anyone’s idea of a fun reunion. This place might heal people, but it didn’t heal relationships. It didn’t fix families.
What should she do? What could she do? The only way to convince them of how badly she wanted to fix things was to show them. Prove she was genuine and committed in her intention to heal the rift. And to do that she needed time. How was she going to engineer that?
What excuse could she make for a family gathering that lasted longer than a courtesy hospital visit?
Out of nowhere she thought about that young journalist, Rochelle.
I just love a big family gathering. Massive tree. Gifts in front of the fire.
At the time, Gayle had been typically evasive in her answer, knowing that on Christmas Day she’d be doing what she did every other day of the year. Working. Her girls had always hated that about her. Surrounded by friends whose families had yielded to commercial pressures and expectations, they’d begged her for gifts, for a tree, for a trip to the ice rink, for fairy lights and a snow globe. She’d said no to all of it, of course, because Christmas was a particularly difficult time of year for her. She handled it by working, her goal to block it out and make it seem like any other day. She didn’t stare wistfully through other people’s windows. She didn’t allow herself to feel envious or sad, and she definitely didn’t look back. Instead she made a point of focusing on her own life. Working at least had a purpose, which was more than could be said for a snow globe.
But her girls had always loved the time of year and yearned for a kind of magical Christmas they’d somehow invented in their heads.
And suddenly she knew. What better excuse was there for a family gathering than Christmas?
“You’re wondering why I asked you to come.” She handed the water back to Ella. “I wanted to see you in person because I want us to spend the holidays together this year.”
Samantha blinked. “Excuse me?”
“The holidays. Christmas.” Gayle focused on Ella. “It was always your favorite time of year. I—I’d like to join you if that’s all right. I’ll come to your place and we can spend quality time together.”
There was a protracted silence.
Gayle could almost feel their shock.
“My place?” Ella’s voice sounded squeaky and strange. “You want to come to my place?”
“I don’t even know where you’re living. Wherever it is, I’m sure it’s wonderful. Even when you were young, you made your room cozy. I’m sure you can handle one more for Christmas. You do have a spare room? If not, I’ll sleep on the couch.” She was willing to do whatever it took.
“The—couch?” Ella was balanced on the edge of her seat. “You?”
“I’ve surprised you.” The more she thought about it, the prouder Gayle was of her idea. What better way to bond as a family than at Christmas? “But I hope it’s a good surprise. You always wanted to make more fuss of the holiday season. Well, let’s do it. Let’s do it together. Big tree. Gifts in front of the fire. A family Christmas. All the things you used to want. Just the three of us. How does that sound?”
Samantha
“How does that sound? It sounds like the worst idea I’ve heard in a long time, maybe I’ve ever heard, that’s how it sounds.” Samantha shouldered the door of their hotel room shut and dropped her bag. They were on a high floor, and through the glass Manhattan was spread before them like a jeweler’s window, all glitter and sparkle. Another person might have paused to admire the view, but this city reminded her of her mother. Of ambition. Of Choice Not Chance. She closed the drapes. “A family Christmas? Christmas with our mother, who makes Scrooge look like Santa?”
“She wants to come to me!” Ella’s eyes were wide and worried. “She can’t come to me! I’d have to explain a child and a husband, neither of which she knows about. And he doesn’t know, either.”
“What?” Samantha whirled round, unable to believe what she was hearing. “You still haven’t told Michael? I thought—”
“I was going to, truly, but I’ve been waiting for the right moment and so far it hasn’t shown itself to me.”
All her life Ella had avoided conflict, particularly when the source of that conflict was their mother. She made herself small, while Samantha went in for the fight.