Wrapped Up for Christmas - Katlyn Duncan

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that she could watch Brett and his fiancée – soon, wife – strut around the hotel in front of her. Determined for them both not to get the better of her, she decided to quit and demanded proper severance pay to tide her over the Christmas period.

      The signs, though? Angie spotted them immediately after coming out of her love cloud to stare them in the face.

      Brett was away at least two weeks a month on business. She had made excuses for him, putting it down to work since he had a hotel to run. It had worked out well for her as she was busy planning events. Her work had started to pick up as Thanksgiving approached; everyone wanted a holiday party in the hotel during December. Every night she had passed out fast asleep well before ten to get up and do it all over again the next day. But that had been their routine.

      ‘He wasn’t around much lately,’ Angie admitted.

      ‘I guess absence didn’t make the heart grow fonder.’

      Angie shot her a look.

      ‘Sorry,’ Reese said. ‘I can’t control it sometimes.’

      When Reese’s family moved to Brookside, Connecticut when they were in the second grade, Angie liked her plucky attitude immediately. Her best friend’s sarcasm didn’t earn her many friends in high school or beyond. But Reese’s bluntness kept Angie down to earth, giving her a reality check as her mind tended to float up to the clouds. Even though it hurt to realize how idiotic she had been with Brett, she needed the truth now. It was the only way she could move on.

      They walked over to Jeremy as he searched through every bag that passed him on the baggage carousel, much to the annoyance of the other travelers.

      ‘What color are your bags, Angie?’ Jeremy asked over his shoulder.

      Angie wiped the residue streaks of tears from her face. ‘Green.’ When she had left for college, her dad insisted she had a set of suitcases for coming home. Even though they were a hideous shade, it was his way of helping her out when she traveled.

      Jeremy rocked on his heels. ‘How festive.’

      Reese lifted a small bag of trail mix from her back pocket. She ripped it open and started to snack. ‘I bet your mom is thrilled you’re coming home for Christmas. What did she say when you told her?’

      Angie chewed on her lip. For the past five years, Angie had flown her mom out to visit her in San Diego for Christmas. It wasn’t the white Christmas they were used to at home, but for Angie, it was better than returning to a place which reminded her of her dad’s absence. Her mother didn’t complain too much when she sat on the terrace of Angie’s apartment, soaking in the sun. If all had gone well with Brett this year, everything would have been the same. It would have been the first time that Brett had been able to meet her mom.

      ‘Considering she hates flying, she was thrilled,’ Angie said, picking up one of her bags as it came by. Jeremy took another. ‘It finally gave her a chance to decorate the house. The Thompsons next door helped her with the tree and lights.’

      ‘The Thompsons?’ Reese asked with a snort. ‘I bet that was a struggle.’

      Angie laughed and lunged for another of her bags.

      ‘I’ve got it!’ Jeremy appeared beside her and grabbed the handle before she could.

      Angie stepped back and glanced down at Reese, licking her fingers for the last morsels of salt. ‘How are you feeling? Are you ready for the baby?’

      Reese answered without looking up. ‘As ready as we’ll ever be.’ Reese snaked a hand around Angie’s waist. ‘I’m glad you’ll be here to meet her first.’

      ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’

      Reese raised an eyebrow.

      Angie sighed. ‘It was going to be a surprise, but I did book a flight home after New Year’s.’ Another plan in her life she had to cancel.

      Reese snorted. ‘You better have. Or else I would have kicked Brett’s butt for keeping you across the country.’

      A break from California would get Angie’s head on straight again. Her life couldn’t get much worse, and she was determined to break her unlucky streak as soon as possible.

      ***

      ‘They’ve outdone themselves this year.’ Reese craned her neck to peer around the driver’s seat. The Thompsons next door spared no expense to make their house light up like a Christmas tree from December 1st through mid-January every single year.

      Angie had forgotten how brightly their house shone and the memory caught her by surprise. Each polished ornament from her childhood stood in the same place as if they were stored in a snow globe. Though there were a few new ones, including the six – no seven – elves appearing to prance along the sidewalk. She didn’t need to roll down her window to hear the joyous ‘ho ho ho!’ from the mechanical Santa surrounded by his famous reindeer.

      Angie’s mom had always tried to keep her dad away from accepting Mr Thompson’s annual request for assistance with their display for fear of him breaking his neck falling from the roof. Her mom had aligned their Christmas tree shopping that same weekend for many years to avoid the argument. As a child, Angie had sometimes woken weeks after Christmas, hearing the sound from the Santa on the neighbor’s roof.

      As they drove by, Angie smiled, fondly thinking about her dad grumbling to himself for the entire month and a half about the outrageous display. The image of his face burned into her eyes, imprinting on her memory as Jeremy pulled into the driveway of her childhood home.

      Colored lights climbed the highest peaks of the house and sloped toward the ground. A swooping sensation filled her, stealing her breath. Coming home was what she needed. She knew that now more than ever.

      A familiar station wagon sat in her old spot on the driveway. The rusted edges of the wheel wells had extended to the back bumper. She was surprised it still ran. Angie’s mom must have invited her nonni over for dinner, knowing Angie was coming home. She braced herself for tight embraces and sloppy cheek kisses, but couldn’t help smiling. Her home had been a place to run away from for years. Now she wanted nothing more than the familiar.

      Reese yawned and turned in her seat as much as she could. ‘We would love to visit, but I’m exhausted. This little angel sucks up all my energy. Let’s meet up tomorrow?’

      Angie leaned over and kissed her friend on the cheek. ‘Definitely.’ She opened the door and hopped out of the car. ‘Thanks for picking me up.’

      Jeremy grabbed two of her bags before they walked together to the porch with Angie rolling the last, and her carry on. She wasn’t sure where she was going to put everything.

      ‘How is she doing?’ Angie asked as they approached the house, out of Reese’s earshot.

      ‘She’s having trouble sleeping,’ Jeremy said, massaging the back of his neck. ‘I’ve been on the sofa.’

      Angie spotted movement from behind the living room curtains. ‘Let me know if you need help with anything.’ Not like I have much to do anymore. I’m jobless, homeless, hopeless … She shook the negative thoughts from her mind.

      ‘Sure thing,’ he said. ‘It’s nice to have you back. Reese will never say it, but she misses you. Even more now with the baby on the way.’

      ‘Hormones?’ Angie tried to make light of the conversation. She hadn’t been the best best-friend since moving to California.

      ‘She’s become more emotional. It’s an adjustment for everyone.’

      Angie sighed. So much had gone on the last few days, she wasn’t sure if she could handle more emotion from herself or her friends. ‘Thanks again for the ride. I’ll come by the house soon.’

      ‘No problem.’

      Jeremy leaned forward, and they awkwardly hugged. Even though Jeremy and Reese had been together for years, he and

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