She was speechless. A sickness built in her stomach that made her dizzy. She was hyperventilating, choking on emotion. Why would he do this? Why now? She was finally accepting the fact that it was time to pull the trigger on a divorce. She could finally see over the clouds of grief that clung to her after he left. She had prayed to God so many nights to fix her marriage. Was this a manifestation of her prayers or something else? Was this an example of the adage “Be careful what you pray for”? Ellie was filled with conflict. Cairo’s presence in their lives would heal so many wounds for her daughters, but she wondered what it would do for her. And would it last? Was this newfound revelation an act of desperation to keep her from running his pockets in a divorce, or was it genuine repentance?
“You need to leave, Cairo,” she whispered as she shook her head.“It’s Christmas Eve. I can’t even…” she scoffed.“You’re unbelievable!” she shouted. Her brain was in overdrive.“You abandoned us!”
“I know,” Cairo said.“But, Ellie, please let me fix this. Let me try. Before you give up on our family, let me prove to you that I can be a better man and a better father.”
“Go home,” Ellie whispered, pained.
“Please think about it. Think about our girls.”
Ellie disappeared inside the house. She didn’t even bother with the plate she had left behind. She rushed upstairs to her bedroom and locked the door before she bawled her eyes out. Christmas Eve with her family had been ruined. Cairo had turned her world upside down, for a second time, and she had no idea what she was going to do.
Chapter 22
Christmas Day
December 25th
Merry Friendsmas!” Ellie shouted as she walked through the front door of Sloan’s home. Sloan’s home was beautiful. It was modern and bright. It was sterile and spotless. It presented perfectly, just like Sloan. It saddened Ellie that Sloan was MIA, but she understood. A lot had happened. The two best friends needed a little space to process.
“We’re in the dining room!” Courtney called.
Ellie carried four gift bags in her hands. She couldn’t wait to show her girls what she had chosen. The rule of Friendsmas was you had to buy your friends your favorite thing and then explain the significance behind it at the exchange. She only wished that they were all together, but she would leave Sloan’s gift under her tree. They all would. The spirit ofFriendsmas would be waiting for Sloan when she returned.
She found them in the formal dining room at the elaborately set table.
“Leave it to Sloan to save the day,”Shy said.
“It’s what she does.” Courtney shrugged.
Ellie’s heart was heavy. She pulled out her phone to FaceTime Sloan, but she got no answer.
“What if this time she’sthe one that needs the saving?” Ellie whispered.
The Friendsmas brunch menu was amazing. Everything from lamb chops to salmon and lobster grits was served. The trio sat, being served by the chef Sloan had hired.
“Even when she’s not here, sis got everything under control,” Shy stated.
“Have you thought about what you’re going to say to her when she gets back?” Shy asked.
Ellie picked at her food. Her mind was all over the place. Between Cairo and Loyal, she had enough of her own drama. She didn’t have the capacity to manage Sloan and Cassidy, too.
“I think they really love each other,”Ellie revealed.
“I think they’ve loved each other for a long time, sis,” Courtney added.
Ellie sighed.“I just want them to be happy. I love them both too much to stop them from being happy. They could have told me, though.”
“Girl!” Shy exclaimed.“Theyain’t tell you because they knew how you would react, and when you found out, what did you do? Prove them right. Let grown people hunch on who they want.”
Ellie laughed and rolled her eyes at the thought of her best friend and brother hunching on one another.“Y’all right. I’m out of it.”
“Nah, they got you right in the middle of it. You’re the closest person to them both, so you will always be their referee, but from what I can tell, what they have is worth making sure they fight fair,” Courtney added.
“Okay, gift time!” Shy announced, lifting from the table.“Because if I keep sitting in front of this food, I’ma keep eating, and nobody has time for that.”
They took their dishes to the sink, where the hired chef and Sloan’s housekeeper cleaned. The trio made their way to the living room where the gifts sat beautifully under the tree.
“I’llgo first,” Shy said, stepping in front of the tree as Ellie and Courtney took a seat, grabbing throw blankets, making themselves comfortable. Shy grabbed two boxes and handed them to her girls.
