1
The Moon
I watch fromthe doorframe of my great room, savoring the moment. My favorite people are all here, under one roof, celebrating Christmas Eve together, and it’s a sight that warms my heart.
Lanie, Nina, and Ava are huddled together in their matching red-and-white plaid reindeer jammies, alternating between shoving holiday goodies into their mouths and sipping from piping-hot mugs of Baileys hot chocolate, minus the Baileys for Ava.
The largest charcuterie board I’ve ever made sits on the coffee table, overflowing with an assortment of cheeses, crackers, popcorn, and various cookies and candies I purchased from a bakery in downtown Knox Harbor.
I’ve been running back and forth from the kitchen playing the part of hostess, a role I’ve always enjoyed but haven’t been up to for some time.
In the past few years, the merriness of the season was tempered by sorrow and self-pity. Tonight, it’s been all laughter and no tears.
The way Christmas Eve should be.
Those who matter most are in this room, singing along to thesong playing on the television. Lanie belts out “Deck the Halls,” punching at the air; Nina pulls in her upper lip, grimacing into the side of Lanie’s head; and Ava sings the song without a care in the world, just happy to have her two aunts here with us.
We’re bonded by more than blood and DNA. These are sacred friendships that we’ve chosen. They weren’t thrust upon us out of duty and an age-old tale that blood somehow trumps all. While my parents are hundreds of miles away, likely playing cards with friends, my made family is here, choosing me, and that’s not something I take lightly.
Since the accident that took Garrett from me, Lanie has made Christmas Eve our thing. It was her attempt to pull me out of my despair long enough to ensure that Ava had the Christmas she deserved. This time, we have the bonus of Nina being here.
Before this year, she has always been required to attend Knox Harbor’s Christmas Eve ball, a charity event that her slimy ex had nothing to do with organizing but took all the credit for. Due to the shocking events that unfolded earlier this year, the event was cancelled.
I take a second to relish how this year, Richard Dunbar is celebrating Christmas in prison, while Nina gets to curl up on my oversize couch, comfortable and cozy. Not only did Richard cover up his son’s drunk driving homicide, but he was also behind two murders and the car accident that took Garrett from me and Ava.
Pure evil.
He’s eating crappy food while Nina gorges on treats that she typically didn’t allow herself, because he would throw a fit over any weight gain. He’s sitting in a cell, staring at concrete walls, and she gets to binge-watch every sappy Hallmark movie she can fit into one night. Movies he never allowed her to watch in her own home.
Oh, how sweet karma can be.
“Are you done stalking?” Lanie calls over her shoulder, not bothering to take her eyes off the television.
“I wasn’t stalking anything. If you haven’t noticed, the platters of food don’t magically fill themselves.”
Ava turns toward me, smiling like a loon. “You should really get on that. A magic house that cooks and cleans sounds like a game changer.”
I smirk. “I’ll make sure to add that to my Santa list next year.”
Ava half rolls her eyes, grinning wide and twisting back toward the television.
“I just figured you were keeping an eye on the house next door for any signs of movement,” Lanie says, shoving popcorn into her mouth.
“We just started dating. I’m hardly inspecting his house for proof of life. It’s not like I haven’t talked to him.”
Lanie peaks one perfectly microbladed eyebrow. “Have you? Talked to him? Because I’ve seen you check your phone no less than ten times in the last hour…”
“Why do you always make me sound so pathetic? I’ve been having too much fun with all of you. I haven’t thought about him once.”
A slight lie, but Lanie Anderson doesn’t need to be proven right.
“How about you come sit and finish the movie with us,” Ava suggests, patting the couch cushion. “Ignore Aunt Lanie. If you were thinking about Mr. West, that’s perfectly normal.”
“I agree with Ava. Ignore Aunt Lanie.” Nina purses her lips when she turns toward Lanie, who isn’t at all bothered. “Come join us. We have plenty of food. Enjoy your time with Aves.”
I should absolutely be soaking in every moment I have with her. The two-week break she gets is never long enough. Soon she’ll be returning to school, and I’ll be in this empty house all alone.
I make my way to the couch, taking the seat next to Ava. She smiles at me, squeezing my hand as she scooches in closer, offering to share her blanket.
