Chapter 63
I think some of the statements I’m glossing over here may have actually shocked Cadence a little bit because her eyes were wide and no longer threatening tears. She agreed with me, though, and then she began to giggle, which made me happy. I was glad she could find me amusing even when she was obviously having a rough time. It made me want to go find Aaron McReynolds and kick him in his smug little overly-attractive face.
Before any of us could say more, the stairs behind us creaked, and I could hear my mom’s voice wondering aloud, “Who is Cassidy talking to?” I found it hard not to laugh that she couldn’t figure it out, but then, it wasn’t like we didn’t have all sorts of “people” sneaking in and out of our house at all times of the day and night.
Cadence managed to pull her legs out of the throw she’d had over top of her and swivel around so she could get up before I even fully turned my body. I caught Elliott’s eyes, and he shrugged at me, as if to say he had also noticed that my sister had forgotten to slow down. I stifled a laugh and followed my big sister at a much more casual pace. By the time my parents were down the stairs, she’d already wrapped her arms around my mom.
“Cadence!” Mom exclaimed. “Oh, you’re here!” I thought she was going to cry at first, but she didn’t. Elliott and my dad exchanged greetings, and once Cadence let Mom go, she hugged Dad, and Mom embraced Elliott in a way that showed she was thankful he’d brought Cadence back to us. I did wonder whose idea it had been for them to show up. Had my sister begged him to drive her home, or had he suggested it? What kind of a position was Elliott in between my sister, whom he clearly had an affinity for, and his boss, who I also suspected was a good friend? I felt a little sorry for him and hoped I’d have a chance to talk to him about the situation later. The idea that it was none of my business went through my mind fleetingly.
“Well, let’s go see what Santa brought!” my mom suggested, letting go of Elliott.
That reminded me of the gift I’d purchased for him at the mall the other day. “Hold on!” I shouted, heading for the stairs, wishing I could run as fast as Cadence. I heard my mom ask where I was going, but there was no time to stop or explain. I sprinted to my closet, grabbed the gift, and headed back down the stairs.
Luckily, I hadn’t missed anything. My dad headed off to the kitchen to make some coffee, and Cadence and Mom were talking about the Christmas decorations we’d added since Cadence had last seen the tree. Elliott was standing back a bit, closer to the couch, like he didn’t really know what to do with himself. I wondered if he had a family he usually spent the holidays with and hoped I’d get a chance to ask that later, too.
“Here you go,” I said, handing him the gift.
His green eyes widened in surprise. “For me?” he asked, taking it but not opening it yet.
“Yep,” I replied, possibly a little prouder of myself than I should’ve been. “I got it for you the other day--at the mall.”
“Well, Cass, you didn’t have to do that,” he said, turning it over in his hands a few times.
“I wanted to.”
Elliott raised his eyebrows for a moment before he ripped through the Santa Claus wrapping paper and pulled out the stocking cap. “Wow,” he said, stretching out the thick fabric. “Now, that seems like it’ll be a warm hat.”
My sister and mom had turned to see what we were doing, and I noticed that Cadence looked a little amused but mostly proud, like she was happy we were getting along so well. “It’s not much,” I said, with a shrug, “but I thought it might come in handy for work.”
“Most definitely,” he agreed. “Thank you, Cass.” He bent down and wrapped his burly arms around me, and I could feel the color rushing to my face. I thought I was beginning to understand what my mom was always saying about it being better to give than receive.
“Cadence! Your pajamas are upstairs in your room,” my mom said, as if she’d just realized what my sister was wearing.
“Oh, that’s okay,” Cadence protested. Perhaps she didn’t want to wear her Christmas jammies in front of her coworker.
“Now, come on Cadence. You know the rules. Christmas jammies for presents!” my mom insisted, and I thought back to that movie, A Christmas Story, where Ralphie has to put on those rabbit pajamas. I knew Cadence’s were the same as mine, though, red and green with reindeer heads. They weren’t so bad.
“Okay,” Cadence said with a groan, and Elliott chuckled at her. “Do you have any in bear sized?” Cadence asked, shooting him a dirty look as she headed toward the stairs.
“Unfortunately, no,” my mom replied. Turning to Elliott, she said, “I don’t think we have anything that will fit you, dear.”
“That’s okay,” he said with his hands up. “I’m really here as more of an observer. Or a limo driver.” He had stuffed the hat I bought him in his back pocket, and I thought it was kinda funny that he was the only one who’d even opened a gift yet, but he was trying to stay out of our Christmas traditions.
“Nonsense,” my mom said. “You know you’re perfectly welcome here. You always have been.” I think she must’ve thought about what she said a split second too late because she looked at me and her eyes grew slightly wider than normal before she said, “I mean… since we met you…. A few weeks ago.”
“Right,” Elliott nodded, and he looked at me, a glint of amusement in his eyes. I nodded along because my mom had no idea that I knew Elliott had been hanging around for years.
