My father gave me a knowing look. “You better go. I’ll get your bags.”
I walked in the house. All the things I had missed about home hit me as I walked through the door. It was as if all the Christmases in my memory were bundled together and unwrapped in this one instant. Everything was festive and perfect, just like Christmas was supposed to be.
“In here, Kaitlyn. Come see,” Mom called from the living room.
“Ok, ok. What’s different with the tree this year?” I stopped in the doorway. “Wow, Mom. It’s amazing.” I stepped closer to examine her latest work of art.
The twinkle lights sparkled all over the tree. All our family ornaments were on display, but there were new ones. It sparkled from the inside out. There had to be at least fifty glitter snowflakes. Some made from mirrors, others coated in a white shimmer.
“I ca
n’t believe you added all of this. Where did you get the idea?” I circled to the other side, not wanting to miss a single decoration.
“Oh, it just hit me one morning when I was doing child’s pose. It threw off the rest of my class because I wanted to get out of the studio and start on the ornaments.” She laughed. “I used crushed glass on most of the snowflakes. I’m hoping we’ll have a white Christmas this year. The tree should get us started.”
My mother had always been crafty, but this looked like the work of a professional.
“I think it’s the prettiest tree we’ve had.” I reached for my phone in my back pocket.
“What are you doing?”
I stepped back and snapped a photo. “Taking a picture to send to Cole. He has to see this.” I forwarded the picture along with a message.
I made it! Wish you were here to see this in person.
Seconds later he wrote back.
Me too, baby.
How’s Grayson?
Still has a fever.
I groaned. I didn’t know how long this virus would run. I didn’t want to entertain the idea that it could last well into Christmas. That wasn’t going to happen. I was determined we were going to spend our first Christmas together.
“How about we get you settled in your room and I’ll have dinner ready in a few minutes? I bet you’re tired from the trip.”
“A little.” I shuffled down the hall in search of my old bedroom. She had no idea how hard it was for me to keep my eyes open.
Other than summer and holiday breaks, I hadn’t spent much time here since I graduated from high school. Pictures from school were on the walls—all the things that I didn’t pack for the Texas move were still here. My mother had even unpacked my childhood tree and placed it on the dresser. It made me think about the tree Cole probably had with Pops. It was good to be home, but my heart hurt more now than when I got on the plane in Brownsville.
It was only a few days. I could do this, right? I watched the lights on my tree change from blue to red to green. Who was I kidding? I was going to be completely miserable as long as Cole and I were apart.
“Dinner was delicious, Mom. I’ll have to get that recipe from you. Maybe make that casserole for Cole.”
“Ok. I’ll copy it for you.”
I watched as she scurried around the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher. My father placed a glass of wine in front of me.
“Here you go. I’m going to catch the end of the game. Glad you’re here, pumpkin.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I hadn’t thought about how to get through the nightly cocktail routine at the house. Just the smell of the wine made my stomach turn.
There was only one week until Christmas, and my parents usually packed every night leading up to the holiday with some kind of craft, trip, or activity.
“So, what are the plans this week?” I asked my mother.