Charli Looks at Christmas

suju via Pixabay

Welcome to the second installment of Christmas with my characters! As we head deeper into the Christmas season, I thought I'd share their views on the season, along with a snippet from Chasing a Second Chance, so you can hear from them as well.  

One of my goals for 2019 is to get the last Marita/Angel/Charli book into your hands. I'm close...maybe Santa will bring me writing time for Christmas. Or a title....


Like Angel, Charli is used to spending Christmas with just one of her parents but, unlike Angel, Charli has never known anything else. Charli's whole life has been just her and her mother. She kind of remembers living at her grandparents' house, but Christmas with two parents was never part of her experience. Now, at thirteen, she's less than thrilled about her father intruding on the traditions she and her mother have established, especially when she suspects that having her at his house for Christmas is less about wanting her and more about bossing around her mom.

Jim took a cookie from the container. “Speaking of which, Charli, have you given any thought to how you want to split your time at Christmas?”

Tears pricked at her eyes. She knew exactly how she wanted to spend her Christmas. But she also knew it wasn’t the answer her dad wanted to hear. “Um, no. Not yet.”

“I assume you’ll be coming to church with us on Christmas Eve, provided Angel is able. Honey, have we made a decision about which service yet? I know we usually go at midnight, but I didn’t know if you’d feel up to such a late night this year.”

The midnight service. There was no way her dad would drive her home afterward, which meant he’d expect her to sleep over and be here for Christmas morning. He’d claim it was just simpler that way, but it was actually just one more way to stick it to her mom.

“...time,” Angel was saying. “Right, Charli?”

Charli focused on her stepmother, trying to figure out what she missed and grateful for the millionth time that Angel’s face was so expressive. One look at her expression and Charli knew her stepmother was buying her time, even if Charli had no idea what Angel had just said.

“Um, I guess,” she said. “I’m not too sure of anything right now.”

“And I’m sure you’ll want to talk to your mother first, right?” Angel said.

Her father bristled. “Why, exactly, does Marita get first say here? I broached the subject with Charli. I want to hear Charli’s opinion.”

“Honey, regardless of her opinion, I think it’s unfair to put Charli in the middle. Why don’t we discuss our plans and then Charli can talk to her mother? That way, we’ll have all the information before we make plans that we might end up having to change.”

“Fine.” Her dad was scowling now, an expression Charli was used to seeing at least as often as Angel’s sympathy face. “I’m going to go take a shower. Why don’t you two figure out when I’m taking Charli home?”

Charli felt her cheeks grow warm as her father stomped off down the hallway like a spoiled toddler. How about now, Dad? How about before things get ugly? Oh, wait. Too late for that. Charli stuffed a cookie in her mouth, barricading the words that would only start a fight that would upset Angel and compel her father to dig in his heels and call all the shots about Christmas. Ho, ho, ho.

Swallowing the last of her cookie, Charli looked up at her stepmother. “Thank you.”

Angel patted her hand. “No problem. I’ll talk to your mom. Just let us know what you want, and we’ll handle it from there.”

If only it were really that simple.