Page 58 of The Merriest Christmas

"Whatever it is," June said, "it'll be the right one.And remember Emmy, there's no rush.You have time to figure out what your heart is telling you."

When the call ended, I still didn't have an answer, but I felt loads better.

Talking with my friends always helped.

And I knew they would be there for me, no matter what.

Just like they were today, even though it was Christmas, even though they had tons to do with their own families, they'd taken the time to listen to my issues.I loved them all the more for it.Whoever said girls are catty hadn't found their tribe yet.

I'd found my mine.

And I was forever grateful.

Later that night, after the game which ended in a tie—which prompted my brothers to declare a rematch at an as-yet-to-be-determined date—and a delicious dinner—which ended in everyone being sleepy—I went to my mom's room and laid down, staring up at the ceiling and thinking of everything.Seaver.My friends' advice.The way my heart still beat like a wild thing in my chest whenever Seaver was in the same room.

"Emmy?" Mom whispered in the dark."Are you asleep?"

"Not yet," I said.

"Do you want to come up here, so we can talk?"

Smiling, I rose, pulled back the covers, and settled in next to my mother.We turned to face each other.

"Thank you," she said."for what you did.Getting the boys here.That was the best holiday surprise ever."

"I'm just glad you're happy, Mom."

"I am.Are you?"

"Yeah, sure."

I didn't miss the knowing look in her eyes.

"So, you and Seaver," she said, leaving it open-ended.

"Me and Seaver, what?" I asked innocently.

"Emmy, come on.I saw you two this morning.And I always had a feeling there was something there."

My brows popped up."You did?"

"Oh yeah, he didn't do much to hide it to be honest.If your brothers weren't so distracted by baseball and their own lives, I'm sure they would've seen it too."

"Well, thank you, baseball, I guess," I muttered.

"Emmy."

I looked up at her and sighed.

"Yeah, Mom," I said."Seaver and me."

"When did it start?" she asked then held up a hand."Never mind, I don't want to know."

I shrugged."It's fine.I was 17, and he was 19.Nothing too scandalous there."

"Not sure Dex would agree."

"Yeah."

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