Hummingbird
Copyright© 2026 by Krista*
Chapter 16
It was a week before Christmas. One again, the VFW hall was decked out for the community holiday party. The Grant brothers and their ladies (Yzzy was now known to be in a relationship with Ryan), along with Mickey and Anne sat, laughed and enjoyed themselves. There was music, some dancing and again, raffle prizes that none of them won. Nobody cared.
It was also a big step for Nichole, as Logan wasn’t at home with his grandmother. Several girls from the high school had set up a separate party for the children in the community across the street at the church. Hot cocoa and cookies. Assorted finger foods for snacks, and holiday specials were ready to play on the large television that had been set up in a corner with lots of pillows and quilts for ‘nests’ to stay warm in.
Music played, popular songs along with holiday classics. At one point, Cameron looked up and saw his mother dancing happily in Arnold Cuningham’s arms as Nat King Cole sang about chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
“Be happy for them,” Nichole poked his side. “They have sort of been keeping company since dingleberry over there,” she pointed over at Ryan, “got himself stomped by that bull.”
“He’s a good man,” Cameron nodded. “He and mom are around the same age and it’s good to have someone to relax and spend time with.”
Anne looked over at Yzzy as the song ended. “Ready?” They stood and walked over to the DJ station and had a few words.
“Everyone?” he called the room to attention. “We have a few ladies here that want to entertain us with their own perspectives of our beloved town, to the tune of Jingle Bells.” Happy music started and the girls launched right in...
“Look at all the snow! It’s really cold outside!...
California girls, we sit here and we cry!...
Another blizzard and, you folks are all insane!...
We figured out that antifreeze is running through your veins!...
Oh...! Choteau, Choteau, sleepy little town...
Blades on every pickup truck to push the snow around!...
Choteau, Choteau, it’s snowing once again!...
The only way you can stay warm is cuddle with a friend!...
Snow drifts to the roof! Snow shoes on my feet!...
Was that a Yeti that I saw, strolling down Main Street?...
My dog is really smart. It looked at me and said,...
‘Go outside? Oh hell no! I’m going back to bed!’...
Oh...! Choteau, Choteau, frozen little town...
Just like a pretty snow-globe that you get to shake around!...
Choteau, Choteau, outside it’s minus ten!...
Bank that fire, add some quilts, sleep through it with a friend!”...
Applause and laughter was heard as the girls bowed and returned to their table, holding hands.
The celebration was wrapping up and people were getting ready to leave. Sarah Smith and the members of the Ladies Auxiliary would take care of the major clean up after church the next day. Right now, garbage and perishables were the priority. Nichole and Cameron went to get Logan who had fallen asleep halfway through Frosty and muttered ‘happy birthday’ when his father picked him up. A number of women flocked to Nichole to ask about her pregnancy and were delighted when told everything was great (“No, we don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl, we want a surprise!”). Mickey and Anne slipped off together. He would be spending the night with her at her apartment. No, they had not yet made love. ‘Soon’ she told him. He was happy just to hold her in his arms as they drifted off to sleep together.
“I wonder where mom went,” Ryan commented.
“She’s a big girl and I’m sure Arnold will get her home safe,” Yzzy laughed. Right now she was feeling the effects of a few drinks and was feeling in the mood for some play time with Ryan.
The kitchen was empty the following morning when Yzzy and Ryan stepped into it. The coffee pot was sitting cold, and only the night light over the stove was glowing. “I wonder if she’s okay?” Ryan thought. Silently, he went down the hallway to the bedroom his mother used. Cracking the door open, he saw his mother under the blankets asleep.
She was not alone.
Returning to the kitchen, he smiled. “I think she’s sleeping in today. Long night.”
Yzzy nodded. Later when Francine and Arnold came into the kitchen, looking sheepish, nobody said anything to tease them. Ryan noted they were wearing matching holiday sweats and smiled. Then he asked the question that HAD to be asked.
“How do you like your eggs?”
Arnold blinked. “From a chicken.”
“Have you and Mickey decided on a wedding date yet?” Yzzy spooned the last of her chicken and rice soup that was lunch into her mouth.
“We’re thinking end of May, around Memorial Day. It’s a long weekend and late enough in the spring that the people I invite from California don’t get frostbite.”
“Who do you plan to invite?”
