An Unexpected Holiday Gift. Martha Kennerson

in her aunt and uncle that brought nothing but love and laughter to her life. While she’d often wondered what life would have been like, married to an NBA player and having a partner to help raise her son, she had never once regretted her decision to go it alone.

      “You’re so right, Auntie, so why mess with a good thing?”

      “Because Colby will grow into an independent young man who won’t want his spinster mother hanging around cramping his style.”

      “Ouch...”

      “I’m just keeping it real, as you young folks say. Besides, you need someone to love you the way you deserve to be loved, and Colby needs a father. Not a seventy-five-year-old father figure that can’t hear too good.”

      “Uncle Rudy is great.” Mia ran her hand through her hair.

      “I know he is and he’s mine. You need your own Rudy.”

      “There aren’t too many like Uncle Rudy out there—plus, I’m scared of Colby getting hurt.”

      “You mean you’re scared to get hurt again. Kids are resilient. Especially Colby. He’s already had to deal with so much in his young life, and he just keeps on keeping on. I just wish he’d come out of his shell more with people other than us.”

      “Actually—”

      “Actually...what?”

      “He’s taken to talking to one of our volunteers.” Mia hoped her aunt would let it go at that but she knew better.

      “Oh. Who?”

      “Elizabeth Kingsley’s nephew, the NBA star.”

      “KJ?” Mavis’s voice escalated.

      “You know who he is?”

      “Your uncle was a basketball coach with the school system for thirty years, remember?”

      “Of course I remember. Well, they seem to have developed some kind of bond.”

      “Hmm...”

      “Hmm...what?”

      “He’s single, right?” Mia could imagine all the thoughts flying through her aunt’s mind.

      “I guess, if you mean he’s not married. Men like him are rarely single.”

      “There you go again, generalizing.” It was a criticism Mavis had often leveled at Mia. “Not all professional athletes are butts like Louis. He just might prove you wrong. After all, you’ll be spending time with him—”

      “Auntie, I told you—”

      “And I told you.” The phone fell silent for several moments. “You like him.”

      Mia pushed out a breath. “He’s all right.”

      “I knew it.” Mia heard her aunt clapping. “Looks like your heart beat me to the punch.”

      “Wait a minute. Yes, I think he’s attractive, but I also think he’s an arrogant playboy who dates leggy models and would have no interest in a package deal.”

      “You’ll never know unless you ask.”

      “No, thank you. Now, I’m going to go get ready for tomorrow. Thanks again for the vacation offer, but we’ll be just fine spending Christmas at home.”

      “You’ll at least attend church, right?” Her aunt’s voice was stern.

      “Just like always.”

      “Okay, I’ll drop it...for now. Good night, beautiful one.”

      “Back at you, Auntie.”

      * * *

      “What? We just got through dealing with the EPA,” Keylan proclaimed.

      “I realize that, son,” Victoria replied, her irritation coming through loud and clear. “However, OSHA will soon be sending someone to investigate claims of worksite violations, and the IRS is moving up our annual audit.”

      “That’s ridiculous,” Travis snarled.

      “Be that as it may, we need to be prepared for another onset of bad press heading our way—and we don’t need any more,” she declared, leveling her attention on her son.

      “What?” Keylan replied.

      “You know what, Mr. Headline Grabber.” Victoria reached for her wineglass and took a sip.

      “It’s not Keylan’s fault that the press likes to pick on him.” Elizabeth defended him.

      Victoria looked at her sister and scrunched up her face.

      “Thank you, Aunt Elizabeth.” Keylan smiled and winked at her while Travis rolled his eyes at the exchange.

      “Oh, please, sis, stop coddling the boy—excuse me, the man.” Victoria turned her attention back to her son. “Don’t give the press anything else to write about. Between your suspension and now these new claims, we have enough to deal with.”

      “What?” Elizabeth frowned and placed both hands over her heart. “Keylan, you were suspended?”

      “Yes. Me and this other player were both playing pretty aggressively all night when we collided in the air when we were both going for the rebound. I landed pretty hard on top of him.”

      “Well, accidents happen.” Elizabeth frowned.

      “I know, Aunt Elizabeth, but according to the league, they thought I purposely came down hard on him.”

      “It was a BS charge, too,” Travis offered.

      “Thanks, cousin.”

      “Victoria...” Elizabeth glared at her sister.

      Keylan knew his aunt would expect his mother to fix his situation. She thought her sister could do anything and, usually, she could. However, not even the great Victoria Kingsley could make this go away.

      “Don’t ‘Victoria’ me—talk to your favorite nephew.”

      Keylan smiled, because no matter how much she loved all her nephews or how hard she tried to deny it, he knew his aunt had taken a special liking to him. “Don’t worry about it, Aunt Elizabeth. It’s only three games after I’m released to play again and eighty hours of community service. Everything will be fine. Don’t worry about it.”

      “Now, back to the subject at hand. I need everyone on their best behavior,” Victoria stated.

      “That includes you, too, son.” Elizabeth smirked.

      “Mom, you know I stay as far away from the media as I can get.”

      “Yes, you do, but that won’t stop them from coming for you, so just be alert and stay careful.”

      “Yes, ma’am,” Travis said.

      “Keylan, darling, I’m going to be helping out at the office a little more, so I need for you to pick up the slack at the foundation. You’re going to be there anyway. Might as well make yourself useful.” Victoria’s eyes lased in on her sister.

      “Well, I—”

      “You what, son?” Her eyes bored into him. “Elizabeth’s right. You will be spending a great deal of time at our foundation, and I’m sure you have a few ideas about how we can expand the services we provide. Aren’t you the one always telling us we should do this and that to make the foundation better? Well, now’s your chance. Be the change you seek. Anyway, you’ll have Mia there to help you.”

      “I’m sure she’ll be very helpful,” he declared sarcastically, trying to ignore the instant and relentless attraction he was feeling toward her.