Page 4 of The Forever Christmas Tree

“Sounds like a charming place,” Diane said then. “Can I come home with you for Christmas?”

Huh? What? “Are you serious, Grizz?”

“Yeah. Everyone’s going to my brother’s place in Spokane for the holidays, and my mother will be harping on me about why I don’t have a real job, and when am I going to get married and have kids, like my sister. And Dad pumps me for secret information about the SEALs. And my sister Marion wants me to introduce her to a SEAL.”

“What’s she look like?” F.U. wanted to know.

Diane ignored him and concluded, “The idea of a quiet Christmas in a small town with freakin’ bells, well, that’s heaven to me. Can I come?”

“Sure.”

“Me, too,” Geek said. “As long as there’s wi-fi, have computer, will travel.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

“I’m game.” This from K-4.

“I could cut my time in Nawleans short, please God, and head out there for a week,” Delphine said.

With each person self-inviting themselves, Wendy’s jaw dropped even lower. Oh . . . my . . . God!

“Great, and Flip mentioned some shipwreck diving places on the Outer Banks. I could check them out, firsthand,” Geek said, then pointed to his iPhone on the table in front of him. “I just checked. Did you all know that section of water off the Outer Banks is known as the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’ because there are still so many shipwrecks still out there, undiscovered?”

“Oh, hell! Count me in, too,” JAM said, then addressed Geek. “Maybe we can go to Jersey first and look over that Jinx operation.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Geek agreed.

“You’re not going without me,” Hamr proclaimed.

“What about your family?” JAM asked.

Hamr shrugged. “I’ll think of something.”

Wendy was stunned, but then she realized that this might be a good thing. She’d managed to avoid seeing Ethan all these years. If her friends were with her, it would provide a natural barrier.

“You guys do realize it will be boring there,” Wendy cautioned. Really, there weren’t more than two bars open during the off season, if that.

“I’m getting too old to be a Liberty Hound anymore,” Geek said.

“Same here,” JAM agreed. “Party animal days are long gone for me, not that I don’t enjoy a party now and then.” He waggled his eyebrows at Wendy.

“Will you have enough room for all of us?” Diane asked, a bit sheepishly, realizing she started all this.

“Should be fine. You might have to share space with some senior citizen swingers until I get things straightened out, but it’s a big house.”

“How senior?” F.U. inquired.

They all laughed then.

Geek glanced around the table. “So, road trip to the Outer Banks for Christmas?”

“Hoo-yah!” a bunch of them at the table said, raising their bottles of beer high, like toasts.

Later that night, Wendy called Bell Cove. “Aunt Mil, it’s Wendy.”

“Well, hello, sweetheart. You’re still coming next week, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but I want to bring some friends with me. It might be four or five. Is there enough room?”

“Absolutely. Harry is going to his son’s home for the holidays, and Gloria is moving into one of those assisted-living places. Elmer and Claudette might still be here, and Raul sleeps with me,” her aunt said, as if thinking aloud. Then, she concluded, “Easy peasy, darling. Bring as many friends as you want. The more the merrier.”