Page 275 of Show Me

The old farmhouse table Xavier refinished barely fits everyone, but we make it work. Emily sits beside Jake with Grace sleeping peacefully in a carrier near her chair.

Bella and Dominic are arguing about who burned the green beans. Ben keeps getting up every thirty seconds to refill drinks like he’s personally hosting a five-star restaurant.

Laughter rolls easily around the room. Someone brings up Dominic getting tackled into a snowbank earlier. Jake laughs hard enough he nearly chokes on his drink.

I look around the table. At the people. The noise. The warmth. And something quiet settles deep inside my chest. No fear. No waiting for something bad to happen. Just… fullness. Good memories replacing the disastrous ones.

Xavier’s knee presses against mine beneath the table. His arm slides around the back of my chair before settling across my shoulders. My hand drifts to my stomach beneath the table. His hand finds mine there.

Jake clears his throat. “I should probably give everybody an update.”

The mood shifts. Subtle. But there. It’s tighter, with an edge of wariness.

Jake’s expression grows more serious as he glances briefly toward me. “Lindsey’s court date got finalized. Attempted murder charges are moving forward.”

“Good thing.” Dad’s face is set like granite as he fists the fork in his hand.

Silence settles heavier across the table. Everything flashes through my mind—broken glass. Pills scattered across the floor. The knife. The gun.

My heart rate kicks up. Sweat pools in my armpits. Old instinct. Old fear. I don’t know that those feelings and reactions will ever go away. I hope so, but if they don’t, I’ll persevere. I’m not letting her win.

Just like I’m not avoiding the situation. When the court date arrives, I’ll be here ready to testify.

Xavier’s thumb brushes against my shoulder. Grounding me before the panic can fully settle in. I lean into him knowing he’ll keep me safe.

Hannah lays her palm on Dad’s forearm, and a fraction of the edge eases from his features. They feel right together. Like their own unit. Good. He deserves that.

Emily clears her throat. “Okay,” she says firmly. “That’s enough court talk for Christmas Eve.”

The tension breaks almost instantly. Everyone looks relieved.

Bella points her fork toward me. “So.” Her eyes brighten. “January classes.”

I blink. “Oh, right.” I mentally shake off the muck of anxiety. “Yes, classes start in January.”

“To our future vet tech.” Emily lifts her glass of water, along with everyone else.

The girls insisted on a dry Christmas dinner even though I assured them that I didn’t mind if they drank in front of me. They refused. And so did the rest of our guests.

Warmth spreads through my chest so quickly it catches me off guard. An upcoming career. An attentive and loving boyfriend. Amazing friends. Family. A baby in the summer.

It’s all real. My future is solid. Not fragile. Not temporary. And these people are here to celebrate it with me.

“Thank you. I start in three weeks.”

“What classes first?” Bella asks.

“Animal anatomy,” I answer. “And clinical basics.”

Xavier presses a kiss against my temple, and I sigh as I lean against him.

Everything’s perfect. If you’d asked me two months ago if that was possible, I would’ve said no. Now, it feels like there’s no other option.

Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Three

Xavier

Christmas Eve Night