Tess smiles back at Maeve as they walk into the kitchen, and I turn to smiling Callum. Rushing to him, he catches me effortlessly, spinning me around as my laughter spills out. "How did you—"
"—kept in contact with Tess after the hospital," Callum says, setting me back on my feet but not letting go of my waist. "She didn't want to get your hopes up, just in case it fell through. Then we thought it would be a nice surprise before the surgery."
"I..." the words clog in my throat, and I'm not really sure what to say.
This has been the best Christmas of my entire life.
Even with the looming surgery and radiation treatment I'm facing, I can't help but feel pure gratitude and love. My sister is home for good, and I can feel something click into place inside of me. Like a missing puzzle piece has finally been placed in its spot.
In a week, I'll take the next major step of my cancer journey and have my breasts removed from my body, but not even thoughts of surgery can get me down, because today I'm spending this holiday with the man who makes my life golden. All I can say is, "Thank you, Callum."
"You're welcome," he murmurs, leaning down to bump our noses together with a soft smile. "Merry Christmas, baby."
"Merry Christmas, Callum," I murmur back, kissing his lips softly as Tess and Maeve walk back into the living room. Tess carries a plate of steaming cinnamon rolls and places it on thecoffee table, while Maeve holds two cups of coffee and hands one to Tess.
We settle back onto the couch as Callum flips on the TV and puts on It's A Wonderful Life. Tess hands Callum a plate for both of us, and I cuddle into his side as we all eat, chat, and watch the movie. I can't help but smile as Tess easily falls into conversation with Callum and Maeve. The way she slots in as seamlessly as I have makes me feel warm. Maeve tells her something that makes her laugh wholeheartedly as she sits on the couch next to me.
"So, what's next?" I ask Tess, licking frosting from my thumb.
"I'm on Christmas leave until the second week of January, then outprocessing for the next couple of months," Tess tells me, taking a sip of her coffee, "Then I am officially not government property anymore."
"Amen to that," Maeve says, raising her mug in the air.
"What are your next plans?" Callum asks Tess, who opens her mouth to answer—before all of us freeze at the sound of booted footsteps stomping up the stairs.
Tonya bursts through the door seconds later, and I'm already smiling at the Santa hat perched crookedly on her head, which completely clashes with the usual black leather jacket she's wearing. She smiles broadly and hikes a large duffel bag over her shoulder, entering with a flourish.
"Merry Christm—" Tonya stops in her tracks once she sees Tess...
The smile drops from her face, and she visibly swallows.
... is Tonyablushing?
The blonde woman blinks rapidly, as if her brain has rebooted, and inhales sharply to speak, then immediately chokes on the air and coughs. "Oh, uh... hey..."
"Hello again," Tess says, mouth curving into a slight grin. "Tonya..."
"Hey... T-Tess..." Tonya says, clearing her throat and shiftingthe bag over her shoulder. "Nice to see you... again..."
Frowning, I glance back and forth between my sister and Tonya, who's doing an excellent impression of a tomato right now. "You guys already met?"
"Tonya picked up Tess from the airport..." Callum explains to me, head tilted, looking at Tonya with concern before it shifts to surprise, then...amusement.
"Yeah, I mean..." Tonya shrugs, suddenly fascinated by the hardwood floor. "W-Was no big deal..."
Tess just smiles at her, her face filling with affection as she looks at the stuttering, blushing woman. I blink at Tonya, peering at her like she's been possessed because this is not Tonya.
This isn'tfierce, confident, not-giving-a-single-fuckTonya?
Oh, wait...
I might have chemo brain still, but the dots are suddenly connecting.
Oh...
Oh!
I glance at Callum. He's already grinning, shaking his head slowly like he knew this was coming.
