Page 86 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

“I can tell.Your head looks like it’s going to explode.”

He rolled his eyes.“Look, I’m sorry.There.I said it.Take it in.It’s never going to happen again.”

“I appreciate it,” Ashley said, then leaned into Carter, patting his chest.“We appreciate it.”

Carter nodded, and Gabe rejoined the family, holding tight to the book.

She turned to Carter.“Can we—?”

“Let’s take a picture!”Taylor said.“We don’t have any updated ones.”

“Because we haven’t all been together in eight years,” Nate mumbled.

“You shush!”Taylor waved her hand.“We’re here now and we should commemorate it.”

“With a photo?”Cole asked.

“Yes.You love the camera.Now get over here.Everyone.”Taylor slipped out her phone, and Carter stepped forward to take it without being asked.

“I have a feeling you’ll be in the picture next year, if you know what I mean.”Taylor gave him a wink, and warm joy spread through Ashley.She had no idea how Carter would react to her news, but she hoped that by next Christmas he would no longer be the boy she lost, but the man she married.

“Okay, squeeze in.”Carter waved his hand for everyone to move toward the center.

“Say ‘Christmas’,” Carter said, and to Ashley’s surprise, everyone said it.

Carter took the picture and handed the phone to Taylor.Ashley moved toward Carter, but he was swept away by Ms.Porter.

From there the day was a whirlwind of family time, full of laughs and chaos that only existed when the Wetherbys were under the same roof.

During a rambunctious game of charades that Aunt Marilyn insisted Wendell, Luca, Clint, and Hawthorne join, Grandpa sat in his favorite chair with a mug of steaming tea and the book Ashley gifted him.Ashley watched him as he put the book down as he took in the chaos unfolding around him.He caught her eye and tipped his mug at her with a smile.She smiled back.

He loved the book, but his favorite gift wasn’t under the tree.It was right here in the formal living room as Hawthorne angrily motioned to Clint as he guessed all the wrong answers.

We came home.It wasn’t perfect.There were wounds that may never heal.Conversations that needed to be had.Forgiveness that would take a hell of a lot longer than one Christmas, but it was the beginning.

By the time Hawthorne announced Christmas dinner, the smell of rosemary, garlic, and Tiny’s spice cake had drifted through every corner of Winterridge, drawing everyone to the dining room.

They all sat around the table, and Carter stood off in the corner.Gabe stood up and moved over a chair.He glanced over at Carter.“You might as well get used to us now,” Gabe said.

“Yes, Carter, please,” Grandpa insisted.“Sit.”

Carter came to the table, and Ashley took his hand under the table.He belonged here just as much as everyone else.He had been a part of this family for most of his life, and he had earned his spot.Looking at him now, she couldn’t hold back any longer.She was going to wait until tonight when she slipped into his room, but she wanted the family to know.

She pushed up from her chair.“I have news.”

All eyes swung to her, conversations falling silent.

“I called my landlord this morning, and I told him not to renew my lease.”

“What?”Carter exclaimed.

“Why?”Dad asked.

“Because.”She looked at Carter, and he took her hand, uniting them as a team.“Someone is going to have to help Carter take care of Grandpa.”

“I don’t need taking care of,” Grandpa stated dryly.

“Yes, you do,” Ashley and Carter said at the same time and laughed.