Chapter Seventeen
Angie
When Angie woke, the sun was shining into the window, the sky a brilliant blue just as predicted for Christmas Day. She sat up in bed, trying hard not to let panic take over. Christmas morning already.
She had missed dinner and gift giving, worrying everyone.
She could hear the sound of the shower. Was Neva mad at her for ruining everyone’s evening? If nothing had changed, she would have to start with lots of apologies for this version of her family.
Determined to remain in the resolve she had somehow found last night, she slipped out of bed, shivering when she realized she didn’t remember how she got into her pajamas—or even, how she got home. She couldn’t bring herself to dwell on this for the moment.
After she put on her slippers, Angie quietly went downstairs, intending to get the coffee started.
Instead, she started opening cupboards, took some milk out of the fridge and began preparing hot chocolate for everyone to the Christmas playlist on her phone.
They had all earned something sweet. When it was done, she poured herself a mug and dropped a few small marshmallows in it.
Angie took a sip, her eyes welling up when the sweet taste and warmth of the beverage unleashed another flood of happy memories.
Her parents had often made hot chocolate on Christmas morning when she was little.
Later she and Neva had shared the sweet beverage during the holiday when they started living together, and of course they had continued that tradition with their children.
She went into the living room, stopping cold. Lots of unopened presents sat under the tree. A tree that looked a bit more crooked than she remembered. What had happened yesterday? Did everyone just go to bed without opening the gifts? Why? Did they want to wait for her?
Why couldn’t she remember? Did she get drunk, or…Did Nadine’s brand of magic have anything to do with it?
“Good morning, love. Merry Christmas.”
She spun around, nearly spilling her beverage. Neva was smiling like she was happy to see her, carrying a mug of her own.
“You made hot chocolate,” she added. “I didn’t know it was possible, but now I love you even more.”
“Not as much as I love you.” They shared a smile, and Angie held the gaze of the woman she had shared her life with for almost two decades before she glanced over at the tree again and nearly dropped her mug.
The ornaments Christina and the twins had made were back!
In fact, the tree was decorated in their typical eclectic style, treasures from Angie’s family and hers, and some that they had collected over time.
The rainbow heart ornament with the words Love is Love on it. A baby carriage that Angie’s parents had given them when Christina was on the way. Stars, apples, two dachshunds and a kitten.
Two? Did that mean…
“I’m so sorry. About everything,” she blurted out. “I never meant to be ungrateful.”
Neva stepped close to hug her.
“Angie, where is this coming from? It’s all good. I’m sorry I didn’t go out to buy more wrapping paper, but I found a few more rolls in the basement. It turns out we had more than enough for the rest of the presents.”
“The rest of the…”
“Yeah, we should have more than enough have time, and it’s early.
You could even get another batch of cookies in the oven if you wanted to.
” Neva winked. “Don’t worry, you’ll have lots of helpers.
I talked to the girls, and they understand that if they want more sweets, they will have to lend a hand.
We have our work cut out for tonight’s dinner. ”
“Tonight’s…I don’t understand. What day is it?”
“What day?” Neva reached out to touch Angie’s forehead, the gesture soft and tender. “Christmas Eve, of course. They day we’ve been waiting for! And If I have to keep your gift to myself much longer, I’m going to burst.”
“Wait. What?” Angie couldn’t help the goofy smile that spread on her face. “It’s Christmas Eve!”
“Yes, exactly. What did you think?”
“It’s not important.” She hugged Neva close and then pulled back to kiss her gently. What was meant as a sweet reassurance, turned a little more passionate soon, until footsteps alerted them to the presence of another occupant in the house.
A yawning Christina stood in front of them, managing to roll her eyes at the same time. Said eyes lit up when she saw the tree with the gifts underneath.
“Wow, there are so many more. You did all of that last night?”
“Your moms are a whole lot more efficient than you think,” Neva said with a wink. “But we really could use your help after breakfast.”
“Of course. I look forward to seeing Grandmas and Grandpas again.”
Me too, Angie thought. Me, too. She had to check.
“Let’s make breakfast, shall we? We talk about Caron later.”
“Caron?” Christina asked, frowning. “I thought we already had. I’m not transferring. Ashley doesn’t like it there. Her parents think about pulling her out.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Could this be true? Did she really have her life back?
“I can start the pancakes,” Christina offered. “We’re having pancakes, right?”
“Absolutely.” Angie hugged her too, until her daughter gently protested.
Her eyes were welling up again, and she suspected it would happen many more times today. And tomorrow.
Next, Fiona and Elsa, awake and excited, came rushing into the living room, equally excited furbabies in their wake.
Fluffy. And Bert and Ernie.
