“She’s fucking with you, Mac,” Will said as he strolled over to where we were working. My big, grumpy cousin dropped a homemade butter mint into Becca’s waiting mouth before pressing a kiss to her forehead, deftly avoiding the light-up antlers.
She grinned mischievously.
“Becca,” Mac scolded. Then she grinned back. “That was devious. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you,” she said happily.
Mac stood after affixing the final length of ribbon to the ornament in her hand. She passed it to me with a questioning look in her gaze. I could tell my sister wanted to check on me, find out if I was okay. But after our talk a few days ago, I think she finally understood.
Maybe she’d spread the word to everyone to leave me alone about Jack, because I hadn’t heard a word from my family, wondering how things were going or if the quiet bartender would be joining us. Maybe they knew things had ended, or they were just being polite. Either way, I was glad I didn’t have to talk about it and could just focus on relaxing this evening.
Instead of the question I could practically see waiting on the tip of Mac’s tongue, she asked instead, “Want me to grab you a peanut butter ball?”
Grateful, I smiled. “Yes, before Larry eats them all.”
Our cousin was around here somewhere with Corie. The two were still dating and seemed happier than ever. In fact, Corie was planning on relocating to Kirby Falls in the new year.
It was Brady who delivered several peanut butter balls on a small party plate a moment later.
“Thanks,” I told him.
Mac joined us eventually with a platter full of snacks.
As Becca and I put the finishing touches on the kitchen tree, we heard a knock from the back door. Most of the family in attendance knew to just come on in, so I was a little surprised.
“I’ll grab it,” Becca said before dashing off down the hallway toward the mudroom.
Just when I’d polished off the last bite-sized dessert on my plate, I heard Becca call out happily, “Brady, Lia’s here!”
The peanut butter stuck in my throat, and I nearly choked.
Brady trotted off down the hall as Mac slapped me on the back. “You okay over there?”
But I couldn’t get the words out. Surely that was not the same?—
“Well, hi, Lia. Merry Christmas,” Brady said in a booming voice that carried from the back porch. “Hey, Jack!”
My sister’s eyes went wide, and I had to swallow several times in order to breathe.
“Holy shit,” Mac murmured as footsteps sounded down the hallway to our right. “This better be some top-tier groveling. He was a huge idiot. Also, crashing Christmas. I give him bonus points for that.”
“Do you think he’s here for me?”
She gave me a look like I just might be a bigger idiot than the one crashing our family Christmas party. Then she sobered. “If you don’t want to talk to him, I’ll tell him to leave.”
I considered holding on to my anger and righteous indignation. I could very easily hide behind my sister and keep my distance from Jack. But the truth was, I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to waste any more time.
“No. It’s fine,” I assured her. “If he wants to talk, I’ll listen.”
Just then, I saw Brady, Becca, and Lia trooping toward us.
“Lia’s in my and Becca’s knitting group down at Weaverly Place,” Brady explained.
I knew Brady knit, and I knew Becca had learned from the ladies down at the yarn shop, but I didn’t realize they were acquainted with Jack’s grandmother.
On tentative feet, I moved forward to welcome our guest. Brady passed me with a little wink. And Becca mouthed,Oh my God, and squeezed my arm.
Then Lia came right up to me and kissed my cheek. “I brought you some okra. Merry Christmas.”
