Page 99 of An Endless Memory

Linda stepped in and looked around. Darren piled in behind her. Dismay filled her eyes, but she shook it off. “It’s looking less like Mom’s place.” Her smile was hesitant. “Always a little shock, but it looks good. The tree full of presents brings back memories from when you kids were little.”

Dad glanced up from where he was squatting, arranging presents. “Maybe with that trust, we’ll get another generation of little ones to keep Cali and Kellan company.”

Aunt Linda smiled, looking at Eliot and then me.

Oh. She was thinking we were going to add to the kid crew. Laughter bubbled up from my chest. Things were so new. I was falling hard for my husband, but we’d spent only a smattering of days together. Babies? I still had a baby.

The laughter died when I caught a glimpse of Eliot’s shuttered expression. He was staring at the floor, but he snapped out of whatever hidden thoughts he was thinking.

“Let me get those for you,” he said as he took the bags and presents from Linda and Darren.

Eliot hadn’t even taken off his coat and boots. He was rushing to get away from the baby conversation.

Eliot

Lily sat next to me on the couch as Cali ripped open her presents from her grandparents and squealed with each one. Magnolia and Weston were helping Kellan with his. I had my arm around Lily’s shoulders. Being away from work was a blessing and a curse. There was supposed to be a storm rolling in the day after Christmas, and I worried about getting back before it hit. I stressed over Jasper being on his own for the first time. He was a quick learner, and he had a strong base thanks to helping Weston’s parents ranch in the summers, but he was in charge of everything, and Chambers and his wife were out of town for the holiday.

Yet being in Crocus Valley, getting to kiss Lily and watch her laugh and enjoy her parents’ company, was my own Christmas gift. She was relaxed around them in a way she hadn’t been with her family when they’d been here in the fall. I loved seeing her happy, and I’d get to be with her tonight and wake up to her. But the pull of my obligations would always be there.

I shouldn’t have come. Lily wasn’t an obligation, but my absence would’ve been heavily noted by her aunt and uncle and her parents. It was a good thing I came.

The gift Cali was opening was from Linda and Darren. Cali cheered when she broke through the red Santa wrapping paper to reveal a box with brightly colored plastic bowls and just as brilliantly colored pots and pans. “A cooking set. Thanks!”

Linda spread her hands. “I didn’t know what little girls liked these days.”

“She’ll love it,” Lily assured her.

Magnolia helped Kellan finish opening his gift. He tried to put a fistful of wrapping paper in his mouth, but his grandma intervened. “Perfect timing. You can chew on this giant phone.”

She wrestled a white plastic phone with multicolored buttons out of its box. Kellan kicked his legs and reached for it.

Magnolia grinned at Linda. “Another winner.”

Darren patted his wife’s leg. “We should get going. I think it’s going to be a while before the kids are done opening the gifts from their grandparents.”

Lily stood with her aunt and uncle. Weston gave his sister a hug and shook Darren’s hand. Magnolia encompassed both Linda and Darren in a hug before going back to her grandkids.

Lily walked her aunt and uncle to the door, and I followed to see them out like this was my place too.

“Thank you for coming,” she said, giving Linda a quick hug.

Darren handed his wife her coat. “I’ll get the car warmed up.” He ducked out the door with a general wave at the room.

I slipped my arm around Lily’s shoulder. “Nice to see you again.”

Linda smiled and shrugged into her jacket. “Yes. Having family in town again is nice.” Her expression warmed. “I feel like I’ve already seen your kids more than I got to see you when you were growing up. And I have to admit, it’s comforting to see you both.” Her gaze bounced between us and landed on me. “Have you been able to commute like you wanted?”

“We’re making it work,” I said.

Lily nodded. “The kids got to see the Knight ranch. It’s so much more spread out than Grandma and Grandpa’s.”

“Yes,” Linda said fondly. “I’ve been wondering if they didn’t piecemeal their property just for something to leave behind for each grandkid.” She peeked out the screen door. “Well, Darren’s waiting.” She hesitated and glanced at where Weston and Magnolia were with the kids. “You two remind me of them, you know. You thrive on a busy life like your mom, and there was a time when she was home with the kids and Weston was already in Billings for his new job. He spent some time commuting while they sold their old house and built their new one.”

Lily stiffened only enough that I could feel it. “I barely remember that,” she murmured.

I could hear what was going through my wife’s head. Eventually, Magnolia and the kids had moved. They lived together as a family again. Lily and I had never lived together, and we weren’t planning on it. Weston and Magnolia hadn’t lived separately, knowing they’d be ending in a divorce.

Twenty-Two

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