Claiming His Christmas Tree Topper

My sister had her wedding here, and although she was happy that day, I knew it was a mistake. Her husband Paul was a pompous asshat and was only with her for the money. We all saw it from the beginning, but I think she was so desperate to get married and start a family she said yes to the first man to ask.

Last year I finally got sick of his shit and hired a detective to dig up dirt. I tried to be respectful because he was my sister's husband, but I’d had enough. I could feel how slimy he was, and I refused to let my niece Rae be raised by a man who was rotten inside. I found out all I could about what Paul was doing behind her back, and when I spoke to Jillian, she wasn’t at all surprised.

It took a lot of lawyers, but she left him, and I paid him to sign over his rights to Rae. I never told Jillian how much money he asked for, I just wrote a check. But I know that I would have given my last dime to cut them free, and he didn’t care. Last I heard his boat sank in the Caribbean and they’re still searching for the remains.

My sister is two years older than me, but I’ve always been the one to take care of things. It’s why we live here now as a family raising Rae at the estate. Our father died the year after Rae was born, and our mother lived for a year after. They were older when they had kids and lived a long and beautiful life together. I just wish they could have seen what an incredible young woman Rae is becoming.

“What time is it?” I ask while I pace.

“Five,” Tori answers, and I curse.

Just then a silver sedan pulls up at the end of the driveway behind all of the work trucks. It’s not Jillian and Rae because they would be driven to the front, although they’re due home any second.

There’s a spotlight shining in my eyes, so I can’t see who gets out and walks closer, but I’m hoping it's the person who ordered these lights so I can finally yell at someone.

This is the first Christmas Rae and Jillian will have at the estate, and I want everything to be perfect. I even went and hired a company that specializes in holiday decorations and parties just so that I could make this an event for them. I’ve invited half the city to be here this weekend to celebrate, and now the first thing they see when they pull up will be this catastrophe.

“Why don’t you let me speak to them—” Tori offers, but I hold up a hand, cutting him off.

“Of all the things that could go wrong,” I begin speaking as the person walks closer. I still can’t make out who they are, but I see a light-up Christmas sweater through the haze, and I’m even angrier because of it. “This is absolutely the most ridiculous thing, and I swear if I had time to fire you and hire someone else, I would.” My voice is sharp and rings in the silence of the night even as the people continue to work on the house.

I blink as a young woman steps in front of the spotlight and finally I can make out the person I’m speaking to.

“Mr. Sleigh, I presume?” She smiles as she holds out her hand, and I’m momentarily struck by her appearance.

Her dark curly hair is piled up in two buns, and she’s got on reindeer antlers, along with her light-up sweater that has two gingerbread people kissing. What strikes me the most is that even with her glasses on, I can see her big brown eyes are…happy.

I clear my throat and blink again as I take her hand and quickly let it go. She must have just put her sweater on because her touch felt like static electricity.

“Yes,” I hiss, leaning into my anger and waving a hand to the house. “And you must be Eve.”

The way she nods and still smiles at me rakes down my back. Why is she in such a good mood? When we spoke on the phone earlier, I pictured an old lady. Not that she sounded old, she just sounded like someone that read bedtime stories to children. I liked hearing the warmth in her voice, but as soon as I hung up, my agitation came back with a vengeance. The closer we get to Jillian and Rae’s arrival, the angrier I get.

“I am, and I’m here to help.”

“Great. Then can you tell me, Eve, who's the idiot that signed off on pink Christmas lights?” I jab a finger toward the estate that looks like Barbie threw up on it.