"Chloe!" her cousin yelled to her. "Please don't let them take me."
I looked to her.
"Sorry, Cody," Chloe said, "but I'm pressing charges."
"Oma would be so angry at you," he screamed. "We're family! Family takes care of each other!"
"You didn't take care of me, you kidnapped me!" she yelled. Her face was red, and I knew she was upset. "I'm not enabling you anymore." She looked sad as she watched the officers load her cousin into the back of the police car.
I noticed my four brothers hovering around the periphery, watching the action.
"Belle!" Jonathan said. The two youngest boys ran over to her, and she hugged them.
"You're back!" Matt exclaimed. My two other brothers slowly walked over to her. They seemed nervous, but Belle hugged them too, then she hugged me.
"You came back," I said. "How?"
"Chloe summoned me," she said wryly.
Chloe looked at me sheepishly. "Sorry to meddle. I wanted you to have a nice Christmas. I know you're close to your siblings, and I wanted you all to be together."
"I can't believe you actually came back," I repeated. I was still stunned to see my sister standing in front of me.
"Are you staying for the party?" Oliver asked.
"We'll see," Belle said. "I have a few things to take care of first." Then she returned to the waiting town car.
I sagged. Oliver and Matt were visibly distraught that Belle had just left again. Owen and Jonathan hid their disappointment a little bit better, but I could tell they were still disappointed.
"I guess she's still angry," Owen said.
"Can you blame her?" Jonathan replied. "She probably hates our guts."
The police finally let us leave, and we walked back inside dejectedly. Eddie was half propped up on me. I couldn't tell if he was drunk or injured. He seemed physically okay, though, so probably just drunk.
"She'll come back," Chloe said, rubbing my back as we walked into the lobby. The Christmas decorations she had set up mocked me. How could I have believed that pretty décor and cookies would be enough to make Belle forgive us?
"How can you be so sure?" I asked Chloe as I sat Eddie at the security desk.
"It's Christmas," she said. "You have to have faith."
"That’s a bit in short supply around these parts," I replied.
"How did you convince her?" Jonathan asked Chloe.
"I had some Instagram friends forward her an invitation."
"You didn't even talk to her?" Owen said, as he picked up a paper sack that smelled like cheesesteaks from the security desk.
"No," Chloe replied. "She came of her own volition. That's why I think you'll see her at the party. I bet she missed you guys. I don't have siblings, but I have my cousin. He stole money from me and broke promise after promise, but I still forgave him. I'm sure Belle doesn't hold a grudge against you."
We watched through the window as the ambulance carrying Hartleigh sped away.
"This is probably the most violent Christmas ever," Jonathan said, breaking the silence, "since Grandma got run over by a reindeer."
"Not helpful, Jonathan," Owen growled. "Not helpful."
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