because he was so nervous dealing with this possibly unstable customer.
And no husband! Mona barked. Hes more whiny and needy than my boatload of kids. Honestly, Hayley, just one year Id like to spend the holidays putting my feet up and relaxing instead of brawling with some sumo-wrestling supermom who wants the last Power Wheels Barbie Jammin Jeep for her spoiled-rotten spawn!
You really do paint a picture, Mona.
Mona eyed the pimply kid; his hand shook as he ladled tomato sauce onto the pizza dough and splashed it around before slipping on a plastic glove and dunking his hand into a vat of mozzarella cheese.
Hayley rummaged in her coat pocket, pulled out a slip of paper, and then began to peruse it. Look at how much stuff I still have to buy. I knew we should have gotten our Christmas shopping done right after Halloween. I never learn. Every year I plan on going early to avoid the crowds on Black Friday. And then I never get around to it and I have to go on Black Friday, but this year I had the flu the entire Thanksgiving weekend and now Im way behind on everything.
Dont get so worked up, Hayley. You need to chill, Mona said.
With her mouth agape, Hayley glanced at Mona, but Mona missed the jaw-dropping irony of her statement. Mona was too busy pounding her fist on the counter and yelling at Sbarro Boy.
Did you go to Italy to pick up the pepperoni? How long does it take to get a pie in the oven?
Mona, if you dont stop shouting at the poor boy, hes going to have a nervous breakdown!
Mona groaned and turned to the frightened teenager. Sorry, kid, Im like a growling bear when Im hungry, she said, slapping a twenty-dollar bill down on the counter. This is yours if Im chowing down my pizza in the next ten minutes.
Sbarro Boy had that pie in the oven in nineteen seconds and was now grinning from ear to ear.
Hayley studied her list. Gemma wants an iPad mini and Rihanna concert tickets. Dustin wants one, two, three... six video games for his Xbox. Theres no way I can afford all of this.
Mona dipped into her coat pocket, pulled out a pen, and thrust it in Hayleys face.
Whats that for?
Start crossing stuff off. Seriously. Why put yourself through this? Your kids will appreciate whatever you can afford to give them.
Youre right. I dont know why I feel the need to go overboard every year.
Hayleys cell phone chirped. She pulled it out of the back of her jeans and looked at the caller ID. Oh, God. Its Danny.
Dont answer it, Mona warned.
I have to. The kids are going to go visit him during February vacation and I sent him their flight info this morning before we left for Bangor. He just needs to sign off and pay me back half the cost.
Danny Powell was Hayleys ex-husband. He moved to Iowa after they divorced and was now living with a girl half his age named Becky.
Enough said.
I swear, every time you talk to him, Hayley, he makes you feel bad. Let it go to voicemail.
I really could use his help buying a couple of things on the kids Christmas wish lists.
Have you met your ex-husband? Now youre just hoping for a friggin Christmas miracle.
Hayley smiled and clicked on her phone. Hi, Danny.
Hey. Listen, this isnt going to work for me.
What?
These tickets you bought for the kids to come see me during their February break. Three hundred apiece? What were you thinking?
They were the cheapest I could find.
Thats because you have them flying out on a Saturday. Weekends are always more expensive to travel.
I couldnt book them for a Friday because I work, Danny. Im out of vacation days and I cant afford to take any time off right now.
How is that my problem?
Unbelievable.
Hayley took a deep breath. I understand how pricey it is. I was barely able to scrape together my half, Danny.
Its too expensive. I cant pay you right now.
I thought you were working extra shifts at Wal-mart during the holiday season.
Yeah, but I got bills to pay, Hayley. You know how much it costs to heat our house in Des Moines during the winter?
No, I dont, Danny. Because its just fun in the sun here in Maine!
Hayley heard girlish giggling on the other end of the phone. Whos that?
Thats just Becky. Were having a Christmas party here for a few friends and she got into the holiday punch a little early. Happy hour somewhere in the world, right?
Merry Christmas, Hayley, she heard Becky sing before she erupted into a fit of giggles.
Tell her I said Merry Christmas back. Hayley sighed.
Are you talking to the girlfriend? Mona asked.
Hayley nodded.
Hey, Danny, whatd you get Becky for Christmas this year? A Crown Disney Princess Tea Set? Mona yelled before snorting at her own joke.
Hayley quickly covered the phone with her hand. He can hear you.
Good. Mission accomplished, Mona said, laughing.
Is that Mona? Danny said.
Hayley could picture her ex scowling. He never did like Mona. Mostly, because Mona always despised him and never wanted Hayley to date him, much less marry him.
If Hayley had only listened to Mona in high school!
But then again, he did help her bring two of the most amazing kids into the worldjust one mothers opinion.
Well, you tell her Im taking Becky to Bermuda for Christmas! Danny shouted. Thats right! Well be lounging by the pool while shes trying on that pair of itchy gray wool socks her deadbeat husband buys her every year.
Wait. What? I thought you just said you were broke.
There was a long, uneasy silence.
