Jingle all the Mitchell Way: a holiday novella(21)

I awoke to hear the sounds of my frantic wife, alarming me so much to where I jumped off the bed and made a beeline for the front of the camper. What I found was hardly a catastrophe.

Apparently, while I was getting some much-needed sleep, someone had thought it was a good idea to give my toddler daughters crayons. The fake leather furniture, their car seats, and even the hard surface floor had been vandalized. While Amber began scrubbing to salvage the furniture, I got down on the floor and talked to my girls. “Which one of you colored on Uncle Jake’s RV?”

They both smiled.

“Jax, get over here and help me.”

“We can pick up something to take it off once we stop again, Amber. Don’t worry about it.”

“Two days. That’s all it took for them to damage your property. What are we going to do with three kids?”

“Three? Are you pregnant again?” Jake asked.

I felt the need to answer for Amber. “Yep. I knocked her up good this time. It’s going to be a boy. I read somewhere that the first nut is a girl, and the second is a boy. Maybe it’ll be two boys.”

“Maybe I’ll beat you for saying it,” Amber stated. I could tell she was afraid of having another set of twins.

“Whatever God gives us we will love, even if it’s triplets.”

“Didn’t I just get done saying how much I appreciated you? I think I’m changing my mind.”

I slapped her on the ass playfully. “How are your lines going?”

“They were good until I looked up and saw this. Leave it to me to be a bad mother.”

“When they’re quiet, something bad is happening. Isn’t that what my mother always tells you?”

“She’s right.”

“It’s fine. This motorhome needed some color added to it. Don’t worry about it, Amber. We’re almost to New Orleans. Maybe two more hours. Maybe you and Jax could put the girls down for a nap before we get there?” Jake suggested.

Back in the bedroom, Amber was still freaking out about the mess they’d made. “I can’t believe it. I let them sit on the floor with me while I read. They were in their seats though. I made sure they were safe from getting hurt. I thought they were watching the movie.”

“Jake isn’t mad. Let it go, babe.”

“No. I’ve got to do something nice for them. I think we should throw them a surprise wedding to say thanks. It doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal, but they’re both stressing over it. I can take my bonus and fly everyone into Dallas for the event. She’s already got her dress. All we would need is for your mom and dad to bring it with them. What do you think?”

“I think you’ve already planned it out in your head. Have you mentioned it to either of them?”

“No. It wouldn’t be a surprise.”

“What if they don’t want to do it?”

“Jax, they’ve been planning to marry before we were. Just say you’ll help me keep it a secret. I want to do this for them. We owe it to them, baby.”

“Fine. I’ll help you plan a secret wedding for the guy who stole my girl, and the woman who dumped me for my brother.”

She shoved me again. “You need hormone medication, Jax Mitchell.”

“It’s all the estrogen I’m around every day.”

She stuck her hand between my legs. “Yep, they’re still there. I was getting worried.”

“Really? A ball check?”

“Really. Now, keep this a secret. Whatever you do, don’t you dare tell your brother.”

“What if he confides in me that she’s a monster and he’s changed his mind?”

“Convince him otherwise or else I’ll be feasting on a ball sandwich for Christmas dinner, and not the kind you would benefit from.”

I covered my appendages. “You really mean business. Okay. I’ll behave, but only because I know you’ll pay me for my trouble.”



Amber shook her head. “I get the job done.”

That she did.



Later that night was the event my wife had been so nervous about. She was meeting her agent and co-stars of the movie. These people were professionals, and the fact that she’d been offered the part was still unbelievable. The producer happened to be related to the person Amber worked with on Shalan’s music videos. One thing led to another and Amber was getting a call.

She was dressed in a tight tan colored sequined dress that firmly fit her curvy body, loosening only as it met the floor. Her hair was up with curls coming out of the back, and her makeup looked professional, even though she’d done it while looking through the tiny bathroom mirror. She spun around to give us the full effect. “What do you think?”

“It’s amazing,” Reese announced.

“You look like a movie star,” Jake told her.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” I pulled her into my arms and tucked my face in her neck to lap up her sweet perfume in my nostrils. “And you smell fantastic.”

She lightly pushed me back. “After the dinner you can do whatever you want to me. Until then, I have to stay exactly like this.”

I held out my arm for her to take. “Let’s get this show on the road then.”