Angie crouched down only to have Bert and Ernie pad over to her while Fluffy seemed to find the tree and the packages underneath more interesting.
“Oh no!” Neva told her and rushed after the errant kitten.
“Look at all the gifts!” Fiona exclaimed while Christina smiled affectionately at her younger sister.
Angie petted the two dachshunds.
“Good to have you all back,” she whispered and got to her feet, her heart full with gratitude and love for every person and being in this house. She had been given another chance. She was going to make it count.
***
The day was busy, but surprisingly easily manageable with everyone having their assigned task. Angie’s parents would take the guest room.
Neva had cleaned up her studio to make room for her parents’ overnight stay.
Even though there was a lot to do, Angie couldn’t help but stare and wonder at the multiple canvases.
So, Neva had picked up painting again. No, she reminded herself.
She was back home, in the reality where Neva had never stopped.
Throughout the day, the girls were happy to help, or on occasion watch the pets if they got too intrigued by decorations or human food.
They sang Christmas carols, at times off-key enough to make everyone crack up.
When their guests arrived, and they sat down for a wintery cocktail, the non-alcoholic version for the girls, Angie learned that her parents were going on a cruise after all, a few days after Christmas.
“We would have never missed this,” her mother said, beaming as one twin sat on either side of her. They’d receive their gifts later, but of course there were some chocolates to be unwrapped right away.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Angie was in danger of tearing up again, but they were all happy tears this time. Fluffy was curled up next to her. No more cat allergy.
Over the course of the evening, she marveled at the life she had, that she and Neva had chosen together. They were raising smart and kind children, along with a some mostly well-behaved pets in a loving environment. Their respective parents got along great.
Today had been busy, but everyone had done their share.
The differences might be subtle, but she could see them, feel them.
They were happy again, even more than before.
After a scrumptious meal, they came to what was the most exciting part for their daughters. It was exciting for Angie, too, because there was quite a story attached to her gift for Neva.
“This is so beautiful! I love it.”
Angie helped her put on the necklace, and yes, it was beautiful, but much more so on the woman she loved.
“Thank you so much. This is exactly like the one we saw…”
“Earlier this fall. I noticed that you liked it.”
Neva smiled widely. “I was quite obvious about it, wasn’t I? Well, I have something for you that I hope you like.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“Moms,” Fiona and Elsa scolded in unison, curious and eager for them to continue.
Neva’s gift was a wrapped envelope, and Angie made a show out of removing the bow slowly.
“Yes, Moms, get going,” her father joked.
“Come on. It’s Christmas. Let’s enjoy the moment, okay?”
Finally, she revealed the red envelope and opened it. What she saw made her jaw drop.
“Neva. This is too much.”
Can we afford it?
“No, it’s not. You work so hard to make everyone happy, not just at Christmas, and you should know that we are aware of it, and we don’t take you for granted.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say, I never thought that, but she just smiled, thinking back to the moment when she left the park in a different reality, wishing…
It had all come true.
“Thank you so much. This is wonderful,” she said instead.
“You’re going to have a lovely time,” Laura, Neva’s mom, said. “You’ve earned this, and I’m happy for you.”
“We knew about it,” Fiona said, “and Christina did too. It was hard not to tell, but we kept it a secret.” She seemed very proud of it.
Angie looked around the room, everyone she held dear, with her on this day, in a home that held lots of memories, laughter and love. Who cared that the tree was a tiny bit crooked, or that they had “only” managed to do three kinds of cookies? They had each other, and a family that supported them.
They supported her, even when her wish for the perfect Christmas led to long to-do lists.
They were her perfect Christmas.
This was the life she had always dreamed of, and it was right here.
She had not failed.
All of a sudden, it all made sense.
“You are amazing. I love you. And I think it’s time for a toast,” she said. “To family. And love.”
Everyone joined in, the girls with their non-alcoholic drinks.
Bert and Ernie barked, wanting to take part in the conversation, and Fluffy went after a low-hanging Christmas ornament.
Miraculously, Angie didn’t feel the need to sneeze, panic or micromanage anymore. Christina picked up Fluffy and pointed her in the direction of a wrapped catnip pillow that held the kitten’s attention for the moment.
“Merry Christmas,” Angie said.
Neva’s eyes sparkled with joy and pride as their glasses clinked together.
Miracles happened, and this family certainly was hers. It couldn’t be a coincidence that she’d married a woman whose name meant snow…
A woman who had tirelessly plotted with their kids and parents to give Angie the most romantic gift she could have ever imagined.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too. And I can’t wait to take you away.”
Angie still loved her family the most, but Christmas, all its magic included, would always be a close second.