AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Miss Gail arrives after a while, carrying her famous cherry pie and offering big soft hugs that everyone joyfully accepts. His aunt Gemma has come downstairs and is in the kitchen with Piper and Gretchen. His aunt has been here for a week already, helping with everything for today. She’ll stay on through the New Year to help take care of Luke as his little sister arrives—really any minute now.
When the bell rings again it’s Detective West and his wife. Their kids are with their respective in-laws this holiday and Henry has invited them to join his family.
His family. Yes.
After drinks and conversation, they gather at the table and Paul says grace, as he always does.
“We are blessed today in the company of family and friends. We are so grateful for this abundance. May all people everywhere know peace and plenty.”
Henry looks around the table, holds the hand of his beautiful wife, while Luke bounces happily in his high chair. The cutlery and glasses glitter. His aunt Gemma is wearing a ridiculously sparkly Christmas sweater replete with Santa heads and flying reindeer and somehow it’s perfect.
There is laughter and loud conversation, disagreement, teasing. Luke squalls. Piper looks exhausted. Detective West tells a dirty joke and everyone gets a chuckle out of it except for his wife.Oh, honestly, honey.She blushes.
After dinner, Paul and Henry help to clean, then take the overtired and cranky Luke on a walk around the neighborhood. The air is warm—Christmas in Florida—the sky a velvety midnight blue, riven with stars. Porch lights glow, Christmas trees glimmer in big bay windows, bikes lie askew in driveways, basketball hoops are mounted over garages, cars line the streets as people gather to celebrate the day with their families.
Family. It’s just a story we tell each other about ourselves, thinks Henry.
If there’s darkness in his DNA, Henry doesn’t feel it tonight. He doesn’t see it in the cherubic face of his boy, who is rubbing his eyes in the arms of his grandfather.
He doubts he’ll see it when their baby girl arrives. They’ve decided to name her Alice, a way to remember his mother. Gemma doesn’t like the idea; he can tell by her worried frown. But she hasn’t said so. But that’s what he and Piper have chosen. An homage. An apology. A kind of forgiveness.
Henry and Paul don’t speak, silence the overriding theme of their relationship. Luke points up at the moon which is rising full and bright.
Henry thinks about Catrina and wishes that she was at their table tonight.
But she made her choices. And Henry has made his.
She was right after all. In the end, that’s all there is to life. What you create, what you build, what you nurture. It’s about biology, genetics, of course.
But most of all, it’s about what you do with what you’re given.
“Should we head back, son?” asks Paul. Luke has rested his head against Paul’s shoulder, finally worn out for the day.
“Yeah,” says Henry. “Let’s go home.”
49
Hannah
As dusk paints the sky outside a fire show of orange, pink, and purple, and the last light of the day shines on the waters of the Intracoastal, Hannah watches from the big picture window of their new kitchen. She dreads the darkness, the nighttime these days. It’s when all the doubts and regrets, fears and worries come to call. During the day she can busy it all away, running around after Gigi and running errands, helping Bruce in her new role at his company as operations director. But at night, when things are quiet, then the demons start to howl.
“It’s okay,” says Bruce, stepping up behind her. As always, he reads her mood. “Everything will be okay.”
“I’m fine,” she assures him. And she is. Mostly.
The heat from the oven warms her face as Hannah takes the turkey and places the big pan on the stovetop to cool. Bruce sets the table.
“How many?” he asks.
“I’m not sure,” she says. “Set the table for six, just in case.” Gigi sits happily on the floor watchingElffor the hundredth time on the big-screen television, with Lou knitting quietly on the couch, lovingly answering all Gigi’s chatter.Why is he eating that? Why is he so big? Does his daddy love him?
“Can I do anything?” calls Lou.
“You’re doing it,” answers Hannah. “WatchingElfwith Gigi is the best thing you can be doing right now.”
Lou chuckles. “Hard duty. But I’ll bear up.”
“Oooh! Santa!” chimes Gigi with pure delight.
