Jolly Dead St. Nicholas Read Online Free PDF Page A

called. No answer.
    He walked into the foyer, checking the living room as he went. She wasn’t there. Only the seven foot spruce Christmas tree with its numerous strands of twinkling white lights greeted him. They’d put the tree up last weekend, another activity that seemed tedious to him this year because she’d barely said two words during the two-hour venture.
    He went up the stairs, his mind suddenly going to another problem that had been weighing heavily on his shoulders for the past two weeks. “I have to handle the matter carefully, but it has to be settled soon,” he muttered.
    He found Susan in their bedroom staring dreamily into the vanity mirror. He noticed she’d changed out of her blue jeans and denim blouse into a soft peach colored knit dress. She’d also applied some makeup—not that she needed it. Susan was a natural beauty, with long, thick hair the color of spun golden silk. She had large violet eyes that seemed to draw people to her like magnets. Her complexion was flawless, and always had been since he could remember. Put simply, she was a gorgeous woman.
    He’d often heard people comment about what a striking couple they made. At a little over six feet tall, Jerry had managed to keep his robust frame without adding any fat. His thick dark brown hair remained lustrous. His mother used to tell him that his best features, however, were his sapphire blue eyes. They’re like jewels, beautiful jewels , she’d often said.
    He had a pang as he thought about his parents, killed several years ago in a fiery auto accident on Interstate 75 while they were vacationing in Florida.
    Jerry walked up behind Susan, putting his hands on her shoulders. He felt her body tense up. Immediately he drew back, his face flushing with sudden anger.
    “What is it Susan? What’s going on?” he demanded.
    She turned to face him. “I need to go. I’ll be late for choir practice.” She got up and walked past him.
    Reaching out, he grabbed her arm, halting her in mid-stride. “Since when do you dress up so much for choir practice?”
    She sighed, pulling her arm from his grasp. “Since when do you care how I dress?”
    She strode out of the room then down the stairs. Jerry followed.
    As she opened the coat closet door to grab her faux fur, he said, “We need to have a talk, Susan.”
    Ignoring him, she flung open the front door, stepping out onto the wraparound porch. Jerry wasn’t far behind.
    “Don’t walk away from me, Susan. I know there’s something going on between you and some other man at the church!”
    Susan looked stunned as she turned to face him. “Don’t be ridiculous!”
    Jerry’s voice rose. “It’s the preacher, isn’t it? I’ve seen the way Doug Underwood looks at you and the way you act when he’s around! I’m not a fool, nor am I blind!”
    Susan yelled back, “You’re so busy with business or whatever else you have on your mind I’m surprised you notice I’m even alive, let alone who is looking at me!”
    “Is that what this is all about, me not paying enough attention to you?” He toned down his voice as the importance of what she said sunk in. Had he been neglecting her? It was so easy to fall into a routine and forget to show appreciation to those we love.
    “I have to go. Don’t wait up!” Susan hurried down the steps to her Honda Accord waiting at the curb.
    Her last comment brought his anger back full force. “This conversation isn’t over, Susan! If it is Underwood, I’ll make sure he pays!”
    Jerry waited until she made a right turn onto Buckeye Street. Once she was out of sight, he quickly went inside to grab his coat and car keys. Moments later he was in his red Monte Carlo heading for the church. He had to find out if Susan was really going to choir practice or if she was meeting another man on the sly. If she was at the church, he’d sneak in so he could watch what she was doing and who she was doing it with.
     
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    Ethel Henshaw stood in the