Must Love Cats

by Brown, Tara

  I can’t win!

  I giggle and reach for Romeo, petting him. He sniffs my hands and glares suggesting I’m a traitor.

  “Before everyone comes, can I give you your real Christmas gift or do we have to do them together?”

  “Is it something my dad won’t want to see?” I wrinkle my nose.

  He pauses. “No, I’ll wait. You’re right.” He waves me off but now I’m intrigued.

  “You can give it to me.”

  “I’ll wait.” He winks and walks to the foyer, placing Romeo on the floor. “They’re here.”

  He gets the door, greeting my entire family with the biggest hugs anyone has ever received. My mom lingers, enjoying hers a little too much. I hand the kitten to her so she can protect her and so I can protect Sam.

  “Hey, kid,” Dad says, hugging me tightly. “Merry Christmas.”

  I savor the feel of the embrace. I’ve missed this.

  Liz joins and weasels her way in, getting into the snuggle.

  More hands touch me and the warmth grows. I realize we are all gripping each other in a crazy family hug.

  When we break, Liz wipes her eyes.

  James gives me a hug, he’s carrying Lillian. “Happy Christmas, Lil.” I cling to him and her. She’s so big and I’m practically a stranger. Something I will hopefully rectify now that we’re free to be with everyone again.

  “Happy Christmas, James. And you too, Lillian.” I kiss her chubby cheek.

  “Aunty!” The bigger kids attack. I kneel and pull them in. It’s everything.

  I’m struggling not to cry when Shawnee arrives with Anthony and her parents. We stay in the foyer too long. Hugging too hard. Needing the contact we have all missed.

  2021 has been a much better year, especially knowing this end was coming.

  Mom leans into me, stroking the kitten the kids have already tried desperately to hold. “I love that you’re finally living the true version of your life, Lil,” she says the right thing, as if it’s a Christmas miracle, and kisses my cheek.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  We walk into the kitchen that is now a massive great room with the dining area and living room all open.

  I stand off to the side and watch them. My family.

  They’re gushing over hardwood floors and stunning woodwork and the kitten. No one has noticed the gifts under the tree.

  This year the gifts look different.

  They’re us.

  Sam is leading a tour for Shawnee’s parents.

  Anthony and my dad are engaged in a conversation.

  Mom and the kids are giving the cats all the attention they could want.

  James slowly makes his way over, holding a glass of eggnog for us both. He hands me mine and we watch everyone else.

  “How does it feel to have your home and your house be the same place for once, Lil?” he asks softly.

  I blink the tears I was holding back. “I didn’t know what I was missing. But now that I do, I can’t believe I lived that way.” I wipe my cheeks. “It’s like I was underwater this whole time and now I’ve surfaced, and I’m breathing for the first time.”

  “I’m really happy for you,” he says, leaning in.

  “Thank you.”

  We’re silent in observation for a minute before he speaks quietly, “Totally off topic, but did I tell you I ran into Brent last week? He’s going to Italy and getting married.”

  “No way.” I gasp, excited. “He and Sarah are finally doing it?”

  “Yeah. He’s really happy.” James smiles.

  “It’s amazing what the right person can do to your life.”

  “And the wrong person.” He smirks. “Rod and Elaine are selling their house.” He presses his lips together, fighting a grin.

  “Ahhh,” I mutter. “Arthur told Sam that Elaine’s been trying to hang out. She said she’s single. So that makes sense.”

  “I hope Rod learns from this and stays single for a long time. He needs to figure himself out.” James pats me on the arm and walks into the living room to join the conversation Shawnee is having with Liz about the trip to Istanbul she and Anthony are taking in a week. Shawnee lifts her hand, her dazzling engagement ring catches the lights. And I can’t believe we both found love inside such a sad time.

  Sam returns from the tour and sees me watching them. Our eyes meet and my stomach flutters. He’s gazing at me with those sparkly eyes. I realize in that moment he always has.

  “Hey, guys, I have something I’d like to say”—he speaks loudly, getting everyone’s attention—“to Lil.” He holds a hand out for me.

  I walk to him, wondering what he’s up to. He’s always up to something.

  He glances at my dad who pulls a small turquoise box from his pocket and hands it to Sam.

  My insides tighten.

  Sam takes a knee and lifts the box. “It’s taken us the better part of two decades to get to this moment. And now that we’re here, it’s much more than I could have imagined it would be. I want the rest of our lives spent living like this. Grateful for each other. For family. For love.” His eyes dart to Romeo who gives him his closed-eye cat smile. “This is something I’ve wanted to ask you for a really long time. Marry me, Lil.”

  He opens the box to a beautiful diamond ring.

  My whole body tingles. “Yes,” I say to him for the second time.

  He stands and places the ring on my finger. It’s a perfect fit and not a single person in the room seems surprised. Liz was obviously involved in this.

  He presses his lips against mine, muttering, “Merry Christmas. I love you.”

  We kiss and I make a concerted effort to give as much as I take.

  Because that is what life with Sam is like.

  The end

  Happy Holidays from me and my cats!

  ALSO BY

  ROMANCE

  by Tara Brown

  The Serendipity Series

  Fling Club

  He Loves You Not

  The Royals Series

  A Royal Pain

  A Royal Affair

  A Royal Wedding

  The Puck Buddies Series

  Puck Buddies

  Roommates

  Bed Buddies

  Girl Next Door

  Baby Daddies

  Standalone novels

  Must Love Cats

  My Side

  The Long Way Home

  For Love or Money

  THRILLER/SUSPENSE

  by Tara Brown

  Blood and Bone

  Blood and Bone

  Sin and Swoon

  Soul and Blade

  The Single Lady Spy Series

  The End of Me

  The End of Games

  The End of Tomorrow

  The End of Lies

  The Lonely Duet

  The Lonely

  LOST BOY

  Standalone novels

  Ophelia

  Castaways

  Lucid

  Tara’s Pen Names

  MYSTERY

  by Meg Browne

  Crimson Cove Mysteries

  Pretty Girls Die First

  The Little Crimson Lies

  Third Time’s a Charm

  Four Crimson Corners

  When The Lights Fade

  EROTICA

  by Sophie Starr

  Sinderella

  Beauty’s Beast

  The Club

  SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS

  by AE Watson

  The Born Series

  Born

  Born to Fight

  Reborn

  The Girl Who Lived

  The Seventh Day Series

  The Seventh Day

  The Last Hour

  The Earth’s End

  The Last City of Men Series

  Imaginations

  Duplicities

  Reparations

  Standalone YA Science Fiction

  The Reverse of Everything

  FANTASY BOOKS

/>   by AE Watson

  The Roses Series

  Cursed

  Bane

  Hyde

  Witch

  Death

  Blackwater

  Midnight Coven

  Redeemers and Betrayers

  The Pengrove Witches

  The Last Star

  The Raven’s Hollow

  The Stones of Amaria

  Sword of Mist

  Sword of Stone

  The Light Series

  The Light of the World

  The Four Horsemen

  The End of Days

  The Blood Trail Chronicles

  Vengeance

  Vanquished

  Valiant

  Standalone YA Fantasy

  First Kiss

  Sunder

  In the Fading Light

  Tara Brown is the international bestselling author of over sixty books. She is represented by Natalie Lakosil from the Bradford Literary Agency and is published traditionally with Montlake Romance and Skyscape Publishing.

  https://www.tarabrownauthor.com

  http://TaraBrown22.blogspot.com