Page 20 of Enduring Christmas

Four hours later, Luke had the cutest five-foot Douglas fir tied down in the flatbed of the truck and they were on their way home. What froze them all in their tracks was the appearance of three pickup trucks in front of the house. And because no one locked their doors in Endurance, inside they found Ivy and Owen, Autumn and Rui, and Kelby and Hank, each one with their kids, ready to pack Xenobia up and take her home. Should she stay or should she go? One look at Luke's stern jaw and she knew his answer.

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LUKEwas not happy seeing the town delegation in his family room and he let his feelings on the intrusion be known. "Is there a reason all of you are in my home?"

Their friends had come to take Xenobia home, but he wouldn't let her leave. Shiloh seeing other children, however, took off at a run. The kids, Simone, Cai, and Elliott had found her game chest, a wooden trunk with a hinged lid Luke had carved for her third birthday.

Ivy was the first to speak. "Owen spread the word that Xenobia had been hurt and Callie' still over in Pine Valley. So, I drove over to your place this morning, Xenobia. When I discovered the place empty. I called Kelby."

A very pregnant, puffy face, hands, and feet Kelby stood with her six-month baby hump, her belly was too wide to be considered a bump, propped on the back of the sofa while her husband, Hank rubbed her back and shoulder. She was like an over-stuffed potpie ready to erupt for that hole in the center crust. An image of Xenobia, big and swollen with his child, her head in his lap had him releasing a sound of satisfaction.

Kelby and Xenobia taught fourth grade. Before Hank and Kelby tied the knot, the two women had invited a couple of N2U yahoos down from Zolusa Creek to accompany her and to Autumn's wedding. Well, let's just say love wasn't in the air. It took a threat of violence and a deconstructed potato salad recipe to rid the town of Peyton and Gordie. It was a natural assumption Xenobia would seek out Kelby if she needed help.

"Oh," Ivy said as an afterthought. "If you need help decorating, Xenobia. We have plenty of garland, bulbs, and Owen can cut you a tree."

"We have a tree on the back of the truck." He didn't offer seats or drinks. He planned to keep the visit short.

"Yeah, after Ivy arrived at my place and we couldn't reach Xenobia on her cell phone," Kelby added. "We called Autumn."

Autumn shrugged. "When no one could find her, Owen suggested, we start with you." She said as if he was an ogre who Xenobia needed rescuing from. "So, here we are..." she paused, "to take her home."

Owen cleared his throat. "I, ah-hitched her car to the truck. It's around back."

Luke bit back his frustration. "Thanks," he grumbled, cutting his eyes at his longtime friend.

“What?” Owen frowned.

Luke would've gotten her car after they solidified their boyfriend-girlfriend status.

"You drove all the way out here and broke in for nothing."

"Not exactly," Owen said sheepishly, balancing baby Grace on his shoulders. The little cherub giggled, and Luke wondered would get the chance to be a father again. "We called your cell first, Luke. And the cabin," he sighed. We got worried something could have happened to her."

"I happened," Luke released a grunt.

"We can see that," Autumn's mused, a grin on her face.

"We've been in the mountains all morning. No cell service up there."

"Did you get a tree Uncle Luke," Cai asked.

Owen's six-year-old son from his first marriage called all his father's close friends uncle. After Luke's divorce, he'd thought this little rambunctious child was the closest he'd come to having a son. He looked over Owen's shoulder to spy Xenobia, a crease across her brow. Now, he might have a second chance at the family he'd dreamed of.

"Xenobia it's getting late we should grab your things and get going," Kelby said. "You can stay the night with me and Hank."

Xenobia stepped closer to him. "I'm not going anywhere."

That statement drew everyone's attention.

"What? Why would you want to stay here with Luke?" Autumn asked.

"They've been kissing," Cai squealed.

Luke looked over to find a red-faced Shiloh standing next to an excited little boy.

"Sorry daddy," Shiloh blushed, "he asked me."

"Next comes a bun in the oven. Right, Mama Ivy?"