Page 25 of Take Me Home for Christmas

Chapter Nine

Mia

While Brax went downstairs, I pulled myself together. Yes, I was upset about the lying. But something else was bothering me. I’d made light of my brothers whisking Brax away to the barn, but the truth was, I had to stop them at any cost.

Oh, I didn’t mind if they gave Brax a little bit of a hard time—they were just doing what brothers do, protecting their younger sister. But I needed to tell them that the subject of Charlie was off-limits. It would surely come up because my entire family was going to that Christmas party.

But I was not. And I did not want to discuss the details with Brax. At all.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t commandeer either of my brothers because the kitchen was bustling as I walked down the stairs to find everyone busily helping to prepare for dinner. Caleb was setting the table. Liam and Dina were filling the water glasses while letting Emma help drop the ice cubes in with tongs. The fire was blazing brightly in the little brick fireplace. A smallish tree decorated with antique cookie cutters my momhad collected over the years glowed softly in the corner. Mom had woven pine boughs through the arms of the chandelier and lit candles all down the table. It smelled like a pine forest and a delicious beef dinner, all at the same time.

Watching the pre-dinner bustle gave me time to ponder the other problem I was having, which was that I couldn’t help liking the handsome, fun, annoying man I’d brought home to my family. I thought I’d managed to put my attraction to Brax in its place. But being near him, bantering, watching him interact with everyone, was starting all my rogue feelings up all over again, and what was I supposed to do about that?

Not to mention those kisses that felt anything but fake.

I’d been so worried about my mom, wanting to do anything not to disappoint her, but what if I was the casualty here? It had taken my poor heart months to get over Brax, to accept that we were just friends. What if this weekend did me in for good?

Speaking of Brax, he was standing at the island chopping pecans. I had to smile because he wore the same intense look of concentration as when he was studying a chart, examining a patient, or playing Wordle on his phone. Next to him, my dad was adding cranberries, cubes of orange squash, and feta cheese to a bowl full of greens.

“My favorite salad,” I said to my dad.

I walked over to the sink and poured a glass of water. My dad had gone to the fridge, where he rummaged for dressing ingredients. “You are quite the chopper,” I said to Brax as I walked over to him.

“Don’t underestimate these good looks,” he said in a voice meant only for me. “I’m multitalented in other areas besides medicine.”

I shot him an incredulous look to disguise the fact that I was already imaginingwhatareas. “Humble too.”

“You bet.” With his knife, he raked the pecans down the cutting board and into a bowl. “Your dad and I had a heart-to-heart.”

“Already?” The thirty seconds of relative peace I experienced devolved into another adrenaline spike. “What about?” I took a sip of water to calm myself.

“Oh, the usual. Business. Sports teams. When we’re setting the date.”

I choked on the water.

“Just teasing.” He tossed me a smile filled with mischief that made me love-hate him. Love because his smile was, well, nothing short of dazzling. And hate because it reminded me that he was not averse to giving as good as he got. He’d be just fine with my brothers.

I helped Caleb finish setting the table, and we all sat down. My mom brought a giant pot of boeuf bourguignon from the stove and set it next to the loaf of crusty, warm bread my dad had baked himself earlier today.

Liam was helping Dina get Emma settled, and my mom and dad were preparing the food. Caleb was staring at Brax. Like, really staring at him. Before I could figure out why, my dad raised his hands, a signal for all of us to join ours together.

Oh no. I knew what was coming. I didn’t mind grace. But I could exactly predict what my dad was about to say.

“Let’s all bow our heads,” he said, giving a definitive nod.

My dad was about to do what he always did every time all of us were home. Say grace, yes. But a very personal, very extemporaneous version that I really didn’t want Brax to hear. I didn’t think my dad would go there with a guest present at the table.

“Dad, I—maybe we shouldn’t—” My brothers sent me puzzled looks the channeledWhat’s the big deal?Liam shifted inhis chair. Caleb tossed me a sad little smile, as if he, too, wished Dad would keep it simple.

My dad was about to get super personal. I suddenly didn’t want Brax to learn of the tragedy that had split our family, that had taken my sister away, that had frozen her in time so that she was eternally nine years old.

It was too intimate. It was as if, by knowing about Grace, he would know other things about me that I tried very carefully to hide.

“How about a generic version, just for tonight?” I asked. More like pleaded.

“It’s okay, honey,” Dad said, smiling a kind smile. “I’m sure Brax won’t mind what we usually say.”

“All good,” Brax said, scanning my face carefully. Panicked, I looked away.

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