Hot Flash Holidays by Nancy Thayer Read Free Book Online

“Just what the doctor ordered.” She tossed back a hearty slurp, then held the cool glass to her forehead.
    Megan clung to her father, peering in Faye’s direction from the safety of his shoulder.
    “She’s gotten shy recently,” Laura confessed, easily curling up on the floor next to Faye. “It’s not just you. I’m sure she’ll come around.”
    “Did she see her bedroom?” Faye asked.
    “Oh, yes, Mommy, it’s
amazing.
Although Megan’s going to sleep with us while we’re here. The shy business again. I know she’ll get over it, but until she does, we’re allowing her to sleep with us whenever we’re away from home.”
    “Oh,” Faye said in a very small voice. “I see.”
    “I think Megan’s hungry,” Lars announced. “I wouldn’t mind eating, either.”
    “The refrigerator—” Faye began, automatically struggling to get off the sofa and into the kitchen.
    “Don’t move, Mommy,” Laura ordered. “I’ve seen the tons of food you’ve prepared. I’ll organize a dinner for us all, here in the living room. We’ll put everything on the coffee table. Lars and Megan and I can sit on the floor. It will be fun, like an indoor picnic!”
    “Let’s go help Mommy.” Lars carried his clinging daughter out of the room.
    Faye looked mournfully over at Aubrey. “I feel like a beached whale.”
    “You need more of Dr. Sperry’s Miracle Tonic.” Aubrey poured more Champagne for them both, then gently lifted her legs so that he could sit on the other end of the sofa with her feet in his lap. “Merry Christmas, Faye,” he said, raising his glass in a toast.
    “Merry Christmas, Aubrey,” Faye echoed. She sipped the cold elixir. “Oh, Aubrey, I’m so glad you’re here! But with this neck brace on, I look like—
Burl Ives
!”
    Aubrey laughed. “That’s all right, Faye,” he assured her, patting her ankle. “I can’t see very well.”
    Their mutual laughter made Faye relax, surrendering into the comfort of the cushions. The Christmas tree twinkled merrily, and from the kitchen floated the aromas of food being warmed. It wasn’t the Christmas Eve she’d dreamed of, but it would certainly be one Faye would always remember.
    3
    POLLY STEERED HER CAR INTO THE GARAGE AND clicked the door closed. She staggered into the kitchen, her arms full of last-minute holiday groceries. She’d probably bought too much, but better too much than too little, that was her opinion.
    The light on her answering machine was blinking. She listened to the message as she took off her cap, gloves, and muffler.
    Faye, asking for help!
    “Oh, Faye!” Polly cried. Hurriedly, she dialed her number.
    A male voice answered.
    “Hello, this is Polly Lodge, I’m a friend of Faye’s, she phoned—”
    “Hi, Polly, this is Lars, Faye’s son-in-law. Faye’s gone off to the hospital with Alice. Laura’s on her way there now. I’m here with Megan.”
    “Is Faye all right?”
    “I think she will be. She fell down the stairs. Sprained or broke her ankle, did something to her neck.”
    “Oh, dear, and at Christmas!”
    “I’ll have her call you when she gets back, okay?”
    “That would be great. Thanks, Lars.”
    Polly hung up the phone and just stood in the middle of her kitchen, miserable.
Darn it!
She had missed a rare opportunity.
    As the newest member of the Hot Flash Club, she often felt like the baby sister scrambling to catch up with the big kids. Faye, Alice, Marilyn, and Shirley had met a year before Polly met them, and during that year they’d gotten up to all sorts of adventures and formed a tight bond of sisterhood. Polly was thrilled to be admitted to this casual club, but she wanted more. She wanted to be closer to all of them, or at least to one of them.
    Looking down, she saw her ancient basset hound, Roy Orbison, sitting patiently at her feet, staring up at her.
    “Oh, Roy!” She knelt to pet and hug him. “You’re right. I can’t stand here daydreaming! We’ve got a lot to do.”
    Her son,