Chapter Fourteen
Neva
She had hoped that Christina’s arrival would help calm things down. Apparently, that was not the case, and with them expecting her own parents tonight, Neva didn’t know what to do.
Of course, she believed Angie when she said she wasn’t cheating on her, but there was something else going on with Nadine. She still flushed with embarrassment at the memory of blurting out those words, showing her how much she, too, had been on edge.
The whole story about the wish granting?
Neva almost wanted to call Dr. McEwen again, if only to hear that she had nothing to worry about. At this point, she found it hard to believe, given that Angie had been talking about alternate realities and wanting a messy house.
Okay, that wasn’t exactly what she had said, but it sounded disturbing enough.
What should she do? Pretend this strange conversation had never happened? It seemed to matter a lot to Angie.
She had also mentioned Neva’s painting, and yes, Neva missed it too. Maybe they were overdue to talk more in depth about things they had been taken for granted in recent years.
Without a doubt, the timing was exceptionally bad.
Neva didn’t want Angie to think she was brushing her off, but she also didn’t know what to add to the words they’d said.
Having a Christmas Eve dinner had been Angie’s wish, so for the next couple of days, she wanted to be the wish granter and provide holiday cheer for their family.
That, Neva was confident, would make Angie happy. And then they could talk.
She shook her head at the idea that Angie would prefer chaos. That was not how they had designed their lives. They had wanted safety, some predictability. Caron Academy produced predictable results. The way they were raising their children did, didn’t it?
And she would have to talk to Amanda about the kitten—Fluffy?—because Neva ignoring last night’s conversation at breakfast couldn’t be all the reason for the redness around Angie’s eyes. At least she hoped it wasn’t the case.
“So, who’s going to come with me for last-minute shopping?”
Everyone confirmed with varying degrees. The twins were always happy to go to decorated stores and supermarkets, no matter how loud or crowded. Christina acted more casual, but to Neva’s relief she could see the excitement in her eyes.
She was approaching adulthood far too fast. At least they would have her home for a little while. Angie looked tired, but she smiled. Neva read it as an agreement that they wouldn’t raise any complicated subjects for the moment.
Perfect. The real holidays could begin—well, after they had all the ingredients to impress her parents tonight.
It had been years since they’d cooked a big spread together, and Neva was in equal parts excited and terrified, especially when she saw the line at the first supermarket. Maybe catering wouldn’t have been the worst idea?
***
She had to admit Angie was holding up better than she’d thought, navigating them through the madness part of the holiday, sales and indulgences and everything they needed for their dinner while making sure the kids were involved.
Neva found herself wondering if it could always be like this, if Christina wasn’t at Caron.
But that would be selfish of them, wouldn’t it? Just like it would be selfish to take up painting again, out of the blue, a hobby, when they needed both incomes to support the lives they had.
Finally, they were back home where they started preparing dinner while the girls were setting the table.
“This is new,” Christina remarked, standing in the doorway. “I mean it’s nice that Grandma and Grandpa are coming over, but we don’t usually do that.”
“I thought it would be nice to shake things up a bit,” Angie answered, adorable in an apron that Neva had never seen before, with a couple of penguins under a glittering star on it. “Mom and Dad already booked a cruise, but we’ll see them for a quick lunch tomorrow.”
“Okay. The table is set. Anything else you want me to do?”
“It’s fine. Unless you want to peel a few more potatoes.”
Christina’s face said it all.
“You can keep an eye on Fluffy and make sure she stays out of the kitchen,” Neva said. At the moment, the kitten was with the twins whom she seemed to like best of the family. Angie came second, and Fluffy tended to seek her out. They’d find a solution after Christmas.
For now, it was best to go with the flow.
“I can do that,” Christina agreed and left.
Momentarily alone, the silence was stretching between them even in the busy atmosphere. Neva stepped closer to Angie and kissed her softly.
“What was that for?” Angie asked, surprised.
“Just because. Merry Christmas.”
A smile lit up Angie’s face. “Merry Christmas, my love.”
It would be all right. Everything else was unthinkable.
***
Her parents arrived a little after 4 p.m., laden with gifts they added to the small mountain already under their tree.
“This is so nice,” her mom said, hugging her tightly. “Spending Christmas with all of my favorite girls.”
She looked so happy Neva felt a pang of guilt for not doing this earlier. She had assumed everyone, including her parents and Angie, would enjoy some quiet over the holidays, not having to spend substantial parts of them in the kitchen. Today had been fun, though.
Perhaps she and Angie were both a little confused this year. They had worked hard as always. It might be time to reconsider some things, though none if it explained the story of their neighbor Nadine doing weird magic for Christmas.
