“Wow, this is incredible.” Jules scans the setting, then cuts her eyes to me. “I bet it’s very romantic at night.”
I swallow hard, fighting the heat rising in my cheeks, and turn to examine the wood work.
“I can’t thank you enough, James. Gary was beside himself when the construction crew called. And I can’t believe what you created here.” Margaret looks to Ivy, a silent question in her eyes, before turning back to James. “Will you stay with us for Christmas? It’s the least we can do. Right, Ivy?”
“This is incredible, James. And please stay.” Ivy leans against the doorframe and says, “Someone said something wise to me today. And it’s time I move on. I won't make it awkward.”
She keeps her head high and shoulders squared. She might not be truly over it, but I see that she’ll be okay.
Tom grabs James and starts asking him questions about the construction, while Margaret and Ivy wander inside whispering to each other. Jules comes up next to me.
“When are you and Mason telling everyone?” she asks, keeping her voice low.
“Maybe before dinner? I didn’t actually ask him when he wanted to do it, beyond agreeing on today. I haven’t seen him all day. I think he went skiing.”
“And do you want to tell me about how amazing the hot tub is?” Jules grins and pulls me away from the men. “Come on. You can’t tell me you guys didn’t test this out the other night.”
I look over to James. His head tilts, half listening to Tom, half listening to us. When our eyes lock, heat floods my body.
“Let’s just say it exceeded all expectations.”
“Well, well, well. Someone finally got their Christmas miracle. And it came with excellent... construction skills.”
A laugh bursts out of me—that loud, ungraceful snort. My hand flies to cover my mouth as I look over at James. He’s standing there grinning. I’m grateful it’s only Jules and Tom here because the way he’s looking at me right now, there’s no hiding the love in his eyes.
“This right here is what I’ve always wished for you. Him grinning like a fool because you made that awful noise, you blushing because he’s grinning. Someone who thinks your weirdness is wonderful.” Jules kisses my cheek. “I love you.”
My throat tightens as I blink back the wetness. Finally tearing my gaze away, I clear my throat.
“Come on. We need some wine before you make me cry. And help me figure out what to say when Mason and I tell everyone.” I pull her away from the men and into the cabin.
***
Asthesundipslower, painting outside in shades of rose and amber, I stare at the untouched landscape, the snow glowing in the last wash of daylight, serene and undisturbed. Everything I wish I could feel. This conversation with the family can’t come soon enough.
“Oh, Anna,” Beck calls, glancing up from his phone, something mischievous crossing his face. “I heard the tickle monster’s on his way. You'd better run. Attack!”
Anna’s shriek pierces the quiet, followed by a stampede of little feet as the kids tear through the room in a chaotic game. Their laughter fills the space, bright and careless, as they weave between furniture and adults like water around stones. Within moments, the room empties of children, their game spilling into the basement, leaving a sudden, heavy quiet in their wake.
It’s the kind of quiet that feels expectant.
Mason approaches me, his footsteps heavy as if moving slowly enough can stop what’s coming. He holds out a glass of wine, an oddly formal gesture.
“Are you sure about this, Syd?” he asks, his voice matching the lost look in his eyes. “What about counseling? We never tried that.”
“Please don’t. I’m not changing my mind.”
“I could tell something shifted a few years ago. But every time I tried to figure out how to fix it, I came up empty-handed. I didn’t know what broke us.”
“We’ve had this conversation plenty of times. We... grew apart. We met at twenty-six. We’re forty now. People change.”
I draw in a long breath, trying to quell my simmering rage—keep this amicable as I’ve been doing the whole year. I see the others keeping their distance, pretending they aren’t watching.
“Think about Anna. Don’t we owe it to her to try harder?”
“How dare you?” The words fly out before I can stop them, my voice loud and unrestrained. “You think I haven’t thought about Anna? You think I haven’t spent every goddamn night agonizing over this for years?”
I step back, my breath coming faster. The room has gone silent. The family stands there, eyes wide, conversations forgotten. James’s gaze locks onto mine, fierce and unwavering.
