Beneath the mistletoe

chapter 4

Christmas Eve dawned crisp and cold, with snow blanketing the world outside in a pristine white. Inside the Gray household, the warmth of the holiday filled every corner. Emily had woken early, slipping out of bed before the rest of the house stirred.

She needed something to occupy her thoughts, something to keep her from sinking into the memories that the holidays had a way of dredging up.

Karen thought to herself ''if every one can come along for the Christmas shopping that way I won't forget anything or miss anything.'' So with that she summoned everyone and they all left leaving Emily behind because she decided she didn't want anything.

She didn't want to be the sad and depressed one on the trip when everyone was happy. So she decided to stay home and cook lunch for everyone. Standing in the kitchen, surrounded by the aroma of fresh herbs and spices, Emily felt a rare sense of calm. The rhythmic chopping of vegetables, the bubbling of a pot on the stove it was soothing, almost meditative.

By the time her family returned from their morning outing, having gone to run last-minute errands and visit the town’s Christmas market, the house was filled with the inviting smells of roasted chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, and freshly baked bread.

“Well, look at this,” Mama Ruby exclaimed as she stepped into the kitchen. “You’ve outdone yourself, sweetheart.”

Emily smiled, a little shyly, as her mom, Karen, walked over to inspect the spread. “It’s been a while since I’ve cooked for anyone,” she admitted, wiping her hands on a towel.

“It smells amazing,” Xander said, leaning against the doorway with a grin. “You’re making the rest of us look bad, Em.”

As they all gathered around the table, the conversation turned lively, filled with laughter and teasing. It felt good, normal. Emily found herself relaxing, enjoying the moment.

At some point, the conversation shifted to the town’s annual Christmas fundraiser, an event that had been a towns tradition for as long as Emily could remember.

“They’re still looking for more donations for the silent auction,” Karen said, glancing at Emily.

“I was thinking,” Emily began hesitantly, “maybe I could donate a few of my paintings.”

The room went silent for a moment, and Emily felt her cheeks flush. She hadn’t shared her art with anyone outside the family since leaving Julian, let alone considered putting it on public display.

“Emily, that’s wonderful,” Karen said, her voice brimming with pride.

“You should absolutely do it,” Xander chimed in, his grin widening. “Your stuff is amazing. People are going to love it. Speaking of painting we found brushes and painting stuff on sale so we got a few things for you Em.''

Mama Ruby nodded approvingly. “I always said you had a gift, child. It’s about time you started sharing it again.”

Emily smiled, feeling a warmth she hadn’t felt in years. Their encouragement meant more to her than she could put into words.

After lunch, Emily was clearing the table when she realized they were out of a few essentials. “I need to run to the store,” she announced. “We’re out of milk and eggs.”

“I’ll come with you,” Xander offered, standing up.

Emily glanced at him, surprised. They hadn’t had much time alone since his arrival, and part of her worried about what he might say if they were left to talk. But she nodded, grabbing her coat.

The drive to the grocery store was quiet at first, the snow crunching beneath the tires as they navigated the slushy roads. Finally, Xander broke the silence.

“So,” he said, glancing at her, “how are you holding up? Looks like depression has made you a good cook.”

Emily let out a sigh keeping her eyes on the road, her grip on the steering wheel tightening. “I’m okay,” she said after a moment. “It’s been… an adjustment. I went from Mom's to Julian's place and now I'm back. ”

Xander nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, Em. But I’m proud of you. For leaving him. For starting over.”

Emily swallowed hard, her throat tightening. “It wasn’t easy,” she admitted. “For a long time, I didn’t think I could do it. He had this way of making me feel… small. Like I was nothing without him and I haven't started over I'm back in the same house I was raised in.”

Xander’s jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists. “I should have been there,” he said, his voice low. “I should have done more.”

“It’s not your fault, mom said the same thing,” Emily said quickly. “He isolated me from everyone, Xander. I didn’t let you in I didn’t let anyone in. That’s on me. I even missed Dad's funeral because of him. it's all my fault.”

They pulled into the parking lot, but neither made a move to get out of the car. The silence hung heavy between them until Xander finally spoke.

“I hate him,” he said, his voice trembling with barely contained anger. “I hate that he hurt you. I hate that he made you feel like you had no one.”

Emily reached over, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m here now,” she said softly. “I’m okay. And I’m finally starting to feel like myself again.”

Xander turned to her, his expression softening. “I just want you to be happy, Em. You deserve that.”

Emily smiled, a small but genuine smile. “I’m working on it,” she said.

Inside the store, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Xander told her stories about his girlfriend, a bubbly receptionist named Charlotte who was planning to join them for Christmas dinner.

“She’s a little quirky,” Xander said with a laugh, “but she’s got the biggest heart. I think you’ll really like her.”

Emily found herself laughing along, grateful for the distraction. By the time they returned home, her mood had lifted, and she felt closer to her brother than she had in years.

As the evening wore on, the family gathered around the fireplace, sipping hot cocoa and reminiscing about Christmases past, discussing previous town fundraisers .Emily couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude, despite everything she had been through.

As she watched the firelight dance across the faces of her loved ones, she regretted letting Julian make her believe they weren't in support of her. Because those were the people who truly loved her.