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Ben gives me a reassuring kiss on the forehead before we walk into the dining room, where Jack, Alice, and several extended family members are sitting. My gaze immediately goes to the far end of the table—to Owen and Cara.
“Ben!” Alice stands up, smiling happily. “And Stella, how wonderful!”
She comes over and hugs us both, the room quiet. When I look over at Ben, he and Owen are locked in a stare-down.
“Um, well...Stella, you already know everyone except...this is Cara.” Alice looks mortified as she introduces us.
Ben squeezes my hand, saving me from having to greet Cara. “Sorry I’m late, guys. My flight got diverted and then I needed to do something.” He smiles at me and says, “Stella and I just got engaged.”
“Oh my God!” Alice jumps up and down, throwing her arms in the air and hugging me.
The rest of the room erupts, Ben’s hand slipping away from mine as Alice hugs me and weeps on my shoulder.
“You asshole.”
I pull away from Alice just in time to see Owen shove Ben by the shoulder. Ben shoves him back harder and Owen falls onto the corner of the table, sliding a plate full of food into Aunt Mildred’s lap.
“Oh! The gravy is hot!” she cries.
Owen bounces back up, heading for Ben. Jack gets there just in time to wedge himself between the two of them.
“That’s enough!” he roars. “Stop acting like children.”
“You’re not marrying her,” Owen says, pointing at Ben.
“The fuck I’m not.”
“Ben, watch your mouth,” Jack says.
Owen looks at me with a sneer. “He only wants you because of me, you know.”
Ben reaches around his father, grabs Owen’s shirt and pulls him down to the ground, where they both land with a crash that rattles the china in the cabinet against the wall. I press a hand to my mouth, unable to believe this is happening.
It looks like an ice hockey fight, Ben holding his brother to the ground as he pulls his arm back and punches him in the face. Jack tries to pull Ben off, but Ben’s too strong.
I can’t let this happen. I walk over to Ben as he’s punching Owen in the face for the third time.
“Stop! Ben, stop! Don’t do this in your parents’ dining room on Christmas Eve.”
He looks up at me, his expression enraged and his fist still poised for another strike.
“No more,” I say. “Please.”
He moves off Owen, breathing hard. Owen jumps up, putting a hand to his cheek.
“Let’s take this outside,” he says, nodding at the front door.
“No,” I say, standing close to Ben’s side. “No more fighting. Ben and I are together and no amount of fighting will change that.”
“This is insane.” He narrows his eyes at us.
“Well, you did cheat on her,” Uncle Kevin says from the other side of the table.
I’ve always liked him. He’s Alice’s brother, and he says whatever’s on his mind, good or bad.
“That doesn’t mean he can have her.” Owen levels his gaze at Ben.
Cara stands up and storms out of the room. Owen sighs heavily and follows her.
“Maybe we should go,” Ben says.
“No, you’re staying,” Jack tells him. “I’m sorry your announcement went this way. Congratulations to you both.” He looks at me. “We love you, Stella, and we couldn’t be happier you’re joining our family.”
“Maybe you can reuse the leftover wedding invites,” Uncle Kevin cracks. “Just cross out Owen and the date and location and put the new one on there.” Ben glares at him. “Too soon? Sorry.”
Alice is scooping food from Mildred’s lap onto a plate. “I’m so sorry about this, Millie. I’ve got something clean you can change into.”
“Mom, Stella and I can go,” Ben says.
“You aren’t leaving,” she says firmly. “You did nothing wrong and Stella did nothing wrong. Owen was wrong, and if we’re being honest, so was Cara. They can either be respectful and stay or they’ll be the ones leaving.”
“You two make plates and sit down,” Jack says to us. “I’ll go talk to Owen.”
Ben nods. He puts a hand on my back and leads me into the kitchen.
“So that went well,” he says in a low tone.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. He helps me out of my coat and slides his off. I put my hat and gloves in my coat pockets, my sparkling engagement ring catching my eye.
The happiest day of my life took a turn, and I can’t help wondering if Ben and I should have kept our engagement news to ourselves for now.
“This is all my fault,” I say as he carries our coats into the laundry room.
“No, it’s not. He’ll get over it. I didn’t know he was bringing Cara tonight. I didn’t even know they were still seeing each other.”
“Do you think we should have waited to tell your family?”
He cups my face in his hands. “No. I’m done with waiting. You’re my girl and I want the whole world to know it.”
