A Christmas to Cherish (A Festive Christmas #4)

Chapter 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

“ G ee, Mom. Are you sure you made enough food?”

Marie’s hand flew to her chest, and she frowned as her eyes swept over the table, taking in the large turkey with stuffing in the center. It landed on the plate of mashed potatoes and followed Emma when she brushed past her, carrying two bowls of vegetables. Jules was on her heels, holding the cranberry sauce, and Kyle brought up the rear, cradling the boat of gravy.

Henry was smoothing out the tablecloth when they all came in, and his smile grew wider. “You all look great, and this smells delicious.”

Marie’s hands fluttered at her side. “I don’t know. Maybe Emma is right. It’s not enough food for a dinner four days before Christmas.”

Emma placed the vegetables in a circle around the turkey and laughed. “Mom, I was just kidding. You made enough to feed an army. We could probably invite the neighbors over, and it would still be more than enough.”

Marie smoothed out her apron and eyed the table critically. “We still have Marley, Jack, and Derek to consider. Are you sure none of them want me to prepare anything? No allergies or anything?”

Emma crossed over to press a kiss on her mother’s cheek. “I’m positive. You need to relax. This looks great.”

And it looked even better when they set a few candles in the middle, giving the table a warm, ethereal glow.

Soft music played in the background, set against the fireplace’s crackles.

Kyle went to adjust the string of lights around the tree, and when it stopped flickering, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Henry took Marie’s hand in his, and the two of them began to sway to the music. Emma shook her head and tried to steal a piece of golden bread, yelping when her mom swatted her hand away. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of movement and turned to it, her heart missing a beat when Kyle led Jules out into the backyard.

Marie came to stand in front of her and frowned. “It’s freezing out there. What are they doing?”

“Don’t worry about them.” Emma stepped into Marie’s field of vision and smiled. “I’m sure they’ll be in soon. We have some time before the guests get here anyway.”

Marie checked her watch and paused to run a hand through her hair. “I hope they’re not late. I would hate for the food to get cold.”

Henry threw his arms around both of them and hummed to the music. “There are my girls.”

Emma squirmed and shot him a confused look. “Someone has had a little too much eggnog.”

Henry shook his head as he rocked back and forth to the music, prompting them to sway with him. “This is better than I’ve felt in a long time. I was hoping this Christmas would be different.”

And if it hadn’t been for his hairbrained scheme, it wouldn’t have been.

Everything had worked out exactly as her father had planned, and Emma didn’t mind.

She didn’t mind one bit, especially when the doorbell rang, revealing a dapper-looking Jack holding a bottle of wine, wearing a button-down shirt and dark jeans. Derek was dressed similarly and carrying an apple pie, which Marie plucked out of his hands. She ushered him into the living room, handed him a glass of wine, and smiled.

Jack gave her a quick peck on the lips before turning to her parents. “Thank you for having us over, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. It’s been a long time since we had family dinner.”

“You really need to start calling us Henry and Marie.” Marie gestured to Henry, who stepped forward to take his coat and hat. “You look especially nice tonight, Jack.”

He flashed Emma a smile and stepped in, the door clicking shut behind him. “It’s a special occasion, Mrs.—Marie.”

She looped her arm through his and led him down the hall and to the living room. “It is. I love having family around this time of year. Tell me, what kind of tree did you guys pick out?”

“She’s going to chat his ear off all night,” Henry joked as the two of them stood side by side, staring after them. “I’d keep that man of yours close if I were you.”

Emma blushed. “Dad, come on. I’m not in high school anymore. Neither is Jack. He can handle himself.”

Henry chuckled and paused to squeeze her hand. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He spun on his heel and walked into the living room.

Through the glass door, she spotted Jules and Kyle standing across from each other. Her eyes were wide, and he was looking at her with a strange expression. Emma took a step forward but halted when the doorbell rang again. She swung it open, revealing Marley in a red sweater, a black skirt, and thigh-high boots. Her hat was pulled low over her ears, and the bridge of her nose was red, but her smile only grew wider when she saw Emma.

The two friends embraced, the Christmas pudding tray getting crushed between them.

“Don’t ruin my dessert,” Marley scolded. “I spent hours making it.”

Emma snorted and slammed the door shut. “Since when do you bake?”

Marley peeled off her coat and hung it up behind the door. “I decided to try my hand at it a few weeks ago, actually. This seemed like an easy enough recipe to follow.”

“I think I’ve got something to take for food poisoning,” Emma teased, chortling when Marley elbowed her in the side. “What? I was being supportive.”

Marley scowled, and her expression cleared when they stepped into the living room. Marie sat in between Jack and Derek, her eyes darting back and forth between the two. Henry stood by the fire, sipping his wine and glancing at the flames in the fireplace with a thoughtful look. His eyes were a little glazed, and he had a soft, playful smile on his lips. Emma left Marley on the armchair opposite the couch and wandered over to him.

