Tis The Season for Secrets (Village of Yule #2)

34. Juliet

Christmas Day

J uliet spent Christmas morning with Lyla and Mrs Klaus, preparing dinner and eating one too many mince pies. She’d spent the day before with Eloise and the rest of the Heart family while Will had some time with his own, but Mrs Klaus had been quick to call dibs on Christmas Day. Juliet didn’t want to admit it, but she needed a little break from her new family to adjust. As kind as they were, it took an emotional toll to meet everyone, and the Klaus family with Will and Lyla provided the perfect buffer for her tender emotions. They’d agreed to spend New Year’s Eve with both the Hearts and Duncans and have one big party. It was still early in their relationship for meeting the parents, but given everything they’d been through, a party felt like a good way to break the ice.

Mason finally got up from the couch, having fallen asleep after his long trip around the world, with some not-so-subtle nudging from Kevin. Eloise and Will were the last to arrive at the table, since they’d been attending the graduation party for this year’s guardians.

Juliet hadn’t thought it was possible for so much to happen in one day; she’d even managed to get some Christmas shopping done, with the help of Lyla and a loan of some gold coins. She still hadn’t quite figured out how their currency worked, but all she cared about was having a little something for everyone who’d helped her come home. They’d shown a stranger such trust and kindness that she wanted to repay them in some small way.

While they ate, she listened intently to some embarrassing stories about Will, courtesy of Mason and her mom. There were no veiled threats or constant reminders of how she should take care to restrict her calories in January. Instead, extra helpings were added to her plate, and no one batted an eyelid when she reached for a big scoop of cream to top the spiced pudding Lyla had only burnt a little.

Juliet wasn’t sure she’d be able to stand once the dishes were cleared, but fortunately the men tidied up the kitchen, since the women had cooked. As the evening wore on, she found herself missing Diana and Victor, and couldn’t help but wonder if they missed her. She’d picked up a special bottle of brandy for Victor and a set of new knives for Diana for when she got back. If she’d never received the chest, right now she would be in the manor, hiding in the library away from the annual Frost Christmas party. Instead she was sitting by a glorious fire pit, wrapped in a snuggly blanket, staring up at the stars. Some fresh air was mandatory after such a feast.

Popping inside to grab an extra layer, she found Lyla taking out some small plates from the cupboard.

“Please let me help,” Juliet said, taking some out of her hands.

“Thank you,” Lyla said, removing the coverings from two baking trays. “I’ll bring the brownies and ice cream, since Kevin and Mason will wolf down the mince pies in minutes.”

They hadn’t had a chance to talk properly yet, and the night was disappearing fast, so Juliet jumped at the chance while the others were outside. “I wanted to say thank you for being the first person in Yule to welcome me, and for supporting me unwaveringly along the way.”

“You don’t have to thank me! I’m so happy that you got to find your way home. There’s so much for you to discovery and explore. Also, it’s nice having another newbie around. Lou, Mason’s sister, has really helped me settle in. You’ll meet her at the wedding. She’ll be devastated to have missed all the drama,” Lyla said enthusiastically.

It was the perfect end to an emotional day. Juliet didn’t know whether to cry or laugh; her heart was a twist of relief, joy, and uncertainty. As she peeked out the glass door, she watched the family huddled in their blankets around the fire with their marshmallows, bickering about whether Die Hard was a Christmas movie. It all felt so surreal, in a good way.

In the kitchen, Eloise was helping Mrs Klaus dish out the mince pies while trying to keep Jones, Lyla’s cat, from having a taste of the brandy whipped cream.

“I don’t think I could eat another thing for the next week,” Juliet confessed. “It was touch and go whether I could even get up from the table!”

“The feasts are never-ending; you should see how they celebrate Easter. I couldn’t look at chocolate for a month afterwards,” Lyla said.

“What are you scheming about in here? I hope next year you can all stay on the Nice List,” Mason said, leaning over his fiancée’s shoulder and stealing two brownies from the tray. He passed one to Will, who was behind him.

“We would never scheme! We were getting more treats for you beasts.” Lyla slapped his hand away as he went back for another brownie. Mason kissed her shoulder, and she gave in and let him take it. Juliet chewed her smile, watching the smitten couple.

“You aren’t the one I’m worried about.” Mason nodded to Will.

“What are you accusing me of now, Klaus?” Will sighed, handing Juliet the napkins.

“He was reminding us to stay on the Nice list?” Juliet frowned, looking between them.

“We can’t make any promises.” Will hugged her close to him.

“It’s not like a naughty or nice list actually exists, though, right?” Juliet said, looking to Will to confirm it. Lyla’s sudden laughter and Mason nudging her to silence confirmed that she was very much wrong in her assumption.

“Pretend I didn’t ask!” Juliet held her hands up, having had enough surprises for one season. Mason and Will took the desserts, and Juliet doubted there would be any left by the time they made it outside.

Lyla shrugged and grabbed a pitcher of eggnog. “Don’t worry, you can be as naughty as you like. You already escaped having your memory wiped once, and you have us to support you.”

“I’d have hated to forget all this,” Juliet said as they carried everything outside. “The Klaus family made me feel like I’d found a new home. Now I can’t even remember how it felt not to know them. Which reminds me – I heard a rumour that Mason kidnapped you and brought you here…?” She was desperate to know the full story.

“You were speaking to Kevin.” Lyla rolled her eyes. “Technically, he blackmailed me into pretending to be his fiancée. It’s not as bad as it sounds, and it all worked out in the end. Kevin likes to be dramatic.”

“And I thought Will stalking me was a red flag,” Juliet chuckled.

“I think Yule men just like to act like cavemen.” Lyla smirked.

“Not that we’re complaining,” Juliet quipped, and Lyla nearly choked.

“I’ll cheers to that.” They broke into whiskey-induced giggles.

“Mason, I think you’re right. They seem to be in cahoots with each other,” Will said as they reached the fire pit.

Juliet sat down, snuggling under his arm for comfort, and Lyla did the same with Mason on the opposite side of the cushioned snow bench.

“We’re merely discussing how lucky we feel to be here.” Juliet winked at Lyla.

“Safe to say I speak for both of us when I say we are the lucky ones.” Will kissed the side of her head.

Under the stars, Juliet glanced at her mom, sitting with Mrs Klaus. She’d never felt more blessed. With the man she was falling in love with, new friends, a warm fire, and a full tummy, she couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas present.