Page 9 of Accidentally Under Your Tree

"Just smile at the camera?"

"Yeah, we'll try other things later."

She typed out a little caption, then posted the image to the show's stories.

I pushed my door open, and the frigid wind hit my face.

"It is so goddamn cold up here!" Rose grumbled, filing out of the car as well. "I'm making them come to me next year."

"Get inside. I'll grab the bags."

"Aren't you a good little boyfriend?" She took quick steps to the front door.

Her comment didn't sit right. I'd probably get more used to it. This strange title that didn't make any sense in our friendship.

"Sure am." I hit the fob to open the trunk. With her full-size suitcase in one hand and my slightly smaller one in the other, I followed her to the porch as the door swung open.

"Rosebud!" a middle-aged woman exclaimed. Her short silver hair curled toward her jaw. Her smile reminded me so much of Rose, it felt like I already knew her.

"Hi Momma."

Pulling her daughter into a hug, the two women hurried through the doorway, making room for me to walk through.

"I'm so glad you're here!" her mom exclaimed.

I set the luggage on the tile floor and closed the door. The white-pink walls were a bold choice, but it worked with the emerald green sofa and gold accents throughout the room. It wasn't a room for everyone's taste. Based on what Rose had said about learning design elements from her mom, it was intentional and obviously what her mom wanted.

"Is Rosie home?" A man's gruff voice called from an adjoining room.

"She is!" Her mom answered, still holding her daughter tight.

A large man walked through an archway to the left, and I glimpsed a woman darting down the hallway. A door closed directly after. She moved quickly, just a flash of soft fabric and brown hair.

My stomach flipped. My heart jumped. My throat grew tight. I had to remind myself that just because I wanted to see Lizzy again—it didn't mean she was here. It was Anne, Rose's sister, who apparently actually was like a house cat and scurrying away instead of meeting me.

Their parents, Jim, and Kelly passed out hugs and welcomes. Their joy at having Rose home was infectious. In only a matter of minutes, I had a mug of coffee in my hand and the promise of Shepard's pie for dinner.

It was a whirlwind of excitement until it came to a screeching halt. The blood drained from my face. My vision darkened around the edges. Everyone suddenly sounded as if they were underwater—or I guess, I would be the one underwater.

Above the fireplace mantle were photos of the family. The largest one was from when Rose and Anne must have been in high school. There was hardly any resemblance between the two girls. Where Rose took after her mom, Anne looked like her dad.

It was a smaller, more recent photo that stopped my heart.

I had to remind myself to breathe.

I startled when Jim—surprisingly silent for how big he was—stood next to me. "Isn't that a pretty picture?"

I choked out a sort of hum.

"That was at my niece's wedding this summer." He took a sip from his coffee, looking over his shoulder. "Lizzy's around here somewhere."

My mouth was too dry. I didn't know how I could form words. "I thought she was Anne."

"Some people still call her Anne. We named the girls' Rose and Lisianthus after our mom's favorite flowers. She was always Lizzy to me."

Fuuuuuuck.

Lizzy

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