Page 81 of Maybe This Christmas
He pulled her back onto the bed.They lay intertwined, their clothes still cold from the snowy weather outside.
“I just want you to know that I’ve always got your back, Em.I know this isn’t going to be easy, especially with the girls.Things happened fast at first, but we’re not in any kind of rush now.”
She brought her hands to his chest.
“I’m glad you said that.This has felt a little overwhelming.Even though it feels right.The only kids I’ve been around are Aniyah’s, and she lives in Texas.I just don’t want to be a weirdo, you know?”
He laughed.“The girls will probably like you if you’re willing to be weird and get on their level.Emerson’s in kindergarten.Poppy will be in preschool next year.So, it makes more sense if they stay where their routines are.But they’re here on the weekends and sometimes for longer stretches.I visit them there, too.So, they are a big part of my life.”
“And there’s really no co-parenting drama or anything like that?”
“Olivia is my friend, first and foremost.More than anyone, she’s been eager for me to find someone else.She doesn’t want me to be lonely.”
Emma sighed.“I don’t know.Maybe it’s my cynicism, but it seems too good to be true.”
He wrapped his arms around her.“We still argue.The girls are actual humans who have meltdowns, flip out, and are general assholes sometimes.But that’s real life, you know?It’s not always shiny and perfect.”He cleared his throat and raised his voice several octaves.“You’re not my mom, Emma!”He laughed.“Just giving you a preview of your future sans rose-colored glasses.But we’ve got a while before all of that.”
“I know that.”She exhaled.“I just need to relax and let things happen.I don’t know why I’m feeling so anxious.This is a good thing.”
“Honestly, I’d be a little worried if you weren’t feeling anxious right now.Your entire life has flipped upside down.There’s a lot of uncertainty.But you can be sure of one thing, and that’s I’m not going anywhere.We’ll get through this together.”
She yawned against her arm.“That’s the one thing I’m not worried about.”
Caleb kissed the top of her head.“Well, good.Everything else is figure-out-able.”
Emma curled herself around Caleb, feeling more comfortable than ever.She was asleep a moment later.
* * * *
Caleb and Emma likely would’ve slept through most of Christmas Day if the biddies hadn’t intervened.The room was dark when the shrill noise of the cabin phone ringing woke them.Judging by the horrid jingling the phone emanated, it likely hadn’t been used since the 1980s.
Emma cursed under her breath and rolled over.Caleb grabbed the phone and croaked out a greeting.
“Wake up, sleepyheads!We’re having Christmas dinner at the house tonight.Be ready to go in an hour,” Lainey said.
He groaned.“What time is it?”
“Nearly five.Your dad and uncle have been frying turkeys again, so the sooner we get home, the better the odds the house isn’t engulfed in flames.”
He covered the receiver and gave Emma a shake.“Are you okay going to my parents’ house tonight?”
She let out a yawn.“Yeah, just give me a minute to take a shower, and I’ll be good to go.”
He uncovered the phone.“We’ll be there.”
Lainey laughed.“Well, of course you will be, sweetheart.See you soon.”
* * * *
It didn’t take much effort to get Emma out of the door.She kept talking about how this had been the first Christmas in years she’d been with family.Once the Ellis clan adopted you, there was no going back.
He had to park a block and a half away from his parents’ house.They must’ve invited all the biddies and their families to boot.
As they approached the house, he tugged her closer.“I’d warn you about what you’re walking into, but I think you know what to expect well enough by now.”
The Ellis house was lit up with white Christmas lights, which clung to anything that stood still for long enough.As much as he’d wanted to run away from this place when he was younger, he knew now this was home.
“I kind of love the chaos.But if that ever changes, I’ll let you know.”
