Whennot if.
She blinked and reached for a rectangular box wrapped in candy cane-striped paper and tied with a red satin ribbon. The tag said it was from Jett, who’d played Joseph. She unwrapped the gift to find a box of chocolates shaped like ice skates. “Those are so cute.”
A quick photoshoot happened on the coffee table using wrapping paper and ribbon as a backdrop.
The next present came in a Santa gift bag with red and green tissue paper sticking out of the top.
Her phone rang.Momilluminated the screen. Tasha accepted the call. “Merry Christmas, Mama.”
Mom was dressed with a full face of flawless makeup, as usual. “Merry Christmas to you,moyasolnishka.How are you?”
“I just opened your present,” Tasha said. “Thank you for the check.”
“Is nothing.”
“It’s everything.” Tasha knew they wouldn’t miss the money. “I’d like to make a fresh start somewhere.”
“Would be nice if you and Alek were in the same town, yes?”
Tasha laughed. “We’ll see.”
“Hey, sis.” Alek appeared on the screen. “You know you’re more than welcome to one of my guest bedrooms. You can stay as long as you want to. Think high-rise penthouse condo with all the amenities, including a concierge.”
Tasha laughed. “I’ve been there, bro.”
“Oh, right.” He laughed. “No excuse but to stay with me. Spend a couple of months seeing if you like Seattle.”
Funny, he almost sounded serious. “Did Mom and Dad put you up to this?”
“Absolutely…not.”
“So just Mom.”
He laughed. “Guess I didn’t get all the brains in this family, but it’s a solid plan. This place is too much for just me.”
The idea had merit, but… “Living with your sister might cramp your style.”
He snickered. “My style is so on point nothing can cramp it, including you.”
Tasha rolled her eyes. “Modest as ever.”
“As humble as a hat trick,” he joked.
“I’ll think about it. And before I forget, thanks for the sessions with Selena T and the gift card.”
“Don’t spend it all in one place,” he teased.
“Is speaking in clichés part of your hockey training?”
“It’s called giving soundbites.”
“You could try to sound less—”
“Clichéd?”
“Yes.” Alek might be an all-star hockey player, but he was smart enough to get into two Ivies back east. “But if it works for you…”
“It does.” He sounded like he was smiling. “Lovely ladies are lining up to date me.”
