Christmas Drabble series
Title: Ghostwriter
Author: Aussie
Rated: T
(300) word a/u drabble series
“You’re not thinking of backing out on Christmas day dinner, are you?”
Laura made no reply to Elosha’s exasperated question. She should remind her friend that Bill hadn’t actually issued a Christmas invitation.
“He assumes you’ll be there,” Elosha insisted, reading Laura’s mind. “You know you’re welcome.”
A waiter whisked away the now empty plates.
“You’ve spent Christmas with the Adamas for three years,” Elosha stressed, proving the subject wasn't closed, as another waiter placed a check down on the table.
Almost four years ago, Bill had arrived at her office door with one of the best novels she’d read in decades. Kara’s book had pulled Presidency Publishing out of the financial strife the company had been in at the time. Since then Bill had brought her many bestselling manuscripts, and Laura had employed his son, Lee. And she’d somehow joined the Adamas each year since for Christmas day.
“What are the alternatives?” Elosha asked.
Ignoring the question, Laura leaned over to retrieve her purse. Perhaps it would have been preferable to eat alone, she thought irritably.
“Billy is in Ohio, and since the Sean disaster, you've avoided Marcie and her family."
Laura opened her mouth to suggest they could spend the day together, but Elosha was already shaking her head. “I’m afraid I can’t.” Then, she continued, more gently: “I’m not letting you spend the holidays alone.”
Laura flipped open her wallet and stared at the photos she kept there. Her parents smiled out at her from one side. She was featured in the photo on the other side, squeezed in between her sisters.
“For ten years you were alone,” Elosha murmured as Laura ran her finger along Cheryl and Sandra’s forever young faces.
“Thanks to Bill, you have family again, Laura. And you should spend Christmas with them.”
Author: Aussie
Rated: T
(300) word a/u drabble series
“You’re not thinking of backing out on Christmas day dinner, are you?”
Laura made no reply to Elosha’s exasperated question. She should remind her friend that Bill hadn’t actually issued a Christmas invitation.
“He assumes you’ll be there,” Elosha insisted, reading Laura’s mind. “You know you’re welcome.”
A waiter whisked away the now empty plates.
“You’ve spent Christmas with the Adamas for three years,” Elosha stressed, proving the subject wasn't closed, as another waiter placed a check down on the table.
Almost four years ago, Bill had arrived at her office door with one of the best novels she’d read in decades. Kara’s book had pulled Presidency Publishing out of the financial strife the company had been in at the time. Since then Bill had brought her many bestselling manuscripts, and Laura had employed his son, Lee. And she’d somehow joined the Adamas each year since for Christmas day.
“What are the alternatives?” Elosha asked.
Ignoring the question, Laura leaned over to retrieve her purse. Perhaps it would have been preferable to eat alone, she thought irritably.
“Billy is in Ohio, and since the Sean disaster, you've avoided Marcie and her family."
Laura opened her mouth to suggest they could spend the day together, but Elosha was already shaking her head. “I’m afraid I can’t.” Then, she continued, more gently: “I’m not letting you spend the holidays alone.”
Laura flipped open her wallet and stared at the photos she kept there. Her parents smiled out at her from one side. She was featured in the photo on the other side, squeezed in between her sisters.
“For ten years you were alone,” Elosha murmured as Laura ran her finger along Cheryl and Sandra’s forever young faces.
“Thanks to Bill, you have family again, Laura. And you should spend Christmas with them.”