Chapter 21
Twenty-One
Lily
The Christmas tree was tucked into the corner of my living room. I’d gotten a six-foot fake tree with ornaments and lights already built in. Cali had chosen it. I had some gifts underneath for Cali and Kellan, and then Cali had insisted on getting Bug, Flakes, Pebbles, each barn cat, and her new hamster, Yellow, each a gift.
It was Christmas Eve. Mom and Dad had taken off this morning and would arrive soon. Eliot said he hoped to make it in time for dinner. Dad had asked about inviting Aunt Linda and Uncle Darren. Other than Dad getting to catch up with his sister and mend any rift that might have developed between them about the trust, it’d also be good for her to see Eliot at the house again.
I was excited to see Linda and to have my parents over, but I also dreaded it. It was Christmas, and the visit should be less awkward and more jubilant. I also wanted them to see that Eliot and I were, indeed, close. We at least had a sexual relationship. Yet the motivation behind the visit for me and Eliot would be to dupe her and my dad.
Cali sprinted to the front door at the first flash of headlights. “It’s Grandma and Grandpa!”
Bug barked from the basement. I’d bring him out after all the guests arrived so we could work on proper introductions. Otherwise, everyone would get a bear hug from a Dalmatian.
I was excited to see my parents again, but I was anticipating Eliot walking through the door. After Thanksgiving, I wasn’t sure whether Eliot would make it or not for the holiday. But he’d called shortly after I’d gotten home and asked if he could come on Christmas Eve and he’d have to leave later on Christmas Day. Maybe he was more invested in this relationship than he thought. He was making Christmas work, and that wasn’t nothing.
Maybe I was more invested in our relationship than I should be. Either way, I’d been counting down the days until I could see him.
I peered out the picture window. They’d parked at the end of the driveway, closest to the front door. “Can you see if they need help bringing anything in?”
Eliot would park by the garage like he normally did. He had a spot, and something about that made this whole thing seem less pretend.
Cali ran out to greet her grandparents. They came in on a rush of cold air, large tote bags, and a big cooler.
Dad smiled at me. His jacket was crinkled from the cold, and he had a black stocking hat on his head. “Heya, kiddo. I have a few trips to make with the presents.”
I took all the bags hanging off Mom.
She toed off her thick boots and handed Cali her coat. “The prime rib is ready to throw into the oven, and I have heating instructions on the potatoes and carrots. The dessert can go right in the fridge.” She beamed at Cali. “Can you help me with that?”
Cali’s nod was enthusiastic. “I’m the boss lady.”
Kellan crawled right up to Mom. She stooped to pick him up. “You’re going to be faster than me soon.”
Cali tugged on Mom’s hand. “Want to see our tree?”
“Absolutely.” Mom kept Kellan hugged to her and let Cali lead her to the tree. “Oh my. Did you pick out all the decorations?”
I waited, the back of my shoulders growing tight. I had decorated the house each year I was married to Carter and each year his parents found fault with my style and efforts. They never said it outright, but there would be small comments. My friend’s daughter color coordinates her bulbs. She even put them in a nice spiral going around the tree. Or the Oh, I expected more…since you’re just a tech now.
“They came with the tree,” Cali said proudly. She’d picked out the tree, and the decorations she’d made in school hung on the limbs.
“Oh my.” Mom smiled at me. “That’s a good idea. Some years, I thought I’d lose it if I found one more tangled set of lights.”
I immediately relaxed. Mom always supported me. She might question me, and she’d always treat me like the youngest, but she had my back. “It was probably Poppy or Clover that just threw them in the storage bin.”
Mom chuckled. “It was most definitely Alder. Now, the boy will roll them up with military precision.” She switched sides she held Kellan on. “I’m going to tackle dinner. You hang out and relax.”
“Mom, I can help.” It was my turn to host her. There was no Carter to undermine her visit. There was no overwhelm for me. I was in a good place and I wanted her to see it. My wish had nothing to do with the damn trust.
“It’s my treat. I’m sure you’ll be watching out the door for a certain cowboy to arrive?”
I might’ve been doing that for the last hour. There was no talking Mom out of her mission. “I’ll help Dad and then I’ll be back.”
By the time I got my shoes on, I heard footsteps crunching on the other side of the door. I swung it open.
“Perfect timing,” Dad said as he stepped in, his arms full of red-, green-, and white-wrapped gifts. “Keep the door open. There are more.”
I was about to peek out when another person strode in. Eliot grinned from behind two big boxes.
“Eliot!” The butterflies in my belly woke up. I rose on my toes to give him a kiss. He turned to the side as much as possible and met my kiss with an equal energy of his own.
I cupped his face and stole a few more seconds before pulling away. “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Me too. Your aunt and uncle just pulled in. Wanna give me another kiss for them?” He spoke loud enough for me to hear.
