Chapter 18 Penn #2
The front door creaks open as we pile out.
Elaine, wrapped in her robe, beams when she sees us.
“Oh, this is lovely,” she says, her voice touched with the same eccentric warmth she’s always carried.
She ducks inside for her coat, and when she joins us again, her smile is so wide it damn near splits her face.
We gather around, singing into the night. She claps, hums, even throws in a few notes off-key, and my heart clenches. God, I love this woman. She raised me when no one else would, and I’d burn down the whole damn town if anyone mocked her for it.
Especially Dylan.
When the carols fade, I step up and wrap her in a hug, breathing in the familiar scent of her lavender lotion. “Elaine, Judy was hoping you’d join us for Christmas dinner.”
Her brows lift. “We’re not having our own dinner here?” There’s a flicker of disappointment, like I’ve let her down without meaning to.
“It’s the cats, Elaine. I can’t.” Right on cue, Muffin barrels against the screen door with a yowl, and my nose instantly starts itching. I sneeze three times in a row.
“Oh, Penn,” she murmurs, guilt lacing her tone. “If I’d only known…”
I cup her hands. “I like that you took them in. But I also want to spend Christmas day with you. So, come with me. Please.”
Her face softens into a smile. “I’ll come.”
Relief floods me as I hug her again, but the moment’s shattered by Dylan’s voice, slick and sharp.
“So, you didn’t know Penn wasn’t going to spend Christmas with you?”
The words land like a stone in my gut. He says it with just enough edge to stir doubt, to make it sound like I’d left her behind.
Elaine stiffens, turning toward him. Her expression flickers, recognition, followed by a carefully polite smile. “Dylan. Is that you?”
Her tone is brittle, like glass about to crack, and my body coils tight. Because I know Dylan. He’s not here to sing carols. He’s here to poke holes, to take shots, to remind me—and Jay—of every place I fall short.
And why is he doing that, Penn?
Because he wants to prove that he’s better than me, and maybe that’s because he wants her back…
But why now? It has to be more than the fact that she’s engaged. More than the fact that he wants what he can’t have. I mean, I know that trick has worked before, but my gut is suddenly telling me something else is going on with him. I tuck that thought away to examine in depth later.
“Nice to see you again, Elaine.” Dylan cocks his head, his smirk tight, still waiting for her answer to his little trap.
“No, I guess I didn’t know,” she says, voice polite but thin.
His smile sharpens. “But you did know about the engagement, right? That Penn and Jaylynn were supposedly dating in Boston?”
Supposedly.
Okay, here we go.
Elaine straightens, then turns her eyes to me with a soft smile.
She cups my face in her palm like she used to when I was a kid.
“Of course, I knew. Penn calls me every week. He was smitten with Jaylynn from the beginning.” She makes a tsking sound.
“Heartbroken when she moved home. They didn’t think long-distance would work, but the moment he came back, one look at her and he knew.
I always knew they belonged together.” She shoots Dylan a deliberate wink.
His face falters, the smugness cracking, and I bite back a grin. Who knew Elaine had such a wicked slap shot?
I lean down to hug her, whispering, “You did good.”
“That guy’s a douche,” she mutters back.
“Elaine,” I scold lightly, though a laugh breaks through.
Her eyes twinkle. “Jaylynn was too good for him. I’m glad she found the man she needed.”
I pause, heart squeezing. For a second, I almost worry she believes all this is for real.
“Elaine—”
She waves me off. “Go on, get back to the inn and get warm. It’s freezing out here. You don’t want to catch your death of cold before the parade.”
“Speaking of the parade, I’ll swing by and pick you up. We’ll get there early and you can help us set up. Wait, you do want to come, right?” I ask.
“Wouldn’t miss seeing you play Santa,” she says proudly.
“It’s good for my image,” I joke.
“As long as you don’t deck anyone.” Her eyes cut toward Dylan. “Though I wouldn’t blame you if you did. And I can get myself there. I’m not feeble, you know.”
“I know, but I don’t mind.”
“You have a lot to do, so I’ll just meet you there.”
Jay moves in beside me, slipping perfectly into my arms like she was made for the space. Elaine beams at the sight, and I swear my chest feels too full. No wonder she thinks this is real.
