Chapter 3
CHLOE
Iam elbow-deep in cookie dough when my phone rings again. Quickly, I wipe my hands on my apron and swipe to answer. It’s my sister-in-law.
“Hi Daisy! Are you on your way?”
Putting the phone on speaker, I continue rolling the dough to make star-shaped Christmas cookies.
“Oh, Chloe, I am soooo sorry.”
“Noooooo,” I whine.
“David woke up puking, and we thought it was getting better, but then Leo started an hour ago, and I am so sorry, but we can’t make it.”
Tears are forming in my eyes, and I blink them away. “I understand. Take care. Hopefully, the boys feel better tomorrow so they can at least enjoy their presents.”
“I’m so sorry, Chloe, we know how much you love Christmas and how much work you put into everything.”
“It’s okay.” I bite my lip to keep the tears away. “Mom and dad will be there as soon as their flight is rescheduled, and Aunt Gemma and Uncle Dean will still be there with the kids, just as Uncle Ron and Granny.”
“Yeah, you have fun for us, okay? We’re so sad we’ll be missing everything.”
“Will do, bye!” I hang up and wipe my cheeks with the back of my hands. Shit, now I need to wash up before I continue.
I try to call my mom to check on their flight, but she doesn’t answer. It’s eleven o’clock now, plenty of time for them to arrive, right?
When my phone rings again, I am just putting the last batch of cookies in the oven.
“Hi, Aunt Gemma! I hope you’re hungry, because I made cookies for days!”
“Chloe, my darling, I have some bad news.”
My shoulders sag. “Oh no, what’s wrong?”
“They have canceled our flight. We don’t know why yet, and we will try to get a new one, but everything is booked, and the entire airport is in chaos. I will get back to you in an hour or so. We know how much you looked forward to hosting us, so we are giving it our all, okay?”
“Okay.” I hate how small my voice sounds; my aunt picks up on it.
“Hush, honey, we love you, and it will all work out.”
“Yeah, I hope so. Daisy and Luke already had to cancel because the boys are both sick. And mom and dad are delayed as well.”
“It will all work out, honey. Just wait and see. And don’t go eating all those Christmas cookies by yourself, you hear me?”
I smile; her New York accent is pouring through. “Okay, Aunt Gemma. I love you!”
Absent-mindedly, I move the cookies to the cooler and open the fridge.
I planned an entire Christmas feast, but if I miss my brother and his family, possibly even more—should I make everything?
Indecision has me calling my mom, who still doesn’t answer.
That has to be a good thing, right? That must mean they’re on their way.
That sets my mind at ease, and I decide to forgo the pigs in blankets but make everything else.
I snack on Christmas cookies while working in the kitchen like a professional chef. Only this chef is wearing a corny Christmas apron over her favorite Christmas sweater while singing along to Christmas songs.
It’s 2 PM when my phone buzzes, and I smile when it’s my mom.
“Hi, Mommy, did you guys land?”
“Oh, honey…” she starts.
I wail. ”Nooooooooooooo.”
“They are canceling our flight. Apparently, there’s some big storm brewing in the North East and they are canceling all flights to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.”
I can’t hold back my tears now. “So, you’re not coming?”
“We’re gonna try to get a car, honey.”
My phone pings with another incoming call: Aunt Gemma. “Hang on for a sec.., Mom, Aunt Gemma is calling.”
Quickly switching calls, I greet my aunt with a sober “Hi.”
“Oh, Chloe, darling, we’re so sorry. They have canceled all the flights.”
“I know, I have mom on the other line.”
“We are going home. If there’s a storm coming, Dean wants to get home before it hits. Again, I’m so sorry, but I hope you understand.”
“I do, Aunt Gemma, I do.” I look at the chicken that’s roasting in the oven.
“It will all work out.”
“It always does, sweetheart,” she says before she hangs up.
“Mommy?” I sound meek and defeated, but until now, Uncle Ron is the only person who hasn’t canceled yet, and I can’t imagine him making the trip if the weather is this bad.
“We’re coming by car, darling,” she says.
“No, don’t. That’s dangerous. I may love Christmas, but I love you more.”
“Okay, honey. Are you gonna be okay?”
“Yes, I have cookies for days. The chicken is in the oven, potatoes are ready to be mashed, cranberry sauce is simmering, and Brussels sprouts only need to be made. Maybe we can FaceTime during dinner?”
“That’s an awesome idea, let me get the family in on it, okay?”
We say our goodbyes after that, and even though I’m sad and disappointed, the prospect of our digital dinner still puts me in the Christmas spirit.
It will all work out.