Page 8 of Sleigh My Heart

“Their arms seem to be just fine. Besides, I was working.” She waved a hand over her uniform, indicating she didn’t have time to change. She grabbed the food from the oven.

“Hi, baby.” Her father, Trenton, slipped an arm around her for a quick hello.

She set the potatoes on a trivet and hugged him back. “Happy birthday, Dad. Twenty-nine again?”

He chuckled. “Naw. I’m looking forward to sixty-nine.”

Michele bit her lip, but snickers from her brothers came from the other room.

“Trenton,” her mother scolded.

“What? It’s true.” He winked at her.

Her mom scoffed and shook her head, but the hint of a smile crossed her lips. “Time to eat.”

At the matriarch’s words, they all took their places at the large dining table. Dad cleared his throat, and a hush fell over the room. Heads bowed. Dad’s words were short and heartfelt. Hands moved, making the sign of the cross, and then the noise resumed.

“I heard you picked up a new homicide case today,” Jordan said as he snagged a roll and passed the dish to his twin.

“Yeah. Michelle was the officer on scene,” Jim said.

“I heard about that over at the Fifth. A dead Santa in a sleigh?”

News travels fast in law enforcement channels. Her brother-in-law, Greg, worked in the neighboring precinct.

“Honey. Little ears,” Renae scolded, peeking over to the kid’s table.

Michelle glanced at the kids, not fully listening to the adults, thankfully, but just in case, she added, “Not Santa. Just a random guy.”

“From what Greg said, it sounded like Mr. Jolley’s sleigh,” Renae said as she scooped peas on to her son’s plate.

“It was. I saw him today.” And Nick. Not that she needed to open that can of worms.

“Santa?” Her sister, Julie, whispered. “How is he? The kids are super excited to see him this year.”

“He’s good. Same old Santa.”

“Did you talk to Nick?” Jim’s brow rose in question.

“He’s home? I thought he was still overseas.” Julie said.

“Holy Christmas cookies!” Renae dropped her fork. “She did. Look, she’s turning red.”

Michelle choked on her potatoes. Grabbing her milk, she washed down the lump of embarrassment in her throat.

With tight lips, she hissed at her brother, “You knew he was home and you still asked me to go question him?”

Jim raised his hands in surrender. “No. I found out after you’d left for the mall.”

Every adult in the room stared at her. Shit. “Okay, yes. I saw him. It was work. Nothing more to report.”

“Who’s Nick?” Liz asked from the other end of the table. Michelle didn’t hear Jim’s whispered reply to his wife, but she was sure he was filling her in.

“How does he look? Still a hottie?”

“Hey?” Julie’s husband elbowed her.

“Not as hot as you, honey.” Julie winked at him, then turned her attention back to Michelle.