Now Dad sighed. “It’s good you came when you did.”
Sadness pulled at his edges as the image of his grandfather, strong and vibrant, raced through his mind.
“He’ll be happy to see you, that’s for sure.”
Will stopped at the threshold of the house and decided to stop wallowing. This Christmas wasn’t about him, or the love he’d never had and still managed somehow to lose. It was about his family, about their traditions, and sadly, about having the courage to say goodbye.
Chapter 29
The moment Lauren stepped into the Sinclair house, she felt like she was inside a real-life Norman Rockwell painting.
Arguments about licking the spoon, laughter over whose hand was under whose at Slap, she could practically see the smell lines coming off the steaming platters of food set out on the oversized, handmade oak table.
A fleeting memory of the last time she was in this home hung at the back of her mind, but she quickly pushed it aside, choosing instead to relish this moment, in the here and now.
Instantly, the house felt like home.
“Lauren, you must be exhausted,” Will’s mom said. Then, half whispering, “I can’t believe you made it this whole way with Will as your driver.”
“Mom, I can still hear you!” Will called from the hallway entrance. It sounded like he had lightened up a bit after coming inside. Looking around the room, she could see why.
“Come in, I know you’ve been sitting in a car for a week, but sit down, sit down.” She ushered Lauren into the living room, which was full of people who stopped chattering at the sight of her.
“Everyone, this is Lauren,” Mrs. Sinclair said. “Lauren, this is Nadia, Kayla, Kayla’s husband Mark, her son Captain Louie and Will’s grandfather, my dad, is over there sleeping in the recliner.”
Lauren followed the line-up, trying to remember everyone’s names.
“Nadia’s husband Paul is making his famous lasagna in the kitchen,” Will’s mom added.
“And I made the back-up lasagna this morning for when Paul’s goes up in flames.” Nadia shot her a knowing look, and Lauren laughed.
“Will didn’t tell us he was bringing someone home.” Kayla shifted her son on her lap and glanced at Nadia.
“Will never brings anyone home,” Mark said, stuffing caramel corn in his mouth.
Will’s mom smiled at Lauren, relishing in some inside knowledge. “He told me.”
“Oh, I just got a ride,” Lauren said. “I’m Spencer’s sister.”
“Wait. Spencer Richmond?” Nadia asked.
Lauren nodded.
“No way!”
Another nod.
“Spencer was always the cutest of all of Will’s friends,” Nadia said.
“Definitely,” Kayla agreed. “You live in California too?”
“Yeah, I work in TV. Set decoration.”
Both of Will’s sisters ooh’d and ahh’d at that, and Lauren resisted the urge to downplay it. She thought her job was pretty cool, and it made her happy other people agreed.
Mrs. Sinclair reached out. “Lauren, let me take your coat.”
Lauren shrugged it off and handed it over.
“And for the record, you can call me Kathy.” She started back the way they’d come in just as Will and his dad appeared in the doorway of the living room.
Both Nadia and Kayla jumped up, rushing toward their brother. One jumped on his back and the other latched on to his leg. These were grown women with husbands. Will trudged in the room, dragging one like a kid going for a ride on the hardwood floor.
Lauren took a step back, marveling at the sight of a family that loved well.
A strong pang of jealousy shot through her, and she shoved it off.
I’m fine by myself! I’ve got Maddie and a promotion, I’m totally fine!
And still, the sight of Will’s nephew running headlong into Will’s stomach. reaching for him and Will tossing the toddler in the air set something off inside of her.
She looked away, feeling out of place.
“Lauren, how was the drive?” Will’s dad asked.
Her eyes darted to Will’s, then away. “It was, uh, good. You know, some stops along the way, some ‘speed bumps,’” she put speed bumps in air quotes, “but you know, we made good time, and. . .”
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
“。 . .I got to. . .ahem. . .see a lot of cool. . . things.”
Lauren thought she actually heard crickets.
“Good,” Steve said, saving her. “I hope you’re staying for dinner. Pauly’s lasagna is the stuff of legend.”