Hangover Holidays

Seventeen-year-old, Darcy Gallatin hates the Christmas holidays because her alcoholic father always ruins them for the whole family. But this year, Darcy is determined to make the season special for her ten-year-old brother, regardless of how hard her father tries to sabotage it. Disaster strikes when her dad injures Darcy’s horse, Whisky. Can Darcy ever forgive her father, or has he finally crossed the line and made her hate him? Even Darcy doesn’t know for sure, but one thing is certain--she needs to change things. And fast. But how?

KUDOS FOR HANGOVER HOLIDAYS

In Hangover Holidays by Shannon Kennedy, seventeen-year-old Darcy Gallatin is the first one in her family to go to college. In fact, she is the first girl in her family who wasn’t pregnant at 16. But her dreams fall on deaf ears with her alcoholic father and over-wrought mother, who have all they can handle with the Christmas holidays coming up. Darcy’s father always ruins the holidays, and this year is so much worse once he gets fired from his logging job for drinking on the job. Kennedy has a real flair for depicting troubled teens, their problems, and their support groups. Her stories have a ring of truth that makes them a pleasure to read. ~ Taylor Jones, Reviewer

Hangover Holidays by Shannon Kennedy is the fourth book in the Stewart Falls Academy Cheerleaders series. This book, like the others in the series, focuses on the dysfunctional home of one of the SFA cheerleaders, Darcy Gallatin. Darcy’s father is an alcoholic, and as such is never there for his kids. Darcy’s older brother handles the problems at home by drinking, like his father. Her little brother handles them by running away and hiding in the hay loft. Darcy handles them by concentrating on her dreams of becoming a large animal vet. But Christmas is the hardest time for Darcy and her brothers because their father always turns the holidays into a family war. So this time Darcy is determined to make Christmas special for her little ten-year-old brother. Like the first three books in the series, Kennedy has penned a thought-provoking tale of troubled teens and dysfunctional homes that is not only heartwarming but extremely realist and believable. She handles this heartbreaking subject with sensitivity and a deep understanding of trouble teens. It’s a book that all high school students and their parents should read. ~ Regan Murphy, Reviewer

HANGOVER HOLIDAYS

Shannon Kennedy

A Black Opal Books Publication

Copyright © 2015 by Shannon Kennedy

Cover Design by Jackson Cover Designs

All cover art copyright © 2015

All Rights Reserved

EBOOK ISBN: 9781626942-48-6

EXCERPT

Everybody had rules that they needed to follow. Everybody, but my dad. When would he grow up?

Leaving the cookie dough, I headed across the room. I opened the door and saw Scott. Hey, what are you doing here? Did you get tired of hanging out at home?

I came to challenge you to a snowball fight. Scott jerked his head toward the barn. Did you have Whisky’s shoes pulled?

No. It’s why I’m keeping him inside.

Well, your dad just brought him out, saddled, bridled, and ready to ride. He was adjusting the stirrups when I came up.

No way. I spun around, grabbed my boots. I yanked them on, snagged my coat, and pushed past Scott. I ran for the barn, stumbling, slogging through the thick snow.

Just as I got to the front of the stable, Dad swung up on my horse. He collected on the reins and kicked the Arabian in the ribs.

Whisky snorted and then leaped forward. Three cantering steps and his right rear leg slid out from under him. He tried to catch himself.

No! Whisky, whoa. I was too far from him. Stand.

Dad booted him again. Whisky jumped. Another two steps. He tried to bolt across the yard. He slid. His hind hooves slipped in the snow. He went down hard. He fell forward on his knees in the snow. I caught his reins close to the bit. Get off him.

Dad glared at me. He’s fine. People ride horses in the snow all the time. I’ll take him to get my truck.

Not my horse. Fury swept through me when I saw blood on Whisky’s left front leg. You hurt him. Get off.

CHAPTER 1

Snohomish, Washington,

Sunday, November 24th, 3:15 pm:

He’ll be there this time, I told myself, staring out the bus window. Stop worrying. We were on Highway 9 headed north toward our school, Stewart Falls Academy and my dad was supposed to pick us up after our weekend field trip to one of the top-ranked state universities in Pullman, Washington. Mom had promised that Dad would meet us when I called on my cell to let her know we were getting close.

What did you think of Washington State University? Lynn, my best friend forever, elbowed me, breaking into my thoughts. Earth to Darcy. Come in, Darcy. Are you okay?

Fine. I tried to smile at her. I was a bit nervous at first in Pullman, but everybody was really nice and friendly. It reminded me of Stewart Falls.

