Page 9 of Sleigh My Heart

“He looked… good.” Michelle studied her peas. A gentle hand touched her arm.

“Are you okay? We all thought you two would get married and have a bunch of kids after high school.” Renae’s voice conveyed empathy.

The heat from her sister’s hand burned through her sleeve. Time to change the subject. Michelle cleared her throat loud enough for the neighbors to hear. “Did you get an identification on the DB from this morning?”

Silence filled the room.

That did the trick. It was a full ten seconds before Jim spoke.

“Yeah, he’s a repeat offender. Did a stint in Stillwater Correctional. That’s all the further I got. I’ve been swamped.”

“What is it about the holidays that makes people so angry?” Julie asked as she passed the rolls.

“Stress, grief, feelings of inadequacies, loneliness. Just to name a few reasons,” Liz said.

They all nodded in agreement.

Michelle sometimes forgot her sister-in-law was a psychologist.

Jim stabbed a sweet potato and shook his head. “Whatever it is, I’m up to my elbows in homicides. And I know the entire department is hectic at the moment.”

Irene Swenson calmly cleared her throat. A reminder that this was the dinner table, and she was reaching her limit of police talk.

Her brother must have missed it. Jordan pointed his fork between Michelle and Jim. “You know, if you need a hand with the legwork, I can file a requisition order with the chief to have Mickey temporarily assigned as your aide.”

A carrot lodged in her throat. She coughed, snagged a napkin, and caught the offending vegetable. “What?” That would mean having to see Nick again. She didn’t know if she wanted to torture herself that much.

“He has a point. You’d be an asset to the investigation. The vic was a low-level druggie. You’re on the streets, you know the players. Not to mention, the Jolleys, and we all know the mall will want this resolved so they can get the sleigh back by the festival.”

“Everyone wants that,” her mother added.

Well, crap. Mom was right. Michelle’s gaze slid from her youngest niece to their older siblings and cousins. The clueless joy on their faces. Excitement for the arrival of Santa.

She swallowed back her apprehension. “If the chief approves it, I’m in.”

“I don’t know why you haven’t shown any interest in investigation. You’d make a great detective,” her father mumbled as she scooped up some Jello.

“Dad. I like patrol.” She really did. Michelle loved the connection to the city, its residents.

“Okay, okay. Sergeant?” he asked, hopefulness in his eyes.

She didn’t have the heart to tell him she passed on that opportunity last year.

“Trenton, no more work-talk for tonight.” Mom laid down the law.

Michelle sent her a thankful smile. She could only handle her life choices being the focus of her family’s attention one item at a time. Nick Jolley had already been discussed. No need to dip into her professional choices as well.

She brought her glass to her lips and tried to wash down the memories, because sure as shit, her brother, Jordan, would use his connections as Lieutenant to ensure she was on the Santa case. That would create a whole new set of Nick Jolley memories to deal with.

Chapter 3

“No moping.” Nick stopped the truck.

“I’m not. But what happened to the snow?” Ava pouted as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

“Sometimes Mother Nature changes her mind.” Nick’s brow furrowed.

“That’s not fair. The teacher said we wouldn’t have school today.” She picked up her backpack and opened the door.