Page 116 of Deck the Hauls

“Before we get too carried away asking Emily questions, can I get either of you a drink?” Dad asked, opening the cabinet.

Emily probably didn’t want to spend her Christmas being peppered with questions about acting, but I couldn’t help feeling relieved that she offered a safe conversation topic.

“Water would be great, thanks,” Emily said.

“Water too. Thanks, Dad,” I added.

Dad filled a couple of glasses with water and then handed them to us.

Jake murmured something in Kelsey’s ear. She nodded, and he walked over to the dining table, bringing back a glass of water, which she sipped gratefully.

Three years ago that would have been me whispering to Kelsey, me standing there next to her. It was weird, seeing them together like that. But there was no flood of jealousy, no flash of rage, no wave of sadness or even nostalgia.

Kelsey put down the glass and gazed at me. “Dana, would you be comfortable having a quick chat, perhaps in private if that’s okay?”

I stared at Kelsey. What did she want to say? Would it put a pall over what had been turning into a surprisingly good day?

“It’s okay if you’d rather not,” Kelsey added.

Emily squeezed my hand, bolstering my confidence.

“No, that’s fine. Should we go into the living room?”

“That would be great.”

We walked into the living room, and for the first time in exactly three years, I was alone with Kelsey. My heart picked up pace. What was she going to say?

“Dana, I just wanted to apologize again for everything that happened. It was a terrible situation, and the way we handled it—the way you found out about it—made it all even worse.” Her eyes welled with tears. “I know it must be hard, coming back here, so if there is anything we can do to make it easier, please let me know. I can leave, if that would help?”

I shook my head. “No. Thanks for the offer—and for the apology—but I’ll be okay. It does feel weird, I’m not going to lie. But I think the past months have made me realize that you can’t help who you’re attracted to, no matter how hard you try to fight it. I’d much rather we both moved on, found the person who we couldn’t be without, than have stayed together or split up, but not followed our hearts, despite all the pain involved. I’d like to try to leave the past behind us, if we can.”

Kelsey swiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand.

“I am so glad to hear you feel that way, and that you’ve found Emily. I can’t believe you’re dating Detective Marianne Hayes.” Kelsey elbowed me. “You always did have a thing for her.”

I smiled. “I can’t believe it either. Speaking of Emily, we should probably go back. I don’t want to leave her alone too long in case Dad starts a monologue about weather patterns and climate change.”

“How are you feeling?” I asked as we walked back. “With the pregnancy,” I added, just to make it clear I wasn’t asking Kelsey how she was feeling about spending Christmas with her boyfriend’s sister who was also her ex and her ex’s new girlfriend.

Girlfriend. I’d barely had time to process what had just happened, but each time I thought about it I felt slightly giddy.

Kelsey smiled. “The first trimester was pretty rough with morning sickness, but that’s all over now, thank god.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” And I really was.

“Everything okay?” Mom asked as we stepped into the kitchen, her eyes darting between Kelsey and me. She was clearly worried Christmas might be over before it started.

“Yes, Mom,” I said, walking over to Emily, who was perched on a bar stool at the kitchen counter and slipping an arm around her waist.

“I’d better check how the turkey is doing,” Dad said.

He peered into the oven and frowned.

“Let me just…” Dad opened the oven and pulled out the tray with the turkey on it.

My brow furrowed.

Instead of golden brown, the turkey looked…slimy and slightly green.