Page 28 of Christmas Eve Do-Over
Epilogue
Series Epilogue - 15 years later
Christmas This Yearby TobyMac blared out of the speakers, adding to the craziness of the day. Like we did every year, we were gathered at Esa and Ivan's house in Huntington Beach. We went off to our various families' homes for Christmas Day, but everyone reserved Christmas Eve lunch for the Beach Squad.
Sacred.
The Squad grew over the years, children, spouses, and siblings added to the mix. The Beach Squad Christmas Eve motto was "no person spent Christmas alone," so often there were people at the luncheon no one had seen before, but by the time they left, they felt like family.
"Tory! Jamison!" I yelled over the noise, calling my two kids to the table. They were thirteen and fifteen and had been with me since they were toddlers. Duke pulled out my chair for me, always waiting on me hand and foot, even though I told him he didn't need to do that. He kissed my forehead and left to search out the kids. We'd fostered a few others for various lengths of time, but Tory and Jamison had been with us the longest.
The first time I had to hand back a child to their parents, I thought my heart would break and never be put back together. I loved those kids hard. But soon a new child needed a loving home, and I realized my heart could grow and love them too. My heart was pretty amazing if I do say so myself.
"Holy schnitzel, we might need another table!" Sunny sat down next to me, a tiny thing with short hair currently dyed a dark purple. After her mom recovered from cancer, Sunny had kept her hair short, saying it was easier with her job as a lifeguard. But she'd started coloring it to add flair. Mostly, I think, because Cain couldn't seem to keep his hands off her when she had some weird color in her hair.
"Nah. You can save a chair by just sitting on my lap." Cain picked up Sunny and deposited her on his lap, a lecherous grin on his face.
"Hey, quit manhandling me!" Sunny folded her arms across her chest, but lost the fight to a giggle when Cain nuzzled into her neck and started his usual tricks of distraction.
"God! That's so gross, you guys." Mick slumped down into his chair across the table, disgusted because his parents were still totally into each other. He flung his long dark hair out of his eyes. Cain had his hands full with a grumpy teenager just like him growing up. Sunny seemed to take it all in stride and I'd seen firsthand how Mick was softer when it was just him and his mama.
"I think it's super sweet." Leilani came to stand behind Mick's chair, an out-of-this-world beauty with her blue-green eyes, long sun-kissed hair, and tan skin. Mick sat up straighter and tried to get a look at her without being awkward about it. Which meant he was even more awkward than normal. It was cute. He hung on her every word, having practically worshiped her for years growing up. Too bad she was two years older and had absolutely no interest in an immature thirteen-year-old boy.
Cain ignored his son, after giving him a raised eyebrow that spoke volumes, but stopped his harassment when a tiny blonde human, all smiles and dimples, tugged on his arm. His face lit up like he'd seen the heavens and found pure bliss. Which I guess he had the day his ray of sunshine little girl was born three years ago. You know the phrase "wrapped around her finger"? Yeah, that phrase was invented solely to describe Cain and little Rose.
Brinley waddled into the room, her six-foot frame moving slower than ever with her second child on the way. "Good Lord. Chasing a three-year-old when you're eight months pregnant is harder than winning a tournament." She shook her head, and we chuckled, knowing how much work she'd put in to become a top Pro Beach Volleyball player before she and Dean settled down to build a family. She'd traveled the world playing in international tournaments and bringing home gold hardware, even hitting the Olympic stage and becoming a household name. She was now equally devoted to raising her daughter and her soon-to-be-born son.
Dean brought her a plate of hors d'oeuvres, setting it on the table in front of her with a kiss. He rubbed her belly protectively, over the moon to be a daddy once again. I smiled, seeing the gray in his hair, feeling protective myself. I'd known my girls and their men for almost two decades now. They were like my own kids, family in every way.
Sage was already sitting, her phone in her hand, thumbs flying, pecking out an email or some such craziness. The woman worked 24/7. Jax came up behind her and read over her shoulder, then gave her "the look" when she finally spared him a glance. She smiled sheepishly and held up one finger. After a few seconds, she put the phone away and pulled Jax to her, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him close. Their daughter, Indi, came running up and joined the group hug, a tiny braid and a feather in her long hair, just like her mommy.
Despite my badgering, most of my girls had waited awhile to start having kids, so I was now old enough to be their grandma. A position I took seriously, let me tell you.
Ivan and Esa came from the kitchen, carrying the huge platter of pork ribs together, depositing it onto the packed dining table and stepping back to address the group, their ten-year-old son and thirteen-year-old daughter flanking them.
Hessa and Kai waltzed in, just in time, Hessa's glasses askew. Don't ask. I could guess what they were doing, and I didn't want to know the details. You'd think after five record deals she would have grown up a little. I rolled my eyes, making Hessa blush, then turned my attention back to Ivan and Esa.
"Thank you all for attending our annual Christmas Eve feast!" Ivan said the same thing every year, and we cheered in response, just like always.
"We have a special announcement today—"
The door slammed open, hitting the wall and causing the pictures to rattle. As a group we craned our necks to see Bailey fly through the door, Jack at her heels, a frown on his face.
"Sorry we're late! Couldn't find my damn keys again." Their three kids, Aiden, Jordan, and Kate traipsed in behind them.
"You can't leave your coat there, Aiden. You better pick it up." Kate was bossing around her older brother, hands on her hips like the adorable little tyrant she was. The spitting image of her mother, she was already a handful. Esa constantly reminded a frustrated Bailey that she was exactly the same when she was a kid. Karma had come around and bitten Bailey in the ass.
Esa cleared her throat loudly. Bailey's head whipped up, and she stilled. "Oh, sorry, did we interrupt something?"
"As I was saying," Esa squinted her eyes at Bailey, "we have been adding to our group every year, expanding the Beach Squad with husbands, kids, and family members. And this year is no different with Brinley and Dean's baby on the way. As you know, since we had a kick-ass trip to Vegas to celebrate, I turned forty this year. And while life is fabulous, it's gotten busy. Too busy."
Everyone nodded, agreeing, thinking about the craziness that packed our schedules. I wondered where Esa was going with this. I had an uneasiness in my stomach I couldn't explain away. Life was good. Why make changes?
She glanced at Ivan, who gave her a subtle head nod. "I've decided to sell all but one of my Chocolate Dreams locations. A buyer made me an offer I simply can't refuse."
Everyone murmured and looked around the room.
"I'll keep the original Huntington Beach location, but the other fifteen locations up and down California will be sold off as a franchise."
