I couldn’t help myself; I snuck out and… yeah. So it turns out I had a crush on the man. I felt like hanging my head and kicking myself, but at least it was a harmless one? Nothing could evercome from it and I needed to keep my crush under the wraps, but at the same time, I was kind of… excited?
I hadn’t had a crush in ages. Not since college, and I felt that jittery, hopeful feeling as I watched Law walk away.
Blue yarn. Right. I was pretty sure I had some left. I’d need to get more, but I was pretty sure I could get started right after I finished cleaning my place.
The next day, on Christmas Eve, we had the big extended family party thing in the Inn’s dining room. We would have a Secret Santa—I’d gotten Felix in the draw and had pondered over his present for a couple of days, until it hit me, and now I thought maybe I’d gotten it really right. Besides, I could use the situation to my advantage and flirt with Felix some more. Not because I was serious about it, but because it was fun, and I certainly couldn’t flirt with Law.
All the adults had agreed that if someone wanted to get the kids something, they could, so I’d made each of them a little crocheted plushie. The little amigurumi things were far from perfect, but I didn’t mind, and I knew the kids wouldn’t, either.
There’d be a dinner, of course, and Dana, Grams, and Regan had basically told everyone to buzz off when we’d dared to ask if we could make something. The terrifying kitchen trio was on it, apparently.
I’d gotten myself a nice button up shirt in this burnt orange that made my eyes pop like whoa. I paired it with my black skinny jeans and did my hair just so. Part of me really wanted topull out the eyeliner I had hidden in my toiletry kit, but in the end, I just painted my nails black and called it a day.
I knew I wouldn’t be judged for eyeliner or hell, even makeup, but I also knew I wouldn’t be able to relax if I had it on. Tonight wasn’t for experiments; it was for feeling safe and loved.
That said, I put my driver’s license into my pocket so I could show it to my grandparents. Uncle Teague and Charlie knew I’d been planning it, as did Aunt Regan, but I had decided to tell Grams and Gramps at the party as sort of a present for them. I don’t know. Maybe it was silly? It felt meaningful though.
I bundled up and left my cabin, just to be intercepted by the kids. Harper was clearly herding the others, and Cricket was there to help her.
“Merry Christmas, Oak!” Tristan yelled and tried to bowl me over.
I hugged him. “Merry Christmas, buddy.”
“Mom and Dad are helping Santa,” Harper explained the lack of parents.
“Oh, well that’s important stuff for sure. Are you going to the Inn?”
“Yup, Cricket is watching us,” Marlie replied confidently and beamed at the dog in a way I’d never seen her beam at a human.
“Excellent, I’m on my way there as well.”
We continued our walk, with Harper scolding her brother on occasion when he got too distracted and tried to jump into piles of snow or start making snowballs. Apparently he was not to do those things to keep his clothes dry and clean.
I had my backpack on, my presents for the kiddos and Felix inside, so I couldn’t even offer him a piggyback ride to calm him down. The boy was practically vibrating with Christmas energy, and frankly? I remembered being like that as a little kid, too.
We got to the highest part of the road before the decline into the parking lot, and I saw Charlie and Uncle Teague coming toward us, likely to gather the kids.
“Uncle Charlie!” Tristan screamed, running to them.
“Uncle Teague!” I yelled just as loud, making the girls giggle like mad and Uncle Teague crack up.
We soon caught up with them, and walked together to the Inn. Cricket turned back, likely to go escort Law and Caitlyn once they were ready.
As soon as we were inside, Charlie made sure the kids shed their winter clothing in one spot instead of all over the place. I had a feeling there was a reason for that rule and its name probably started with T.
I went to the office to say hi to Salem and Steve, who was babysitting the kitten. As long as he had someone to hang out with, Salem seemed good with staying in his crate. I think that was a whole thing with confinement; the right company made all the difference.
I sat on the floor next to the crate, petting Salem through the bars for a while. I heard the front door open and close, and people arriving. Nobody could see me in my spot, so I enjoyed the peace for a while.
The shrieks from the kids were loud and made me smile sadly. I missed my siblings. Of course the Christmases in my childhood home had changed over time when we all grew up, but my youngest sibling, Rudy, was still only ten. Not that it had prevented him from being a total kiss ass good boy when he’d gotten hold of my phone and seen texts between me and a guy I’d been dating at college.
I missed him too. That was the kicker. My sigh made Steve lift his giant head and give me this look I’d realized was his “do I need to support animal you?” expression. I smiled at him, and he put his head back on his paws.
Eventually I knew I couldn’t hide any longer, in fact, I’d heard my name mentioned already, I was pretty sure. It had been my grandma, and I didn’t want to disappoint her.
I grabbed my backpack and told the fur kids bye, then stepped into the lobby. I could do this. These people were my family, after all.
The dining room double doors were open, and just as I was stepping through, Law was coming out.
