Page 94 of Can We Skip to the Good Part?
“Best news ever,” she heard her mother yell. “I can’t wait to be with my kids. We love you, Ella!”
“Love you, too,” she said with maybe a little less exuberance. “Have a great Christmas.”
Her dad paused. “Well, don’t say it like we’re not going to talk to you five times between then and now.”
“We need to FaceTime so I can show you around the town,” her mother said, taking the phone. “With you designing book covers now, you will appreciate the storybook aesthetic over here.”
“I’m sure I will. Oh, you know what?” She brushed away a stray tear before it had a chance to feel like reality. “Someone’s at the door,” she lied. “I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
After a quick goodbye and a promise to regroup later, they ended the call. In silence, Ella stared at the wall, dejected and not sure what to do with herself. She looked at her tablet, still on its stand, but had lost her motivation to work. She turned to the open suitcase on the bed next to her and spotted the white sweater she’d packed for Christmas Eve. The little spice packets she found in town that she planned to put in everyone’sstockings. With a sad shake of her head, she closed the suitcase, unable to stomach the sight of its contents.
So, she’d stay in Everly Springs for the holiday. Nodding, she worked on talking herself into all the ways she could turn this around, shove her feelings to the side. She wasn’t worthless. She mattered to a lot of people. Remembering Max’s sweet words that morning in bed, urging her to stay, helped. They had been playful but based in truth. She had people here who cared about her, and it was important for Ella to remember that.
Hell, if she let it, this might be the most memorable Christmas ever.
“It’s going to be okay,” she told herself. Sadness chased her the rest of the day, but she pulled herself out of it each time it swarmed. By the time Max swung by to pick her up for their dinner date, she teetered right on the edge. She must have seen it the second Ella met her at the door.
“What happened?” Max asked, her face falling when her eyes met Ella’s. She didn’t hesitate, instantly opening her arms. “Come here.” Ella moved right into them, her face crumpling. There was something about a soft place to fall that made letting go feel not only okay but necessary.
With Max’s arms around her, the weight Ella had been carrying all day finally found a place to land. She pressed her face into Max’s shoulder, clung to the familiar fabric of her coat, and let the tears come.
“They’re staying in Germany,” she said into the quiet space between them. “For Christmas. They’re not coming back.”
Max’s hand moved in slow, calming circles on her back. “Oh, no. Ella, I’m so sorry.”
“I was so stupid to get excited,” she whispered. “I should’ve known better.”
“You’re not stupid,” Max said gently, pulling back just enough to look her in the eyes. “You wanted to go home and see your family. That’s not stupid.”
Ella gave a watery laugh. “I don’t even know where that is anymore. Germany?”
Max tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Right now, it’s here. With me. Okay?”
Something in Ella cracked further, but it hurt less this time. She nodded, her throat tight. “I just wanted to matter.”
“You do,” Max said. “You matter so much.”
And for the first time all day, Ella almost believed it.
TWENTY-SIX
The Ghost of Christmas Present
Ella scrunched open one eye and checked the clock. It was almost eight in the morning, the news ushering in a bolt of holiday excitement. Go time. Christmas morning was here, and she couldn’t wait for Max to see the new briefcase she’d splurged on. The two of them had different ideas about the right time to rise on this special day, with Ella arguing vehemently for 7 a.m. and Max, the sleepyhead who didn’t often get to lounge in bed, asking for somewhere closer to ten. They’d compromised and agreed on eight. But it was finally here, and she couldn’t wait to celebrate with Max, who was curled into her side like a sunbeam of warmth.
“Merry Christmas,” Ella whispered, turning her body toward Max and kissing her cheek softly. “Do you think Santa came?”
“I know he did. He brought you.” Max smiled, though she’d yet to open her eyes.
“You’re being cute in the morning again,” Ella said. She kissed Max’s nose this time. “You’re also indescribably warm, which makes staying in this bed entirely tempting.”
“See?” Max mumbled. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Not so fast, though,” Ella said, giving Max a squeeze. “There are presents to open. There’s hot chocolate with marshmallows to sip. We need to absorb every Christmassy detail of every tinsel-lined minute.” She stared at the door and called out, “Alexa, play my Holiday Crunk It List.”
“You are on Christmas crack,” Max said with a laugh. She peered at the clock over Ella’s shoulder just as the living room erupted in a club mix of “Deck the Halls.” “And you’re five minutes early.”
“I couldn’t wait,” Ella said with a triumphant grin over the music. “And it’s close enough. Come on. Let’s go.”
