One Big Happy Family

Chapter 22

Julie made her way downstairs and was surprised to find Tiffany in the living room, her tablet in hand.

Heath’s ex-wife looked up and smiled at her. “You can’t sleep? Me, either. The kids are out, thank goodness, but I’ve never been able to sleep on Christmas Eve. So now staying awake is kind of my thing. Huxley and Paul are playing cards downstairs, so I guess they’re awake, too.”

She set her tablet on the coffee table. Julie joined her, not wanting to explain why she was downstairs. She couldn’t believe it herself. What had just happened and how had it happened so fast? She really liked Heath. No way she was going to dignify his stupid “I love you” comment, but until then, everything had been great between them.

Tiffany angled herself so they were facing each other. “Thank you so much for inviting me to spend Christmas here at the cabin. Despite the reason I got here, it’s been a great holiday. I know I cried a lot at first, but I’m feeling so much better.”

Julie grabbed on to the distraction with both hands. “I’m so glad you came. You fit in perfectly, and I know the kids appreciated having both you and their dad with them for Christmas.”

“How do you do it?” Tiffany stared at her. “You’re so gracious and lovely. I’m the ex-wife and yet here I am. Happy and welcome. I admire you. You’re strong, but kind. No wonder your kids are as amazing as they are. I hope Madeline and Wyatt turn out as well.”

Julie tried to feel the praise, but so much of her brain was still processing her fight with Heath. Maybe she was as strong as Tiffany said, but she was also baffled by what had happened.

“Your two are wonderful,” she said automatically. “You don’t have to worry about them.”

“Thanks.” Tiffany smiled. “This is going to sound weird, but I’m really glad Heath picked you. When we split up, I knew he wouldn’t stay single forever. As a mom, I worried about who he’d start dating. I’m glad it’s you.”

The kind words made Julie both happy and sad. Unexpected tears burned, but she blinked them away.

“You’re sweet to say that.”

“It’s true.” She laughed. “Okay, don’t take this wrong, but in a way, I’m jealous of the two of you.” She held up her hand. “Don’t go to the bad place. I’m not still in love with Heath. We’re friends now and that’s so much better.”

She paused. “It’s the way he looks at you. We can all see how he feels. He never looked at me that way. You’re so great together. That gives me hope and something to strive for. I want what you two have.”

“We just broke up,” Julie said flatly, staring at her lap. “He told me he loved me and I couldn’t deal with that, so I ended things.” She looked up. “We’re not going to say anything. We don’t want to ruin anyone’s Christmas.”

She waited, confident that Tiffany would be shocked or scold her. What she didn’t expect was for the other woman to burst out laughing.

“No way. You ended the relationship because he’s in love with you? Oh, Julie, that’s both funny and very, very sad.”

“It’s not funny,” she snapped.

“I’m sorry. I know that sounds insensitive, but come on. We were just talking about how you’re the most together woman I know. I thought there wasn’t anything you couldn’t do, but here you are, terrified of being in a relationship with a great guy who’s crazy about you.”

“I’m not afraid!”

“Yes, you are. I can see it in your eyes. You’re always in control, only you can’t control Heath. He’s just as strong as you are. You have different styles, so it’s not easy to see. But I know him and he’s definitely your equal.” She paused, her gaze speculative.

“Oh, wait! Is that the problem? You not being able to control him? You’re not in charge, so you don’t get to say what happens next. It’s kind of a dumb reason to end the relationship, but I can see why you did it.”

Julie stared at her, wanting to say Tiffany was wrong about all of it, but somehow she couldn’t. Horror crept through her as she wondered if the other woman was right. Was she afraid because Heath was his own man?

Ridiculous, she told herself. Of course not. Eldon had been... She paused as she realized her ex-husband had never truly gone toe-to-toe with her. He’d always deferred or withdrawn. She’d been the one in charge—possibly the main reason their marriage had ended.

“You’re like Axel,” Tiffany added. “You have exactly what you want, and you’re too scared to admit it. Only he figured it out. Although that took him getting shot, and I’m not sure you want to go that far.”

