Jax's Post Christmas Party Introspection......

Jax is plagued with doubts about her behavior in the hours following the annual valley Christmas party. I hope you enjoy this holiday excerpt from “Wind River Refuge.” NOTE: Excerpts have been edited for this post.

Over all, the party had been a huge success. A few diehard revelers didn’t depart until 2 a.m. Jax was busy storing perishables in containers when Maggie ordered her to bed. Jax had worked hard to help with this shindig, and Maggie intended to praise her contribution. Then she would demand an explanation for the rude behavior. Morning was soon enough for that talk.

Not a single protest flickered through Jax’s mind, let alone her lips, when Maggie ordered her to bed. She’d been traveling up and down an emotional roller coaster throughout the night, and the turmoil had taken a toll. Maybe she was just too tired, but whatever the reason, she was unable to understand her animosity towards Alicia. She’d have to conclude it was jealousy, if she were being honest with herself. The woman was beautiful, and tall — at least five foot ten. Flawless skin, red hair, and green eyes were all part of the package. To top it off, her bust had to be a size D! Alicia was a knock out and probably rich to boot, if all those diamonds were real.

Jax thought that she really suffered by comparison. She only measured five foot four, if she stood really straight. Her dark brown hair and hazel eyes seem dull, and her bust filled a B cup adequately. A sophisticated demeanor was beyond her, and she would never be a heart stopper. None of these flaws had ever bothered her before. She avoided the mirrors, undressed, climbed into her bed, and hugged her pillow close.

~~~~~~

Morning was well on its way as she blinked away the fog of sleep. By the time she showered and dressed, it was ten-thirty when she made her entrance into the kitchen. Maggie, loading the dishwasher, glanced up long enough to assess Jax and to offer a good morning.

“Good morning, Maggie.” She viewed the older woman skeptically. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Because, you’ve been going nonstop since you came home, and I thought you needed the sleep.” Maggie offered that assessment while continuing to stuff the dishwasher. Jax placed a couple slices of cranberry nut bread on a napkin and poured a large glass of orange juice. She took her breakfast selection to the kitchen table.

“Is that all you are going to eat?”

“Since it’s close to lunchtime, I’m saving room for the great smelling soup you have simmering on the stove.”

Maggie poured a cup of coffee without uttering another word and sat down across from her, and Jax knew what was coming.

“Okay! Start talking.”

Jax feigned innocence. “About what?”

“About why you felt it necessary to insult Garrett’s date, and his father when they were guests in this house?”

“I guess it wasn’t really necessary. Alicia insulted a friend who was also a guest in this house and had helped me pull a lot of things together for the party. So I returned the insult.”

“Did you feel it was appropriate to call her a stunning wh---- with a deep throat?” Maggie inquired, in an exasperated voice.

“I DID NOT! How could you ask me that?”

“Don’t yell at me, young lady! Tell me just what you did, say.”

“I don’t remember.” She shrugged, like it wasn’t important, and drank some more orange juice.

“I suppose you either didn’t do this, or don’t remember grabbing a hold of Garrett right in front of Alicia, his father, and a room full of people, then kissing him?”

“That, I remember.” Jax answered with a slight twitch of her lip that wasn’t quite a grin.

 “Whatever possessed you, to do that?”

“Sid.”

“Sid?” That was not the answer that Maggie had expected. How could she blame this on Sid?

“Yeah. He had mistletoe stuck up inside a bell, and Garrett was standing smack under it!”

Happy Holidays!