Page 50 of Wrapped in You

"I was. But I didn't have to be such a snot about it," Derek said.

"Maybe the kid at the Christmas tree farm has big plans, too," Sophie joked.

"Right? Maybe he'll be directing his very own Christmas film in a few years," Derek said, rolling his eyes.

Sophie squeezed his arm. "I told you before. I love Christmas rom-coms."

Derek sighed. "And I'm coming around to them. Sort of."

"Sort of is better than nothing."

By the time Sophie and Derek got back to Sophie's, her parents, Vic, and the kids were there, and everything had fallen into chaos.

It was clear that Cindy had warned Joe and Mary ahead of time about Derek. Mary was overly warm, and Joe clapped Derek on the shoulder and asked him what sports teams he liked. Sophie was pretty sure Derek was anti-sports, but he played along.

Still, she could see full-on family time was draining for him.

"Why don't you set up the tree in the living room?" she suggested to Derek, searching through a box for the Christmas tree stand and the basin that held its water.

Derek agreed and disappeared into the next room, leaving Sophie with her parents in the kitchen. Mary wore a strange expression; Joe seemed willing to pretend everything was right as rain. Meanwhile, the Bluetooth speaker played "Jingle Bell Rock," and the kids ran around in circles beneath their feet.

"We're almost done with the foyer and dining room," Cindy announced as she returned to the kitchen. "As soon as Derek gets the tree set up, we can decorate it together. As a family." She smiled and picked Annie up, propping her on her hip.

"Let me take a picture!" Mary cried. "It isn't every day we're all together."

We're all together all the time, Sophie thought with a smile.

Sophie picked Peter up and wandered to the living room to watch Derek prop up the Christmas tree. He was so buried in the task that he didn't feel her presence. His hands were capable; the Christmas tree was already rock-solid and positioned in exactly the right place.

"You're a natural," Sophie declared.

Derek laughed and twisted around to look at her. Sophie's heart seized.

Suddenly, there was another knock on the door.

From the kitchen came her father's voice. "Oh. Shoot."

Sophie turned to look at his face. It was drained of color.

Mary gaped at him. "What did you do?"

Joe wrung his hands and hurried to the foyer. Sophie followed him with Peter in her arms.

"What did you do, Joe?" Mary cried from the kitchen.

But already, Joe opened the door to reveal a final party guest.

It was Jeremy.

He was holding a bouquet. He'd styled his hair with gel, too. Was it the gel that Sophie used to buy for him at the drugstore?

Sophie felt as though she might faint. Just in case, she put Peter down, and he scampered away to find his sister.

Sophie's eyes filled with tears.

"Hey, Jer!" Joe said. His voice was overly bright. "I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding."

Sophie's heart pumped.

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