Page 102 of Kiss the Girl
Dad came to investigate and grinned when he saw Tabitha’s gift, leaving with a promise to run interference for me with my mom.
Puppy and I curled up and watchedThe Holiday. Or rather, I lay on the sofa with my laptop, and he curled up on my chest.
I could totally see the value of an emotional support animal. Maybe I should get a dog but from the pound. Something scruffy and loyal, who wanted to live with me in Charleston or wherever I might go, no matter what, because dogs were better than humans.
Puppy didn’t convince me that I didn’t actually want Noah. But his snuggles helped more than chocolate did. And if I went to bed sadder on Christmas Eve than I ever had, at least I had the reminder that good things like puppies still existed in the world, and maybe one day, I wouldn’t feel a giant hole where Noah should be.
* * *
“What in the world?”
Normally, we ate breakfast together first on Christmas morning. My parents had taught us since we were little that presents were the least important part of the day, and that we should always start it by spending time together first. It had been torturous as a kid, eating a big breakfast while a pile of brightly wrapped presents from Santa waited for us. As an adult, I loved it.
But Tabitha and I had switched it up this year, and now my mom was sitting in her favorite armchair, looking baffled that we wouldn’t let her follow her nose to the kitchen where Tabitha had been cooking up something delicious-smelling since early this morning.
“Sorry, Mom, but this present can’t wait,” Tabitha explained. “Grace?”
I went to the garage door and brought in the box I’d set there just before stepping into the house. Tabitha had slid an ottoman in front of my mom, and I set the box on top, careful not to startle its occupant.
My mom’s eyes narrowed. “Why does that box have airholes?”
“Open it,” Tabitha urged.
Mom lifted the lid, and her eyes widened. “Oh, my goodness, who are you?” she said into the box.
“He’s yours,” I told her. “Tabitha thought you should finally get your boy.”
“What’s his name?” she asked, reaching in to pick up the sleepy puppy blinking up at her.
“That’s for you to decide,” Tabitha said. “But there are some things you should know about this little dude.” She listed the selling points she’d given me on our drive, but from the second she mentioned “hypoallergenic,” Mom was only half-listening as she held him right up to her face to rub noses and coo.
Tabitha and I grinned at each other. “I think she likes him,” I said.
“I’ll call you Smokey,” my mom said. “No, Pepper. Maybe Sergeant Pepper? Or Flint.” She was trying out more names when the doorbell rang.
“Who rings the doorbell on Christmas morning?” I glanced in the direction of the door, confused.
“The Redmonds,” my mom said, like it wasn’t the one answer guaranteed to stop my heart for a full second.
“Why?” This wasn’t how I wanted to spend my day, trying to avoid Noah and pretend everything was okay. “Christmas is for family.”
“Grace,” my mom said, finally looking up from her puppy. She made my name a scolding. “That’s exactly why I invited them.”
“Evie and I have adopted each other,” my dad said, heading for the door.
“I made enough food for everyone,” Tabitha said. I shot her a frustrated look. Traitor. She smiled like there wasn’t a thing wrong in the world.
Dad came back a minute later with Evie, Paige, and Noah in tow. “Do you see that pink pile of presents, honey?” he asked, crouching so he was on Evie’s level.
She looked over at it and her eyes grew big. “Yes.”
“There’s a card on top with your name on it. You should go check it out.”
I hadn’t even noticed the pile. It hadn’t been there yesterday, but I could barely concentrate on anything because I was working so hard to keep my face pleasant as I smiled at Paige and Noah.
Evie ran toward the pile and plucked the card from the top. “To: Evie, From: Santa.” Her mouth fell open and she stared at Paige who looked unsurprised by all of this.
“I guess he left them here since there’s more room,” she said.
