Chapter 26
C hristmas Eve dawned gray and mysterious, a veiled sunrise that cast the world in a pewter glow. Brody shaved and dressed while the coffee brewed. When he passed the kitchen table on his way to the porch, Brody realized he had left his phone off all night.
“What a goof.”
He opened his cottage door to be greeted by a puff of warm wind. The southerly storm had passed with the night, and now the clouds overhead were gradually breaking up.
As he stepped onto the porch, the veil parted and a blade of purest gold spilled down. Abruptly the entire rear garden was alive with sparkling prisms, every rainbow hue and more besides. Brody was mesmerized by the sight. He stood rimmed by a field of liquid gold.
He knew the moment was fleeting. The clouds might bunch together again at any moment. Another southerly squall could push through, making it just another dismal gray winter day.
None of it mattered.
There before him, a new season was unfolding.
The last time he had known such unadulterated joy, Brody had viewed his island summer as never end ing. Now he knew better.
This was a season of change and growth and challenge. And love. Yes, even for him.
Then his mother appeared on Emma’s back porch.
She waved to him, which proved an awkward movement, as her arms were filled with Amiya’s quilts.
She settled them one by one into a porch rocker as Emma appeared in the doorway behind her.
Mia shook her head at Brody even before he started to move, holding him where he was.
Brody watched her mother help Emma settle into the padded chair.
Once the older woman was down and comfortable, and encased in a final quilt, Mia walked over, embraced her son, wished him a Merry Christmas, and asked, “Is there more of that coffee?”
Brody poured her a mug and added too much milk and sugar, how she had always taken it. She sipped, nodded approval, and said, “You kept your phone off last night?”
“I forgot to turn it on.”
“Probably just as well. You wouldn’t have gotten much sleep otherwise.” Mia’s lustrous silver hair was drawn back and pinned firmly in place. “Rae is on her way over. Prepare to be scolded.”
“I probably deserve it.”
“Less than some, no more than most.” Another sip. “Cameron went into labor just after midnight. Rae and Olivia and Amiya spent the night at the hospital. Cameron and her husband have a lovely baby girl.”
“I’m glad.” Brody felt the cottage’s front room become filled with a long overdue remorse. All the wrong moves, the secrets, formed into a blanket cast over the season. “Mom—”
“Don’t.”
“I just want—”
“Brody, don’t.” When she was certain he would stay quiet, Mia continued, “If you allow, regret over wrong moves and imperfect actions can crush you. You must learn how to let go.”
“I don’t know how. Or if I can.”
“Or if you actually deserve release, isn’t that what you’re thinking?” Her smile carried a timeless element. “I am your mother. Who better to say this is the Christmas gift you must grant yourself?”
Brody was halted from needing to respond by a cascade of blaring horns and happy voices and doors slamming and laughter. As they stepped onto the cottage porch, Rae spotted him and told the others, “Call off the dogs! He’s alive!”
He was barely down the cottage steps before she rushed into his arms. Brody accepted her kiss, and said, “I can explain.”
“It won’t help. But don’t worry. I’ll be cross with you later.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. “Hi, Mia. Come watch.”
People continued to stream around the house, Olivia and Amiya among them. A woman started singing “The Bells of Christmas Morn.” Brody was enormously glad it wasn’t Rae. The woman couldn’t carry a tune in a trawler.
Rae had on the same clothes she’d worn on the boat. Her hair was matted and her eyes were red-rimmed. Brody asked, “Did you sleep?”
“Some. A little. Not much. And that was on a hospital bench.” She tugged him forward. “Can you possibly move any slower?”
So he allowed himself to be dragged through the crowd that still kept growing. She didn’t actually shove people aside. More like, she got in close enough for them to smile in her direction and step aside.
They maneuvered over to where Olivia knelt beside Emma’s rocker. Brody’s sister hit speed-dial, waited, then said, “We’re here. Okay, just one second.” She lowered the phone, pressed a button, asked, “Can you see us?”
Cameron’s voice replied, “Sure. Hi, everyone.”
“Okay, here goes.” Olivia’s smile was wondrous to behold. She swung the phone around so the screen was pointed at the older woman. “Say hello to Cameron’s baby girl. Her name is Emma.”
Brody took in Emma’s tremulous joy, then turned so as to watch the others. He did not so much see their smiles and tears and joy, as absorb. All the emotions, everything he was open to accept. He looked down at Rae, saw her brush the tears off her cheeks, and offered her a fierce embrace.
Home.