Yeah. Lynn giggled. But, Pullman is bigger. She glanced forward to where our cheer coach sat behind the bus driver. Remember how Ms. Olson kept apologizing for taking us to what she called a small town until you told her the college had the premier vet school in the state?

And you kept reminding her that Stewart Falls doesn’t have department stores, bowling alleys, or movie theaters and Pullman does. I remembered the town clustered near the university. I was more certain than ever that I wanted to go there next fall. Right now, it still seemed like a long time, not a little over nine months away.

I glanced around the bus at the other cheerleaders. Rita and Kaitlyn had their heads bent over a horse book, but most of the girls were talking to the people nearby. I really liked being in Pullman with the Varsity and JV squad. Everyone’s been great. No drama divas.

Lynn eyed me for a moment, coiling and uncoiling a strand of bright red hair around one finger before she lowered her voice. Are your parents still fighting?

I nodded and then shrugged as if it was no big deal. Dad comes in, saying he got off late from work, and Mom yells at him. Then he storms out and gets drunk. He doesn’t get home again till the bars close.

Gross. Lynn wrinkled her nose in disgust. Do you want to talk to my dad about it?

No way. I shook my head quickly. I don’t want Dr. Jed to know.

Darcy, he wouldn’t blame you, Lynn said. Everybody in Pine Ridge and Stewart Falls knows what the Gallatins are like.

Thanks a lot!

Not you. Lynn sighed, a blush filling her cheeks. You’re different. Everyone in Pine Ridge and SF knows that too. You’ve gotten straight As ever since third grade. People say that you’ll be the first Gallatin to go to college. If you weren’t special, you’d never have gotten into the Academy.

She was right about that. I couldn’t believe it when the private middle school offered me a scholarship. Sure, Mom was a teacher at the SFA elementary, but she’d only gotten the job there five years ago, two years after I’d started. I forced a smile when Lynn kept looking at me. It was hard. She was right about my family.

The Gallatins were, as my paternal grandmother put it, pure trash with a capital T. It’d be a step up for us to be referred to as trailer trash, or white trash. My dad was the worst of all. Everyone called him Roaring Rory Gallatin, because he drank and brawled so much, especially if someone called him a no-good drunk to his face.

Lynn didn’t have that problem. Her dad was Dr. Jed or Dr. Jensen to the towns of Pine Ridge and Stewart Falls. When I told my grandma that I wanted to be a large animal veterinarian like Dr. Jed, she said, Good luck with that. You’re the same as the rest of the Gallatin clan. You’ll be pregnant before you finish your senior year.

The only person who didn’t laugh or sneer at my dreams was Lynn’s dad. He told me that with a diploma from WSU’s vet school, I could start a clinic of my own anywhere in Washington State. Somehow, I’d make it to Pullman and I’d be a doctor, too.

The bus slowed and I looked out the window. We were turning off on the road in front of the Academy. We’d be at the school in a few minutes. I looked for my dad’s battered red pickup, but I didn’t see it. According to him, trees and mailboxes jumped out in front of him after he’d had a few beers. His stories made the whole family laugh. He still didn’t get anywhere on time.

Lynn stood and pulled her backpack out from under our seats. Where do you suppose your dad is?

He’ll be along. I followed her and the rest of the girls off the bus. We hung around, waiting for the driver to open the luggage compartment. I reached in my pocket for my cell. No messages. I stepped away and pressed buttons, calling home. My younger brother answered. Mitch, it’s me. We’re at the Academy. Where’s Dad?

I don’t know. Mom reminded him a million times today that you’d be home this afternoon, Mitch said. He muttered something about leaving early and stopping by Gordy’s place.

I glared across the parking lot at the main office. I knew what that meant. Gordy and Dad had been buddies since they were kids. They’d undoubtedly gotten busy doing something and Dad forgot all about me. He did it whenever he and Gordy got together, so I ought to be used to it by now. But I wasn’t. Where’s Connor?

Cutting Christmas trees with Timber Watkins, Mitch said. Do you want me to call him?

No! My older brother and Dad fought like tigers and when Connor heard about this, he’d freak. I didn’t need that hassle. I took a deep breath. I don’t have the number to call Gordy’s to remind Dad to come get us and he’s undoubtedly run out of minutes on his cell again. You do it. Then call me back.

You got it. I’m glad you’re almost home. It’s been awful here without you.

I know, I said and ended the call. I wondered what happened while I was away, then decided Mitch would tell me when I got home, whether I wanted to hear it or not. He had a good brain, but he only turned ten this past summer and he didn’t always think first.

