“Yes,” she says, smiling from cheek to cheek.
“Okay, let’s finish opening our gifts, and then I’ll show you where it is,” Colt says all serious, and I try not to laugh.
Colt is wearing a festive sweater just ridiculous enough to be endearing and passes out another round of gifts, grinning as Bodie and Faye dig into them. Cliff, my mom, Nora, Sophia, and Abigail lounge nearby, sipping coffee and exchanging knowing glances as wrapping paper piles up around them.
Mel finally reaches for a small, neatly wrapped gift from me, curiosity shining in her eyes.
“I thought you said no gift?”
“I just didn’t want you to get me anything. Besides, you’ve given me everything I wanted.”
Her cheeks flush with embarrassment and she looks so damn adorable.
“Except a baby.” My mom says, pointing two fingers to her eyes, then back at me
“Mom, Seriously? Can we not on Christmas?”
“It wouldn’t be the worst gift in the world to give your old mom. No spring chicken, remember.”
I inwardly roll my eyes, ignoring her.
Mel sucks in a deep breath as she carefully peels back the paper, I watch her with a hint of nervous anticipation. Colt, noticing, nudges me with an amused smirk.
“You look more nervous than she does, man,” he teases.
I just laugh, shaking my head as Mel pulls out a delicate gold bracelet, her face lighting up.
“You like it?” I asked, rubbing the back of my neck. “I picked out the grilled cheese charm, Elvis and Vegas wedding chapel, and a book. And the Italian flag is for, well, ya know. Hopefully, we can go there together one day.”
Mel looks up at me, eyes soft and affectionate. “I love it.” Her voice is full of emotion.
Colt’s mom, Nora, claps her hands together. “Alright, enough romance—you two are making the rest of us look bad,” she jokes, making everyone laugh.
“Ya, especially me,” Faye's mom says. According to Abigail,she’s been doing better, but Mel called bullshit. She said her hands seemed shaky when she picked up her coffee mug, and the dry skin was a dead giveaway she was still drinking. Although Farrah found a job, and it seemed she was trying to better her life, there was no telling if Melanie was correct. I hoped not because I would hate to see Faye heartbroken for what would probably feel like the hundredth time in her world.
“Oh, nonsense.” Abigail waved her off. “It’s Christmas, the season of giving, and everyone gets a gift at the Killian household. Besides, Bodie and Faye are now like brothers and sisters. Which means you're like family.”
She handed Farrah a gift, but she shook her head.
“I can’t. You’ve both done enough. More than enough, taking my daughter and I—I could never repay you.”
“You better take it. You don’t want to make a pregnant lady cry now, do you?”
Reluctantly, Farrah took the small gift in her hand. Then Abigail handed Cliff his gift the same time my mom gave me mine.
“This is for both of you.” My mom said, smiling so wide it looked painful. I tore open the gift quickly since it was a tiny square box, and when I opened the top a glass ball ornament lay inside. I pulled it out, and Mel covered her mouth in surprise.
“Oh, Biance, I love it.” Mel grabbed the ornament from my hand and examined it like it was an expensive diamond. But then again, something told me something so simple was precious to her since she only got material things growing up. Never meaningful gifts.
I knew what it was going to be since my mom gave us a personalized ornament every year, but as I looked at the picture of Melanie and me on our wedding day, I couldn't help but smile.
“This is my favorite ornament yet.” My voice was soft with wonder. Before I could say more, Melanie leaned in and softly kissed my cheek. And in that instant, the world faded away. Nothing else existed–nothing felt more real than this.
“A Grinch mug and Grinch socks? Really?” Cliff says, looking at Nora.
Farrah carefully pulled out a dress, a sweater, and a few other clothes so quietly, I wondered if she was trying to look invisible.
“What, they suit you.” Nora smiled
