Home For The Holidays

He still looked undecided, but in the end, I think it was his own wants and his weakening towards the two little beauties that made up his mind. “Tom, where are you going?” Tessa started to get up off the couch, but I cut her off as Tom left the room with his daughters.

“Sit your ass down. This is my family’s time. If you make a scene here, I will knock the taste out your mouth. I suggest you sit here and polish off a bottle of wine, or three like you’re accustomed to doing in order to live with yourself.” I got way in her face, and she leaned back on the couch like she was trying to disappear into the calfskin leather.

“Those two little girls are my brother’s kids. You know it, and I know it, and so does everyone else. You are not going to rob them of this or anything else that is theirs any longer. If you want to stay here and not get thrown out on your ass, you’ll do well to shut up and stay out of my way. And if you think that there’s a way around me, think again. I’m the princess in this house. My parents will never choose you over me.”

“Why are you even here? Don’t you have a fiancée? Why aren’t you with his family for the holiday?” Is this chick for real?

“Is that your game? Did you think you could waltz in and take over everyone’s life? Newsflash, I’m not Deidre; I’ll knock the white off your pasty ass.” Oh shit, I sound like Michele.

I left her sitting there because now was not the time, especially with my nieces in the house, but mostly because it was not part of my plan. I should’ve known, though, that she wouldn’t cooperate, so I wasn’t too surprised when she followed me from the room and into the kitchen where my family was sitting around enjoying mom’s famous hot chocolate.

“Sam, what’re you doing? Get in on this. Oh, you too Tessa, I think Christine made more than enough for everyone.” Way to go, dad; let her know she’s little more than an afterthought.

“I’ll be right back, dad; mom, I’m going to your craft haven. Tom and I are going to teach the girls how to make their first ornaments for the family tree.”

The way mom lit up; you’d have thought that that’s just the gift she was waiting for. “Oh perfect, you kids used to love doing those. I’ll come up and get the stuff you wouldn’t know where it is. Tom, hon, you two watch the girls don’t let them hurt themselves that chocolate is still a bit warm.”

Marley and Mindy looked up from slurping chocolate from spoons being fed to them by their dad and grandpa, their little faces filled with excitement. It reminded me of all that they’d missed by not being in the bosom of our family. They don’t get to feel dad’s special bear hugs that can make any little girl feel safe and cosseted as often as they should. They don’t get to sit around the kitchen island and help grandma bake cookies the way I used to.

I looked at Tessa, who was looking more flustered by the second. My blitzkrieg attack was leaving her no room to squeeze herself in. “Come on, mom. Tessa, remember what I said.” I warned her quietly so that the words did not carry before heading upstairs with mom.

We hadn’t even cleared the stairs before the questions started. “Your dad tells me that you have a plan. Is this part of it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“What else are you up to, Samantha? I don’t want to spoil the holidays, and your brother seems to be suffering enough as it is, that woman…” She stopped herself from going any further, but I had a few choice words for her.

“Mom, your son is a grown man; this is his doing, so whatever hell he’s living in, he can see his way out. Marley and Mindy are the only innocent ones here, and this is for them. They’re your granddaughters, and they deserve to be fought for. How much more are you going to let them miss out on because of an adult who let some twat turn his head around?”

“Samantha, where did you learn to speak like that?”

“It doesn’t matter; just follow my lead if you want your family to be whole again.”

“Fine, your dad seems to think you know what you’re doing, so I’ll just take my cues from the two of you. You just better not destroy the holidays, is all I’m saying.” I gave her my assurance, and we went in search of what we needed before heading back downstairs.

We walked into the kitchen to see Tom and Tessa off to the side in a heated discussion while dad sat with the twins. “Let’s go, Tom; the breakfast room table is where we always did this. Come on, girls. Mom, dad, take Tessa somewhere other than here.” I had to practically drag him away from her because she was frothing at the mouth.