My thrill from earlier died just a little bit. Was the first kiss for my parents’ sake? I wanted to keep my mouth on him for completely different reasons. He pressed his lips to mine, then footsteps sounded outside the screen door.
“Knock knock,” Linda’s voice rang out.
Eliot straightened. The heat in his eyes brought some of the earlier excitement back. I wouldn’t quit hoping he’d come for Christmas because he’d wanted to.
I let my aunt and uncle in. “Welcome.”
Linda stepped in and looked around. Darren piled in behind her. Dismay filled her eyes, but she shook it off. “It’s looking less like Mom’s place.” Her smile was hesitant. “Always a little shock, but it looks good. The tree full of presents brings back memories from when you kids were little.”
Dad glanced up from where he was squatting, arranging presents. “Maybe with that trust, we’ll get another generation of little ones to keep Cali and Kellan company.”
Aunt Linda smiled, looking at Eliot and then me.
Oh. She was thinking we were going to add to the kid crew. Laughter bubbled up from my chest. Things were so new. I was falling hard for my husband, but we’d spent only a smattering of days together. Babies? I still had a baby.
The laughter died when I caught a glimpse of Eliot’s shuttered expression. He was staring at the floor, but he snapped out of whatever hidden thoughts he was thinking.
“Let me get those for you,” he said as he took the bags and presents from Linda and Darren.
Eliot hadn’t even taken off his coat and boots. He was rushing to get away from the baby conversation.
Eliot
Lily sat next to me on the couch as Cali ripped open her presents from her grandparents and squealed with each one. Magnolia and Weston were helping Kellan with his. I had my arm around Lily’s shoulders. Being away from work was a blessing and a curse. There was supposed to be a storm rolling in the day after Christmas, and I worried about getting back before it hit. I stressed over Jasper being on his own for the first time. He was a quick learner, and he had a strong base thanks to helping Weston’s parents ranch in the summers, but he was in charge of everything, and Chambers and his wife were out of town for the holiday.
Yet being in Crocus Valley, getting to kiss Lily and watch her laugh and enjoy her parents’ company, was my own Christmas gift. She was relaxed around them in a way she hadn’t been with her family when they’d been here in the fall. I loved seeing her happy, and I’d get to be with her tonight and wake up to her. But the pull of my obligations would always be there.
I shouldn’t have come. Lily wasn’t an obligation, but my absence would’ve been heavily noted by her aunt and uncle and her parents. It was a good thing I came.
The gift Cali was opening was from Linda and Darren. Cali cheered when she broke through the red Santa wrapping paper to reveal a box with brightly colored plastic bowls and just as brilliantly colored pots and pans. “A cooking set. Thanks!”
Linda spread her hands. “I didn’t know what little girls liked these days.”
“She’ll love it,” Lily assured her.
Magnolia helped Kellan finish opening his gift. He tried to put a fistful of wrapping paper in his mouth, but his grandma intervened. “Perfect timing. You can chew on this giant phone.”
She wrestled a white plastic phone with multicolored buttons out of its box. Kellan kicked his legs and reached for it.
Magnolia grinned at Linda. “Another winner.”
Darren patted his wife’s leg. “We should get going. I think it’s going to be a while before the kids are done opening the gifts from their grandparents.”
Lily stood with her aunt and uncle. Weston gave his sister a hug and shook Darren’s hand. Magnolia encompassed both Linda and Darren in a hug before going back to her grandkids.
Lily walked her aunt and uncle to the door, and I followed to see them out like this was my place too.
“Thank you for coming,” she said, giving Linda a quick hug.
Darren handed his wife her coat. “I’ll get the car warmed up.” He ducked out the door with a general wave at the room.
I slipped my arm around Lily’s shoulder. “Nice to see you again.”
Linda smiled and shrugged into her jacket. “Yes. Having family in town again is nice.” Her expression warmed. “I feel like I’ve already seen your kids more than I got to see you when you were growing up. And I have to admit, it’s comforting to see you both.” Her gaze bounced between us and landed on me. “Have you been able to commute like you wanted?”
“We’re making it work,” I said.
Lily nodded. “The kids got to see the Knight ranch. It’s so much more spread out than Grandma and Grandpa’s.”
“Yes,” Linda said fondly. “I’ve been wondering if they didn’t piecemeal their property just for something to leave behind for each grandkid.” She peeked out the screen door. “Well, Darren’s waiting.” She hesitated and glanced at where Weston and Magnolia were with the kids. “You two remind me of them, you know. You thrive on a busy life like your mom, and there was a time when she was home with the kids and Weston was already in Billings for his new job. He spent some time commuting while they sold their old house and built their new one.”
Lily stiffened only enough that I could feel it. “I barely remember that,” she murmured.
I could hear what was going through my wife’s head. Eventually, Magnolia and the kids had moved. They lived together as a family again. Lily and I had never lived together, and we weren’t planning on it. Weston and Magnolia hadn’t lived separately, knowing they’d be ending in a divorce.