“Patrick,” Row exclaimed, “You didn’t have to do something this amazing. Thank you. Seriously, thank you.”
River could see Rowan’s gratitude made him uncomfortable, but he was also pleased that she loved the gift. Rowan surprised Patrick with tickets to see Deadmau5 in Vegas.
“Jesus, Row. This is the best gift ever! Thank you.” Patrick stood up and grabbed Rowan up in a bear hug, making her laugh along with everyone else. Itwasa great gift.
Gift draw presents out of the way, it was time for the last few gifts from people who wished to give a gift to someone who they hadn’t drawn.
Hugh gave his mother a month-long trip to Italy with an extra ticket for her best friend, Diana Gaines. “Oh, you sweet boy,” Matilda O’Faolain cooed at her only son. Hugh’s cheeks pinkened. Precious.
“You mentioned wanting to see the Vatican library, so I got you and Diana a palazzo in Italy. No big deal.” Hugh was trying to deflect. He only made it worse. Watching Hugh squirm was better than going to the movies.
“No big deal? Hugh— I’ve dreamed of a palazzo in Italy. Thank you, sweetheart,” Matilda gushed.
Bran jumped on Hugh’s embarrassment. “You are the sweetest of sweethearts, Dad.”
Patrick added, “Dad, you truly are the sweetest boy in the whole wide world.”
Hugh was a half second from launching out of his chair and tackling his sons, but Raven, unfortunately, stopped the beatdown by handing a present to Bran.
“I have something for you, babe.”
River already knew what it was.
Raven had made Bran a loaf of sourdough bread using the starter he’d gifted her in Ireland. You would have thought Raven had given Bran the key to the answers of the universe. After Bran kissed her, a hair longer past comfortable to watch, he announced he wasn’t sharing. River saw Patrick glance at the box. He was so going to steal some.
Rowan handed Hugh a small package, causing the older man to turn the color of a ripe tomato. It took multiple promptings to get him to unwrap it. Rowan had commissioned an artist to hand-tool a leather cover for a rare copy ofPride and Prejudice.
“For your library,” Rowan prompted, when Hugh said nothing. “Bran and Pat mentioned you have a library on the third floor. I thought...” Rowan stopped. Please Hugh, River thought, be kind.
He opened the cover, it really was stunning, and read the inscription her sister had written.
To Hugh
RCB
“It’s beautiful, Rowan. Thank you,” Hugh said, carefully closing the book. His fingers gently ran over the cover. “You are welcome to see the library.” Holy shit. A third-floor invite.
Crisis adverted. Row smiled. “I would love that.”
There were two gifts left, and River prayed— heavily and on metaphoric knees —that the gifts would be ignored.
Nan said, “There are only two gifts left.”
Thanks, Grandma.
“Oh, it was only a small thing for Patrick. No biggie. Let’s get drinks and talk about your apartment renovations.” Why hadn’t she swiped her gift from the tree? Whyyyyyy, River moaned in her head. She’d placed the present under the tree when they’d first arrived at Hugh’s— when she’d still held out hope that Patrick would drop his good buddy bullshit.
Rowan and Raven were picking up River’s wish to move on and chimed in with, ‘Yeah, Nan, I’m so excited,’ and ‘I already have some ideas, Nan.’
River saw Bran look at Hugh and then Patrick. Clearly picking up on the weird vibes. Her face was so hot it had to be red. Before she could extricate herself from the living room, a large hand holding a present appeared in front of her face.
Game face, River. Now.
Glancing up at Pat, she took the gift from his hand. “Oh, geez, Patrick. You didn’t have to get me anything. Thank you.” Keeping her holly jolly smile, even when she noticed he was holding her gift to him, she continued, “Oh good, you found your present. It’s just a simple thing... like a funny gift.” Cringe.
Well, she singlehandedly managed to escalate the awkward. Now everyone was silent and staring. Lord, give me strength— or strike her dead. Either would work.
Patrick sat back in his chair. Watching River. “Let’s open them at the same time.”