What happened? Lynn came toward me, pulling our suitcases behind her. Is he on the way?

I shrugged again, putting on my no problem act. Dad told Mitch that he might stop by a friend’s on the way here. Mitch is going to call and see if Dad’s still there. He probably left late.

I was lying, but it was better than telling her the truth. No way could I tell Lynn that we’d been stranded and might not even have a ride home. I was used to being left places and looking after myself. I’d done it for years since I was younger than Mitch. Lynn hadn’t. And now, she had to put up with this garbage today.

Don’t worry, Darcy. He’ll be here any time. I’ll get the rest of our stuff. Be right back.

I nodded. I’ll wait for Mitch to call back.

She stalked across the parking lot. I could tell by the stiffness in her back how irritated she was. I wished her dad had agreed to pick us up. Dr. Jed never forgot us, or was too busy at work to come when he said he would. My phone vibrated and I answered. Hello? Mitch?

Darcy, Dad isn’t at Gordy’s. He left ages ago. Mom’s gone to Cost-Co and she’s not answering her cell. I can ride around town on my bike and see if I can find Dad.

Don’t you dare! There are too many busy streets and it’s almost dark. When I wanted to pick on Mitch, I called him shrimp. It wasn’t a joke. He was shorter than all the other boys in his fourth-grade class. You stay home. I’ll work this out.

I called all the taverns. Nobody’s seen Dad.

Then he’s on the way here, I told my brother. I prayed I was right, that I was telling the truth, but I knew I was lying. I had to keep Mitch safe. You hang out at home and call me as soon as Mom, or Connor, or Dad shows up. Okay? Lynn and I will walk down to Parthenon’s and grab some pasta. We’re starving. Tell whoever comes home first to pick us up there and I’ll call you back.

All right. Mitch heaved a huge sigh as if I was picking on him. You win, Madame Worry-wart.

He hung up before I told him that if he didn’t take chances, I wouldn’t lose it. I’d taken care of him since I was seven and he was a newborn baby. Somebody had to and Mom was too busy looking after Dad. I really didn’t want Mitch riding his bike all over Pine Ridge trying to find our father when he was probably hanging out at one of the local taverns. I sure wasn’t going to start calling those.

I hastily called the veterinary clinic and got the answering machine. Wonderful! I didn’t bother to leave a message. Nobody would get it until tomorrow morning. I could have told Dr. Jed if he picked up. He never yelled at me, not even when I made a mistake. I wasn’t about to make a recorded announcement that we’d been forgotten. Cindy the receptionist was a treasure, but even she would blab all over town about the trouble my dad caused.

What’s up? Lynn asked, arriving with our red cheerleading duffels.

He’s not at Gordy’s so he must be at Parthenon’s getting pizza for Sunday dinner, I lied. Let’s go there.

Okay, I’m ready to eat. It’s been forever since we stopped for lunch.

We waved at a couple other girls, grabbed our bags, and then headed off down the hill as if we had somewhere important to go. I breathed a sigh of relief when Ms. Olson didn’t see us. She was responsible for us and if she knew we’d been abandoned, she’d have opened up the school and called all over town, starting with Dr. O’Malley, the vice-principal. The big thing was to avoid being embarrassed in front of everyone.

When we got to the restaurant, of course none of my family was there which meant Mitch still hadn’t heard from any of them. Lynn and I left our stuff in one of the booths and went to clean up. I ran a brush through my long, golden-brown hair. Then I added more mascara to my already dark lashes. I flicked a couple hairs off my red cheerleader sweater, grateful that Ms. Olson told us to wear our dark blue slacks instead of the short tartan skirts. At least, I wasn’t freezing.

With her curly red hair, big green eyes, and model’s figure, Lynn looked as if she belonged in a fashion magazine, not as if she was the Senior Class President of Stewart Falls Academy. We studied together all the time and usually tied for top student in our classes. Once we were up to our usual standards, we headed back out to the booth.

Zelda, the owner of Parthenon Pizza, had brought over mugs of hot chocolate while we hogged her bathroom. She was a fifty-something woman with dyed blonde hair, wearing a big white apron over her clothes. The name printed in giant red letters across her huge boobs read Zelda. All smiles, she handed us menus. Pizza or pasta, ladies? How was your trip?

Wonderful. Lynn chatted with her while we debated and settled on a super-combo, deep dish pie. So are you going to be one of the sponsors for the food drive this year?

You bet. We have to help each other through hard times. Zelda wrote down our order and sauntered in the direction of the kitchen. Bring me some posters this week.

