Until one shot showed Mark sitting on it, looking disgusted. Sierra instantly teared up and Drew’s face turned Christmas-stocking red. “Shit,” he muttered.
“Never mind that loser,” Dad said gruffly, then decided maybe they should watch the rest of the DVD another time.
“I’m sorry, sis,” Drew said as their mom hurried to fetch more cookies. “I thought I got all of his out of there.”
“It’s okay,” Sierra said bravely.
“If I wasn’t a cop I’d beat the shit out of him. I wish I could arrest him for being a jerk.”
“How about at least staking out his house, then following him and giving him a speeding ticket?” Sophie suggested.
“I’d rather see him in jail,” said Sierra. “Handcuff him and make him eat Grandma Sanders’s fruitcake till he barfs.”
“Just looking at Grandma Sanders’s fruitcake is enough to make me barf,” said Drew.
“Tie him up with strings of Christmas lights,” put in Sophie. “Make Santa shove him down a chimney.”
“Yeah, one where they’ve built a fire in the fireplace,” Sierra said, beginning to smile.
“Best revenge, take a picture of yourself in these hot pj’s so he can see what he’s missing,” Drew teased.
Sophie gave a snort, but her sister’s smile went away.
Drew sobered. “He is missing a lot. He’s a fool, sis.”
Sierra bit her lip and nodded.
Their mother came into the room with a plate of cookies in time to hear. “Living well is the best revenge,” she reminded Sierra. “You work on making your life great in this new year and everything will work out.”
Sierra sighed and nodded.
Later, when the two sisters were back in the room they’d shared growing up, snuggled under the covers in their twin beds, Sierra said, “I am thinking of doing something to make my life great once I get through all this.”
“Another cruise?” Sophie guessed.
“No. Adopting a child.”
“Really?” It was the last thing Sophie had expected her sister to say, although why she wasn’t sure.
“Do you think it’s a bad idea?”
“No, of course not. You’ll be a great mother. And Mom’s ready for grandkids. I’m ready to be an aunt, too.”
“I’m not going to rush into it instantly, but I do want to check out options. At the rate I’ll be going you’ll probably be married and pregnant before I ever have a child.”
“Moi? Married. I can’t imagine who you might be talking about,” Sophie joked.
“Oh, no, hardly at all. Marrying into your own lifetime supply of chocolate. Lucky you. That’s better than marrying a doctor. Although what you really need is a shrink.”
Sophie decided not to tell her sister what Trevor’s college major had been. She’d sure never hear the end of that.
* * *
Catherine’s Christmas Eve had been a quiet one. She spent the morning shopping for ingredients for a Black Forest cherry cake, then managed to use up a chunk of the afternoon baking it. That night it was just her and Cookie and a frozen turkey dinner, watching old Christmas movies on TV.
By the time she let Cookie outside for her bedtime bathroom break she discovered that the snow the weatherman predicted had arrived. Not so much that she’d be afraid to drive the next day, but it was enough to qualify for a white Christmas. The pretty sight made Catherine smile.
Cookie wasn’t into white Christmases. She did her duty and then was back immediately, ready to be inside and warm.
“I guess this means you don’t want to go out and play in the snow with me,” Catherine said, and Cookie wagged her tail and barked.
“No more treats,” Catherine said sternly. “You already had your dog biscuit and half my turkey. That’s enough. For you, anyway,” she added, then helped herself to a brownie before going upstairs to bed. Calories didn’t count at Christmas.
William and his family checked in on Christmas Day. They all looked tan and happy and relaxed. Gabrielle was delighted with Catherine’s gift and quick to invite her out to lunch after they returned home. The boys were buzzing on sugar highs and bouncing around the hotel room like little gremlins. Will asked how Catherine and Cookie were doing.
“We’re great.”
“Still want to give her back?” he teased.
“Maybe not, but you’re going to have to promise to dog-sit next Christmas when I go away for the holidays.”
His wife suddenly had to go calm the boys down and Will looked embarrassed. “Let’s not make a habit of that, okay?”
That was fine with her.
Lila didn’t FaceTime but she did text. We’re off to the slopes. Kids loved their prezzies.