Page 66 of Attraction & Repulsion

A bit self-conscious, Carson fidgeted with her shirt. She was still in her pajamas, not having bothered to put on makeup. Maybe she could have brushed a layer of mascara on; after all, she’d just met these people. Then she noticed that everyone else was also in their lounging clothes. Shirley’s hair seemed flatter than yesterday, and Marlo’s frizz was twisted on top of her head. Neither had makeup on.

“Glad you could finally join us,” Beau muttered, moving so Wyatt and Emily could sit next to him.

There was no rhythm or reason to the way the Miller family opened gifts on Christmas morning. Boxes and bags were passed around. Crinkled wrapping paper began piling up all over the room. Shirley had put together a stocking for everyone, including Carson. Hers was filled with chocolates and lotion, lip-gloss and a candle, candy canes and nail polish.

Shirley was happily emptying a stocking into her lap when Jax leaned over and whispered, “Each year we take turns doing one for her. This year was Marlo and Billy’s turn.”

Hayden and Henry gasped when they shredded the wrapping off a huge box. Santa had brought them a Hot Wheels mega track set, and they begged their parents to open it immediately. Billy and Marlo shared a kiss over a diamond necklace. Emily had gotten Wyatt a new laptop, sleek and shiny. Beau was grinning crookedly over a new pair of leather gloves for smokingmeats, shoving his giant hands into them. Jax was impressed when Carson got up to grab a large cube-shaped box from under the tree and sat it on his lap.

“Open it,” she urged, settling on the floor in front of him.

When he opened the box, his eyes grew wide.

“I noticed yours were a little worn down,” Carson said as Jax lifted a riding jersey from the box. It was silver and black, with hard shapes and lines and hints of lime green striped throughout. Flashy, but subtle. Then he pulled out a matching helmet. And matching riding pants. Then boots. Carson hoped that her discreetly rummaging through his stuff in order to find out his sizes had paid off.

“How the hell did you fit all this in your suitcase?” he asked, pulling the helmet out of its protective sleeve.

“Christmas magic,” she fibbed, winking. The magic was Carson using her detective skills to find Shirley’s address, then shipping the gift to the house with a note explaining what the package was.

“That is so cool, Uncle Jax!” Henry hopped up onto his lap, pushing the box to the side. “Can I try it on?”

“Of course, buddy,” he said, slipping the helmet over Henry’s crop of hair like he was extinguishing a flame.

The helmet was ginormous compared to Henry’s tiny body, reminding Carson of a bobblehead. Henry giggled then pulled it off and bounced back to his new toys.

“Beau, can you get that red box with the white bow next to you?” Jax asked, setting his gift off to the side.

Beau’s eyes swept around him before picking up and handing the box to Carson. It was surprisingly heavy relative to its size. She lifted it to give to Jax.

He shook his head. “It’s for you.”

Biting her lower lip, Carson ripped off the paper, uncovering a box set of thin books. “Is this . . .” Her voice trailed off.

“Pull them out,” he said, resting his elbows on his knees.

With a delicate touch, she slipped one of the children’s books out and timidly turned it over. On the cover, her old friend,Hank the Cowdog, wagged his tail at her. She pulled out another, then another, remembering each story, each adventure.

The corners of her eyes pricked with tears. “You remembered,” she murmured, holding the books to her chest.

“Get a room already,” Beau muttered.

“What did he get you that’s making you give him googly eyes?” Billy demanded.

Gripping the books tighter to her body, Carson’s neck flushed with embarrassment. “It’s just an old children’s book I loved as a kid. I mentioned it to him when we first met, and he remembered.”

“How sweet,” Shirley crooned, patting Elizabeth’s back.

A tear escaped, and Carson used the end of her shirtsleeve to soak it up. “I don’t know why it’s making me cry. I feel stupid.”

“Don’t feel stupid, honey. It’s romantic, and it makes me want to cry too,” Marlo said.

“Same,” said Emily.

Carson looked down at the books again. Maybe she could read them to the twins before she left. Sniffing, she looked back at Jax. “Thank you.”

Now it was his turn to wink.

Her body melted into the couch. She was home. Like she was a part of a family. All her doubts and concerns had melted away here in the living room, surrounded by wonderful, kind people. People who welcomed herwith open arms. She was grateful to be there.

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