He wasn’t the only one. Darby picked her phone back up and began looking around online for some kind of olive branch—what kind, she wasn’t quite sure.
Suddenly she saw it. Yes. That was what she was looking for.
It was a silver ornament in the shape of a wreath. In the middle of the wreath hung a smaller circle trimmed with cubic zirconia and stating “I??my sister.” She did, but she had a long way to go to prove it.
What was that saying about the longest journey starting with a single step? Well, here was her first step, and one step at a time would have to do.
Two Christmas movies was all she could take, and she was in no mood to laugh at the antics inElf. She went up to their shared room to wait for Erika to come home. She’d apologize again, promise to make it up to her. She tried to read the latest book she’d downloaded, but in the end, the time difference between coasts caught up with her and she fell asleep. By the time she awoke the next morning, Erika was already gone and she was alone.
She came down to breakfast to find everyone already at the kitchen table, downing bacon and eggs. “We didn’t want to wake you,” Mom said.
Erika said nothing. No surprise there. Darby counted herself lucky that her sister hadn’t put a pillow over her head in the night.
“What time does the circus start?” Dad asked as he helped himself to another cup of coffee.
“Two,” Mom said. “I told you, Frank.”
“I forgot.”
“Never marry a man who doesn’t listen to you,” Mom joked.
“It’s hard to keep up when there’s that much talking,” Dad shot back. “Too much for my ears to hold.”
“I’m getting your hearing tested,” Mom informed him. It was an ongoing threat.
Her parents cracked Darby up. They loved to trade insults, but they were so there for each other. They’d gone through their share of trials, but instead of dividing them, the challenges had made them stronger. They’d lost a baby in between Erika and Cole. Mom had survived breast cancer. Both of them had lost their parents. No matter what life threw at them, they stayed together. How did you find love like that? Darcy wished she knew.
Breakfast was long and leisurely, but once the dishes were cleared Mom turned into a drill sergeant. The men were put to work bringing up folding chairs from the basement and wiping them down, and the women got busy making appetizers and putting together cookie platters to set on the dining table, along with red paper plates and holiday napkins. The glass punch bowl was brought out and eggnog punch made. Scented candles were lit, background music was started, and soon the Browns’ residence looked and smelled a lot like Christmas.
At ten minutes to two, their first guest dropped in. Mrs. Williams was an eightysomething who had been widowed for as long as Darby could remember. She loved to wear red sweaters and bright red lipstick to match, drawn on well beyond her lip line. The effort made her look like the world’s oldest clown. Darby and her friends had made fun of her for years.
Why had they done that? Looking at the woman, so frail and glad to join them, she couldn’t remember.
“It’s so good to see both of your darling daughters,” Mrs.Williams said to Mom, beaming at Erika and Darby.
Oh yes, what darlings.
Erika had been giving Darby the silent treatment all day, but now it was lights, camera, action, and she was all warm smiles and happiness. “You look great, Mrs.Williams,” she said to the older woman.
Okay, that was stretching it. “How are you, Mrs.Williams?” Darby asked as she took the woman’s coat.
The elderly woman waved a hand. “Don’t ask. I’m turning into a dry old stick. Never get old, dears.”
What to say to that? “I’ll try not to,” Darby said. Then added, “And nobody thinks you’re a dry old stick.” Somebody—her—used to, but Mrs.Williams didn’t need to know that.
The doorbell rang, signaling another arrival. “Find a seat, Mrs.Williams,” Mom said. “One of the girls will get you some punch.”
Mom opened the door and there stood Mrs.Collier. And Gregory.
Darby’s heart jumped to attention. It had been a few years since Darby had seen him. Still, she hadn’t expected such a transformation. This was Gregory? Where were his glasses? And why wasn’t he skinny and nerdy-looking anymore?
And why was her mouth suddenly dry?
“I’ll get your punch,” she said to the old woman. Mrs.Williams wasn’t the only one who could use a drink.
Chapter4
Darby fetched punch for Mrs.Williams and filled her a plate with mini quiches, crackers, and slices from the cheeseball Mom had made. She visited with another neighbor who had come in, then took Mrs.Williams her plate and punch. She tried to feign interest in Mr.Larson’s latest skirmish with his cable provider. Then she brought Mrs.Williams a fresh plate with cookies. She did everything she could think to do to avoid making contact with Gregory Collier.
