* * *
After dinner,Delilah and Richard spoiled us with gifts. Their faces lit up brighter than the twinkly lights on the tree as they watched Grace unwrap the sterling Tiffany bracelet they gave her along with a cupcake Christmas ornament and a basket of shimmery, scented lotions.
They got me a beautiful cashmere scarf and Grace and I fluffy robes that matched. Sam received a set of gourmet teas and coffees along with two holiday-themed mugs. Cash opened a new luggage set with an invitation for all of us to spend spring break with them. Even Bradley Cooper got a new stuffed toy that he happily gnawed on beneath the Christmas tree.
“I love it,” Delilah exclaimed, holding up one of her gifts, a burgundy chenille throw blanket. “It’s so soft. Thank you.”
“I’ll get a lot of use out of this.” Richard examined the new grill set we’d given him. “Especially when you all come back for spring break.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Cash said, standing to clean up the wrapping paper that now littered the floor.
“Now, what do you say we dig into those pies Delilah made?” Richard asked, rising to his feet.
“I say that’s a great idea,” Grace chirped as she and Sam trailed behind him toward the dining room.
“Cash, do you mind helping Richard slice the pies?” Delilah asked. “I’d like a moment alone with Ella. You know, for some girl talk.”
“Of course,” he answered, flashing me a smile before leaving the room with Bradley Cooper on his heels.
My stomach fluttered, and I smoothed my hands over my jeans. What could she want to talk to me about?
Delilah moved to the Christmas tree and found a small envelope with a tiny box on top. “I have one more thing to give you.”
My face softened as she sat beside me on the couch. “You’ve given me so much already.”
“This one isn’t from me. It’s from Carrie.”
I couldn’t help the puzzled expression that veiled my face.
“Before Carrie passed away, she said she wanted to leave something for the woman he’d spend the rest of his life with. She didn’t want to leave it with Cash because she knew how much the idea upset him at the time, so she entrusted it with me.” She handed me the card-sized envelope and the box. “She said I’d know who it belonged to, and she was right.”
I looked down at the envelope, reading the inscription that was written in cursive:
To the woman he loves next…
“But…” I trailed off as I ran my thumb over the black ink. “We’re not married. We’re not even engaged yet.” It was something we’d talked about, and I knew it would happen one day. But I wasn’t in a hurry. I knew our hearts belonged to each other, and that was all that mattered.
“I know,” she said, placing her hand on my knee. “But, Ella, I’ve always known it would be you. From the second he mentioned your name after you first met, I knew you’d be the one. He just didn’t know it yet. After I got to know Grace, I was only that much more certain. I could have waited to give it to you. I could have saved it for the day you two do get married, but something told me now was the right time. Go on. Open it.” She gave me an encouraging smile.
I slid my finger between the folds of the envelope, broke the seal, and pulled out a small pink card with peonies on the front. I swallowed hard as I opened it to see the same flowery script inside.
To you,
Cash gave me this for our first Christmas together. It’s been worn a lot, but it’s filled with years of love and happy memories. I’m passing it on to you with the hope that you’ll fill it with even more.
Love him enough for us both.
Carrie
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and my stomach did cartwheels as I looked down at the box in my hands. I pried open the top to reveal a gold heart pendant with a pearl at the center. “It’s beautiful.”
“I know it meant a lot to her for you to have it,” Delilah said, her voice breaking. “And I want you to know how much it means to me to have you in our lives too.”
I closed the box and held it tight as I wrapped my arms around her. “Thank you, Delilah. This is… thank you.”
She kissed my cheek. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. I know these last few months have been hard on you. Grace and Cash have been keeping me filled in about your mother’s health, and I’m so sorry to hear that she’s been unwell. But I want you to know you have family here, Ella.”
Gratitude swelled in my chest. My mom’s Alzheimer’s had been getting progressively worse, and her slow decline was getting harder and harder to watch.
