by Noelle Adams
She was the first back downstairs, so she pulled the bread pudding from the oven and lit the candles in the center of the table. Next down the stairs were Connor and Max, in matching buttoned down white shirts and knit vests with contrasting Argyll patterns on the chest. Grandma and Mom had obviously compromised with the boys, as they both still wore jeans, and Laney’s heart squeezed. In front of her stood two little men.
“You look beautiful, Aunt Laney,” Max said, and the squeezing turned into a full on bittersweet ache.
“And you both look dashing. Wasn’t it a good idea to dress up after all?”
“I guess so,” Connor said. “As long as we don’t have to do it every day.”
She laughed. “I agree.”
Evie and Claire soon joined them and they settled in around the oversized kitchen table. Claire lifted her wine glass, and the others followed suit. Connor and Max had goblets as well, filled with ginger ale, and they grinned proudly as their grandmother began her toast. “Our lives have changed a lot over the last two years, and that has been challenging, but tonight I am just…happy. I’m so happy to have both of my daughters home for the holidays. I’m blessed with good health and the ability to keep up my amazing grandsons. Connor and Max, you keep me young!”
“Really? I think they’re aging me at a stupendous rate,” Evie muttered, but the happy tear in her eye betrayed her words, and the boys squeezed her from either side.
“It has been a year of stepping back into the world,” Claire continued, her words slowing as she considered what to say next. “And I hope that I’m setting a good example for all of you. Evie and Laney, you have both always been fearless, have followed your dreams, and I want that to always be true. You have far exceeded anything your dad and I ever did. He would be so proud of both of you.”
Laney looked across the table at her sister. Evie was the textbook definition of fearless, barely stumbling after her separation. Laney didn’t feel nearly that brave, just lucky in her career and not much else. She swallowed hard, trying to get rid of the lump in her throat, not sure what to say. Her gazed slipped over to her mother, who beamed at her with overwhelming love and understanding. A tentative smile crawled up her cheeks. “Thanks, Mom. That was really sweet. I hope…”
“I know, sweetie. We’re all our own worst enemies. Trust yourself.”
After second helpings of bread pudding, Laney and the boys settled on the couch to watch A Christmas Story before bed while Evie and Claire tidied up the kitchen. Connor suggested they also track Santa on the NORAD website, so the movie was interrupted every few minutes by Max poking Laney’s side, urging her to refresh the screen.
When Santa moved across the Atlantic Ocean, Connor and Max scrambled up the stairs and brushed their teeth without being asked. Evie joined them as they tucked into their beds, and Laney left her sister in charge of bedtime stories.
The bottle of champagne had been chilling in the fridge since she arrived. She set it on a tray. It wasn’t likely that her mom would have flutes, but Laney pulled a chair over to the cabinets to take a quick look just in case. Her parents had renovated the kitchen when Laney was in college, and her mother had insisted on extra tall upper cabinets. The extra storage shelves at the top housed large serving platters and soup tureens. If fancy wine glasses existed anywhere in the farmhouse, that’s where she would find them.
She found the smooth black pressed cardboard box hiding behind a set of googly-eyes hardboiled egg cups. She’d forgotten about the pair of crystal flutes. They were a wedding gift to her parents from a family friend, and she’d often seen them pull the box out on their anniversary when she was younger. She didn’t want to add any unnecessary melancholy to the holidays, but her gut told her that they would only bring happiness to the evening.
“Goodness, Laney, be careful up there.”
“You shouldn’t have built such high cupboards, it’s your own fault.” Laney turned and grinned at her mother. To reach the top shelf, she’d climbed up on to the counter, and that never went over well with parents. “I found your wedding champagne flutes, can we use them tonight?”
“Of course, pass them down to me. There’s only two … let me see if I can find a third wine glass that would work.” Claire set the box on the table and moved across the room to the china display. “Here!”
Laney slid to the floor and took the spare glass flute from her mother. Much lighter than the others, it was embossed with the name of a local winery.
