She laughed and leaned into my side affectionately. We watched as the car parked. A tall, dark-haired, well-dressed man got out. For a moment, I couldn’t process what I was seeing. Then recognition hit me like a physical blow.
“What the fuck?” I breathed.
“What’s wrong?” Sylvie asked.
It was Austin. My older brother Austin, who I hadn’t seen in years, was standing in the parking lot of Northwood Lodge on Christmas morning.
When he spotted me, his face broke into that grin that had always been able to charm anyone within a fifty-foot radius.
“Merry Christmas, little brother,” he called out with a friendly wave.
I stood there stunned, unable to form words, as Austin opened the back door of his car and began pulling out bags and boxes.
“I heard you threw a serious Christmas party here,” he said, as if showing up unannounced was the most natural thing in the world. “Thought I’d bring some extra fixings.”
“Little brother,” Sylvie repeated. “This is one of your brothers?”
I shook my head. “That’s the other black sheep. I haven’t seen him since he walked out on our family.”
She nudged me. “I think you should offer to help.”
I finally moved toward him. He shoved a bag at me. “Carry that for me.”
“What the hell is all of this?”
“Gifts. For the new family.”
I had no words.
Sylvie appeared. “Hello,” she said with a bright smile. “I’m Sylvie.”
I felt like an idiot for not introducing her. I was just so stunned. “Austin, this is Sylvie. Sylvie, this is my brother, Austin.”
Austin looked at her. Like really looked to the point I was thinking I was going to have to kick his ass.
Then he smiled. “So you’re the one.”
“I’m the one?” Sylvie questioned.
“The one that helped my little brother find the balls to stand up for himself.”
She grinned. “That’d be me.”
Austin nodded once and then shoved a box filled with more wrapped gifts in her hands. “Those are going to be for you.”
“What?” She looked at me, then the gifts, then back at me.
I shrugged. I didn’t know what the hell to say.
We carried everything in. I introduced him to the rest of the family. Everyone seemed to be confused. They knew a bit about my family, but they had no idea the history or dynamics. Sylvieseemed to sense I needed time with Austin and took the gifts and placed them under the tree while distracting her family.
“What are you doing here?” I finally managed to ask when I could get him alone for a moment.
Austin shrugged, but there was something vulnerable in his expression that reminded me of the brother I’d grown up with. “The way you described this place made it seem pretty awesome. And maybe I was tired of spending every Christmas by myself.”
The admission was a surprise. Austin had always been the strong one, the one who seemed completely self-sufficient. The idea that he’d been lonely and that he’d driven hours to be here because he didn’t want to spend another holiday alone was sad.
“You’re always welcome here,” I said, meaning it completely.
