Page 81 of UnLucky Christmas
“Grant came to see me this morning.”
I bite my lower lip.
“How did it go?”
“It went really well,” she pauses. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“I haven’t seen my brother like this in a long time,” she admits, her voice cracking. “He’s lighter and happier—and I know it’s because of you.”
I start to get choked up. “Well, he makes me happy too.”
“I know, and I feel like I had a hand in bringing you two together without even realizing it.”
“You’re going to make me cry,” I moan.
“I’m already crying,” she wails. “Grant told me he’s spending Christmas with your family. You have no idea what a relief that is to me. I worry about him being alone.”
“It’s going to be interesting,” I tell her about my mother and Bill and give her an update on my dad.
“I’m glad your dad is okay,” she exclaims. “Grant was so worried about you when I told him.”
“Thanks for calling him. Having him there was so comforting.”
“I’m not surprised,” she says. “My brother is impossible most of the time, but he’s a great person to have around in a crisis. He always keeps a cool head no matter what. He was amazing when our mom was sick, meanwhile I was falling apart.”
That sounds right. I’m sure Grant felt like he had to be the strong one for his younger sister.
“Do you have any gift ideas for him? I’d really like to get him something meaningful.”
“I have the perfect idea. Can you come over?”
“Yes, I’m leaving the mall now. Thankfully, I made it out alive.”
I knew Macy would know what to do, and I can’t wait to see what it is. I’m so relieved she and Grant talked things out, and I’m sure they are too.
When I walk into Macy’s house, I nearly trip over a pile of wrapped gifts next to two open suitcases in the entryway
“I’m in the office,” she calls.
I find her sitting at her desk watching a video on her phone.
“I’m sorry it’s such a mess out there,” she exclaims. “Austin has a huge family, and we’re bringing all the gifts with us. Next year, I’m shipping them or giving everyone money.”
She stands up and gives me a hug.
“I wish we could be here for your party,” she whines. “I still can’t believe my brother is going. You obviously have some sort of sexy magical power over him.”
I try to tone down my excitement. “Did he tell you he put up a Christmas tree?”
Her mouth drops open. “At his house?”
I nod. “His place was in desperate need of some holiday cheer. I told him he needed one, and he surprised me with it.”
She covers her mouth with a hand and then fans her face.
“My brother is in love with you,” she squeals. “The party, a tree—there’s no way he’d do any of this if he wasn’t.”
