Page 76 of The Forever Christmas Tree

“I love your dress,” Laura said, forcing Wendy to spin and show her all sides. “Where did you find it? Don’t tell me. That hoarders’ fashion mecca up in your attic?”

“Uh-huh. This was my mother’s prom dress.”

“You’re kidding!” Laura exclaimed.

You’re kidding! he thought, giving the dress a second look. Her mother must have been a hottie in her day. Not that Wendy’s outfit was overly sexy, like Laura’s. More like subtly sexy. What? Where did I come up with that term? Is there even such a word? Like I’m an expert on fashion! Not! My brain must be melting with Christmas cheer . . . or something else. Maybe subtle horniness. Yep, brain meltdown!

“And how about you, Miss Sexy! I would never have the nerve to wear a frock like that,” Wendy said, as she gave Laura’s gown an approving nod.

That’s a good one. Frock. A fuck frock. Or a frock for fucking. Oh, please, God, don’t let me have said that out loud.

“Is it too much? Does it make my butt look too big?” Laura asked, giving her rump a little slap.

Yes.

“Sweetie, butts are in, dontcha know?” Wendy replied.

Ethan coughed to remind them of his presence, and said, “I think I’ll go get a drink. White wine for you, Wendy? And how about you, Laura? Whiskey straight up, or will you chug it from the bottle?”

Wendy and Laura both laughed.

“I’ll go with you.” Wendy, still laughing, grabbed for his hand.

“See you later,” Laura called out to Wendy, then added for Ethan’s benefit, with ominous intent, “Make sure you stick around for the grinch winner announcement.”

He thought about flicking the bird at Laura’s back, but restrained himself because of Wendy’s presence. But then he noticed the twinkle of amusement in her eyes. She knew just what he’d been thinking.

After that, it was almost like they’d wiped out all the years and were back in time, to when they’d been teenagers. They slow danced in an endless agony of what could pass for foreplay, they fast danced—well, shagged—till they almost dropped, they drank (not too much for him), and they talked and laughed with friends. All the time, they were aware of each other in a way only lovers could be. Their gazes kept returning to each other, even across the room, their eyes sending secret messages.

Finally, Doreen, whose orange complexion had faded to a deep tan, stepped up onto the stage and took the microphone. “Listen up, everyone, we have a winner in the grinch contest.”

Several of the news media representatives moved up closer to the dais to get the best pictures. A number of the contenders moved farther away, not wanting to be noticed.

“First of all, we raised thirty-three thousand, five hundred and twenty dollars.”

There were gasps of surprise, followed by applause.

“As for the contest, it was a close race, until the last minute,” Doreen said, “but then a dark horse came up out of nowhere.”

Ethan, and a bunch of other reluctant nominees, relaxed at those words.

Wendy grinned at his obvious pleasure in not earning the dubious honor.

“The winner of the first annual Bell Cove Grinch Contest is . . .” The band did a drum roll as Doreen paused. “. . . Jeremy Mateer.”

No one was more shocked than Jeremy who exclaimed, “What? Me? What did I do?” He hadn’t even been on the list, as far as Ethan recalled.

“It seems that Jeremy pulled an all-time male Christmas blooper that caused his wife, Darlene, to plunk five thousand dollars into the grinch kitty.”

“What?” Jeremy yelled, turning to glare at his wife.

“Jeremy, my friend,” Doreen continued, “did you really buy your wife a synthetic diamond ring for Christmas, which also happens to be your twentieth wedding anniversary?”

Jeremy’s face turned a bright red and he mouthed to his wife, “Oops!” To his apparent relief, Darlene was laughing.

Once Jeremy was on the stage, having been crowned “Grinch of the Year,” the crowd began to sing a new version of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” which was “For He’s a Jolly Grinch Fellow.” Hokey as hell. Probably another of Laura’s half-brained ideas.

Speaking of . . .