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"That's not how time works." But I wish it did.
Penny and I spend the rest of the day working. From tedious farm paperwork to training horses. We work side by side all day, just like my parents used to do. The whole time Penny can’t stop chatting about everything we will be going through over the holidays. She sounds super excited about it. I know what she's doing, and I had the same plan. After everything we've been through, having a holiday we can look back on and remember as the best first Christmas as a married couple. I want that too.
When the day finally finishes, we're both so tired and ache we decide to hit the hot tub first before dinner and decorating the tree. When I first settle into the warm water, I moan in relief; it is just what I need.
"Great idea, baby. Now we can eat and decorate feeling relaxed." Penny says, coming to sit next to me. I wrap an arm over her shoulder, pulling her closer, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
"I could stay like this forever." Something about a hot tub in cold weather makes it feel so much better.
"We would look like wrinkly old raisins." She laughs, looking up at me. "Would you still love me?"
"Nothing in this world would make me stop loving you." I kiss her again, but this time with other intentions in mind.
I reach over and grab her hip, pulling her onto my lap. Her body pressed up against mine feels fantastic. It turns my skin on fire; she always makes me burn. I don't think I can wait till tonight; I need her now.
"Let's do it right here," I growl against her lips.
"Yes." She breathes out. "Right here." She kisses me deeper.
I reach up to pull the string on her top when voices stop my action. It's not Donna, and I can't place the rest. Some of the barn men came up to the house for some reason.
"Oh god." Penny moans in disbelief and rests her head on mine. "Please, no. Not now, not my holiday."
"Darling, what is it?" I pull back to look at her.
A knock from the side door catches my attention, and to my shock, I see Penny's brother Oscar waving like an idiot at me. But not just him, my in-laws too.
What the hell? So much for our peaceful holiday.
CHAPTER3
PENNY
My holiday has officially been highjacked.
I look around the breakfast table. My family decided to surprise us for the holidays. Usually, I would be all for it, happy and excited about their visit. We just saw them at Thanksgiving, but I know they have been busy with the training farm back home in England. I didn't mind that; I've spent every Christmas with my family since I was born. Is it selfish of me to want one quiet one with my husband?
I look around the dining room table to see our whole house. My mom, dad, brother, Donna, and Burt are all busy chatting and having a good time. I should feel happy; some people would kill to have a house full of family for the holidays. I can't shake the dark cloud that's formed over my head. It is selfish and stupid, but I can't help how I feel.
Last night was a disaster. After Conrad and I got out of the hot tub, the whole night was the opposite of what I wanted. My mother insisted that Donna and Burt join us; together, the women got out of hand and decorated the tree themselves. Burt and my father got drunk and were loud and obnoxious the whole night. Oscar and Conrad may be civil, but they still have some tension. Conrad did assume he stole millions of dollars from him and put him in jail. But I would hope that would be smoothed other by now. They spent the night taking jabs at each other. I spent most of my time trying to referee them both. To say the night was exhausting was an understatement, and nothing I had planned.
"Oh, and dear, we need to go into town for some shopping and to the market." My mother suggests. "Donna, you need to come with us."
I plaster on a smile, nodding my head at her. I wouldn't say I like shopping. Unless it's for horses, I don't care for shopping for much else.
"Conrad, you need to show me what horses you have in training. I would love to take a look." My dad calls out. Always the horse trainer himself.
Great. Now I'm not the only casualty. Poor Conrad is being pulled into this chaos too. I need to find a way to make this a terrific holiday still. I focus on my breakfast brainstorming when there is a knock on the side door from one of our farm hands. From the looks on his face, it's nothing good. Just when I thought our holidays couldn't get any more chaotic.
* * *
Two hours later, we are helping Donna and Burt move into the only guestroom. A part of the roof of their cabin collapsed, causing their place to become unlivable. So, our quiet holiday of two has now turned into a house packed with seven. Selfishly I curse how many extra rooms this house has.
But of course, if they need a place to stay, they are more than welcome to the spare room; I only wish it had happened after the holidays.
As I set up the guest bathroom, Donna walks in, a sympathetic look on her face.
"I'm so sorry, dear. I know this isn't what you wanted. This was supposed to be a quiet holiday for the two of you, now it's the opposite of that."
