Chapter Forty Sophie
Chapter Forty
Sophie
December
"Do you like it?"
"Are you kidding? I love it, baby," Callum breathes, lifting up his Christmas present to look at it closely.
It's Christmas morning.
Maeve is tinkering around in the kitchen as Callum and I exchange our gifts, and I exhale a relieved breath as I watch him hold the present I designed.
His eyes are wide, almost childlike, as he studies the book nook.
Since I've had to stay home recovering, I've had lots of free time on my hands, and this gift definitely needed time.
Time, focus, and patience... everything Callum already gives me so freely.
I wanted to get Callum something really special and different for Christmas, not just the usual men's gifts—a new watch, cologne, or some new electronic device. Callum is extremely practical in all aspects of his life.
He already has a watch he really likes that's fairly new.
He doesn't really change his wardrobe, and, given his size, sometimes he needs to special order clothing to fit around his shoulders and chest. I had briefly considered maybe a piece of jewelry, but I never see him wear any—not that I haven't pictured a nice gold band on his left ring finger once or twice.
I wanted to get him something he could look at every day and something personal, because I knew he would appreciate it more than anything store-bought.
After scouring the web for ideas and asking the girls in the book club, April sent me a link to her friend's website. She creates personalized little book nook inserts you can place on bookshelves.
When I saw the pictures, I was sold and spent hours designing it, adding personal touches that reflect our relationship. I was able to make it look like a small replica of the store—the place where we first met, the safe haven where I found my home.
There are two little otters sitting on the little couch, a painting of a Ferris wheel on the wall, a sign that reads Ever After Always, and she even added a little stuffed gray cat in the corner when I sent pictures of the store and Plot to her.
The shelves are stocked with miniature copies of our favourite books, and the lighting components give the entire thing a warm glow.
"It's... this is incredible," Callum says, turning to me with glassy eyes. He gently places it on the coffee table as if it were precious, then cups my face and presses his lips to mine. "This is the best gift I've ever received... well, aside from your heart. Thank you, sweet girl."
"You're welcome," I smile against his lips, kissing him once more. Maeve walks back into the room, handing me and Callum cups of steaming hot chocolate. I smile at her in thanks, and she bends to kiss my head, maternal affection bleeding through the action.
"You are quite the gift-giver, my dove," Maeve says, practically floating over to her armchair and picking up the tarot deck I had made for her from the coffee table.
I had found a legitimate website online that custom-made tarot decks—not one of those fake witchy scammer websites—but an actual Wiccan.
The cards are thick and sturdy, made from wood with the design burnt in and painted.
The deck is more astrological themed, since Maeve feels so connected to the sun and the moon.
Hers was the first present opened, and the look on her face is something I'll always remember.
The way her brown eyes, which match the ones I love so dearly, filled with tears, and she hugged me fiercely.
Her phone buzzes from next to her, catching her attention and causing her and Callum to share a rather conspiratorial glance.
"Here?" Callum asks, and Maeve nods, quickly typing something back before standing and disappearing out the front door.
Narrowing my eyes in suspicion, I ask him, "What's here?"
"A present for you," he informs me, a large Grinch-like grin growing on his face.
"Callum," I groan, reaching my arm out and pointing to my wrist where my Christmas present lies beautifully.
Callum bought me a bracelet with a delicate gold chain and a matching charm that made me cry when I opened it—two little otters holding hands, a hidden S and C on their bellies.
"This is more than enough—it's perfect, I don't need anything else. "
"You need this," he quips, voice low as he kisses me once before pulling us both to our feet. He turns me to face the door, his massive palms coming up to cover my eyes, chuckling when I huff.
Two sets of footsteps walk into the apartment.
"Hey, Soph," a familiar voice says, causing my heart to stutter in my chest like it misses a beat entirely. Callum drops his hands, and my eyes pop open to see the smiling figure in the doorway, snowflakes melting into her hair.
"Oh, my God," I gasp. In two strides, my sister is standing in front of me, arms open, and I throw myself in them. "Tess!"
I dissolve into tears the second she wraps me in her strong arms, and I smell the familiar scent of my sister.
