“Okay.” She clears her throat as we stroll down the beach to the sound of the wind and the waves. “Thank you for opening up to me.”
“Thank you for giving me a safe space so I can.”
CHAPTER 39
MAYA BROOKE
Christmas Day is in full swing.
Skye was up before all of us, and I took her downstairs early to look at the Christmas tree. All of the presents that lay under it, along with our stockings that are filled to the brim. I take a moment to myself and show gratitude for being included.
“Merry Christmas, Maya,” Andrea says brightly from behind me. “Merry Christmas, Skye.”
She walks towards me and offers me a hug before kissing Skye on the forehead.
“Merry Christmas, Andrea,” I say.
Once everyone is up and we’ve eaten breakfast, we head to the living room to open presents. I watch as James starts to dish out the stockings, and when I’m handed mine, I thank him with sincerity.
Skye is in Ivy’s lap as she helps her look through what presents she’s got. I can’t take my eyes off them as Skye’s face lights up with a toothless smile.
Finn nudges me gently. “You're not going to open yours?”
“Sure.” I slide my hand into the stocking to find the softest pair of checkered pyjamas that look like heaven to sleep in—apparently, we all got matching ones to change into tonight. An eye mask, a wax melt set, and expensive chocolate.
“Thank you,” I say to Andrea and James.
Andrea waves her hand at me. “Don’t be so silly. It’s tradition. Everyone gets a stocking, no matter how old you are.”
When we move onto the big presents, I curl up in the corner of the sofa with a hot cup of coffee between my hands. Skye is happily with Finn as he opens his first present from his parents.
“Maya,” Ivy says as she shifts on her knees and hands me an envelope. “This is for you, from all of us.”
I stare down at the white card and blink. “Oh, thank you.”
Once I open it up and slide out the card, my mouth falls open. A day pass at a spa that includes three treatments and access to all the facilities, including the sauna, steam room, and the swimming pool.
“Oh my god,” I whisper as I meet Ivy’s eyes, then Andrea’s. “I can’t accept this.”
“What? Of course you can. I know how hard it is to be a mother, and sometimes we need some time off,” Andrea says with a generous smile. “You deserve it.”
My face crumbles as I look back down at the card. “That’s very kind of you. Thank you.”
“What is it?” Finn asks. I show him the card, and he whistles. “Wow, you’re right, Maya deserves this.”
“This one is for Skye,” James says as he holds up a box.
Andrea waves her hands. “Ooh, come here, Skye. We can open it together.”
Finn hands Skye over to his mum, and I don’t think she’s ever looked so happy.
“Here,” Finn says as he hands me a small box. “This is from me.”
My mouth twitches as I look at the delicate box. “Finn, I?—”
“I don’t care what you say about presents.” He shakes his head adamantly. “I couldn’t bring you home without giving you a gift.”
“Okay.”
