Page 82 of UnLucky Christmas
I’m speechless for a few seconds. “I don’t think…”
“Trust me,” she interrupts.
I’m not sure how to react. I mean, I have no doubt he has strong feelings as do I, but it’s a bit overwhelming since it’s all happening so fast.
“Don’t worry,” she exclaims. She must’ve noticed the look of sheer panic on my face.
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “I enjoy being with him. I even have fun arguing with him.”
“You’re so good for him,” she insists. “He needs someone to argue with and someone to challenge him.”
Janelle said something similar after Pete and I broke up.
“That’s why this will be the perfect gift for you to give him,” she walks toward a cabinet and pulls out a folder. “I’ve been wanting to do something with these for a while, but for some reason I haven’t.”
She hands me the folder, and when I look inside, I feel a rush of emotions. There are three candid photos of Grant as a little boy with his parents. His mother is pregnant with Macy, I’m assuming.
“These are beautiful,” I say, swallowing back tears.
“I found them in some of my mother’s things,” she says. “Don’t ask me why they weren’t framed. It’s something my mother would have done.”
“These are so special. And you’re in the photos too,” I say pointing to her mother’s cute round belly.
She drops her head and nods slowly. “Yep. Anyway, maybe you could frame them or something. Before this year, I was hesitant to do anything with them. I think it would be really perfect if they came from you.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. These are priceless.”
She holds up her hand to protest. “I want you to give them to him.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
I hug Macy and thank her.
“Speaking of which, I have something for you too.”
I frown. “You didn’t have to—"
“Don’t worry. It’s just a little something.”
I follow her out to the living room, and she reaches under the tree and hands me a small gift bag. The tears return to my eyes as soon as I look inside. It’s a matching pillow to the ones we got when we first met. This one has the wordbelieveon it.
“I got one too, so now we have the full matching set,” she says as she dabs the corners of her eyes. “I know we were meant to run into each other in the store that day. I have no doubt my mother brought us together so you could meet Grant.”
I sniffle as a tear rolls down my cheek.
“I’m so emotional,” I wail.
She laughs through her sob. “Me too. There are going to be a lot more tears to shed over the next few days, and hopefully Santa puts tissues in my stocking this year.”
I couldn’t agree more. I know the tears are just beginning to flow.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Ican’t believe they cut their trip short this year,” Janelle cries. “I’m not sure I’m mentally prepared for another one of their karaoke duets.”
It’s almost party time, and we’re at her parents’ house putting the finishing touches on the decorations. Nothing like last minute preparations, but we’re working with what we’ve got. The caterers should be here any minute with the food, and then we’re all set. Brian is setting up the karaoke in the living room.
