Chapter 3
Ethan looked at the words beneath my finger.
“You didn’t say it exactly like that.”
“I took a week off. Sophie packed her bag. What part of that meant we wanted to stay home?”
“If I’d told Vanessa you wanted to come, she would’ve felt like she was taking Christmas away from you.”
Beside the couch, Sophie’s suitcase stood open. A pair of snow boots stuck out beneath the sweater she’d folded herself.
“You were taking it away from us,” I said. “You just didn’t want her to feel bad about it.”
“She’s had two terrible Christmases, Madison.”
“And Sophie thought this one would be good.”
He set his phone facedown beside the pajama box. Beth’s name was still visible on the folded shirt at the top.
“Can you just tell Vanessa you’re fine with it?” he asked. “She’ll cancel if she thinks you’re upset.”
“You want me to tell her I chose this?”
“I want us to get through Christmas without making everything worse.”
My hand tightened around the edge of the table. He’d spent three months planning their holiday. Now he wanted my help making sure they enjoyed it.
“Add me back to the group.”
“You’re going to embarrass her.”
“Add me back.”
He picked up his phone. A moment later, mine lit up.
Ethan added you to Christmas at the Cabin.
I opened the chat and typed.
I never agreed to stay home for Christmas. Sophie was told to pack, and she wanted to go. Ethan made these arrangements without asking either of us. I won’t be paying for the trip.
I pressed send.
Beth answered first.
Ethan, you told us Madison preferred to stay home.
Then Vanessa.
You said this was what she wanted.
Ethan’s phone buzzed in his hand. He read both messages, then looked at me.
“Delete that.”
“Which part isn’t true?”
“Now Vanessa thinks she stole your Christmas.”
He reached toward my phone. I picked it up before his fingers touched it.
“Then tell her whose decision it was.”
“Just say we misunderstood each other.”
“You understood me well enough to keep the plans from me.”
His jaw tightened. On my screen, Vanessa started typing, stopped, then started again. I closed the chat before another message appeared.
“We can celebrate when I get back,” Ethan said.
“Sophie wanted to go with you.”
“I can take her up there another weekend.”
I looked at the suitcase again. Her silver paper angel lay in the front pocket, one crooked wing caught beneath the zipper.
She’d made it for the cabin tree.
I opened my father’s number.
Can Sophie and I stay with you for Christmas?
Ethan watched my thumbs move.
“What are you doing?”
“Making plans.”
My father’s reply arrived before I put the phone down.
Of course. What time should I put dinner on?
I swallowed. He hadn’t asked what I’d done, whether Ethan approved, or if we could make ourselves easier to accommodate.
He wanted to know when to feed us.
Six would be good. I’ll bring Sophie’s favorite pie.
I sent it, then knelt beside the suitcase. Carefully, I freed the angel’s wing and tucked it between two folded sweaters.
Behind me, Ethan pushed his chair back.
“You’re really going to leave over this?”
I closed the suitcase.
“You’re ruining Christmas.”
I stood, with Sophie’s bag beside my feet.
“I’m arranging one for Sophie and me.”