“Your dad and I went to a class about sparkling wine at Water’s Edge. You know how your dad was about wine, it was never his thing, but he surprised me with the tickets.” Claire’s voice was soft with memory. “That was just six months before he died. He wasn’t much of a romantic, you know, but then he would do something like that and blow my socks off.”
Laney inspected the wine glass with new appreciation. “Way to go, Dad! And it’s kind of cool that they gave you a souvenir to take home.”
Claire’s eyes, bright with happy tears, crinkled into silent laughter. “Oh no,” she gasped. “Your dad stole that for me. We got a bit tipsy, you see, and I told him that it was one of the best nights of my life. We had…I hope this isn’t too much information, but it really felt like we had been flirting all night. And the wine was really quite good. It was a heady combination. At the end of the night your dad pushed me against the bar and kissed me, and apparently, he took that opportunity to slide his glass into my purse.”
Laney stared at her mother, mouth agape. She didn’t know what shocked her more, her parents making out or engaging in petty theft.
“Don’t look so horrified, Delaney.” Claire slipped back into her usual prim personality.
“I’m not, I promise. I think I’m impressed, actually. Up against the bar, eh? That’s hot.” This time laughter washed over and through them both, and that’s how Evie found them, hugging in the kitchen, tears of joy streaming down their faces.
Claire kept the souvenir glass for herself and the girls each took a crystal flute. Laney popped the cork and as the golden effervescence overflowed, they giggled and cheered. They settled in front of the Christmas tree and the twinkling coloured lights bounced off their drinks, a dazzling backdrop for a special announcement. Not that Laney wanted to do make a big deal about it, but she’d made a decision that she hoped Evie would understand and appreciate.
“Evie, do you know how impressed I am with how you’ve handled the divorce? Starting your own business, putting up with Mom—” Claire poked Laney in the ribs for that one “—and having energy to run around with the boys every day?”
Evie raised her eyebrows, looking unsure as to where the conversation was going, but she couldn’t keep a smile off her face. “Keep going. Champagne and compliments, a girl could get used to this.”
“I know that you don’t need anything.”
Evie winked. “Mmmm, I wouldn’t say that. I wouldn’t say no to a pool boy.”
“Okay.” Laney laughed. “I’ll put in an order for one. But seriously, even though I know you don’t need it, I want to do something for the boys. Set up an education account.”
Evie sat up. She didn’t say anything, but Laney could tell she was considering how to say no.
“Don’t say no. Please. I’m not offering this because I feel guilty for not being here, or because I think that you need any help. It’s just that I have the means, and they’re so smart, it would be nice if when they get to university, money isn’t a factor.”
Laney had incurred significant student loans, because their parents hadn’t been able to help much past her first degree. She was paying that debt off at an accelerated rate now that she was fully trained, and it would soon be gone, giving her financial freedom.
Claire touched her back. “Something like that would have made a big difference for you, wouldn’t it have?”
Laney shook her head. “Mom, that’s never been a thought for me, I promise. I’m lucky that I’m going to be debt free soon, but t
here are many graduate school tracks that don’t lead to my level of income, and if Connor or Max ever want to study art or animal migration or whatever, I hope they graduate in the clear.”
Evie still hadn’t said anything, but she nodded silently, swiping away tears. Laney crawled over to her sister and cuddled into her side. “We’re family. What’s mine is yours.”
Evie pressed her cheek into the top of Laney’s head and swallowed hard. “Thank you. You mean it?”
She nodded.
“Excellent. You can take the boys home with you.” And once again, the Calhoun women laughed.
Ten
The thunder of children’s footsteps on the stairs woke Laney up, and she hurried to the landing just as Connor and Max discovered their full stockings hanging from the banister into the hallway on the first floor. They glanced up at her, bright faces thrilled that the promise of a magical visit had actually happened. Behind her, Evie bounced, barely able to contain her own excitement. Claire mumbled something about coffee and scones as she slipped past them, but Laney and her sister were happy to watch the boys hoot and holler about the action figures, magazines, chocolate, personalized mixed CDs, and even socks and oranges that Santa had left them.
