Page 49 of Shifted

"Me too.”

We joined them on the couch as Reed started a fire and then came back to take his seat beside me. We traded stories and opened gifts. It was a simple Christmas Eve—one with a family who stayed together. There was no fighting but lots of passive aggression.

Everything seemed so perfect, so when I had to go, I felt a little sad leaving this bubble. Christmas at Maria's was the best, but here, it was just so simple.

"It was wonderful meeting you, sweetheart." Helen kisses my cheek and then Joely’s, "I hope to see you again soon!" Reed comes over, pulling me in for a kiss.

"Merry Christmas Eve, Hope. Thanks for coming." He kisses me again and smiles at Joely, who's now asleep on my shoulder. "Power Nap before the Jones family Christmas." He chuckles at my words, "Merry Christmas Eve, Reed." I shut the door behind me, and as I walk away, I hear Helen.

"What an angel, and her daughter, too. Do not mess this up. We need someone like her.” But I found Ellis to be the real Angel in that room, even though she seemed to hate them. She showed up and talked with me.

?

The door to Maria's opens, and the sound of Jingle Bell Rock echoes through her home. It was just about six thirty, just in time for dinner.

"Oh, look at you two! Merry Christmas." She looked at Joely, stealing her from my arms as she was half awake.

"She napped on the car ride here." She kissed her forehead and took the bags from my hand to bring the gifts under the tree. I slipped off into the kitchen, placing my fudge cake down, and turned to Theo in the dining room, doing the place settings.

"You need help?" He looks up and shakes his head.

"I'm all set, but Merry Christmas." A smile spreads on his face. There is a good distance between us, but then he breaks it, taking me in for a hug. He lets go and looks down at me. "I'm happy you're here. I know I haven't been to Christmas in a while, but I didn't forget how hard the Holidays are for you." I nod in appreciation and then steal the rest of the napkins from his hand and start to place them around the table.

"Well, that's why I have Joely, to make up for those memories of family failure," I sigh, and as I meet his eyes again, I see that he wasn't buying it.

"Hope?" He could read me like a book in some way. It was written all over my face. I felt my eyes tear up as the lingering thoughts in my head came to the surface.

"I think it's Mary Ellen's last Christmas, and I don't get to spend it with her because of my parents" He knew how much I loved my grandma, even though Theo was a dick at times. He knew how much Mary Ellen meant to me. He pauses in response and then steps forward, crushing me against his chest.

"I'm so sorry, Hope. I had no idea." He lets me go and analyzes me as I stand annoyed.

"How could you?" I sighed, frustrated. "Chicago keeps you busy." I smiled at him as he looked at me like a scared little boy who’d done something wrong. “Relax. I'm proud of you and of what you've built for yourself. But I'm mad about what you did to Bella. " I heard footsteps, and soon, two arms wrapped around me tight. She smelled like gingerbread and a hint of vanilla.

"Merry Christmas, Hopey!" Bella squeezes me and then lets us go, and I turn to see Grayson looking a bit tired. I knew that Bella was probably driving him crazy in preparation for today and tomorrow.

"Merry Christmas, Hope." I accepted his hug, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

"Merry Christmas, Gray.” He held me tight, and I let go. “So, are you dressing up as Santa and putting out the gifts?” He laughed, shaking his head. I got you the suit.” Now, he was skeptical, making me laugh. One of these years, I’d get him to do it, especially once he’s officially family.

"Mama!" I hear her little voice in the other room yell, and I step away from the dining table. I walk in to see Joely sitting alone, looking around for me as tears begin to shed. "Mama!" she repeats.

"I'm right here." I walk over to her, collecting her in my arms as small tears bubble up against her eyes. I rub her back, soothing her as she whimpers quietly, "I'd never leave you, Jo." I kissed her forehead, and Maria walked back into the room with a tray of sugar cookies. Reading the scene, she looks worried about Joely’s tears.

"Oh, what happened?" I looked up at her, confused. “I left her alone for one minute and went to grab the cookies I made for Santa to show you. I'm so sorry, sweetie." Joely wasn't one to cry if she was unattended at home, but in other places, sometimes, it was overwhelming.

"She's alright, right, baby?" I rub her back as she nods slowly, blinking her little eyes. "Maria didn't mean to leave you." The others come into the room.

"Is she okay?" I looked to see Theo staring at her with concern, and I nodded.

"Just a little anxiety." I stand with her on my hip and walk towards the tree, lifting ornaments and placing them on the branches with her. Soon, everyone else joined in a tradition, and we all decorated the tree on Christmas Eve.

So yes, Reed had a normal, simple Christmas. But I guess I did, too, surrounded by my chosen family—people who love me and my daughter for who we are.

"Merry Christmas Eve," Maria mused. I smiled at her, handing Joely back to her once again. I looked to the floor by the fireplace to see a red blanket draped against the ground. I smiled at the sight of it.

December twenty-forth, six years ago

His fingers grazed my back as I slowly woke, warmth coating my skin. When I opened my eyes, I realized we'd fallen asleep by the fireplace. "Santa would not like this sight now, would he?" I joked, and he shook his head, pulling me closer to him. But I looked around nervously.

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