Page 41 of The Wish List
She leaned in and hugged her mother, tears springing to her eyes at the whispered “I love you” that was now becoming familiar with May.
“Have a seat,” Trinity said. She made room so Beth would be sitting between their mom and Greer. Freya looked nearly apoplectic that suddenly she was next to the handsome agent.
Beth didn’t think she imagined the sparks between her sister and Christopher Greer, although she didn’t understand the connection for either of them.
Before she could spend too much time contemplating whether her glamorous sister was on the cusp of a burgeoning romance during her time in town, the teacher in charge of the production took the stage.
Her mother made a noise of pleasure. Instinctively, Beth reached out and enfolded May’s small hand in hers.
Her mom leaned closer, resting her head on Beth’s shoulder as they watched the children file out onto the stage.
The woman who introduced herself as the school’s art teacher seemed to be in charge of the event. She explained this year’s theme was “a light in the darkness.”
Beth dabbed her eyes as the first song started. She held tightly to her mother’s hand and smiled at Trinity. She hadn’t even realized she was living in darkness and regretted that her mother’s brush with death precipitated her slow passage into the light.
She couldn’t deny that despite all the ways her life wasn’t going as expected, the past couple weeks of reconnecting with her sisters—as awkward as it was at times—made her heart feel less troubled.
She mouthed the words to one of her favorite Christmas songs and glanced around the audience to see Declan sitting with Shauna a few aisles in front of them.
To her shock, he turned like he’d been waiting for her to notice him and smiled.
“Lord, he’s handsome,” Trinity murmured around their mother.
Beth felt the heat of his smile down to her toes and couldn’t deny her sister’s words. “He and Shauna aren’t dating,” she said, wondering why she felt the need to clarify that.
“Good to know.” Trinity laughed softly. “Although bad boys aren’t my type these days.”
“I don’t think he’s a bad boy. I think he looks like one, or maybe he’s reformed. What kind of a bad boy agrees to take care of six-year-old twins of a woman he’s not even dating?”
“Are you trying to convince yourself or me?” Trinity asked as the first number came to an end and the audience applauded.
“Neither. But speaking of handsome men who aren’t in the bad-boy category, do you have any thoughts on why Police Chief Davis keeps looking at us—or more specifically you?”
Beth nodded her head toward May’s neighbor, who sat across the aisle with his mother-in-law. His daughter was in sixth grade at the school, so her class would perform next according to the program.
Trinity cradled her baby bump like a security blanket. “I have no idea,” she said, but Beth caught the breathy edge to her voice.
“He’s a good guy, Trin.”
“I’m going to pop out a baby in a month and a half. I’m not interested in men.”
Freya leaned around Greer to shush the two of them as the next song began. Beth and Trinity shared a smile when Greer reached out to pat Freya’s hand like he was calming an agitated child.
Instead of smacking him away as Beth would’ve expected, Freya’s features gentled. She gave an eye roll that felt more perfunctory than filled with real annoyance and sat back.
The rest of the show was lively and entertaining. Beth was surprised at how much she enjoyed every second of it. Even the parents and grandparents waving to their kids didn’t elicit the sorrow she would have anticipated.
So much so that she was the one who suggested they take their mother to the reception in the school’s cafeteria for her to visit with Timmy, Zach and Michaela. May meant a lot to the kids in the neighborhood and seeing them made her happy.
Freya and Greer were tasked with collecting cookies and drinks for the group while Beth and Trinity wheeled their mother to a table.
Ash and Helena joined them almost immediately. As Helena sat down with May, Trinity drifted toward Ash. The two were quickly engaged in conversation like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her little sister had a crush on their neighbor. There was no doubt in Beth’s mind.
“Your mom had the right idea with the wheelchair,” Shauna said as she hobbled forward on her crutches, Declan a solid figure at her side.
“You’re doing great,” Beth told her. “You haven’t been taken out by a kid on a sugar high or an overexcited relative. That’s a win.”