“Heath isn’t exactly what I want.” Julie’s words were automatic.

Tiffany didn’t say anything.

“He’s fun,” Julie added grudgingly. “Funny, and yes, he’s strong, which I like. Kind. I don’t have to take care of him. But it’s not perfect.”

“Nothing ever is.” Tiffany drew in a breath. “I’m really sad that you’re going to blow this because you’re scared.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“But you think you could do better?”

“No. That’s not what this is about. I don’t want anyone else. I want...”

Understanding dawned. She wanted Heath. They were, as Tiffany had pointed out, great together. He got her and she got him. Just as important, he wasn’t intimidated by her strengths.

“It’s the love thing. I can’t do that.”

“Why not? You have no problem loving your kids.”

“That’s different. I’m their mom. They have to love me back.”

Oh, no. Was that it? Heath didn’t have to love her back? Which came from what? Why was she so afraid? She’d loved a man before. She and Eldon hadn’t lasted, but when they’d married, she’d been in love with him.

But not like this. Not like Heath. She drew in a breath as she made herself face the truth. There’d never been that easy sense of connecting. She’d picked Eldon, she’d been the driver in their relationship. It hadn’t been a pairing of equals, so he’d never had the power to hurt her the way Heath could.

“I don’t want to deal with loving him, because if we go that far, he can hurt me,” she whispered.

She raised her gaze to look at Tiffany. “I think that’s it. From the outside, it looks like I have it all, but I’ve never had the right man. Now it’s been so long, I’m afraid to take a chance on him. I’m afraid to need him. What if he’s not there?”

“What if he is?”

But it wasn’t Tiffany speaking. Julie turned on the sofa and saw Heath at the bottom of the stairs. Her breath caught as she remembered the acoustics in the house.

“You were listening,” she accused.

He started toward her. “Yeah, I was. I started to come after you, but you were already talking to Tiffany, so I waited to hear what you’d say. This is my life, too, Julie, and I needed to know what was going on with you.”

His expression softened. “Why didn’t tell me you were scared?”

She held in the reflexive I wasn’t , and forced herself to say, “I didn’t know I was. I reacted. Badly, it seems.”

There was a shuffling noise from the upper landing. She groaned. “Who else is up there listening?”

“Everyone.”

She covered her eyes with her good hand. “This is humiliating.”

“It’s too late to go somewhere private now,” he said, moving closer. “Come on. Be brave. I’m worth it.”

She gave a strangled laugh, then looked at him. “You’re asking a lot.”

“I am. You put everything else on the line. Why not your heart? Because as much as you don’t want to hear it, I’m in love with you.”

Was this really happening? Every fiber of her being told her to run. No, wait. That wasn’t true. Her heart told her to accept what the wonderful man in front of her was offering.

“I’m not asking you to marry me,” he added, then smiled. “Just to admit that you love me, too, and that the sex is incredible.”

“Oh, Mom, no!”

“Yuck. I didn’t need to hear that.”

Both comments came from the upper landing. From down below, Huxley shouted, “Stick to the point, people. I’m sitting on a straight flush and want to collect my winnings.”

“This is a private moment,” she said loudly. “Everyone stop listening.”

“Like that’s going to happen,” Nick muttered.

Julie told herself to ignore them all. This was between her and Heath. She knew she had a choice to make. Either she was going to suck it up and do the scary thing, or she was going to be a coward. Worse, she knew if she walked away from him, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

She stood. “I love you, Heath.”

She had more to say but everyone started cheering. Everyone but Heath, who crossed to Julie and kissed her.

“Finally,” he said, pressing his forehead to hers. “You don’t make it easy, do you?”

“No, but I’m worth it, too.”

“I think this calls for champagne,” Dana said, hurrying down the stairs. “I know there are a couple of bottles in the beverage fridge.”

Gwen joined her. “Not for me. It’s a little late. Or possibly early. But I wouldn’t mind some sparkling apple cider. Don’t we still have a few bottles of the nonalcoholic kind?”