While we waited, Lynn and I talked about the food drive. Classes would compete for prizes and so would the different grades. Of course, the winner would be the local food bank and people who needed the holiday baskets. We’d managed to put together and deliver two hundred baskets last year, but this season, we wanted to double that.

Abbie, our cheer captain, had put Lynn and me in charge of publicity. Somehow, we had to get Stewart Falls jacked up about the Academy’s holiday activities. It wouldn’t do any good to look for contributions from Pine Ridge where I lived. The public schools had their own drive and their cheer squad had been papering the community with banners and posters since they started right after Halloween.

When we finished eating, I tried Mitch again. Nobody was home yet. I think you better call your dad, Lynn, I said.

He’ll be mad about this, Darce. Last spring when it happened, he yelled at your dad. You didn’t get to help at the clinic for two weeks, not until Dr. O’Malley told your parents that you’d fail your core classes if you didn’t finish the junior project.

I’ll do my senior project anyway. I lifted my chin. What can they do? Ground me? They’d have to pick us up first.

Good point.

A faint smile crept across her face, as she pulled out her own cell. The smile faded when he answered. She listened, agreed to something, and then clicked off her phone. "He’s out on a call. I don’t go to Equine Nation on Sundays so we could have gone with my dad and helped if your dad bothered to pick us up on time. We’d have learned a lot too since it’s a cow with a breech birth."

CHAPTER 2

Stewart Falls, Washington,

Sunday, November 24th, 6:30 pm:

Lynn got up and stomped off to the bathroom. She was pissed and I didn’t blame her. While she was gone, Zelda came back with our leftovers neatly boxed up. She studied me for a long minute, brown eyes concerned. Then she asked, What’s going on, Darcy?

My dad forgot to pick us up, I admitted reluctantly. I don’t know what to do.

And Lynn?

She’s mad because we missed out on an emergency call with her dad. A cow having trouble calving.

Zelda nodded then patted my shoulder. Don’t worry, honey. Animals always find ways to hurt themselves, especially on Sundays. You two can go save the day next time. Now, we need to find you a ride home to Pine Ridge. I can take you at ten when I close up.

I hope we don’t have to wait that long, I said, but the local buses don’t run on Sundays.

No and in this economy I don’t deliver pizzas on Sunday nights either. There isn’t enough business for me to keep the driver busy so I cut his hours, Zelda said. More hot chocolate?

Yes, please.

Zelda headed off to the kitchen, just as Lynn returned.

I’m sorry, I said. Don’t be mad at me. I can’t handle that. You’re my best friend.

It’s not your fault, Darcy. She slid in beside me and hugged me. We’re forever. You know that. I just hate missing out. And a cow? It would have been awesome. All I do with Dr. Larry is horses.

I drew a deep breath, grateful we were still friends. I didn’t know what I’d do without Lynn and her dad in my life. Things would be impossible. I always feel sorry for the animals.

Dad says he does too, but he has to remember that it’s his job to help first. He can feel bad for them later.

Zelda put down two cups of hot cocoa with extra whipped cream in front of us. Drink up. I just got an order from Pine Ridge Community Church. I know Reverend Holbrook will give you girls a ride home.

Yes, he will. Thanks so much for arranging it. Lynn gushed all over her until Zelda bustled off to catch a ringing phone.

Well, that’s going to suck, I whispered. He’ll try to reform my dad again and that always makes life awful around my house.

Yeah, but maybe the reverend won’t say anything to anyone until next week’s services, Lynn said. By then, somebody else could have done something stupid for him to preach about. The local loggers love to bust heads around the holidays.

I hope you’re right. I stirred the whipped cream into the chocolate. I’m so sorry my dad bailed on us.

It’s okay, Darcy, Lynn said again. Next time we go anywhere we’ll either take my car, or get my dad to do all the driving. I just didn’t want to leave the Jeep in the school parking lot over the weekend. We won’t depend on the Gallatins for anything. Deal?

Deal!

The bell on the door rang and I looked over my shoulder in time to see Scott Holbrook. He’d been friends with Lynn and me since third grade. Things had changed from back when we used to catch frogs in the swamp behind the church. Now, Scott was tall, blond, handsome, and a real hunk--or so he claimed. A couple weeks ago, he asked me to go to the movies with him. I wasn’t ready for that, so I told him that I had more important things to do.

But wow he looked terrific in ripped blue jeans and a dark blue Stewart Falls Academy sweatshirt that matched his cobalt eyes. The butterflies in my tummy started to dance and I was grateful that Ms. Olson wouldn’t let us dress down for the trip home. Cheerleaders always had to look their best to represent the school.