“Are you feeling okay, Dad?”

Henry tilted his glass in her direction. “Never better, darling. I haven’t felt this happy in years.”

Emma reached for a glass of sparkling apple cider and returned the gesture. “It was a roundabout way of going about it, but you’re the reason we’re all here together.”

And she was oddly thankful to him for being so persistent.

If it hadn’t been for his ambitions and dreams, she and Jules would’ve been celebrating Christmas by the dying light of the embers in her apartment over a Chinese takeout meal.

Smiling, Emma stood across from her father against the fireplace, and they launched into a debate about her grandfather’s research and the impact it would have on an entire field of study.

They paused when Jules came in, rubbing her hands together and refusing to look at Kyle. Underneath the dim lighting, he looked a little paler than usual, but Emma was left wondering if it was a trick of the light. She frowned when Kyle brushed past Jules and went into the kitchen. He busied himself with the remaining few dishes but avoided Jules’s gaze when he came back in.

The two of them studiously avoided each other while the table was being set.

Emma frowned when she found herself sitting between Marley and Jack while Jules sat across from her, having selected a seat next to Derek and her grandfather. All through dinner, they told stories and spoke over each other, but Emma couldn’t help but notice that Jules was pushing the food around her plate. Kyle was nibbling on little bits of his food, halfheartedly offering Marie a smile when she placed a hand on his arm.

Marie made a vague hand gesture and whispered something to Kyle, who offered her a genuine smile. Emma glanced over at Jules and waited for her to look up. As soon as she did, Emma raised her glass in her daughter’s direction and waited.

For a long moment, Jules didn’t react.

When Jules blinked, her eyes were swimming with unshed tears. Abruptly, she pushed her chair back with a screech and darted out of the dining room. Emma half-rose to follow her, but it was Jack’s hand on her arm that stopped her. He gave her a slight shake of his head, and she saw the long look her mother was giving her. Slowly, reluctantly, Emma made herself sit back down and spent the rest of the dinner trying to enjoy the lively conversation.

Marley was telling one of her funny anecdotes involving her volunteer time as a secret Santa when Kyle stood. Six pairs of eyes settled on him as he dabbed his mouth and pushed his chair back. Wordlessly, he carried his plate into the kitchen and muttered something under his breath. Emma leaned sideways in her seat and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him take the stairs two at a time.

A moment later, she heard the door to their bedroom creak open.

Emma added a spoonful of mashed potatoes to her plate before passing it to Marley. “This is delicious, Mom. You’ve outdone yourself.”

Marie beamed, color creeping up her neck and cheeks. “I’m glad you’re all enjoying yourself. It’s been a long time since we’ve had this many people over. Marley, Jack, and Derek, you’ve all made our dinner so much livelier.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Henry took a long sip of his cabarnet, looking brighter and more cheerful than he had in a long time. “Here’s to new friends.”

“And old ones,” Marie added, a soft twinkle in her eyes. “And here’s to new beginnings.”

“And coming home,” Emma added, pausing to raise her glass to the air. She glanced around the table, the swelling inside her heart only growing as she did. “I’m so glad we’re all here together.”

Everyone clinked their glasses together and smiled.

Jack started telling a story about Derek as he passed around more of the food. A short while later, Jules and Kyle returned, a wide berth between them. In silence, Kyle pulled the chair out for Jules, and she sat down, her eyes red-rimmed and her cheeks flushed. She ate a few more bites of her food, but she looked miserable the whole time.

Like she wanted to be anywhere else.

After dinner, everyone helped clear the table and stood in the kitchen to help Marie. While they were all laughing and talking to each other, Emma ducked outside to find Jules on the back porch. She sat on the steps, knees drawn to her chest and hunched over in her coat. Emma’s heart twisted as she draped a blanket over her shoulders and sat beside her.

Immediately, Jules leaned into her mother and blew out a breath. “You didn’t have to come out here.”

Emma wrapped an arm around her shoulders and exhaled. “I know, but I wanted to. Is everything okay with you and Kyle?”

Jules let out a deep, shuddering breath. “I don’t know.”

“Let’s go watch a movie. They’re having a showing of While You Were Sleeping at Harper’s Brew in a couple of days. There will be cushions, bean bags, and plenty of hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies.”

Jules sniffed and inched closer. “I’d like that.”

Emma pressed a kiss to the side of her daughter’s head and held her closer, wishing she could take all of her pain away. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s going to be okay. I’m here, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”

Rockport wasn’t too far away, and she was going to make sure Jules didn’t feel abandoned.

No matter how long it took or what hoops she had to jump through.

After everything Jules had suffered, Emma owed her daughter at least that much.