Hunter slowly untied the ribbon, something in his face going still.
“You know how you’ve been on a sake kick the past month? I saw this set in the window ofEnotekaa.It’s a handmade set of six double-bottom gold foil sake glasses. I figured it would be good for when you have your production crew over, instead of having to use my mismatched bourbon tumblers. It was recommended by the sommelier as the best way to enjoy the aromatics and flavor of his curated sake collection.” I pulled out a black paper bag, inside four bottles of sake. “Got those for you too. Cost me three grand.”
The room was silent.
“Not enough? Okay, here’s some diamond-studded twenty-four karat gold cufflinks and a tie tack to match.Eight hundred.” I handed him a small box from the buffet. “Need more? How ‘bout some bike shoes? Three hundred.” I pulled another box from the pantry and threw it at him.
“Ak-ward…” Noel declared before taking a drink of her water.
“New shorts? One fifty.” The last bag I had stuffed under the dining room table. I grabbed it and pushed it into his chest. Tears of anger welledjust inside my lashes. “So no. I may not have spent hours making your favorite holiday dessert. But I did spend weeks planning and procuring everything so you could have a happy fucking holiday with me.”
“I’m sorry,mo chróí. I had no idea.” He set his gifts in his chair and scooped me into a hug, kissing my forehead.
“Why would you? The only thing you care about is that the man that saved my life a few months ago is sitting at our table enjoying a pie I madejustfor him.” I pushed back off his chest. “Take your gifts, I’m mad at you right now.”
“Maggie, I?—”
“Ooo—presents!” Katie blurted as she returned. “Meet me in the great room, everyone! I’ll start passing!”
Hunter gathered his things and carried them to the study, where he sat behind the desk and poured himself a glass of sake.
Annie grabbed some dishes and met me at the buffet. “You okay, Sugs?”
“No. But I guess I have to be.”
“Come on, let’s put it behind us and come see what I got ya.” She motioned to the great room.
Graham rose and carried his empty pie plate to the kitchen. I bit both lips as I looked up at him. “Sorry, you had to hear that,” I said, gripping my elbow with one hand.
“Oh, did something happen? I was lost in a triple-berry paradise.”
I blinked. I couldn’t entirely tell if he was serious or not.
The closet door clicked behind Daddy and Gemma as they slunk out, Gemma tugging at her hem, ectoplasm dripping down a leg.
Oh hell no—ew!
I grabbed a towel from the bathroom and flung it under Gemma, just as she was about to sit on the cream sectional.
“Okay, Maggie-girl, first the aunts wish you a happy solstice and were truly disappointed they couldn’t make it.” Katie held out a large box the size of a small microwave. “Open. Now!I’m dying to see your reaction.”
I did and pulled out one ceramic casting. It was a hand holding a boob finished in an iron-speckled glaze—Ruby’s? And the other piece… Different hand. Different boob. This one a mossy green with golden flecks—Clover.
I blinked at Katie.
Graham lost it.
Mom was mortified.
And Daddy leaned in, inspecting. “Well… definitely not twins… but sisters for sure,” he said, pulling out his glasses to get a better look.
I rolled my eyes. “Katie, tell them thank you. And I’ll put them on the mantel.”
“I will! But do mine now!” She handed me a small box wrapped in silver foil paper. I tore it open excitedly. But once I peeked inside the box, I bit my tongue and extracted the perfectly glazed blue ceramic dick and vagina salt and pepper shakers.
“God, is everything sexual tonight?”
“Not everything. Just Graham.” Katie elbowed him in the gut.
