Christmas Hearts (Storm MC Reloaded 2.50)

Lily

* * *

“Lily darling, I’m not convinced we have enough food for all the people coming for dinner,” my mother says. It’s just after 5:00 p.m. and we’re preparing for our yearly Christmas Eve family dinner tonight. “Between our family and King’s family, that’s a lot of people.”

I take a deep breath. “At this point, Mum, I just won’t eat if we don’t have enough, and neither will you.” I actually don’t agree with my mother’s assessment, but arguing with her is a waste of time.

“Lil,” my sister Brynn calls out from the dining room, “can you come in here and give me a hand, please?”

Without acknowledging the look on her face at what I just said, I say to my mother, “Can you please check the roast while I help Brynn? And if Jamie comes in, ask him how the ham is going?” I’ve put my sister’s husband on ham duty since King isn’t here. He’s spent most of his time here this afternoon outside, alternating between tidying up the lawn and garden for me, swimming, and barbecuing the ham.

After Mum agrees, I head into the dining room, grateful to leave the hot kitchen behind. Fury’s air conditioning guy fixed the air con about two hours ago and it’s heaven in the house now, but the kitchen remains warm because we’ve had the oven going for hours.

Brynn’s eyes meet mine the minute I join her and she smiles. It’s the smile of a conspirator. “I don’t really need you. I just knew you’d be at your limit with Mum by now.”

I drop down onto one of the dining room seats. “You are the best little sister in the world and I love you more than anyone.”

She takes a seat across from me. “More than King?”

“Right now, yes.” It’s a lie, but we joke about this often and Brynn knows just how much I truly do love her.

“Any update on what time he’ll be home?”

“No. I’m taking that as a sign he’ll be here for dinner.”

“Okay, so you know I’m on board with you trying to be calmer, but I kinda think we need to prepare you in case he doesn’t make it for dinner.”

After Fury told me to ask for help more often, I called Brynn and begged her to come and spend the day helping Zara and me. I didn’t need to beg; she was more than ready to do as I asked. Monroe and Tatum stayed for a while too, and helped me set up for tomorrow. Hailee and Evie popped over as well, and with everyone’s help, I have everything under control for Christmas. Cade even came through for me and cleaned up his room.

“The Christmas Crazies have disappeared, Brynny. You don’t have to worry about me.”

“I’m more worried for King.”

“Mummy!” Meredith runs into the room and flings herself at me, distraught. “Travis won’t let me have my book!”

“Which book?”

“The one Daddy gave me!”

I place my hands on her arms. “Daddy has given you a lot of books, Meredith. Why don’t you choose a different one to read?”

“No! I want Matilda.”

This now makes sense to me. King gave Matilda to her the last time he was home. She’s barely let go of it since then.

Brynn stands and moves around the table to us. Reaching for Meredith’s hand, she says, “Come with me, baby. We’ll get your book off Travis.”

I shoot her a look of appreciation and watch the two of them exit the room. Less than a minute later, Mum sticks her head around the corner. “Darling, we need to make this trifle.”

“Yeah, we do.” I follow her into the kitchen, ignoring the ache in my feet and wishing I’d chosen a much faster dessert to make than the chocolate trifle I found online a few days ago. However, I chose this because trifle is King’s favourite dessert and there’s no way I’m not making it for him. Spoiling my husband with his favourite food is something I love to do. Even on the days I want to smother him.

Mum and I spend the next hour and a half assembling the trifle, finishing off the roast pork and veggies, making sure the ham is cooked perfectly, and getting everything ready for dinner. Brynn and Jamie organise the kids. Zara and Fury arrive, and my daughter surprises me with a chocolate pavlova with spiced pears and butterscotch sauce she made.

“Oh my God, Zara, this looks divine!” I gush as I take a good look at it. “Thank you!”

“She practiced it the other night,” Fury says. “I can tell you it tastes as good as it looks.”

“Holy shit, Zara,” Holly says, joining us. “Can we just skip straight to dessert?”