Holiday Kisses

“No.” Alethea shook her head. “I don’t want to go yet.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t want to go home.”

“If this is about Mom—”

“No.” Alethea interrupted. “No, it’s not Mom. Or Dad or...” Her eyes filled. “I’m not ready to face them yet.”

“Mom and Dad?”

“Cheryl and Ross,” she whispered.

Talia’s parents. Xander’s heart squeezed. He’d never even thought...

“I promised them I’d look out for her. That she’d be okay. But...” Her voice broke an instant before she ducked her chin. “I just need a few more days to find the courage to see them again. Please, Xander.”

Not for the first time in recent weeks, he felt his life shift off course. He couldn’t very well deny her what she asked for when he’d insisted his mother and brother do the same. Besides, he’d already seen a change for the better in her since she’d come to Butterfly Harbor. Another few days might just do the trick. “Sure. Have you thought about what you want to do about school?” Finally, an opportunity to broach the subject of her future.

“I don’t know.” Alethea looked a bit panicked and more than a little sick. “I guess I thought you were out here for the long haul, you know? Until the project got off the ground. I didn’t realize you weren’t staying.”

Xander’s schedule for next week flashed through his mind. Meetings, mostly where he’d be pleading with someone, anyone, to give Costas Architecture a chance to prove themselves again. Lunches and dinners he couldn’t afford. With people whom he strongly suspected would rather be anywhere else than spotted in public with him. Canceling those meetings could be risky. Or maybe give him a chance to explore other...opportunities. Calliope.

“You really want to stay a little longer?”

“I do.” Alethea nodded. “I like this place, don’t know why, though. Does that make any sense?”

It did, at least to him. And maybe he could come up with the perfect sanctuary design after all. The pressure in his chest eased just a little, but enough that he felt he could breathe again.

“All right, then. In the meantime, how about we make a deal. I’ll extend our stay to next week, providing I can work some magic with the reservations, but you have to promise not to lock yourself away in here. I want you out and about, every day. I want you doing something, even if it’s just walking on the beach. That room is for sleeping. At night.”

“Can I cook?” Alethea asked.

“I don’t know, can you?” Xander had never thought of his sister as anything resembling a gourmet.

“Yeah. And I’m good. Talia and I took some cooking classes at this little place off campus. I really liked it.”

That his sister was embracing an activity that connected to Talia had to be a good thing, didn’t it?

“Then the kitchen is yours. I’ll move all this stuff into my bedroom.”

“Really?” Alethea didn’t look convinced. “You mean we can stay?”

“A few extra days might do us both some good. But I need to talk to Lori and Willa at the registration desk. But we have to leave by the twenty-third at the latest. Not only because Mom would never forgive us missing Christmas, but the inn is booked out for a wedding. We can’t interfere with that.”

“No, of course we can’t. I’m sure I’ll be ready to go by then. Thank you, Xander.” She ran over and hugged him. “You’re the best big brother ever.”

“Please make sure you tell Antony that when we get home. And make sure I’m there to see it. Now go change. I’d like to get outside before I forget what fresh air feels like.”

* * *

CALLIOPE SHIFTED THE basket she’d filled earlier that morning higher up on her arm. It wasn’t often she left her farm during the week, but a restlessness had taken up residence inside of her, a sensation she found could be eased with a walk and purpose. Besides, Stella was attending her school’s Christmas party with Marlie and Charlie this afternoon, which left her on her own. Lunchtime called, not for her, but for a friend who, whether she realized it or not, needed some attention.