5. Aspen
5
ASPEN
“ Y es, Mama, I love you too,” I say as I drag my hand down my face again while my mother continues. “Uh-huh. Give my love to Daddy. I’ll call you soon.”
Ending the call, I let my head fall to the counter, the cool marble easing the headache brewing behind my eyes. And because I don’t want to suffer alone, I pull up the group chat with my siblings only to see Vienna beat me to it.
VIENNA: I’m scheduling my flight home for after Christmas
MONTANA: You could just drive
VIENNA: But Aspen and I only have a couple overlapping days in Blackstone Falls and you know I hate driving that far
MONTANA: When did you become such a passenger princess?
ASPEN: It’s her road rage
VIENNA: (gif of woman sticking her nose in the air)
VIENNA: It’s because my talents are better used for navigation and deejaying
ASPEN: That word looks funny
VIENNA: Right?
MONTANA: I’m not gonna comment
ASPEN: What? Oh…
VIENNA: (gif of woman snickering)
ASPEN: In other news, it’s y’all’s turn to deal with Mama
VIENNA: What’s wrong now?
ASPEN: She’s hoping I surprise her by having a boyfriend for Christmas
ASPEN: She really wants grandbabies but she said she’d settle for a boyfriend for me for now
VIENNA: That was nice of her
VIENNA: Also you’re up big brother
MONTANA: What? No. Ellison and I just got engaged and I’m already up to my eyeballs in wedding details that make no difference to me
VIENNA: I’m bad at math—can Ellison pop a baby out before you say I do?
MONTANA: No and no. She wants to wait to have another year of teaching done before we start trying
ASPEN: You’re not getting any younger
MONTANA: Neither are you
VIENNA: Burn!
I snicker at the screen because my brother is a few years older than I am, and I know he’s getting all riled up.
MONTANA: Besides, Ellison gave her grand-goats, a mini grand-cow, and a hell of a lot of other animals I didn’t ask for
VIENNA: I love your love
MONTANA: My hair is graying at an alarming rate
ASPEN: Ellison probably likes it
MONTANA: She better, it’s her own damn fault
VIENNA: *Adds men’s hair color to Christmas shopping list*
MONTANA: I hate you
VIENNA: No you don’t
MONTANA: I don’t. I miss you and I want you to come home
ASPEN: You could always move here
MONTANA: Not a chance baby sister
VIENNA: Well at least we have a plan in place
MONTANA: What plan??
VIENNA: We sacrifice you to Mama with your menagerie of baby animals and wedding plans and live our lives blissfully by the beach
ASPEN: Amen
MONTANA: I did NOT agree to that
ASPEN: Love you big brother
VIENNA: Love you!
MONTANA: You’re both getting coal
Feeling immensely better, I tie my hair up onto the top of my head and get started on the three orders I need to fill and deliver today.
PHOENIX
The kitchen light is on when I pull up to Bristol’s house and park my truck. Grinning, I grab the box from the passenger seat and make my way to the door just as she opens it with a shake of her head.
“Someday you’re gonna grow out of this and I’ll be stuck makin’ the magic happen,” she teases like she does every year. But it’ll never happen because I promised, and honestly, I like doing it.
“I love you too, big sister.”
“Uh-huh,” she says with a roll of her eyes. “How much cleanup is there with this one?”
Whistling softly, I stroll into the kitchen as Bristol trails behind me.
“Phoenix,” she hisses as I set the box on the counter.
“She really wants to see snow,” I say with a shrug, and my sister groans as I pull out a plastic sheet to cover the island along with several cans of shaving cream.
“I hate you,” she grumbles as I retrieve Navy’s elf, Gaston, from his previous spot.
“I have three sizes of marshmallows to make snowmen and then we need three of her toys to help with a snowball fight.” I preen under her narrowed stare. “And I have two very simple setups and I’ll text you to remind you.”
“Fine,” she sighs, her lips quirking up into a smile. “Navy is really lucky to have you.”
Bristol blinks fast, and I know she’s trying to push back the thoughts that if Davis were here, I wouldn’t have to do it.
“Please,” I scoff as I gently shove her shoulder. “I get to be a kid again and not get in trouble for it.”
My comment has the desired effect because she snorts and shakes her head. “Except when you got her a slushie and then took her on that kiddie roller coaster at the fair.”
“They said it didn’t go that fast,” I grumble and shiver as I remember the red projectile slushie that she heaved over the side of the car we were in.
“She’s excited to go again next year.”
“I’ll be sure to get her the slushie after we’re done with rides.”
She beams at me and wraps me in a hug, her head resting on my chest as I hold her. I’m not sure how long we stand like that, me somehow easing the weight she’s carrying just by being in this moment with her.
When she’s ready, she stands with her hands on her hips, assessing the chaos in front of her. “All right, where do we start?”