A Christmas Legacy 2

Thanks for stopping by. This is day two of my Christmas gift to you this year. It's a short story based on characters from my book, An Unexpected Legacy.​ If you missed day one, you can go catch up here.

     ​“Ugh.” Jessica’s sister, Brittney stormed up to the kitchen counter, jerked a gingerbread boy from the plate, and bit his head off. “Why did I think it was a good idea to invite Trevor to family Christmas?”
     “She sounds like you.” Chad smirked at Jessica from where he sipped coffee at the table.
     “Oh, please.” Brittney rolled her eyes. “I don’t remember Dad giving you the whole ‘how dare you date my daughter?’ routine last year. He must have asked Trev at least forty questions since lunch.”
     “I’m sure Chad’s answered a few questions, too. And I know I had to answer some questions for his family when I first met them. That’s just the way life works. Dads want to protect their children.” Jessica added a few more sprinkles to the Santa she was decorating.
     “’What made you decide to get that tattoo? What was it about my daughter that made you want to date her? What are your life plans for the next twenty years?’” Brittney mimicked their dad’s voice and then ripped off the legs of her cookie.
     “Really? Only twenty?” Jessica teased.
     “You guys have it so lucky.” Brittney flopped into the chair beside Chad. “He’s not the new boyfriend anymore. And I really don’t remember him having to go through everything they’re submitting Trevor to. Seemed like everyone was all huggy when we parted last year.”
     Jessica exchanged a look with Chad that told her he remembered things much differently, too. “I think you were too wrapped up in being on break and keeping Trevor a secret to remember things correctly.”
     “Well, either way. I wish we could move past this and get to where you’re at. Why can’t they just accept Trevor the way he is?” Brittney’s voice hovered near a whine, as if she were younger than her almost twenty years.
     “Dad didn’t ask you about your tattoos, did he?” Jessica set the plate of decorated cookies on the table and winked at Chad.
     “No. He was too busy wondering about my piercings. We never got to tattoos.” Chad selected a reindeer with chocolate chip eyes.
     “Ha, ha. Very funny.” Brittney crossed her arms. “I get it. I didn’t pick someone who looked the same as everyone else in the family.”
     “Britt, there you are.” Trevor came in and slid into the chair on the far side of the table. “I thought you were coming back.”
     “Sorry. I couldn’t take it anymore, seeing Dad treat you that way.” She pushed the treats toward her boyfriend.
     Jessica laughed. “And so you just left him there by himself?”
     Brittney covered her face with her hands. “Don’t mess with me. I’m stressed out.”
     “It’s okay, Brittney. My dad did the same thing when my sister brought her boyfriend home a few years ago.” Trevor bit into a bell-shaped cookie.
     “Well, I still don’t like it. Dad needs to go back and pick on Chad some more.”
     ​“Hey now.” Chad held his hands up in the air. “I served my time. I’m very happy to be in the background for now.”
     Jessica frowned. What did that mean? He wanted to be front and center again soon?
     Before she could ask, her dad came in, sniffing the air. “Cookies?”
     Chad held up the plate. “Come on over. We were just talking about tattoos.”
     ​If looks could kill, Jessica would be down a boyfriend once more. Brittney’s glare was razor-sharp as she narrowed her eyes at Chad. Trevor just snickered and Jessica hid her laughter by turning to get her dad a cup of coffee, too.

---

Come back tomorrow for day three! And if this has made you want to check out these characters in their original setting, you can find that story here.

---