“Can we open our presents too, Mom?” Max peered up between the balusters. Evie shook her head and his face sank into a pout.
“Max, remember what we talked about last night. Mommy needs coffee and a bite to eat, and she needs to get the video camera ready. Then you can open your presents. It won’t be long, I promise. Go see how Grandma is doing with first breakfast.”
Connor’s stomach growled at the mention of food, so Max followed his brother down the hall. First and second breakfasts were a long standing Calhoun Christmas tradition. Second breakfast was really an early lunch, not usually hitting the table until eleven in the morning or later, but it was always breakfast food. Orange juice, some fancy egg dish, sausage, toast, fried tomatoes. First breakfast was something quick to keep everyone sustained through present opening and playing.
Claire tasked Connor with carrying the tray, loaded with scones, clotted cream, preserves, and glasses of milk for the boys. Max followed with plates and cutlery, and Claire brought up the rear with three steaming mugs of coffee. Evie gave the official nod to Max, and as the women dug into the food as wrapping paper and ribbons started flying through the air.
Max insisted on sorting the presents by matching wrapping paper, so first they opened the gifts Evie had wrapped, then Claire’s, and finally the boxes that Laney had brought from Chicago. Her gifts for the boys had been suggested by Evie: a tablet for Connor and a Nintendo DS for Max. It had been harder to find the right presents for her mother and sister, but she’d finally found items that were special enough. An oversized black cashmere wrap for her mother, with a hardcover bestseller that hid the author’s signature inside the front cover nestled on top. She’d stood in line for an hour at the DePaul Center Barnes & Noble to get that personalized note, For Claire, who never gives up, and it was worth it to see her mother get all verklempt with happy tears. For Evie, she’d gone hog-wild in Sephora, filling a gift basket with treats from Smashbox, Bobbi Brown, Philosophy and Urban Decay.
She had been spoiled herself that morning, with her family giving her new workout clothes, gift certificates for her favourite Chicago takeout restaurants, a desk calendar featuring pictures of the boys, a pile of fantasy novels by her favourite authors, a sparkly stethoscope decoration handmade by Max and a stocking full of dark chocolate and Lush bath bombs. And wrapped in and around all of the gift giving was a happy warmth, a joy and grounded appreciation that they were able to spend the holidays together.
Two hours later, Max had convinced Connor to set aside his tablet to stage an attack on the castle (which Max would easily fend off, as he kept the superior fire power tools for his own force), and Claire was prepping for second breakfast. Laney had gotten dressed in her green jersey dress and thigh-high grey knit socks, her new favourite winter leg covering. All the warmth of tights without the annoying rolling waistband. She finished the outfit with the green and white elf hat, and did little jig at her reflection in the mirror.
“You’re happy.” Evie strolled into Laney’s room.
“It’s Christmas.”
“Mm-hmm. Are you expecting a visitor today?”
“What, Kyle?” Laney shook her head. “He’s got family stuff today. I am going to see him tomorrow, though. Keep that under your hat, okay?”
Evie smirked.
“What?”
“I’m not sure it’s going to be a secret for long. Kyle’s downstairs in the kitchen having coffee with Mom.”
“EVIE!” She spun around in a circle, looking for something that she couldn’t remember all of a sudden, then gave up and glared at her sister. “I’m going downstairs. You. Be. Good.”
“Always, always,” Evie said, chuckling under her breath.
Laney managed to slow her pace, if not her heart rate, as she went downstairs and she strolled into the kitchen with relative calm. “Hey, you.” She looked back and forth between Kyle and her mom. “You are…here. Having coffee. That’s nice.”
Kyle smiled. “Yep. Just being neighbourly.”
