Chapter Thirty
They arrived back at Sky House sometime after sunrise. Caleb and Emma walked in, hand-in-hand. Emma took a moment to pause at the front desk.
“It’s hard to believe it was only a couple of weeks ago when I first saw you standing there. It feels like years.”
He chuckled. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“A good thing. It feels like I’ve known you forever.”
Caleb wrapped both arms around her. “When you know, you know, right?”
She rested her head against his chest. “Thank you again, Caleb.”
“For what?”
“For not giving up on me. Even when I gave up on myself.”
He exhaled and pulled her closer. “I think we both knew you’d find your way back here eventually. I’m glad it was sooner, rather than later.”
Sabrina and Brandon appeared from around the corner, wearing matching ugly Christmas sweaters featuring a choir of cats proclaiming Meowy Christmas.
“There you two are. I figured you’d want a moment to yourselves after spending the last day with the biddies.”
Caleb snorted at that. “Like you aren’t in cahoots with them half the time.”
She gave an impish shrug. “I mean, they do get things right sometimes.”
“They’re two for two now,” Brandon added.
“So now maybe you’ll all stop protesting and just listen to us from now on?” Lainey popped out from behind the big Christmas tree.
“Maybe when you stop spying on us,” Sabrina countered. “I see you, Inez, you can come out.”
Inez appeared from the other side of the tree.
“Fine, come on. It’s time for breakfast, anyhow.”
Over breakfast, plans were hashed out for where Emma would be living once her stay at Sky House ended on January first. She decided to take up Sabrina’s offer to live in her guest suite in her beautiful home in town.
It was the busy season at the lodge, so Sabrina wouldn’t be home as much.
In exchange for a reasonable rent, she would take care of her two cats, Sarah and Jareth, and perform general upkeep on the property.
She was grateful that Sabrina had offered this opportunity.
As much as she wanted to move in with Caleb right away, it was too early for such a drastic step.
After all, they had his children to consider.
She had her first unofficial meeting with the girls when Caleb video-called them after breakfast. She stayed in the background, only popping in the frame to say hello at the insistence of Caleb’s ex-wife, Olivia.
It still felt odd…knowing Caleb had a family of his own.
All the more reason to take things at their own pace.
After all, there was no rush. Still, a part of her loved the idea of having children in her life, aside from Aniyah’s kids, who she only saw a few times a year.
She tried not to get ahead of herself, but she loved the idea of getting to know the girls.
They retreated to her cabin after breakfast to spend some much-needed time together. Emma took a moment to take it in as they entered, remembering the feelings of doubt and dread she’d had when she’d fled this place.
Now, as she looked around, she felt only comfort. She’d made the right choice.
Caleb sat on the edge of the bed. “Hey.”
She grinned. “Hey.”
He pulled her back onto the bed. They lay intertwined, their clothes still cold from the snowy weather outside.
“I just want you to know that I’ve always got your back, Em. I know this isn’t going to be easy, especially with the girls. Things happened fast at first, but we’re not in any kind of rush now.”
She brought her hands to his chest.
“I’m glad you said that. This has felt a little overwhelming. Even though it feels right. The only kids I’ve been around are Aniyah’s, and she lives in Texas. I just don’t want to be a weirdo, you know?”
He laughed. “The girls will probably like you if you’re willing to be weird and get on their level.
Emerson’s in kindergarten. Poppy will be in preschool next year.
So, it makes more sense if they stay where their routines are.
But they’re here on the weekends and sometimes for longer stretches.
I visit them there, too. So, they are a big part of my life. ”
“And there’s really no co-parenting drama or anything like that?”
“Olivia is my friend, first and foremost. More than anyone, she’s been eager for me to find someone else. She doesn’t want me to be lonely.”
Emma sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s my cynicism, but it seems too good to be true.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “We still argue. The girls are actual humans who have meltdowns, flip out, and are general assholes sometimes. But that’s real life, you know?
It’s not always shiny and perfect.” He cleared his throat and raised his voice several octaves.
“You’re not my mom, Emma!” He laughed. “Just giving you a preview of your future sans rose-colored glasses. But we’ve got a while before all of that. ”
“I know that.” She exhaled. “I just need to relax and let things happen. I don’t know why I’m feeling so anxious. This is a good thing.”
“Honestly, I’d be a little worried if you weren’t feeling anxious right now. Your entire life has flipped upside down. There’s a lot of uncertainty. But you can be sure of one thing, and that’s I’m not going anywhere. We’ll get through this together.”
She yawned against her arm. “That’s the one thing I’m not worried about.”
Caleb kissed the top of her head. “Well, good. Everything else is figure-out-able.”
Emma curled herself around Caleb, feeling more comfortable than ever. She was asleep a moment later.
* * * *
Caleb and Emma likely would’ve slept through most of Christmas Day if the biddies hadn’t intervened. The room was dark when the shrill noise of the cabin phone ringing woke them. Judging by the horrid jingling the phone emanated, it likely hadn’t been used since the 1980s.
Emma cursed under her breath and rolled over. Caleb grabbed the phone and croaked out a greeting.
“Wake up, sleepyheads! We’re having Christmas dinner at the house tonight. Be ready to go in an hour,” Lainey said.
He groaned. “What time is it?”
“Nearly five. Your dad and uncle have been frying turkeys again, so the sooner we get home, the better the odds the house isn’t engulfed in flames.”
He covered the receiver and gave Emma a shake. “Are you okay going to my parents’ house tonight?”
She let out a yawn. “Yeah, just give me a minute to take a shower, and I’ll be good to go.”
He uncovered the phone. “We’ll be there.”
Lainey laughed. “Well, of course you will be, sweetheart. See you soon.”
* * * *
It didn’t take much effort to get Emma out of the door. She kept talking about how this had been the first Christmas in years she’d been with family. Once the Ellis clan adopted you, there was no going back.
He had to park a block and a half away from his parents’ house. They must’ve invited all the biddies and their families to boot.
As they approached the house, he tugged her closer. “I’d warn you about what you’re walking into, but I think you know what to expect well enough by now.”
The Ellis house was lit up with white Christmas lights, which clung to anything that stood still for long enough. As much as he’d wanted to run away from this place when he was younger, he knew now this was home.
“I kind of love the chaos. But if that ever changes, I’ll let you know.”
A dual yelp echoed throughout the night. He knew well enough to know it was his dad and uncle.
“Oh, jeez. I hope they’re not burning the place down for real this time.”
They rounded the corner to find Uncle Gordon pulling out what looked like a perfectly fried turkey.
“Well, I’ll be damned. It worked this time!”
“If it didn’t, I think your turkey fryer would find its way to the dump,” Emma quipped.
Everyone laughed at that. “Come on, let’s get this turkey inside. Everyone’s hungry.”
Once the turkey was safely inside, everyone made their way into the kitchen and dining room where the buffet was set up. He knew everyone in the room. Emma didn’t yet, but she would soon.
“Look, Em.” He pointed to the mantle. Nestled amongst the other stockings, there was a new one. It was made from a retro Christmas pattern. Totally Emma’s style. Her name had been embroidered in a loopy, cursive font.
She reached over to admire it. “What? How?”
Sabrina appeared with a plate. “Oh, that’s Mom’s doing. She made one for Brandon before we were together, too. It’s her superstition. That works, I guess. Welcome to the family, Em.”
Caleb drew her in for a kiss. “Let’s not scare her off just yet, huh? This is bad enough.” He gestured around the room.
“I love it, though. I’m where I’m meant to be. I know that now.”
“That makes two of us.”