Page 29 of Knot My Secret Santa

“That boy looks just like his father.” My mom cooed over the many Henry photos I took. I sat between her and my aunt on the couch.

“Poor thing.” Noelle laughed and sipped her cider. “Motherhood really suits Olivia. She’s more radiant than ever. I did wonder how you were going to deal with a closet nest as Lloyd is never a man who goes small on anything, but Ave, you did brilliantly.” She gave my knee a squeeze. “I’m sure the boss man was stunned at the transformation too.”

My smile faltered. Maybe a hundred different emotions crossed my face, because something in me tightened painfully. I nodded, forcing my smile back into place. “He liked it just fine.”

Both my mom and Noelle paused and studied me with concerned looks.

“Did he say something? Noelle says he’s a hard man sometimes, but you did so well. He has to see that.” Mom rubbed my lower back, and I found myself leaning on her shoulder.

“We just disagree on some things. It’s nothing major.” Disagree was a lame way of saying we were so different. It was even more frustrating that I missed him. I’d just fought with him that morning, and I already missed him.

Noelle harrumphed. “I told him to be nicer to you. He needs to work on building egos instead of being so critical. What did he say?”

“Aunt Noelle,” I groaned, but I hugged her anyway. She was just looking out for me. “Mr. Donner is going to be how he’s going to be. I know the quality of my work based on the clients’ reaction, and that’s what matters to me.”

“I want to know what he said,” Noelle prodded.

“I do too.” My father seconded the motion from where he sat in his recliner near the fireplace.

This was the last thing I needed my family poking their noses into. Nathaniel loved the design I did, but it was my hurt heart that was bleeding into a work conversation. I sighed, tying up my emotions and pushing them down until I could be alone. “Mr. Donner was surprised at how quickly and efficiently I worked. He was impressed.”

“And?” Noelle raised her brows. When I didn’t say anything right away, she gave me a sympathetic smile. “Honey, we know he can be harsh at times, but he’s a good guy under that hard exterior.”

“We disagreed about family.” The words fell out before I could stop them. Shit. I quickly wound up that with the job itself. “When I spoke to Olivia, getting a feel as to what she needed in her nest, her family was the most important thing in her life. Yes, she needed peace and quiet at times, but it’s all about family for her. I helped her make it not only a peaceful place and a romantic space, but one to enjoy with her family and relive and make new memories in. Family was my focus, and Mr. Donner just didn’t get that.”

Both my mom and aunt hugged me. I loved them so much.

“Familyismost important.” Mom kissed my cheek. “It’s sad he doesn’t understand that.”

“We’ll change his mind next week when he comes for dinner. A Christmas gift from our family to him.” Noelle grinned and rubbed her hands together. “We’ll make him play the White Elephant game and try all the flavors of adult eggnog. Laughter, love, food, and booze, he’ll be begging for us to adopt him into the family.”

“Oh God.” I covered my face with my hands. My heart thumped heavily in my chest. I’d forgotten Noelle had invited Nathaniel to Christmas dinner. I didn’t want to see him again. I couldn’t handle it any time soon. He’d given me the rest of the month off work, and I was going to take it.

“He’ll loosen up, you’ll see.” Noelle nodded sagely not counting the mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

I wanted to tell them I doubted he’d be coming. After how we parted, I think he would avoid me too. I didn’t believe he would fire me. He had too much integrity, and no matter what happened between us, I still respected him as my boss and he would respect me as his employee. But as for Christmas, no, he wouldn’t come.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll save him from your aunt’s Christmas spirit. Maybe we could watchDie Hardin the rec room together.” Dad smiled, but he was serious. Every year he watched that movie, and he and his brother would argue if it was a Christmas film or not.

“It’s a Christmas movie, definitely,” I said out loud, and he winked at me. A yawn escaped me and I stood. “I’m going to head to my house and catch up on my sleep.” I may have slept well in Nathaniel’s arms, but I didn’t get very much sleep! “Have a good night, everyone.”

I gave everyone a hug and grabbed the tin of cookies my Grandma Bell had baked for me.

“Oh!” Noelle leaned back on the couch with her eggnog. “I put your Secret Santa gifts on your table in your house. Kris must have planned really well to have everything ordered for you since he’s in California. Also, Ruby is loving what you made her. She wears that scarf all the time.”

I pushed the thought of Kris to the back of my mind for the moment and let the fact I made Ruby happy warm me. “Thank you. I’m so glad Ruby likes her gifts. I’ll drop off her last two tomorrow.”

“You won’t be at the office?” Noelle asked.

“No, Mr. Donner gave me the rest of the month off. I have a few things I want to finish, but I can do those from home.” Nathaniel gave me the holidays off so he wouldn’t have to see me, which, at the same time, hurt me and offered relief. But I wasn’t going to cry… not right here… I needed to get going. I headed to the door.

“Oh, how nice!” Mom smiled and nodded to Noelle. “He really is a sweet man.”

I told everyone good night again and headed out into the night. Shutting the door behind me, I let the cold rush over me as I sucked back a sob. Why had I gone on that trip with him? He never promised me anything more, except right there at the end where it seemed like he might not let me go. He’d been so determined we run off together, and while I had several fantasies about it, it would never work out.

Family came first. Only a man who understood that was right for me.

My dad must have shoveled and salted the path for me, because even with the few inches of snow on the ground, the walkway was clear. A few fat tears built and spilled free. Dad was thoughtful and sweet. I needed a man like him. I loved them all so much.

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