Not from me, he wasn’t. “Sorry, Gerald. I know featuring Matt on the resort’s social media would be a big get, but I can’t do it.”
“Understood, but I hope you’ll reconsider.” He reached over and squeezed my hand. “Together, I think we’ll do some absolutely wonderful things.”
…
Matt
December 20th, day of deadline
It had been so long since I’d socialized at someone else’s house, I’d almost forgotten how to do it. Remembering my manners, I brought a bottle of wine I had Jane pick up from a local winery and a plate of cookies from a bakery in town. Dressed in jeans and my most festive forest green sweater, I stood on Dani’s parents’ stoop and hesitated. The mat in front of their door said, “No Scrooges,” which did give me pause, honestly. I wasn’t exactly known these days for my Bob Cratchit-like holiday enthusiasm. Still, Dani had invited me, and—
Ralph apparently realized I was there and started barking and pawing at the door. I rang the bell. Wouldn’t want them coming out here to find me hovering.
Someone on the other side started playing with the locks. “Ralph, stop it. Go lie down.” Dani, holding the door with one hand and the dog with the other, appeared before me. She, too, had dressed for the occasion in a brown sweater with a Chihuahua in a Santa hat. “Nice sweater,” I said, stepping across the threshold.
“Mind if I let him go?” she asked. “He’ll calm down after he gets a chance to jump all over you.”
I set the cookies and wine on the table just inside the door, and she released Ralph, who went right for me. I gave him a few scratches, and as Dani predicted, he quickly lost interest.
“Okay.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave me a quick peck on the lips. “You ready for this?”
I grabbed my offerings of food and drink and grinned. “Sure am.”
My stomach effervescing with nerves, I followed her into the warm, wood-paneled house and through a set of sliding glass doors, leading out to a cozy four-seasons room. “My favorite place in the house,” Dani said. The room was full of cushy chairs and couches, situated around a large coffee table. Almost every seat had been filled, and all eyes were on me, the stranger, the guy who hadn’t been to a real family gathering in decades.
“Hi,” I said, raising the bottle of wine as a peace offering. These aren’t sharks, I told myself. These are Dani’s family members, and she promised me this would be painless.
Dani left me in the doorway alone and walked over to a large cooler in the corner. “Everyone, this is Matt Bradford, your next-door neighbor—for the next few weeks, anyway.” She reached into the cooler and held up a few beers.
The last time I’d gotten drunk with strangers, I’d ended up disparaging a big chunk of my fan base, not to mention the people charged with bringing the living embodiment of my books to fruition. “Anything non-alcoholic?” I asked.
“My dad bought some gourmet cream soda from this shop in town.”
“Delicious,” I said.
I set my cookies and wine on the coffee table and offered my hand to an older man I assumed was Dani’s dad. “Thank you for having me tonight, sir.” I nodded in deference to her mom. “Ma’am.”
“Don’t be so formal.” Her dad patted my hand. “We’re neighbors. I’m John, and this is Bets.”
“And you’ve met Una and Kelsie,” Dani said. “The twins on the couch are Raithnait and Rafferty, my niece and nephew. Their dad is my brother, Bobby, who’s working and won’t be here until Christmas Eve.”
“It’s very nice to meet you all. Thank you for letting me in on your game night.”
Dani beckoned me over to the couch. I took the spot next to the arm, and she squeezed in between me and her niece. I smiled nervously at everyone. Me, M.C. Bradford, hanging out with a big, old, happy family at Christmastime. My own parents would never believe it without visual proof.
“Where are you from, Matt?” Dani’s mom asked.
“Indianapolis,” I said.
“No way!” Una said. “I went to Butler.”
I grinned. “I live near there, actually. On Meridian.”
“In one of the fancy houses?” Una asked.
I suddenly had an image of my house, all lit up at Christmas, something I hadn’t seen for years. I missed it. “Yeah,” I said, “I guess so. It’s the house I grew up in.”
Dani nudged me in the side. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“I moved back in a few years ago after my parents…well.” I coughed, stopping myself before I could say too much. “Anyway, it’s a great investment.” That was my pat answer.
“How did you end up in Wackernagel for the month?” Una asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“I don’t, and it’s a good question.” I smiled, glad for the new, more benign topic. “I decided I needed a change of scenery to think and write, and my assistant, Jane, suggested this place. She grew up here.” I sipped my delicious cream soda.
“You’re working a new book, Dani says.” Dani’s dad popped open a Miller Lite.
“Dad…” Dani said, warning. She’d obviously given her family a talking to before I arrived.
“It’s okay,” I said, trying this new thing where I spoke honestly instead of putting my guard up. “I turned in the manuscript today, actually.” I raised my cream soda to the room. “I’m done! Well, except for all the editing I’ll have to do, but that’s a problem for the new year.”
“Congratulations!” John said.
“Thank you.” I grinned at Dani next to me. “I’ll have to include your daughter in the acknowledgments. She kept me nourished throughout the process and provided a ton of moral support.”
Dani reached over and squeezed my hand. Electricity pulsed through my body, and I sheepishly glanced around to note her family’s reaction. I had no idea how much she’d told her folks about our relationship.
A breathless voice chimed in from the other end of the couch. “I love your show.”
I turned to smile at Rafferty, Dani’s nephew. “Thanks,” I said, feeling a bit more comfortable. I was not facing a firing squad. I was having a nice conversation with Dani’s loved ones.
“You do not watch that show,” Una said, eyes flashing with anger. “When have you watched that show?”
Rafferty shared a glance with his twin sister. “Caden and I watched it at his house.”