Page 8 of New Home for the Holidays

Now, I just need to trust that I’ll be seeing her again soon. I already miss her, and I don’t give a fuck if that makes me a sap.

CHAPTER 4

MORGAN

As I plop down on the couch in the living room of my childhood home, I’m surrounded by all the holiday finery Mom can’t help but pull out every year. I’m not mad about it, far from it. I used to think Mom was some kind of secret elf because she always made the holidays special and full of cheer.

Now that I’m older and I help her decorate, I appreciate the effort she put in even more. Dad might have helped her when we were growing up, but I’m sure she did most of the work herself. It was a lot, but she never had anything other than a smile on her face when it was all said and done.

Honestly, decorating is exhausting and I’m glad I’ve already done my house. I don’t have nearly as many decorations as she does, but I try and grow my stash a little every year. One day, I’m sure I’ll have totes and totes of it like Mom does.

Mom bustles into the living room with a garland in her handsand I can’t help but tease her a little. “I’m not sure the mantle can handle one more garland,” I admonish her with a giggle. “You might, officially, have too many decorations, Mom.”

She makes a sound of disagreement. “It’s not possible to have too many decorations at Christmastime,” she shoots back as she artfully lays the garland on the mantle. “You know I love this time of year,” she muses.

“I know,” I agree softly. “You have always made the holidays full of so much family and fun. I’m not sure if we ever said it before but thank you.”

Mom’s head snaps toward me and her eyes brim with tears before she blinks them away. Her voice is thick with emotion, “Thank you, sweetheart.”

I beam at her and then groan as my head falls back against the couch. “It is magical, but please tell me we’re done now.”

Her laughter sounds like tinkling bells as she sits next to me, pride in her eyes as she looks around the room. The decisive nod she gives the space has me breathing out a relieved sigh. We’re done.

“I think this will do nicely.” The look on her face becomes thoughtful and I try to prepare for whatever wisdom she’s about to impart. “You know the holidays are for family,” she hedges before going in for the kill, “and I’m just wondering when you’ll be finding a nice boy to settle down with.”

Officer Walker Montgomery flashes in my mind and my face gets hot. Mom’s gaze is knowing, and I turn away from her and pretend like I’m looking around the room as if I haven’t been decorating it and the rest of the house for a few hours. I clear my throat, hoping she lets it go while knowing she won’t.

“What’s that look about?” She leans closer to me and studies my face before sitting back and barking out a laugh. The finger she points at me is accusatory even though her voice is filled with warmth, “You met someone.”

“No,” I scoff.

“Yes, you did,” there’s a sing-song quality in her tone and makes me giggle.

She might be my mom, but we’ve become more than just mother and daughter now that I’m an adult. We’re friends. It’s a transition I would have never imagined while I was growing up but am thankful for now. Since we are close, I know she won’t be giving up on this any time soon.

“Fine,” I sigh, my shoulders slumping slightly, “I might have met someone, but I have a feeling Jared is going to step in and do his whole big brother act and squash it before anything even happens.”

Mom frowns and her eyebrows pull together. “Who is it?”

“The new guy at the station,” I try and keep my voice light even though I’m wincing at the same time. “He pulled me over yesterday and gave me a warning. I wasn’t expecting to see him again, but then Jared invited him to have breakfast with us this morning.”

Mom purses her lips and studies me for a long moment before letting out a long breath. “If he’s the kind of man to be scared off by your brother then he’s not the right man for you.”

Her words are decisive and simple; I even know they’re true. Still, the thought of Walker bowing to the threat in Jared’s eyes this morning causes something to deflate in my chest. Something like hope.

When it comes to my brother and how he thinks he knows best, it’s dangerous to hope anything will be different when it comes to Walker. Every other guy who has shown interest in me has been run off. The only reprieve I had was when Jared was in the military. I couldn’t even fully enjoy those years because I was worried about my brother making it home in one piece.

“Yeah,” I admit on a sigh.

Mom, knowing I don’t want to talk about it anymore, switches the subject with zero grace. “I’m excited about Cove coming home for Christmas since she wasn’t home for Thanksgiving.”

“I’m excited to see her too.” There’s a wistfulness in my voice, “She always sounds so happy when I talk to her now, like she’s found the place she belongs.”

“She always had bigger dreams than Wintervale could fulfill,” Mom agrees. She wrings her hands in her lap, worry coating her words, “I’m just not sure what to do with a rock star staying in our guest room.”

Her eyes are big and round with worry and I can’t help but giggle a little. “I don’t think you need to worry. Langston will do anything for Cove.”

I rub my chest, right over where my heart beats, to try and relieve the ache. I’m happy for my sister, don’t get me wrong, but I also won’t lie and try to say I don’t want what she’s found. I do.

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