Tuesday Tales: From the Word STUBBORN

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Autumn arrived officially on September 22, 2025. It seems like only yesterday that it was summer that we were welcoming. I swear the days are shorter, and that has nothing to do with the amount of sunlight. I don’t seem to get as much done each day as I would like.

This week, the authors at Tuesday Tales are gearing our posts around the word STUBBORN. I’m continuing with my Christmas Romance Comedy, Naughty Rudolph. We’re back with Rudy. Enjoy.

I was about to knock on Mara’s door again, when the tumblers fell into place. She’d locked it, putting an end to any possibility of further conversation. Who could blame her? There must’ve been a better way to apologize for subjecting her to Hazel’s rant, a better way to explain that bitch’s brand on me, a better way to reassure her that everything would be okay, but I’d blown it. I made my living with words, and yet here I was practically speechless.

Hadn’t I known that this was not the time nor the place to end my relationship with Hazel? And yet, when she’d threatened Callie, I’d gone all bull in a china shop, my stubborn need to protect my daughter wiping every sensible thought from my mind. And it hadn’t stopped there.

We don’t want the same thing. Another way of saying, it isn’t you, it’s me. I’d probably sounded like the inconsiderate jerk who’d put his financial aspirations before Mara’s happiness. The truth was that after knowing her less than six hours, I was certain that we wanted the same things. All I had to do was figure out how to sweep her off her feet, turn her hatred for cold into love for it, and make this the best damn Christmas she’d ever have, the one that would leave her wanting more. Not an easy task, especially when I only had two weeks to do it—and Hazel had thrown a damn wrecking ball at her.

As I passed the top of the stairs, I could hear voices murmuring, some raised louder than others. I wasn’t ready to face anyone in the elf costume, especially not with Hazel’s brand on me. I stopped to check on Callie. She was still sleeping and probably would right through the night. I turned the corner and entered my room.

Going into the washroom, I stripped off the accursed leotards and the tunic. Using soap and hot water, I scrubbed what was left of Hazel’s lipstick off my mouth. Damn the woman! I’d known the showdown was coming; I just hadn’t expected it with a houseful of guests.

I donned my comfortable jeans, a green plaid shirt, and slipped my feet into loafers. Well aware that the MBA would have questions for me, I left the room and headed downstairs. Would it be too much to hope that Hazel had left?

Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.