Page 3 of Under The Meh-stletoe

I sighed as I reached our childhood home. Ren moved into it after Dad had left to live back home with his wife. My sister had made it her own; she slept in the principal room, while I slept in what had been our bedroom growing up. The keys clinked as I opened the main door, and I stepped right into the living room.

It still shocked me that the wall that used to separate the kitchen from the dining space was gone. An island now divided the two areas, overlooking the table and its four chairs, and the living room. The décor was mostly the same, with furniture that used to be modern in the 90s, and a few new paintings that gave the whole house an eclectic flair that suited my sister well. They fit nicely with the print of Incan textile art I’d grown up admiring, still the focus of the room.

Ren appeared to have been napping on the sofa, still sitting up like she hadn't meant to fall asleep, with a blanket keeping her warm. She opened her eyes when I came inside, but she looked exhausted, like she could easily pass out again. She'd lost weight while in the hospital and her clothes didn't fit her as well; there was still a paleness to her. It made my heart ache.

"Stop looking at me like that," she said. "I'm okay."

I sat next to her on the sofa. "Youwillbe okay."

"I'm recovering nicely. I may still be bruised... may still have stitches in organs I'd rather not think about... I may fall asleep ten times a day..." She groaned as she adjusted on the couch to sit up better. "But I'm okay."

A wave of gratefulness that my sister was still alive coursed through me. I hooked my arm around hers and put my head on her shoulder.

"How was the first meeting? I love the excitement everyone feels for it." Her voice sounded rough, but more awake.

Since she couldn't see me, I rolled my eyes. Janet and the rest may have been bright-eyed as we discussed all the tasks, but I wasn't. Daniel hadn't been either, for that matter.

I sighed. "I'm going to need your help. I have no idea what I'm doing."

"I'm sorry I can only offer my brain right now, and only when I'm not napping. Everything else still hurts."

"Of course! Don't worry. I just need to know what to do. There are way too many things to be done, and half the people in town are too busy wanting to know where I've been for the past few years to let me do anything."

I had tried to run a few errands after the meeting but gave up right away. People kept inviting me for a drink and chatting me up, slowing me down. If I didn't find a way to keep a good pace without insulting everyone, I'd never be free from this committee nightmare.

"Maybe you can use it as a chance to reconnect with everyone? You're back but you've been mostly here at home keeping me company. The committee could be good for you."

"Yeah, yeah. That's what you said as part of your speech to get me to do this Christmas thing for you. That I can take it as an opportunity to sow seeds, and the next few weeks to grow roots again here. Would you like something to drink?"

"A tea sounds good."

I got up and went straight for the kettle.

"I still believe what I told you, by the way," Ren continued. "You left and then didn't stay in touch with lots of people. If you spend time with everyone again, they'll be happy with you. They'll welcome you back, and they'll want to help you."

I set two mugs on the island and put a teaspoon of sugar in each. "You make it sound like I need to pay penance for being gone for eight years."

"Not quite that but… somewhat."

"Fine. I'll do my best."

The water boiled, and I added teabags and water to the mugs.

"Great." Ren pushed herself higher on the sofa and, though she tried to hide a grimace, I saw it in her features. "So tell me— who's helping from the Town? It can make such a difference."

Nope, my heart hadn't recovered yet from seeing her in pain. If she didn't want to show it, then I wouldn't bring it up again.

"Daniel," I responded. "No one told me his last name, but he's cranky? Has great curls but also frowns a lot?"

I stirred the drinks and brought the mugs to the living room. Ren made room for me next to her, lifting the blanket around her to invite me for a mini fort. It was something we used to do as children, share a blanket as we sat on the sofa, and doing it again sparked warmth in me.

"I know who Daniel is. Attractive but grumpy. He got here like a year ago and hit the ground running trying to prettify the town. He thinks we can be a tourist destination."

I arched an eyebrow. "I mean, I agree. We could be..."

"If we had the money for it, yeah. Most of the town is letting him try but... I don't know if that'll work out."

We sat next to each other, shoulder to shoulder, warm drinks in our hands.