“We do,” Julie said, thinking she would rather everyone went back to their rooms so she and Heath could go to theirs. But Blair and Nick joined them, as did Paul and Huxley, so champagne and cider it was.

It took nearly an hour to have their drinks, toast the season and have the night wind down enough for everyone to retire. Julie slid into bed, then turned so she was facing Heath.

“Sorry I was so difficult.”

“It’s nice to know you have flaws.”

She smiled. “Would you call it a flaw? I think quirk is a better word.”

He carefully drew her close, used a pillow to support her bad arm, then kissed her. “Let’s argue about that tomorrow. Right now I have plans.”

“Oh, good. I like your plans. Very much.”

Dana sat on the sofa, snuggled up against Axel. Around them, chaos reigned. The kids, hyped up on sugar and too many presents, chased each other through the upstairs. With each lap, their shrieks got louder and louder. Rufus was rooting through the piles of wrapping paper, looking jaunty in his new coat. Piles of presents filled the floor space, and Dana wasn’t sure how they were going to get them all in their various vehicles.

But that worry was for later. Right now, with the turkey in the oven and her family and friends around her, she was happy. Later, she would help get dinner on the table and soon she and Axel would return to Seattle to start on their new life. For now, he would be moving in with her, but once tax season was over, they would start looking for a house to buy together. Oh, and she had a wedding to plan. Nothing fancy, she thought blissfully. She and Axel agreed that small was better. Something intimate and easy.

Julie and Heath were sitting together, as were Nick and Blair. Gwen was talking with Paul, and for once both of them looked relaxed with each other. Tiffany and Huxley had made a half-hearted attempt at cleanup but had gotten distracted by Wyatt’s partially assembled Lego set.

This was what Christmas was supposed to be, she thought, feeling gratitude. How lucky could she be?

Nick whispered something to Blair, then stood and walked to the tree. “I think there’s one present we forgot.”

“Not possible,” Julie told him. “We all checked. Is anyone missing a gift they wrapped?”

He reached into the tree branches, pulled out a small box and waved it. “Here we go.” He handed it to their mom, but looked at her. “You might be interested in it, too.”

“You bought something for the two of us?”

Dana eyed the box, wondering if it was theater tickets or something. She wasn’t sure what else she and her mom might want to share.

Julie ripped off the wrapping, then set the box on her lap so she could open it one-handed. Instantly her eyes widened. She stared at Nick and Blair.

“Are you kidding me?”

Her loud voice cut through the house. Everyone stared. Before Dana could ask what was in the box, Julie held up a pair of yellow baby bootees. Dana stared at them in confusion. What were they—

“You’re pregnant!” Dana jumped to her feet and ran to her sister-in-law. “You’re pregnant.”

Blair hugged her tight and they both screamed. Julie joined them, holding on to them. The kids raced into the living room.

“What’s up?” Wyatt asked. “Did Julie fall down the stairs again?”

“Julie’s fine,” Heath said.

After a few seconds, Dana pulled back. “When did you know? Are you feeling all right?”

“Is that why you’ve been sick?” Julie asked. “Oh! I was right. You’re pregnant.”

Blair grinned. “I didn’t know when you blurted it out at dinner. But I began to suspect.” She smiled at Gwen. “My mom got the pregnancy test for me yesterday.”

Paul hugged Gwen. “So that’s why you were so secretive about your trip to town. I wondered what was up.”

Dana turned to Axel, needing him near her. He moved to her side and pulled her close.

“Maybe next Christmas it can be us making the announcement,” he murmured in her ear.

Love filled her. “I’d like that a lot.”

Julie started laughing. “That’s why Gwen made such a big deal about the apple cider last night. Blair can’t drink.”

“When did you have apple cider?” Wyatt asked. “Did you have fun after we went to bed? You’re not supposed to stay up. What if you saw Santa?”

“But we didn’t,” Tiffany said, hugging him.

Madeline ran to the window and pointed. “Look! It’s snowing.” She spun in a circle. “This is the best Christmas ever!”

Dana hung on to Axel and knew Madeline was telling the truth. For all of them.