Read Online Storm Shells (The Wishes Series #3) by GJ Walker-Smith - Free Book Online
Authors: GJ Walker-Smith
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Alex and Gabrielle reluctantly. Floss met us at the door with outstretched arms and a huge grin on her ruby red lips. One by one she pulled us into a tight hug before allowing us to file through the door. “Welcome home, my darling,” she crooned, smooshing me against her chest. “You look beautiful.”
I smiled. “Thanks Floss, so do you.”
Floss looked very…festive. Gingerbread and candy cane brooches jazzed up her green tent-like dress and she wore a gold tinsel headband in her curly red hair.
Alex moved straight to the kitchen. Gabrielle made a beeline for the Christmas tree to add our gifts to the pile. I wasn’t quite sure how to busy myself. After shifting a sleeping cat, I sat on one of the velvet recliners.
“Where is everyone, Floss?”
“They’ll be here, Lovie,” she replied, shifting the lace curtain aside to peer out. “Any minute now.”
Alex and Norm came back a moment later, beers in hand, debating the riveting topic of how best to change the blades on a lawnmower. Gabrielle shifted a cat and sat on the chair next to mine. “You spent Christmas with Jean-Luc and Fiona last year, didn’t you?” she asked, leaning over to whisper the question.
“Yes.”
“Did they have a lovely tree?” She stared at the Christmas tree in the corner of the room and sighed heavily. “They always have an outstanding tree.”
Floss’s tree would never have been described as outstanding. The top half of the plastic green branches displayed chintzy coloured baubles. I wondered aloud why the bottom half was bare.
Floss chimed in. “The cats attack it.” She picked up a floppy grey cat and cradled it like a baby. “Prevention is better than cure.”
Flynn Davis arrived next. After being swamped by one of his grandma’s hugs, he made it in the door. He looked different without the starchy police uniform, but nervous and ill at ease. His powder blue-and-white plaid shirt was tucked into his dark blue jeans. His brown belt matched his brown boots. All that was missing was a cowboy hat. Floss proudly introduced him to the room.
“You remember Gabi and Alex,” she crooned. Alex stood and shook his hand. Gabrielle gave a smile and little wave. “And this is little Charli. She’s all grown up now.”
Flynn smiled at me. “Good to see you again, Charli. Are you feeling better?”
“Much, thank you,” I mumbled. Alex frowned. “Flynn busted me for speeding on the way into town.”
Alex’s frown intensified.
“And Charli nearly spewed on my shoes,” added Flynn, still grinning. “She wasn’t feeling well.”
Floss and Norm cackled as if he’d told the funniest joke in history. I didn’t find it particularly funny. Neither did Alex or Gabrielle. Both of them remained stone-faced, and I quickly changed the subject. “Lunch smells good, Floss.”
“It’s a fabulous spread this year,” she announced proudly. “Orange glazed beets, sautéed red cabbage, lentil and mushroom pie…”
“Sounds great,” gushed Alex insincerely. Gabrielle took a gulp of wine before dishonestly agreeing.
It was a long day made impossibly longer by the arrival of Wade Davis and his sparkly plus one. Jasmine tottered up the path singing. “Merry Christmas to me! Merry Christmas to me!” She hadn’t changed one bit. Her long blonde hair, over-processed and straggly at the ends, was pulled into a loose ponytail. I couldn’t quite make out the sparkly motif on her white T-shirt, but it perfectly matched her gold sling-back pumps. Wade ambled behind her, carrying an armful of gifts. I used the time it took him to get to the porch to check him out.
He was a monstrously huge man – without an ounce of fat on his body. He was like a beefed-up Ken doll, which made him a perfect match for sparkly tramp Barbie who was now pounding on the door.
Floss jumped up to greet them.
“Granny Floss!” Jasmine beamed, hugging her tightly. “Merry Christmas!”
“To you too, Lovie,” crooned Floss.
Jasmine broke
I smiled. “Thanks Floss, so do you.”
Floss looked very…festive. Gingerbread and candy cane brooches jazzed up her green tent-like dress and she wore a gold tinsel headband in her curly red hair.
Alex moved straight to the kitchen. Gabrielle made a beeline for the Christmas tree to add our gifts to the pile. I wasn’t quite sure how to busy myself. After shifting a sleeping cat, I sat on one of the velvet recliners.
“Where is everyone, Floss?”
“They’ll be here, Lovie,” she replied, shifting the lace curtain aside to peer out. “Any minute now.”
Alex and Norm came back a moment later, beers in hand, debating the riveting topic of how best to change the blades on a lawnmower. Gabrielle shifted a cat and sat on the chair next to mine. “You spent Christmas with Jean-Luc and Fiona last year, didn’t you?” she asked, leaning over to whisper the question.
“Yes.”
“Did they have a lovely tree?” She stared at the Christmas tree in the corner of the room and sighed heavily. “They always have an outstanding tree.”
Floss’s tree would never have been described as outstanding. The top half of the plastic green branches displayed chintzy coloured baubles. I wondered aloud why the bottom half was bare.
Floss chimed in. “The cats attack it.” She picked up a floppy grey cat and cradled it like a baby. “Prevention is better than cure.”
Flynn Davis arrived next. After being swamped by one of his grandma’s hugs, he made it in the door. He looked different without the starchy police uniform, but nervous and ill at ease. His powder blue-and-white plaid shirt was tucked into his dark blue jeans. His brown belt matched his brown boots. All that was missing was a cowboy hat. Floss proudly introduced him to the room.
“You remember Gabi and Alex,” she crooned. Alex stood and shook his hand. Gabrielle gave a smile and little wave. “And this is little Charli. She’s all grown up now.”
Flynn smiled at me. “Good to see you again, Charli. Are you feeling better?”
“Much, thank you,” I mumbled. Alex frowned. “Flynn busted me for speeding on the way into town.”
Alex’s frown intensified.
“And Charli nearly spewed on my shoes,” added Flynn, still grinning. “She wasn’t feeling well.”
Floss and Norm cackled as if he’d told the funniest joke in history. I didn’t find it particularly funny. Neither did Alex or Gabrielle. Both of them remained stone-faced, and I quickly changed the subject. “Lunch smells good, Floss.”
“It’s a fabulous spread this year,” she announced proudly. “Orange glazed beets, sautéed red cabbage, lentil and mushroom pie…”
“Sounds great,” gushed Alex insincerely. Gabrielle took a gulp of wine before dishonestly agreeing.
It was a long day made impossibly longer by the arrival of Wade Davis and his sparkly plus one. Jasmine tottered up the path singing. “Merry Christmas to me! Merry Christmas to me!” She hadn’t changed one bit. Her long blonde hair, over-processed and straggly at the ends, was pulled into a loose ponytail. I couldn’t quite make out the sparkly motif on her white T-shirt, but it perfectly matched her gold sling-back pumps. Wade ambled behind her, carrying an armful of gifts. I used the time it took him to get to the porch to check him out.
He was a monstrously huge man – without an ounce of fat on his body. He was like a beefed-up Ken doll, which made him a perfect match for sparkly tramp Barbie who was now pounding on the door.
Floss jumped up to greet them.
“Granny Floss!” Jasmine beamed, hugging her tightly. “Merry Christmas!”
“To you too, Lovie,” crooned Floss.
Jasmine broke
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