Page 52 of Daycare Santa

“Speak for yourself. Ham with Christmas dinnerandthe whole season matters to me.” Her gaze slid toward the living room. “And I’m sure it means something to my sugar plum.”

“Guess I’m outvoted then.”

“Definitely.” Seya picked up another cherry. “Man, these things are sugary sweet.”

“And yet you’re having another.”

They laughed, and Seya reached into the cupboard and removed a glass. After she drank some water, she asked, “Are you still having Christmas dinner with Zack’s family?”

“The truth is—”

“We’re having Christmas with Uncle Zack?” Luca beamed under the Santa hat he refused to take off. “Wow! That is super-duper awesome!”

“I didn’t say ...” Gina sent silent panic signals to Seya, who looked the other way.

“I can’t wait.” He made a bee-line for the refrigerator and opened a small bottle of water, then disappeared as quickly as he appeared.

“One day, you’re going to put me in some serious trouble with that boy. Now, what am I supposed to do?”

“I dunno.” Seya shrugged and placed the glass on the counter. “Maybe act like you have some sense and call Zack?”

“It’s not that simple.” Gina lifted one tray, and Seya opened the oven door. After she slid both hams inside, Gina sighed and rubbed her forehead with the heel of one hand.

“You’re doing that a lot lately. Sighing, I mean,” Seya noted as she closed the container with the cherries and carried it to the fridge. “Life is so much simpler if you accept help when you need it. Remember how Mom and Dad nearly had to drag you from Montego Bay to come home? And now look at you, thriving and everything.”

She laid one hand on Gina’s shoulder. “Don’t be a fool and let a great guy slip away ‘cause you keep making the same mistakes.”

While Gina moved between the sink and the counter, she admitted Seya’s advice made sense.

“If I wasn’t seeing Aaron, I might think about snapping him up myself.”

At Gina’s glare, Seya raised both hands. “Okay, okay, terrible joke, considering Boyd and Nichelle. But you didn’t want him anyhow, Sis. So, count your blessings and go chase down what God sent your way. I mean to say, Zack Winters, in case you missed the point.”

“You have a lot of advice for someone with less experience than her older sister.”

“That may be so, but I’m calling things as I see them. He’s really into you. I can tell by the way he looks at you, plus the random lunch dates and what not. Don’t act the fool and lose something precious.”

She rinsed out a rag and wiped the counter. “Besides, you have work to do because there’s no way you’re getting out of that Christmas dinner.”

“What about you?” Gina asked. “What will you be doing?”

“Aaron and I are spending the day together, then dinner with his parents, and I’ll come over here later in the evening to my favorite nephew.”

“As if you have any other on the island.”

Their laughter made Gina grateful for their relationship and the fact that she could count on Seya in all circumstances

“When we’re all here, we can chat with Mom, Dad, Julian, and the kids,” Seya added.

“Sounds like a plan.” She leaned against the counter and crossed her feet. “There was something I needed to ask you to do.”

“Go on, then.” Seya stared hard at her. “This has to be big, because you rarely ask me to do anything.”

Gina rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “I ask you to stay with Luca sometimes.”

“That doesn’t count,” Seya shot back. “I love time with him. You know that.”

“Fine, um, would you ask Nichelle if she’d wait until after Christmas for me to vacate the building?”

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