Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 67

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Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 67

Kay lived in a tacky McMansion situated on a prime lot that backed up onto the canal. Despite
the canal being unsuitable for boating or even canoeing, and therefore home only to gators and
discarded fast-food cups, Kay felt it gave her the right to call her house “waterfront property.”
The stucco facade was painted a dull taupe. The lawn was cut in perfect lines by a company who
came by twice a month, though never on the day or time that Kay demanded they come. The
only Christmas decor outside her house was a yard sign with a rendering of the Baby Jesus
surrounded by a shimmering light with KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS in bold letters. A couple
neighborhood kids were out on the street, already playing with a remote-control truck they’d
no doubt unwrapped moments before.
Nick went up the walkway holding Zoe’s hand. In his other hand was one of the bottles of mid-
range sparkling wine he’d purchased in bulk from the Wine Barn. He’d forgotten to chill it, so it
was room temperature. When Kay greeted them at the door and took it, she mentioned it
specifically before bustling off to the kitchen. She was not what Nick would call a talented cook,
but she insisted on making Christmas dinner every year, an arrangement which seemed to stress
out everyone involved.
Laurie was sitting on the love seat in the family room right off the foyer. She caught his eye and
grimaced in apology. Nick gave her a silent nod. This was just another day they’d have to bear
Kay’s unique brand of hospitality.
Nick took a seat in the armchair across from Laurie. Kay’s tree was a Martha Stewart–perfect
confection of silver and gold topped with a battery-powered angel that glowed. A video of a
choir singing “Away in a Manger” played on the big-screen TV on the wall. The smell of
overcooked turkey was in the air.
Laurie raised her large glass of white wine in his direction. “Want one?”
“Think I’ll stay dry today,” he said. He thought of Eli, no doubt surrounded by festive libations.
He figured it might be nice to abstain in case—well, what if at some point he wanted to keep Eli
company in his sobriety? This was good practice.
Laurie raised an eyebrow. Getting slightly tanked at Kay’s was practically a Christmas tradition
between them, so she had good reason to find his decision unusual. But when Nick thought
about it, he wondered why he’d spent so many years doing such a clichéd thing. Kay was
enough of a headache on her own; he didn’t need to add a literal hangover to the experience.
Kay returned from the kitchen, clapping her hands like she was mustering troops. “I have about
twenty minutes before I need to stir anything. Let’s do presents, quick.” She didn’t even look at

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Laurie, Nick noticed. He wondered if their truce had crumbled since last week when they’d been
perfectly civil at the mall.