Chapter 13
On the naughty list. And I regret nothing.
Scarlett
D ad leans back in his chair and rubs his belly. “I can’t eat another thing.”
Relief courses through me. Finally, this meal is over. I should be grateful to be eating Christmas dinner with my family on the island for a change but the tension in the room is giving me a headache.
All my siblings know Mom spoke to Dad about their treatment of me. Hazel couldn’t keep a secret if it killed her. But Dad hasn’t brought up the topic. Everyone’s holding their breath as they wait.
I guess the wait is over. And the topic is not being discussed. Typical. Dad doesn’t talk about things he doesn’t want to.
Mom stands. “Let’s clean up.”
“This is bullshit,” Hazel declares.
Dad growls. “Watch your language, young woman.”
“I’ll watch my language if you’ll finally apologize to Scarlett.”
Everyone stares at me and my cheeks darken. “Um, he doesn’t need to apologize.”
Hazel squeezes my hand. “Yes, he does. His behavior has pushed you away. This is literally the first Christmas you’ve been home in a decade because of him. I don’t want to lose you.”
“I don’t want to lose you either,” Sadie chimes in.
“Hell,” Thomas mutters before raising his voice. “The girls are right.”
Ian nods in agreement.
I smile at my siblings. Except for Hazel, they’re usually too afraid to side with me when Dad and I fight.
“Fine,” Dad grumbles. “I never meant to make you feel as if you can’t come home.”
I wait but apparently, he’s done.
“I got this.” Hazel jumps to her feet and stands behind Dad. “I’m sorry I judged you,” she says in a very poor impression of him. “I never should have said you were putting on airs or acting as if you were better than the rest of us. I was trying to protect you, and I was scared of what would happen to you at college.”
Dad doesn’t stop my sister. In fact, when she finishes, he nods.
Tears well in my eyes. For the first time since I can remember, I can feel my dad’s love for me.
“Thank you,” I whisper since I’m afraid speaking will make me cry.
Mom wipes her tears away. Unlike me, she’s not afraid to cry. But, judging by the smile on her face, they’re happy tears. “Who’s ready for some pie?”
I gather the dishes but a knock on the door has me pausing. No one stops by the farmhouse without giving us prior notice.
“I wonder who that could be.” Hazel skips to the door. “I knew it!” she shouts after she opens the door. “Come in. Come in.”
Who has her this excited?
“Merry Christmas.”
I gasp. Weston’s here. What is he doing here? More specifically, what’s he doing here decked out in a bootlegger costume?
Hazel drags him to the table. “Your boyfriend is here!”
I groan. Dad is going to have a field day with this one. He doesn’t approve of me dating. Considering Mom’s history, I understand his fears, but he needs to realize I’m an adult.
“Hi, precious,” Weston greets.
“Swoon!” Sadie shouts. “He calls her precious.”
“This is the best Christmas ever!” Hazel yells.
“Girls, calm down,” Dad orders. “Please introduce us to your guest, Scarlett.”
My mouth drops open and my heart stops. I’ve never heard Dad act this polite before. If this is a new side of him, I’m all in.
“Mom, Dad, this is Weston Milton.”
Weston smiles at my parents who are now standing together at the head of the table. “Mr. and Mrs. Harris. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He shakes my dad’s hand before kissing Mom’s cheek. She blushes in response. Blushes!
Thomas growls. I roll my eyes.
“And these are my brothers, Thomas and Ian.”
He shakes their hands.
“And these are my sisters, Hazel and Sadie.”
Hazel taps her cheek. “You can kiss me here.”
Thomas grabs her and pulls her behind him. “Enough.”
She giggles. “I’m having the best time.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Harris, Hazel, Sadie, Thomas, Ian,” Weston begins. “Do you mind if I steal Scarlett away for a few minutes? We need to talk.”
We need to talk? Did he come here on Christmas Eve to give me ‘the talk’? What the hell?
Hazel pushes me toward him. “Go talk to him. You can use the girls’ room.”
“We’ll save you some pie,” Mom says.
I wait for Dad to nod his agreement before grasping Weston’s hand and leading him to the bedroom. Once we’re inside, I shut the door behind us and confront him.
“What are you doing here?”
He cups my face. “I couldn’t enjoy the Masquerade Dance without you.”
“It’s Christmas Eve. You should be with your family.”
“I’m with the person I want to be with.” He kisses my nose. “I love you, precious.”
Hazel squeals from the hallway. “Yes!”
“Stop eavesdropping!” I shout through the door.
“I got her,” Thomas yells.
“Still the best Christmas ever,” Hazel’s voice tapers off as my brother drags her away.
Weston grins. “And I thought my family was crazy.”
“We’re usually boring but it’s been a weird day.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I do. I want to tell him everything that happened but there are more pressing issues to discuss.
“You love me?”
My heart races as I wait for an answer. Surely, I misheard him. Weston Milton couldn’t possibly love me.
“I do. You’re perfect for me, Scarlett. I stopped searching for a woman because I thought the woman for me didn’t exist. But then you answered your door during a snowstorm and gave me a hard time and caught me in your snare.”
I roll my eyes. “I did not give you a hard time. I tried to help you dig your car out, remember?”
“And promptly fell on your ass.”
“We’re not discussing my klutzy tendencies.”
“No.” He palms my neck. “We’re discussing how I can’t live without you.”
“Phew. What a relief since I can’t live without you either.”
His eyes widen. “What?”
“I love you, Weston.”
“I thought I’d have to convince you to give me a chance. I had a whole speech prepared.”
I giggle. “You prepared a speech? Let’s hear it.”
“Smartass.”
“I know I am, but what are you?”
He draws me near until I’m cuddled into his arms. This is where I want to be every day of my life from now on.
“I know you don’t want to live on the island, but we’ll figure something out. We’ll make it work.”
I love how he’s willing to compromise. I never expected Weston to compromise on anything. It’s a good start. The perfect start.
I glance up at him. “Actually, I would love to live on the island again.”
“Really?” I nod. “Good. And you don’t need to worry about your family not supporting you. My family will support you. I promise.”
I smile. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
“Good since Mom wants you to come to dinner tomorrow.”
“But I spoke to my family. We talked. We cleared the air. Things are changing.”
He grins. “Good. You deserve for your family to understand how wonderful you are.”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Your time is up!” Thomas hollers.
I sigh. “The joys of having siblings.”
“I’ve only got one sister. I don’t know how you handle two sisters and two brothers.”
“It’s my cross to bear.”
He kisses my hair before releasing me. “Let’s go. I want to get to know your family.”
“You really must love me if you want to get to know them.”
“We’re awesome, sis!” Sadie shouts.
I wrench open the door to find all four of my siblings waiting in the hallway. I glare at Thomas. “I thought you got rid of the eavesdroppers.”
“Sorry, sis. I wasn’t letting you stay in a room alone with a man we don’t know.”
“Good brother,” Weston says.
I elbow him. “Quick lesson. You are on my side. Always. No matter what.”
He chuckles. “Whatever you say, precious. Whatever you say.”
“I like him,” Mom says from where she’s standing at the mouth of the hallway. Next to her, Dad grunts. It’s as close as he’ll come to admitting he approves. I’ll take it.
Hazel isn’t wrong. This is the best Christmas ever. I cleared the air with my parents and the man I love declared his love.
Nothing’s going to top this moment.
The dog runs down the hallway with a piece of pumpkin pie in his jaw. I burst into laughter.
I was wrong. There are going to be wonderful moments for the rest of my life. I glance up at Weston. With this man at my side.