“Wine,” Fiona ordered, setting a box on the coffee table after we set all my stuff by the door. “You need wine and sugar.”
“I think I'm all sugared out.”
“Nope,” Fiona said and stuffed a mini chocolate cupcake into my mouth.
“That so good,” I said through the mouthful of icing.
We drank boxed wine and sat on the couch, watchingTheMuppet Christmas Carol. That segued intoElf, another box of wine, Christmas-cookie-flavored Lay’s potato chips (which were a terrible idea), and then we rounded off the evening withThe Polar Express. I fell asleep with the nightmarish, animated, uncanny-valley face of Tom Hanks as the conductor.
70
Owen
Ididn’t know what to do about Holly. She wasn't answering my calls or returning any of my messages. In a fit of desperation, I dressed up Rudolph in a doggie snowman costume and sent her a picture, but not even that earned a reaction. She must be furious at me.
I was playing fetch with Rudolph when my sister, Belle, let herself into my condo.
“Your penthouse upstairs is cleared out,” she said. “They left the decorations up, since apparently you're volunteering to host a large Christmas party.”
“I was voluntold to do it,” I grumbled. “I thought Holly was going to help.”
“Ah, I see. You're dating her so she'll throw parties and cook for you.” Belle gave me that look that older sisters give their younger brothers when they feel they've been complete idiots and they're stunned their brother can even function.
“You make it sound bad,” I complained. “I appreciate her for other stuff too.”
“So she cooks, throws parties, and sucks your dick wearing those ridiculous outfits. Does she clean as well?” Belle asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.
“It's not like that!” I protested. “I bought her a very nice dress.”
“And yet she's not here. I'm shocked.”
“She's busy.”
“The bake-off is over,” Belle reminded me.
I was deflated. “So I fucked up.”
“Who knows, but probably,” Belle told me. “You're kind of an asshole sometimes, Owen.”
I knew Belle was referencing when my parents had refused to pay her university tuition. She had gone to community college and worked nights. Then she had paid my Harvard tuition because our parents refused. She’d also paid for my younger brothers’ schooling by day trading and working contract coding jobs. She had lived at home until Oliver, my youngest brother, was out of the house.
I didn't realize that was what had happened until later. I should have done more to get Belle out of our parents’ house. She was my sister after all. But she was my big sister, and she always seemed to have her shit together. I’d assumed if she wanted to leave, she would have. But she had stayed to help take care of my younger brothers and be a buffer between them and our parents. As soon as Oliver was in college, she’d split.
I was definitely an asshole, and an oblivious one at that.
“I’m going to fix it,” I said firmly.
“You better,” Belle said, “because I'm not eating anything you cook.”
*
After she left,I went through my condo, collecting all my belongings to take upstairs. I found the dress and cape I had bought for Holly. They still smelled like her, all sugar and spice. I half didn't want to leave this condo. Holly had been here with me. But I hauled all my stuff upstairs.
My penthouse had been freshly cleaned. The cleaner had even left all the windows open, just the way I liked it. It was freezing inside. I opened the fridge, hoping to find some of Holly's cookies. But the cleaner had removed any food.
I went upstairs to the master suite, where Holly had lived for a month, and lay down on the mattress.
*
