Page 80 of UnLucky Christmas
“Yes, good luck trying to resist me,” I say as I prance around in a circle.
A seductive gleam flows in his eyes. “I need all the luck I can get.”
He lets out a puff of air, and I follow him as he carries two cups of tea to the couch.
I sit down facing him and cross my legs. “Okay, tell me about your parents.”
He puts his hand on my knee. “Alright, let’s see. Macy is a lot like my mom was—bubbly and fun, very likable. She loved this time of year as you know, and she’d do all the traditions like the tree, baking, and volunteering. Her family meant everything to her, and she was the type of woman who was best friends with everyone. She was tall and beautiful, but not conceited at all.”
He grows quiet.
“And what about your dad?”
He leans back on the couch. “I was younger when he passed, so I don’t have as many vivid memories of him. I know he was a pilot, very smart and successful. And he was good at a lot of different sports, I remember looking at his trophies when I was little. He was more serious than my mother. She always talked about how much she loved his dry sense of humor.”
“So, you’re a lot like him?”
He shrugs. “Yes, I think so.”
“They sound like wonderful people.”
“They were.” He takes a sip of his tea, and I can only imagine how difficult it must be for him to not have them around anymore.
“Did you and Macy have a chance to talk?”
He shakes his head. “When she called and told me about your dad, I hung up and went straight to the hospital.”
“Please talk to her,” I beg. “It’s not worth it to stay mad at each other.”
“I know,” he says. “I promise I’ll call her.”
“Thank you for coming to the hospital. You have no idea how much better I felt when I saw you.”
He leans in and kisses me. “Like I told your dad, there’s no place I’d rather be than with you.”
“So, you weren’t just saying that to impress him?”
He chuckles. “Well, maybe a little.”
I curl up next to him and put my head on his chest. What Grant doesn’t know is that there’s no place I’d rather be than right here with him.
* * *
I don’t thinkI’ve ever waited until the last minute to finish my Christmas shopping, and I swear I’ll never do it again. It’s two days before our party and three days before Christmas Eve. The mall is a complete zoo, and I just witnessed two women arguing over the ugliest pair of earrings I’ve ever seen. I thought it was going to turn into a complete brawl, so I got out of the line of fire.
Despite the chaos, I’m almost finished with my purchases. I got a bracelet for my mother and some books for my dad since he’ll probably be laid up for a while as he recovers. I sent Emme some money to put toward a golf experience Ben wants to do with his friends.
I owe Emme bigtime because she picked up a gift card for Bill and told me she’d add my name to it. I’m grateful because I couldn’t bring myself to buy him a gift—it’s nothing personal.
Janelle and I always take each other to dinner between Christmas and New Year’s, and it’s become one of my favorite traditions.
Now I just need to find something for Grant. He and I didn’t discuss getting gifts for each other, but I want him to know how much I appreciate him.
I decide to call Macy and get her opinion.
“Whitney, I was just thinking about you,” she exclaims.
“Oh?”
