Guess she was wrong.
As Bruce pushed himself higher in the air, almost reaching the top of the tree, Holly’s heart stopped. “Get down. You’re gonna knock over the tree!”
Holly should’ve known better. The moment the words were out of her mouth, Bruce panicked falling face-first into the tree.
It all happened in the blink of an eye. One second the tree was up in all its glory. The next it was on the ground as Waffles and Ripley barked and jumped on top of it.
“What the crap? Stop it you dumb-dumbs.” Holly ran into the living room, stopping in front of the toppled-over mess, only to see Twitch poke his head out of the branches bobbing his head from side-to-side. “Oh my God. Was this your fault?” Holly yelled, glaring at her cat as her heart raced.
I should murder all of you.
Twitch blinked at her as the three dogs ran around the room in complete chaos. Okay, well, Waffles chased Bruce that is. And, now it was some weird game and her living room was the battleground.
Holly’s eyes darted to her cat who ducked his head back under the branches before popping back up with an ornament in his mouth.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” She stared at Twitch in shock. “Is that what you were doing? Really, Twitch? Didn’t we already talk about this?”
She was going to kill the cat, then Waffles, and while she was at it, Mildred and John too for good measure.
“Mom!” Jimmy ran up behind her freaking out as the chaos continued around them.
“Everything is fine, sweetie,” she replied, staring at the vacated spot Twitch had just disappeared from. That cat was out to get her today and she was damn well sure of it. “Well, it’ll be fine after I strangle the animals.”
“Holy shit.” Ben laughed as he grabbed the base of the tree putting it back in place. “And here I thought we were in the clear since you’d already cut yourself.”
“That was Twitch’s fault!” Holly stomped her foot.
“So this was Twitch’s fault too?” Ben cocked his brow at her as his hand went to his stomach laughing.
“It was!” That’s it. Screw it being Christmas. Everyone was on her list.
“Sure it was,” Ben chuckled again picking up a few ornaments from the floor. “At least nothing’s broken. We made sure to put away all the glass ones after the cat started taking them off the tree…” Ben trailed off as it suddenly dawned on him. He quickly glanced back to Holly who was cocking her brow at him. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh,” she mocked, pointing at the tree. “He wanted another one to play with.”
Just then, Twitch strolled out from under the tree carrying a red and green ball in his mouth as he headed toward Ben and Holly’s room.
Instantly, Ben burst out into a deep laugh as everyone made their way into the living room to see what was going on.
“I’m so sorry,” Emma apologized as Bruce ran to hide behind her legs. “I’m so so sorry. I don’t know why he did that. He never even acts like a dog unless he’s around you guys. On the one hand, that’s a good thing but not if he does this. He’s normally scared out of his mind at everything. I have no idea why he did that. I am so sorry.”
The worried expression on Emma’s face made Hollys’ heart tighten.
“It’s fine Emma. No harm, no foul.” Ben sent her a soft smile. “We’ll call it even since you made it so Holly wouldn’t poison any of us.”
That jerk. Holly angrily brought her attention back to Ben. “Who said I didn’t?”
“She probably did,” John replied. “We should have gone out to eat when we had the chance.”
Holly narrowed her glare on John ready to attack. However, from the corner of her eye she saw Bruce still cowering behind Emma.
Oh, no. Her heart broke. Maiming John can wait. This is far more important.
Holly cautiously walked over to the big guy. It wasn’t his fault. She knew that. “I’m not mad at you, Brucie… It’s okay.” Holly gently kissed his cowering head. “If I’m mad at anyone, it would be your ringleader. I’m sure this was his idea.” Holly darted her eyes to Waffles who looked at her with his tongue hanging lopsided out of his mouth.
With a grunt, Holly decided it was best to ignore her asshole of a dog. As she shook her head, she turned back to Bruce, giving him another kiss on the head. “You’re such a good, strong boy. Just try not to let the short one convert you to his evil ways, okay?” Holly gave him one more kiss before she lightly gave Emma’s arm a squeeze, hopefully conveying to her it was all right.
Just then, Ripley trotted into the living room carrying the red ribbon and bow from last night making Holly’s heart stop.
“What’s that?” John asked, going over to Ripley.
“Mom, did Ripley find another present? I don’t remember seeing any gifts with a bow that big on it?” Jimmy glanced over at her as panic raced through Holly.
“Ho-ly shit!” John bent over as he burst out laughing holding his stomach. “Was this the ribbon thing you were talking about earlier?”
“No!” Holly stormed over to her dog, snatching the ribbon and bow from her.
“Is that how you hurt your ankle?” Emma asked.
Holly wadded up the ribbon and bow as she quickly ran to the front door throwing them outside. Once they were gone, she slammed the door behind her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You saw nothing.”
John turned to his best friend still gasping for air as he laughed. “Nice, dude. I have to admit I’m impressed.”
“Stop talking!” Holly paced the room, sending a death glare to Ripley. And here I thought you were my good child.
“Not the show I was hoping for, but this will do.” Mildred stepped further into the room, kicking a red ornament as she went. “Glad you took my advice on the inspiration part.” She made eye contact with Ben. “You can thank me later.”
A wicked smile appeared on Ben’s face as he winked at the old woman. “I planned on sending you a box of chocolates the next time you were at the library.”
“Make it an extra-large cheese pizza and I’ll make sure to keep dropping a few gold nuggets into Holly’s brain every once in a while.” She winked at him.
“Deal.”
For fuck’s sake. Holly closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. Why did I think hosting Christmas would be a good idea? When Holly opened them she glared at the pain in her ass. “I’m sure your knitting club is going to eat this up, aren’t they?”
“They’re gonna love this.” Mildred walked over to the coffee table to put her drink down. The moment she saw the stack of Christmas cards, she held one up as a mischievous grin appeared on the old coot’s face. “Told ya you’d never get them out in time.”
Holly growled as she picked up their tree topper, forcing herself to not toss it directly at Mildred’s head.
Kill me now.
Mildred pumped her hands in the air as she did a victory dance around the room. “Detective Mildred strikes again!”
Chapter Fifteen
Christmas Evening