We’re all about to leave, but Elaine holds a hand up. “Wait, it’s National Oatmeal Muffin Day.” She comes back with a huge tray. “Help yourselves.”
“They look amazing,” Jay says, grabbing one. She takes a bite and moans softly. “Even better than they look.”
“Come on, everyone,” Elaine calls, and the carolers swarm, while Earl—her evil cat, Muffin—glowers at me from behind the screen door.”
“Elaine, I do hope you’ll come for dinner,” Judy says.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she responds, and I glance at Dylan. Is he going to try to get himself an invite to Christmas dinner too?
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Judy beams, then gives Elaine a co-conspirator wink. “I can’t wait to start the planning.”
My stomach lurches. Planning. Wedding planning.
Elaine claps. “Oh, it’s going to be so exciting.”
Jay opens her mouth, probably ready to pump the brakes, but I press a hand to her side to quiet her. Not here. Not now. Soon enough, when I’m back in Boston, and hopefully she is too, we can say it didn’t work out.
Is that the real reason you don’t want to say anything, dude?
Yes.
Oh, it doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that you’re enjoying all this, that maybe you like being a fiancé and would one day love to marry Jaylynn at the country club?
No.
Okay maybe.
Dammit.
That’s when Dylan strikes.
“Wow, looks like Penn’s aunt is more excited than the bride to be. What about your parents, Penn, are they just as excited?”
Jay curls her arm around me, holding me tight as my pulse thunders, my control hanging by a thread.
But one thing is clear, Dylan is looking for trouble, looking to take me down.
He’s still the bully he was in high school.
But yeah, he can say what he wants to me. But so help me if he hurts Jaylynn.
“Maybe they’re busy,” Dylan adds with mock sympathy. “Or wait, do you have any other family? Family is such an important thing in this small town.”
I feel Jay stiffen beside me. Her grip on me tightens, like she’s trying to keep me from lunging at him. I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to do anything to mess this festival up for her.
“Of course, he has family,” Jaylynn snaps, her voice sharp as broken glass. She exchanges a quick, loaded glance with her father.
Dylan just shrugs, feigning innocence, like he hasn’t just ripped open a scar that never fully healed. “Oh yeah? Then where are they?” He lets his gaze sweep the crowd in exaggerated mockery, as though proving a point.
And then something miraculous happens.
Before I can answer, Jaylynn’s family moves. One by one, her brothers and their wives, the kids still sticky with candy canes, her parents, and even the neighbors—all the carolers standing around in the frosty night—step in closer. Forming a wall. Closing ranks.
Around me.
For me.
My chest tightens, my throat going raw as my heart grows two sizes bigger, threatening to burst clean out of me. For the first time in too damn long, I’m not standing alone.
Dylan’s smile falters, his fake bravado cracking. Good. Let him choke on it.
Elaine clears her throat, stepping in to smooth the edges. “You all need to get home before you catch your death of cold,” she says again and reaches out to give my hand a squeeze. Her touch says more than words ever could. “Thank you for coming.”
“Elaine’s right,” Judy agrees warmly. “We can’t have Santa sick before his big day.” She glances at my aunt, her tone genuine and sweet. “It’s always so good to see you, Elaine.”
Dylan slinks back, his moment ruined, while Jay presses tighter against my side, as though to shield me with her body.
Back in the car, silence hangs heavy until the heater hisses on. Jay’s thigh presses against mine, a quiet reassurance, her careful glances softening the raw edges Dylan left behind. He’d meant to humiliate me, to remind me of everything I don’t have—but instead he showed me exactly what I do.
Family.
Maybe it’s borrowed. Maybe it’s fake. But tonight, wrapped in their circle, it feels real. And for once, I let myself bask in it.
“Are you guys warming up?” Will calls from the front seat, breaking the quiet as he steers us back onto the road.
Jay wiggles closer, burrowing into my side like she belongs there. “Nice and toasty,” she says, tilting her face up at me, mischief sparking in her eyes. “So… you still up for the beer fest? There will be karaoke.”
I groan. “Kill me now.”
But inside, with her tucked so perfectly against me, there’s no denying the truth. If she wants me to sing, I’ll sing. Hell, I’ll do anything for her.