“Definitely. But there’s always a chance he might leave a few presents for you here, too. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”
Lydia’s eyes almost disappeared with her bright smile. She threw her arms wide and Holly leaned down to embrace her tightly.
“Merry Christmas, Lydi-bug.”
“Merry Christmas, Mommy. Love you.”
“I love you, too. So much,” she said, a tiny hitch in her voice.
“Are you sad?” Lydia asked, studying her carefully. Only recently had Lydia begun to become aware of other people’s emotions.
She wanted to offer some glib answer but she wouldn’t lie to her daughter about an honest reaction to a complicated situation.
“I’m a little sad for me,” she admitted. “But mostly I’m happy that you get to spend Christmas with your daddy and Brit and baby Hudson.”
She kissed the top of her head then quickly stepped away, waved one more time and closed the door.
She waited until after Troy backed out of the driveway and headed toward Haven Point before she let a tear drip down.
She quickly brushed it away.
Yes, the holidays could be tough to navigate after a divorce, especially when children were involved. But it was Christmas Eve, a time of joy and peace, and she refused to lose sight of that.
SOMEHOW SHE WASable to put away her sadness throughout the afternoon and evening.
It simmered under the surface but it was hard to be completely down when engaged in a heated battle of Clue with her family.
“Hannah said the two of you are going to stay over tonight,” her mother said during a break in the action. “I’m so glad. It will be lovely to have you. Ash is staying, too. Micah, why don’t you join us?”
Her oldest brother leaned back in his chair. “You all are crazy. Why would I stay here in a tiny twin bed where my legs dangle over the edge when I have a perfectly comfortable pillow-top king bed at my place?”
“Because it will be fun! Just like old times, when you all were little and the house was filled with chaos and noise.”
“You’re not really selling this, Mom,” Ash said with a laugh.
“Anyway, I haven’t completely made up my mind,” Holly said. “I don’t think I’m great company right now.”
“Don’t be silly,” Paula said loyally. “You’re wonderful company, even when I can tell you’re distracted, worried about your girl.”
She squeezed her mom’s hand. “Thanks. I’m going to make some hot cocoa. Anybody else want some?”
“I do,” Micah said.
“Sure,” her father said. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“We’ll just make hot cocoa all around,” Paula said. “I’ll help.”
Her mother jumped up and led the way into the kitchen.
“I can do this, Mom,” she said when they were alone and her mother started pulling out ingredients from the cupboard. “You could have stayed and played another game.”
“You know me. I’m not a big board game fan, especially when your father and brothers get so competitive. I’d rather sit around and chat. Why don’t you rest and let me make the hot cocoa?”
“Because it was my idea.”
“I know that. But it’s my kitchen.”
“Fine. I’ll help.”