She's not in her BDUs; she's dressed in her civilian clothes—hoodie, winter vest, and jeans, thick boots on her feet to protect against the snow.
Her hair is pulled up into a messy bun, with a couple of strands escaping around her face.
She looks like she's glowing with happiness, and I can't believe she's standing in front of me.
I haven't seen her in person in over a year, this person who, at one point, was all I had.
Now I get to show her the life I've built, the family I've built, and enfold her in that family easily.
"I missed you," Tess says, her voice choking up as she squeezes me and presses a kiss to the side of my head.
"I missed you," I say, pulling back to look at her. "How are you here? I thought you said February!"
"I did. But my boss lost his mom to breast cancer, so he's a bit of a softie.
He bumped my paperwork through. I'm outprocessing at Devens, so.
.." She shrugs, attempting nonchalance and failing miserably because her smile is wide and bright enough to outshine the Christmas lights on the tree. "I'll be staying in Starling Cove."
The news is like a shot of adrenaline. My sister is home. For good. Staying here.
I open my mouth, a million questions stampeding through my mind, but the one I land on is, "When did you get in?"
"Two weeks—"
"Two weeks?!" I cut her off, my voice jumping an octave. "Why didn't you tell me? Have you been at the base?"
"No, I've been at your apartment," she laughs, glancing over to Callum with the tiniest smirk.
"Since you've been staying here. I've been staying there to quarantine.
I wanted to make sure I didn't catch anything in Germany, or on the way home, or at the goddamn airport—God knows that place is fucking ground zero for germs, especially now.
Oh, sorry—" Tess winces, remembering she's with company and that her mouth has no filter when her guard is down.
"Don't worry about it," Maeve says, waving off her apology. "Are you hungry? Do you want coffee?"
"Yes, ma'am," Tess nods politely to Maeve, her tone full of respect and her posture straight like she's in front of a superior.
"Just Maeve," she smiles as she links her arm through my sister's and guides her toward the kitchen. "Ma'am makes me feel too old."
Tess smiles back at Maeve as they walk into the kitchen, and I turn to smiling Callum. Rushing to him, he catches me effortlessly, spinning me around as my laughter spills out. "How did you—"
"—kept in contact with Tess after the hospital," Callum says, setting me back on my feet but not letting go of my waist. "She didn't want to get your hopes up, just in case it fell through. Then we thought it would be a nice surprise before the surgery."
"I..." the words clog in my throat, and I'm not really sure what to say.
This has been the best Christmas of my entire life.
Even with the looming surgery and radiation treatment I'm facing, I can't help but feel pure gratitude and love. My sister is home for good, and I can feel something click into place inside of me. Like a missing puzzle piece has finally been placed in its spot.
In a week, I'll take the next major step of my cancer journey and have my breasts removed from my body, but not even thoughts of surgery can get me down, because today I'm spending this holiday with the man who makes my life golden. All I can say is, "Thank you, Callum."
"You're welcome," he murmurs, leaning down to bump our noses together with a soft smile. "Merry Christmas, baby."
"Merry Christmas, Callum," I murmur back, kissing his lips softly as Tess and Maeve walk back into the living room. Tess carries a plate of steaming cinnamon rolls and places it on the coffee table, while Maeve holds two cups of coffee and hands one to Tess.
We settle back onto the couch as Callum flips on the TV and puts on It's A Wonderful Life.
Tess hands Callum a plate for both of us, and I cuddle into his side as we all eat, chat, and watch the movie.
I can't help but smile as Tess easily falls into conversation with Callum and Maeve.
The way she slots in as seamlessly as I have makes me feel warm.
Maeve tells her something that makes her laugh wholeheartedly as she sits on the couch next to me.
"So, what's next?" I ask Tess, licking frosting from my thumb.
"I'm on Christmas leave until the second week of January, then outprocessing for the next couple of months," Tess tells me, taking a sip of her coffee, "Then I am officially not government property anymore."
"Amen to that," Maeve says, raising her mug in the air.
"What are your next plans?" Callum asks Tess, who opens her mouth to answer—before all of us freeze at the sound of booted footsteps stomping up the stairs.