Page 98 of An Endless Memory

I was excited to see my parents again, but I was anticipating Eliot walking through the door. After Thanksgiving, I wasn’t sure whether Eliot would make it or not for the holiday. But he’d called shortly after I’d gotten home and asked if he could come on Christmas Eve and he’d have to leave later on Christmas Day. Maybe he was more invested in this relationship than he thought. He was making Christmas work, and that wasn’t nothing.

Maybe I was more invested in our relationship than I should be. Either way, I’d been counting down the days until I could see him.

I peered out the picture window. They’d parked at the end of the driveway, closest to the front door. “Can you see if they need help bringing anything in?”

Eliot would park by the garage like he normally did. He had a spot, and something about that made this whole thing seem less pretend.

Cali ran out to greet her grandparents. They came in on a rush of cold air, large tote bags, and a big cooler.

Dad smiled at me. His jacket was crinkled from the cold, and he had a black stocking hat on his head. “Heya, kiddo. I have a few trips to make with the presents.”

I took all the bags hanging off Mom.

She toed off her thick boots and handed Cali her coat. “The prime rib is ready to throw into the oven, and I have heating instructions on the potatoes and carrots. The dessert can go right in the fridge.” She beamed at Cali. “Can you help me with that?”

Cali’s nod was enthusiastic. “I’m the boss lady.”

Kellan crawled right up to Mom. She stooped to pick him up. “You’re going to be faster than me soon.”

Cali tugged on Mom’s hand. “Want to see our tree?”

“Absolutely.” Mom kept Kellan hugged to her and let Cali lead her to the tree. “Oh my. Did you pick out all the decorations?”

I waited, the back of my shoulders growing tight. I had decorated the house each year I was married to Carter and each year his parents found fault with my style and efforts. They never said it outright, but there would be small comments. My friend’s daughter color coordinates her bulbs. She even put them in a nice spiral going around the tree. Or the Oh, I expected more…since you’re just a tech now.

“They came with the tree,” Cali said proudly. She’d picked out the tree, and the decorations she’d made in school hung on the limbs.

“Oh my.” Mom smiled at me. “That’s a good idea. Some years, I thought I’d lose it if I found one more tangled set of lights.”

I immediately relaxed. Mom always supported me. She might question me, and she’d always treat me like the youngest, but she had my back. “It was probably Poppy or Clover that just threw them in the storage bin.”

Mom chuckled. “It was most definitely Alder. Now, the boy will roll them up with military precision.” She switched sides she held Kellan on. “I’m going to tackle dinner. You hang out and relax.”

“Mom, I can help.” It was my turn to host her. There was no Carter to undermine her visit. There was no overwhelm for me. I was in a good place and I wanted her to see it. My wish had nothing to do with the damn trust.

“It’s my treat. I’m sure you’ll be watching out the door for a certain cowboy to arrive?”

I might’ve been doing that for the last hour. There was no talking Mom out of her mission. “I’ll help Dad and then I’ll be back.”

By the time I got my shoes on, I heard footsteps crunching on the other side of the door. I swung it open.

“Perfect timing,” Dad said as he stepped in, his arms full of red-, green-, and white-wrapped gifts. “Keep the door open. There are more.”

I was about to peek out when another person strode in. Eliot grinned from behind two big boxes.

“Eliot!” The butterflies in my belly woke up. I rose on my toes to give him a kiss. He turned to the side as much as possible and met my kiss with an equal energy of his own.

I cupped his face and stole a few more seconds before pulling away. “I’m glad you could make it.”

“Me too. Your aunt and uncle just pulled in. Wanna give me another kiss for them?” He spoke loud enough for me to hear.

My thrill from earlier died just a little bit. Was the first kiss for my parents’ sake? I wanted to keep my mouth on him for completely different reasons. He pressed his lips to mine, then footsteps sounded outside the screen door.

“Knock knock,” Linda’s voice rang out.

Eliot straightened. The heat in his eyes brought some of the earlier excitement back. I wouldn’t quit hoping he’d come for Christmas because he’d wanted to.

I let my aunt and uncle in. “Welcome.”

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