Home For The Holidays - Jordan Silver Page 0,54

want to do this? I’m fine with it being just me and the girls.”

“I told you, you’re my family, and this year since the girls are a little older, they’re going to take part in all the family traditions. If anyone has anything to say, they can just deal with me.” She smiled, which helped loosen some of the knots in my stomach.

When I first came up with the idea, I worried about putting her in an awkward position. I know she still has a close relationship with my parents, ergo the reason dad bought her and the girls a home a few doors down from our family home, but the fact that Tom and Tessa were staying at the house for the holidays might make things a bit uncomfortable for her.

Too bad for the two of them that I don’t give a fig about their comfort, not if it comes at the expense of my nieces’. When I first brought up the suggestion to Deidre, who is the only other person except for Jared, who knew about my plans, she balked. But I talked her around. Now with Tom wavering, the decision was looking better and better.

I know he hasn’t seen them since the girls were born. He has gone out of his way to avoid so much as running into his ex-wife, so this would be a first on many levels. When it comes to the trifling bimbo, who cares? “Did you remember to pack their pajamas?”

“You’re really keeping them overnight?”

“Yes, of course, and I’ll make sure to let everyone know you have plans.”

“Not that anyone would care.” She meant Tom, of course, and as tempted as I was to tell her about our conversation earlier, I held my tongue and just gave her a commiserating hug. There’s no sense in jumping the gun when we were this close to operation ‘destroy the skank.’

“Come on, girls, let’s go help grandma and grandpa trim the tree.” I took a little hand in each of mine, and we headed out after their mother said goodbye to them like they were heading off to war. I took a few deep breaths in between answering questions from the two little ones. Now that it was crunch time, I was questioning myself. Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten the little ones involved.

But I was their age the first time I helped with the tree. I don’t have many memories of it, of course, except for the videos dad took, and the million and one photos mom still has in our family albums. But I know the joy I have and had as a child to be part of those magical moments.

These little girls are part of the Stone family; they have my blood running through their veins, and no mealy-mouthed man stealing slag of a twat is going to take this away from them. I was back in full bitch mode by the time we reached the front door. I could hear voices coming from the great room, and the holiday music was already going full blast. Perfect.

I walked into the room with no hesitation in my step. “Mom, I’m back, and look who I brought with me. Now that the whole family’s here let’s get started. Marley, Mindy, go say hi to grandma and grandpa, then we’ll take off your coats.” They toddled over to their grandparents while I looked at the room’s other occupants dead on. Game on bitches.

Samantha

So far, so good. The room was a bit tense, with everyone except dad not quite knowing what to do with themselves. Even I was a bit taken aback by the reaction of the two people I was hell-bent on shaking up. I expected a reaction, of course, but I can’t say I expected anything this strong, especially from my brother.

Tom looked torn, but it was the look of longing I saw on his face as he looked at the girls, his girls, that gave me hope. Tessa, on the other hand, was nothing less than seething. Yes bitch, stew in your own juices while I watch. This is just the beginning. I never knew I could find such joy in another person’s misery, but she deserved it, holiday or no holiday. Hateful witch!

Dad greeted his granddaughters with cheer as if the elephant in the room wasn’t about to blow a fit through its trumpet and mom looked flummoxed, to say the least. She would never have thought to bring them here even though