Read Rose and Helena Save Christmas: a novella for Free Online Page B

have you girls been up to?”
    “Oh…shopping.”
    “Did Neely Kate get a chance to see that psychic she was dying to see?”
    Mason using the words dying and psychic in the same sentence made her want to confess. “She did see the psychic…” She drew the words out.
    Neely Kate’s eyes flew wide open and she mouthed, No. Don’t tell him!
    Are you sure? she mouthed back. It’s Mason.
    He can’t do anything. Let’s wait.
    Sometimes she and Neely Kate thought so much alike it was like they were twins separated at birth.  
    But she’d hesitated long enough to get his attention. “Rose? Is everything okay?”
    “It’s fine. We’re fine.”
    His voice turned serious. “It doesn’t sound fine.”
    “Mason—”
    Neely Kate snatched the phone from Rose’s hand. “Mason? Are you having a good time in Little Rock?” There was a moment of silence. “Uh-huh. That’s great.” She shifted in her seat. “Rose and I are about to go shopping and I have inside information that she’s about to buy you a Christmas present. I think you’re really gonna want to see her wearing it under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning, if you know what I mean.” She flashed a wicked grin. “But we won’t have time to shop if she’s talking to you…uh-huh. I’ll tell her. Bye.”
    Neely Kate ended the call and handed Rose the phone.  
    “What was that?” Rose snatched the phone from her.
    “It’s called distraction.” Neely Kate picked up her sandwich and laughed. “I’ve obviously failed you as a friend if you don’t know how to use it.”
    “I know how to distract him…” Rose blushed. “It’s just usually done in person.”
    “Before I forget, you’re supposed to call him after the play.”
    “Okay.”
    The girls finished their lunch and started shopping. Several hours later, they returned to their hotel room, exhausted and looking forward to their naps.  
    Rose started to open the door to their room while Neely Kate continued down the hall. “I’m gonna get a bottle of water from the vending machine. Do you want one?”
    “Yeah, thanks,” Rose said absently as the fumbled with the electronic key. But when she pushed the door open, she gasped.  
    The room had been completely trashed. The dresser drawers were open and their clothing was scattered all over the room.
    “Neely Kate?” Rose called down the hall. “Do you still have Taylor’s phone number?”
    “Yeah, it’s in my phone. Why?”
    “We need to call her.” Rose took a deep breath. “We’ve been burgled.”

Chapter Six

    “Oh my stars and garters!” Neely Kate exclaimed, looking over Rose’s shoulder. “You get broken into even when you’re not in Henryetta.”
    Rose’s back stiffened at the reminder. Her house had been broken into so many times that she’d lost count. “We need to call Taylor.”
    Taylor was concerned and told the girls that she’d be at the hotel within a half hour. In the meantime, she told them to go sit in the hotel bar and wait for her.  
    “But I really need a nap,” Neely Kate protested into the phone. She must not have liked Taylor’s response, because she made a face before groaning. “Fine. See you soon.”
    “I take it she doesn’t want us to go into the room?” Rose asked, turning her attention back to the mess. It could have been some random break-in, but she suspected that was wishful thinking.  
    It was a sad day when you hoped your room being broken into was random.
    They trekked back down to the bar and found a table. Rose ordered a glass of tea and Neely Kate ordered water. The blonde leaned the nape of her neck on the back of the upholstered chair and was asleep before the waitress returned. Rose used the time to call her sister Violet to check on her dog, Muffy.  
    “We need to talk about Christmas, Rose,” Violet said. “We’ve always spent Christmas Day together. That’s not changing this year just because you’re with Mason, is it?”
    It suddenly occurred to Rose