“Mrs. Ranigar, Dr. Archer, their spouses and some friends,” Anne smiled. “Classmates I still keep in touch with.”
“Sounds good. Look, Arnold and I were talking. I know Mickey still lives at home. I also know that he sometimes stays overnight here. We have no concerns if he moves in here with you, full time, between now and the wedding. And after that, you two can stay here as long as you wish.”
“Thanks. We actually were planning to talk with you guys about that topic.”
“Having someone living upstairs is actually a positive thing. Just no wild monkey sex during office hours because sometimes we hear thumps and muffled voices,” Yzzy couldn’t help but smirk.
“We haven’t done anything really. I told him that in spite of my loving him so much I still wanted to wait a little. It’ll be soon though.”
“I know he doesn’t have much experience with girls. I hope that the two of you discover all the joys that making love can bring you.”
“Hey, cowboy, wanna see my tattoo?”
Yzzy froze and looked over at Anne who wore a smirk. “Excuse me?”
“He told me. He said that he didn’t want any secrets and he hoped I wouldn’t be mad at him. I’m not. Look,” she paused, “what happened between the two of you was so long ago and before he and I had met. You gave him a beautiful gift and in the end, I benefit.”
“You benefit?”
“You helped him by laying the groundwork for him to be a good lover. You taught him that he can receive pleasure by giving it. And I’m grateful that you did that. You helped him gain confidence and be able to stand up and be proactive in how he interacted with people. Helped him realize that he was more than a damaged face. He does love you, but in the way he would love someone who is my sister. That’s how I see you.”
“Thank you,” Yzzy smiled in spite of a tear in her eye. “I was worried if you should ever learn about that. How it would impact your relationship with him and myself.”
“I’m not mad. I’m not jealous. What happened was just a one time thing, almost a full year before he and I knew of each others existence! One can’t hold another person at fault for that!”
“Oh thank goodness,” Yzzy sighed. “I was worried. Afraid.”
“Don’t be. But I do want to know, what’s going on with you and Ryan?”
“Oh, Holy Night, the star were brightly shining...
It is the night of our dear Saviors birth...”
The church was full as Reverend Smith led the midnight service on Christmas eve. Yzzy looked around at the people singing. Her friends and many of them now her ‘family’ as well. Tears of joy leaked from her eyes as she stood and squeezed Ryan’s hand. She had made some decisions for the coming new year. Most involved her continued living in Choteau. She figured that come January, she was going to have several serious conversations.
The Gospel was read, telling one and all of how the angels came to tell shepherds that a Savior was to be born and they should rejoice. When the fact that Mary and Joseph had to stay in a stable for the night as Mary started labor, someone in the dark snickered “Next time he can call ahead and make a reservation!” Reverend Smith silently paused and looked down at his bible to allow his brief smile to pass before he continued.
Anne sat with the Packard family, wearing a beautiful emerald green dress that went to her knees. Red tights kept her legs warm as she very much looked the part of a Christmas elf. She had told Mickey that she wasn’t a believer in the usual sense, based on her early life, she did understand how many people would gain comfort by being here this night. Closing her eyes slightly, she allowed herself to slip into a mild form of meditation she had learned from Dr. Archer at Magdalena. She could calm her thoughts and expression and nobody knew what she was thinking. And honestly, that was a good thing.
“Mom said to be at the house by ten in the morning. I think after that there’s no stopping the hordes from going crazy and opening gifts, even if we’re not there.”
“We can set an alarm and make sure we are up in time,” Anne grinned. “Heaven forbid I’m the cause of delay on my very first Christmas with your family!”
“Our family, baby, our family.”
“Okay. Now do me a favor and go make sure all the doors are locked and then wait for me to get ready and then I’ll call you into the room!”
Mickey made fast work of checking the doors but waited, wondering what Anne was planning. Finally he heard her call out that he could enter the bedroom. He stood there, stunned. Anne was inside a large holiday gift bag that was used to wrap up bulky or oversized gifts. It was covered with cartoon reindeer. All he could see of her was her head that was wearing a ‘santa hat’ at a jaunty angle.
“Merry Christmas, my love. Come open your gift.”
Slowly he made his way forward and gently pulled at the flap on the top of the wrapping bag. It slipped down and Anne could be seen kneeling on a pillow, wearing a matching bra and panty set that was black with snowflakes stitched in fine silver thread. Taking her hand, he helped her stand up.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.