Hey, Doc Darcy. He walked over to our booth. Hi, Lynn. What’s going on?

I caught him grinning at us. That ridiculous, goofy smile that always made a person think she was the center of his world. He was good-looking. Most of the girls at the Academy said he was the greatest, but he didn’t tease them in Science about catching frogs.

He sat down across from us. So you’re missing out on tonight’s activities. Ariel, the newest, hottest cheerleader from Pine Ridge High School decided the church youth group should help with the food drive. And we ought to have a competition between the high schools.

I nearly choked on my hot chocolate and Lynn sputtered into hers. Come on, Scott, I said. You know she’s just jerking her step-sister, Rita’s, chain.

Yeah, but my dad’s going off about what a terrific girl she is and why don’t I date someone like her. I’m so glad you’re home to save me, Doc Darcy.

Yeah, like that’s going to happen, I said. If you want her, you can have her.

No. He shuddered, shook his head, and flashed that grin at me again. No. Not that. Anything but that.

I had to laugh. Okay, you can tell your dad that I won’t share you. And he’ll totally freak. He has bigger plans for you than one of the Gallatin girls who are known sluts.

Stop it, Doc. You’re different from your cousins and you know it. So does he. This may come as a surprise to both of you, but he’s a human being, Doc, not a saint.

Scott got up and went to take four huge cardboard cartons from Zelda. Then he followed her to the cash register. When we got there, he was paying for our dinner too. Lynn protested, but he ignored her. He took the pizzas out to the Ford 150, then came back and grabbed our bags. Before we knew it, she was in the back seat of the super-cab and I was in the front next to him.

I didn’t complain. I knew what it was all about. If he wanted his dad to think we were together, it had to look that way. We dropped Lynn at her place first and she wriggled her little finger at me, our secret signal that I was supposed to call her later. I would, even if she only wanted to ask about Scott.

Next, we swung by the church and I waited in his pickup while he ran in with the pizzas. He was back in minutes, a smug smile on his face. I so majorly owe you, Doc. I’ll buy you mochas all week.

You don’t have to do that, I said.

Okay, then I’ll help you with all your animals as soon as we get to your house.

I shook my head. He wasn’t fooling me. He really didn’t want to return to the youth group at the church. Come on. Are they that bad?

No, but all that goody-goody stuff just grates on my nerves, Scott said. It wouldn’t be so bad if they came all year, but it’s only around the holidays. Don’t they think people are cold, or hungry, or homeless the other ten months of the year?

Good point. I leaned back in the seat. I think I’ll ask Abbie if we can’t do a food drive in the spring before graduation. Then we’ll know the food bank’s okay for the summer.

That earned me another of his smiles. I nearly said I wasn’t doing it for him, but for people who were dealing with hard times. Only I knew he already understood, and that was why he was happy. It took longer by road to reach my house. Usually, Scott and I just cut through the woods between our places.

He pulled up in front of the single-story ranch. Dad called it a pay-day house because my great-grandparents added onto it whenever they had the money. Scott walked around and grabbed my suitcase and duffel. We headed up the gravel walkway to the front door. My dogs got off the porch and came to greet us, Winner bouncing and barking as if he was on springs. He dashed toward me then raced back to grab the flexible flying disc Scott had bought him last week.

Toy in his mouth, the young heeler-border collie bolted toward me, a black and white dancing whirlwind. Behind him, the older rough-coated gold and white collie strolled stately, his wagging tail the only evidence that he was just as happy. I leaned down to pet Winner and flung the orange plastic disc. He tore away in hot pursuit. I rumpled Terhune’s white collie ruff. He whined and leaned against me, tail still in motion. I knew he’d missed me as much as I did him.

I unlocked the door and we went inside. Hi, I called from the entry. I’m here.

No answer. No Mitch. Where was he? He couldn’t be in his camp out in the woods. Not in late November. I turned and took my stuff from Scott. Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.

Okay. He headed on into the living-room. I’ll check the woodstove.

Thanks. Followed by the excited dogs, I went into the kitchen on the way to my bedroom. I checked Mitch’s on the way. Empty. Where was that boy?

I put the suitcase and duffel on my bed. I’d unpack later. I changed into jeans, a T-shirt and sweatshirt. And okay, so even though I knew better, I stopped long enough to brush my hair again, dab on some blush and more lip gloss. I could see the excitement in my face and hazel eyes. I hoped Scott didn’t. Finally,