“Laura, hi. Harry. We’re glad you’re here,” Angie greeted them. “Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”
After getting the affirmative, they got everyone settled in the living room, and Angie went to the kitchen to make hot chocolate for the girls, and a spiced eggnog for the adults.
Neva followed her, leaning against the island, for a moment amazed how confidently Angie had breezed through all of today’s challenges, after nearly breaking down last night. This was their life. The right one. The real one. Wasn’t it?
She studied her for a moment, once again torn between the certainty that nothing could tear them apart, and the worry of not knowing what was going on.
Because Nadine was their neighbor and a talented jeweler, nothing more.
“Aren’t you going to help?” Angie asked, amusement in her voice.
“Yes. Of course. What do you need?”
Angie turned to her with a tray of mugs filled with deliciously smelling hot beverages.
“Too late. But you can bring the whipped cream and the sprinkles.”
“Angie, I just want to say I’m sorry.” She had no idea why it was coming out now, this way, when she’d been determined to keep things merry.
“That’s okay.” Angie looked pensive. “There might be some things I forgot to tell you last night, but we’ll talk about it later, okay? I know it all sounds bizarre, but I swear this is what Nadine told me. There is still a way to fix this.”
Disappointed, Neva plastered a smile on her face. So, she wasn’t going to let this go anytime soon. And what would happen when the clock struck twelve and they’d still be in the same reality they’d always been in? What would Angie do?
***
She had come to check on dinner when she realized the door to their guestroom was open, voices coming from inside. Neva had tried to focus on what was most important, their family together, but Angie’s refusal to give up on her strange story lingered on her mind.
How far would she go with it?
She opened the door a bit, not meaning to eavesdrop, but when she saw Christina was crying, Neva went inside right away.
“What happened?”
“I knew it. I knew something was up.” Angie’s eyes were red-rimmed once more, and not just because Christina was clutching Fluffy.
Brad sat at her feet. Neva thought he looked like he was worried too.
Didn’t Angie say something about another dog? And she was convinced they had gotten Fluffy on the day she brought Nadine to dinner. Nothing made sense.
“I didn’t want to say anything because…You work so hard all the time, just so I can go there. And for the most part it’s fine, but I don’t like what they’ve been saying about you. And no one punishes them for it.”
Oh no.
When they had first met with the principal, the school seemed open-minded and welcoming. She and Angie had found no red flags whenever they introduced themselves as Angie’s parents.
“They are legacy students, so no one will touch them. But I won’t be silent,” Christina insisted. “This is my family.”
“Of course, honey.” Neva finally moved and hugged her. “I promise you, we’ll talk to the principal right after the holidays.”
“I don’t think that will do much,” Angie spoke up. “We still can, but the principal told her to stay quiet. I don’t like this at all. I want Christina to come home.”
This was all going far too fast for Neva.
“I understand you’re upset, but we have to find a moment to talk this through,” she said. “To make a plan.”
“I’m sorry,” Christina sniffed. “I didn’t mean to ruin Christmas.”
“You didn’t,” Neva assured her. “We’ll figure this out.”
“What’s to figure out?” There was an edge to Angie’s voice. “She’s not going back. I knew this was a bad idea to begin with.”
“Really?” Neva’s good intentions went out the window. “It was your idea!”
“That’s not true.”
“But it is. Look, I’m not blaming you. I’m just saying—” She halted when Christina jumped to her feet and left the room, but not before setting Fluffy gently on her chair. The kitten meowed softly, and Angie sneezed. She still looked incredulous, as if she didn’t remember.
Maybe she didn’t.
“Angie, please, let’s take a breath, okay? We’ve had a few stressful weeks. Let’s take it one day at a time, please?”
“You still don’t believe me.”
“I believe you that you think all of it is true, Nadine, the wish, but the truth is we have some decisions to make.”
“Christina being unhappy isn’t my imagination. It never was. And you miss painting. I know you do.”
“That has nothing to do with me.”
“I’m trying to help.” Angie sounded desperate. “If we don’t get this right, and soon, we won’t have any more chances.”
“To do what? Do you really hate our life so much?”
“You don’t understand.”
“No. Maybe I don’t.” Nadine, Caron, painting, the choices and the sacrifices they’d made, it was all too much to deal with at the moment, while they were supposed to be serving the main course. “Scratch that, I definitely don’t understand.”
“Okay.” Angie wiped her hand over her eyes and turned towards the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To get some fresh air. I need to clear my head.”
“Now?”
She didn’t get an answer. Neva couldn’t help the searing feeling that she’d missed an important moment—even if she still didn’t believe in the wish granter. But she wished things were different, and that Angie would turn around and come home.
The sound of the front door opening and closing told her otherwise.