Claire stood up to make room for Laney at the table, but Kyle waved her down.
“Actually, Claire, I was hoping that Laney might go for a quick walk with me.”
All three Calhoun women nodded, each in a different way, and Laney kicked her sister in the shin for no good reason other than they were sisters and she was off-kilter. Evie giggled and instead of kicking her back, gave her a gentle shove toward the door. She slid into her boots, pulled on her parka and followed Kyle outside.
“I like your hat.” Kyle flicked the furry white brim. “Festive.”
Laney stared at him. “What are you doing here? I mean, thank you. But what are you doing here? This really isn’t a good idea.”
Kyle shrugged. “I didn’t think it would be that big a deal. I’m just heading home to change. I spent the night at my parents’ place, but there are twelve people competing for the shower, so this is easier. And it was a good excuse to bring you a present.” He leaned in close to whisper in her ear. “Because I really, really liked your present, and you deserve something in return.”
She had started the slow burn of arousal the second Evie told her Kyle was downstairs, but that brush of hot breath against her ear sent her up in flames. She sucked in a breath, mindful that they were still in view of the kitchen windows. He pulled her toward his truck, and she had to skip to keep up. Excited in more ways than one, she pressed her hip into his as they stopped next to the driver’s side door.
“Down, girl,” Kyle murmured.
“You don’t understand what you do to me.” She groaned into his shoulder. “It has literally been years since I’ve been this turned on, and I only have a couple of days to take advantage of it. This is a bonus that I wasn’t counting on.”
Kyle turned his back against the truck and tugged Laney hard between his legs. He stared at her for a beat, and then opened and closed his mouth. His beautiful mouth, that could go from an open, happy grin to hungry, restless kissing in the blink of an eye. But he wasn’t leaning in to kiss her, and he wasn’t grinning. He raked his eyes over her face, a tiny twitch in his jaw the only betrayal of an otherwise neutral facade. She had no idea what he was feeling, or thinking, and she hoped that this wasn’t about to get heavy. Hot and heavy, on the other hand, would be just fine.
“I was going to give you your present and a quick kiss and be on my way,” Kyle said, drawing out each word with deliberate calm. “But when you say things like that, when you remind me that the next time that we’re together might be the last time, then I can’t help but want to drag you off to a dark corner. You make me lose my mind, Laney.”
She let a happy smile creep across her face. She didn’t need to play the seductress, or any other game. They wanted each other with honest abandon, and neither o
f them would fight it.
“Want to go make out in the barn?”
Kyle lowered his face to hers, rubbing their noses together. “Absofuckinglutely. But first—” he opened the truck door and grabbed a slightly crumbled, probably re-used, glittery red gift bag. “This is for you.”
She reached inside and pulled out a familiar well-worn t-shirt. “Your swim team shirt?”
“You used to like sleeping in it.”
She nodded, remembering. “It looks exactly the same.”
Kyle returned the shirt to the gift bag and stashed it in the truck, then captured her hand in his, pulling Laney toward the barn. “I haven’t worn it since we broke up. I actually tucked it away in a box, which has lived at my parents’ place for a while now. I was thinking about you last night, and decided it might be a fitting Christmas present.”
Appreciation fluttered through Laney’s lower belly, softening the tug of arousal into something infinitely more dangerous. She needed to be careful that they didn’t conflate whatever they were doing now with what they used to have. She knew that Kyle didn’t mean for that shirt to be a Trojan horse, and she understood why he would think it was the most appropriate gift—it was free, and sexy in a not-trying-too-hard kind of way. And he didn’t need to get her anything at all, but now that he had, it felt right. Dangerous, but right.
“You’re thinking hard about something.” Kyle pulled her close.
She shook her head. “Nothing important, don’t worry. Thank you, for the shirt, and the visit. And the last few days. You are…you are just so easy to like. How did I forget that about you?”
“It’s been a long time.” Kyle shrugged. “Don’t overthink it. This is just us having fun, right?”
