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Even if she said those three words a million more times, he would never get tired of hearing them or saying them back. He pressed his lips to hers then whispered, “I love you too.”
Satisfied, she closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep. Barry watched her for a long while after that, marveling at his good luck, and imagining what their future looked like. Something told him that he had many great days to look forward to.
Epilogue
~ 7 MONTHS LATER ~
“THIS IS SO UNFAIR,” XOLANI complained bitterly when her brother tried to drag her out of the living room.
“What is unfair?” Camryn demanded, “You made a bet, and lost. Now you have to clear the snow from the driveway.”
“But you conned me into making the bet,” she protested while keeping her sock-covered feet firmly planted on the ground so he wouldn’t pull her. “If I’d known that you’ve been practicing, I wouldn’t have gotten into a dart-throwing contest with you.”
“Your ignorance is not my problem.” Camryn smirked. “All I care about is that I won, and you lost.”
It was three days to Christmas, and the siblings had descended on their family home to enjoy the holiday with their parents and grandmother. The Moore house sparkled and beamed with Christmas magic. Everywhere one looked, there were garlands, wreaths, multicolored lights, candles, and ornaments of all sorts.
The living room bore the brunt of the older folks’ enthusiasm. Their mom, Kwezi, had unleashed all her red, green and white throw-pillows with the Christmas greeting emblazoned on them. She found stuffed animals to match the throw pillows, and threw them wherever there was space. The flower vases and pots were wrapped up in Christmas-branded wrapping paper. There was a huge portrait of Santa hanging above their fireplace, as if to say that he now owned the place.
Their grandmother, Celia, had crocheted Christmas socks for every member of their family. She also sewed 12 jackets for their family dog, Beowulf, each to be worn on the twelve days of Christmas. Beowulf, a flat-coated retriever, was currently asleep in front of the fireplace, wearing his pre-Christmas fit, a red and white sweater. Of course, that was a Celia production too. Rumor had it that Celia was also planning to do all the Christmas desserts, which meant that the local grocery store was about to run out of flour.
And their dad… Oh! Stanley gone bigger than everyone. Their yard was filled with Douglas firs of all sizes strewn with lights. For the house, he’d picked the tallest fir that could fit in their house. He’d then stacked the tree with so many lights and ornaments that Xolani suspected he was trying to give them all seizures.
Still, she loved it all.
What she didn’t love was this moment right here.
Christmas was supposed to be a time of joy. Not a time to for her to freeze her behind outside while doing Camryn’s chores.
“Daddy.” Xolani turned towards her father for support. “Tell Cam that it’s an unfair bet, and I shouldn’t have to pay up.”
Stanley, who was seated on his favorite recliner and pretending to watch a nature documentary, didn’t even look away from the TV. “Nope!”
“Daddy,” Xolani whined like a five-year-old. “Please!”
“This is all on you.” Stanley scolded, “I told you not to gamble with Cam. He is a known cheater.”
“A cheater? Wow!” Camryn exclaimed, “You’re still holding that basketball game against me?”
“Because you cheated.” Stanley turned to the younger man with blazing eyes. “If you hadn’t raced for the basket when I tripped, you wouldn’t have won the game.”
Camryn retorted, “It is not my fault that your knees are trash!”
“I’ll show you trash!” Stanley jumped out of his recliner like a bullet and went after his son.
But Camryn was fast on his feet. Cackling like a hyena, Camryn dashed out of the room before his dad could catch him then raced for the stairs.
“Get back here!” Stanley yelled as he stormed up the stairs after the younger man.
“Catch me if you can,” Camryn hollered back.
Meanwhile, Xolani watched them with a fierce scowl. Obviously, her dad wasn’t going to be much help.
She stomped from the living room to the kitchen. Both her grandma and mom were there. Celia was at the counter mixing ingredients for sweet-potato pie while her daughter-in-law, Kwezi was seated at the kitchen table peeling potatoes.
“Mommy,” Xolani called out as she entered the room. “Tell Camryn that he’s the one who’s supposed to clear snow from the driveway.”
“I already told him that.” Kwezi spun around, ready to be angry. “Is he refusing to do it?”
