Page 26 of Bossy Bride: Emma and Jesse

“It was Johnny,” I say.

“What?”

“Taking care of you kids. It was Johnny.”

“Yeah. It was always Johnny.”

“What’s he doing for Christmas?”

“Nothing, I guess. I asked him last night at the party and he said, ‘I don’t do church.’”

“He doesn’t have to do church,” I say, giggling.

“I told him that. He didn’t seem to get it.”

“So they’re doing nothing? No tree? No presents? And Megan is… pregnant?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t we invite them to come down here with us? What is Joey doing? Surely they’re getting a tree? For Maisy, at least.”

“Maisy is spending Christmas at the Kane estate. Joey didn’t think it was fair to take her away from her little sister for the holiday. So he’s taking her for New Year’s and having Christmas then.”

“Call them.”

“What?”

“Right now. Call them and tell them to come down here.”

Jesse points to the street filled with people. “There’s not even an empty cottage, Emma. Where would they stay?”

“Who cares? My parents have two spare bedrooms. Some of them can stay in our old bedrooms. Or we can make Alonzo and Tony stay with the parents and Joey and Johnny can take their cottages.”

“I’m sure Alonzo would love that idea.”

“I could make him. He’d do it for me.”

“Nah. I mean… I would like to have them here. But it would be a huge inconvenience.”

“Oh, we’re calling them,” I say, reaching into his pants pocket for his phone. “Right now. At least extend an invitation. And if they say no, then fine. But maybe they feel left out? That would be terrible. Oh, my God. When I tell my mother about this oversight, she’s going to go ballistic. She will insist. She will fly up there herself and drag them all back here. Please. Call them.”

“Emma. It’s too late.”

“It’s not. I promise.”

“At least ask your family first. If they say it’s OK, then I’ll call and extend the invitation. But don’t get your hopes up. My brothers aren’t into family shit like this.”

“Done. Let’s go ask her right now. They’re getting ready to light the tree anyway.” I stand up, and take his hand, tugging on it to make him get to his feet.

He does. But he pulls me towards him, staring into my eyes for a moment. Then he leans down and kisses me, whispering, “You’re the best present ever, Emma Dumas. All of you.”

And he tastes like a cool slice of cherry-vanilla shaved ice.

CHAPTER SEVEN - JESSE

I tug Emma down the street towards the giant palm tree in her parents’ front yard, trying to see if she will forget about calling up my brothers and inviting them down here. But she doesn’t.

“Here.” She’s shoving the phone at me. “Call them, right now. I’ll go let my mom know.”