Hi!!
Okay, in my last newsletter I alluded to a fun holiday surprise. This is that surprise. A Greene Sisters Christmas is a short story featuring Lily and Nick from The Neighbor Favor, Violet and Xavier from The Partner Plot, and Iris and Angel from The Love Lyric (along with their family and friends) all together in one place. It’s Christmastime for the Greene sisters (and their guys), and this Christmas is going to be a very special one.
I wrote this story in August while in between edits for The Summer Girlfriend. I blasted Christmas music to help set the vibe. If you’re interested in knowing what songs I listened to while writing, I’ve listed them at the end of this newsletter after the story. I commissioned Thea Harvey once again to create the gorgeous art below.
I wrote story this as a way to say thank you so much for your support of this series (and my other books too!). I really, really love these sisters. I’m sad to say goodbye to them! They have a special place in my heart. Thank you for making room for them in yours. I hope you’ll join me next year for a whole new cast of characters in The Summer Girlfriend.
Without further ado, here is A Greene Sisters Christmas! I hope you enjoy!
Iris
It was Christmas Eve, and Iris had no idea where she’d put the scotch tape. She jogged through her house, first searching her office, followed by the hall closet, and then the living room. She even checked the cabinet beneath the bathroom sink. Now, she stood in her kitchen, hands on her hips, wondering what the heck she was going to do if she didn’t find more tape in order to finish wrapping gifts.
She could make a quick trip to Walgreens, but the lines were bound to be long and slow moving, filled with last minute shoppers. And her parents were expecting everyone for Christmas Eve dinner in less than an hour.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she whispered to herself. “Shit.”
“Mom, did you say a bad word?”
Iris whipped around. Calla, looking adorable in her velvet, burgundy dress and matching hair bows, stood behind Iris at the kitchen island, smiling sweetly.
“Um, no,” Iris replied. “I said shoot.”
Leah, who was standing on the other side of the kitchen, quietly snort laughed as she slid a pan of cookies into the oven. She’d agreed to keep Calla busy while Iris wrapped gifts upstairs. Calla still believed in Santa Claus, and Iris didn’t want to ruin the Christmas magic by accidentally revealing that she was the one who bought the presents and wrapped the gifts, so Leah and Calla had been baking cookies for the last hour or so. The kitchen smelled liked a bakery.
“What are you looking for?” Calla asked, walking over to Iris. “Can I help?”
“No, honey, that’s okay,” Iris said. “I’m just looking for some tape.”
“Why do you need tape?”
Iris blinked, too preoccupied with the missing tape to think of a quick lie. Thankfully, Leah intervened by placing her arms on Calla’s shoulders and ushering her to the other end of the kitchen.
“Your mom probably has a hole in her sock, and she wants to tape it closed,” Leah said. “Wanna help me put sprinkles on the sugar cookies?”
“Yeah!” Calla was easily distracted by Leah, who she adored. These days, many of Calla’s sentences started with, “The other day Leah said this.” Or, “Leah wore something like that the last time we saw her.”
Being in love with Angel had brought many wonderful things to Iris’s life, but seeing the sweet relationship between her daughter and his younger sister was definitely high on the list.
Earlier this evening, Angel had visited a radio station in the city to promote his Christmas single, a remake of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas.” An hour ago, he’d texted Iris, Be there soon. Had to make a quick stop.
She didn’t know where he had to stop. It was probably another work-related engagement. She wished she’d asked him to pick up some tape.
As a last resort, she stood on tiptoe and searched on top of the fridge. She held in a dramatic gasp when she spotted a pack of tape. She snatched it and jogged through the kitchen, continuing through her living room and past the lit up Christmas tree that she, Calla, and Angel had decorated two weeks ago.
Back upstairs in her room, she closed the door behind her. Calla’s last remaining unwrapped gifts were splayed out on the floor in front of Iris’s bed. She’d started Christmas shopping in late September, per usual. This year, the adults had decided to do Secret Santa, and Iris had picked Xavier’s name. She’d bought him a Nick Claxton Brooklyn Nets jersey, which she felt confident that he’d love.
Angel was a little harder to shop for. What could you buy for a person who could easily get anything he wanted? His gifts to her were a pair of pearl earrings with a matching bracelet and necklace from one of her favorite Black-owned jewelry stores, as well as a romantic getaway to Paris during the first week of January. He’d wanted the jewelry and trip to be surprises, of course, but he respected that Iris wasn’t really big on surprises, so he’d taken her with him jewelry shopping, and he’d told her that he wanted to take her to Paris.
As far as her gift for Angel, he’d told Iris not to bother with giving him anything and that she was the only gift he wanted. It was a sweet thing to say. But it was Christmas. She couldn’t let the holiday pass without getting him anything. So, she’d purchased two autographed Stevie Wonder vinyl albums, Songs In The Key Of Life and Original Musiquarium. Stevie Wonder was one of Angel’s idols. Iris’s search for the autographed editions had led her to an online auction, where she’d participated in a fierce bidding war with a guy from Tennessee. Iris won both albums after several rounds, and the Tennessee man had messaged her, Congrats. You’re a tough competitor. Iris had smiled as she’d written back, Thanks. Humility had kept her from saying, Of course I am.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t experienced the same luck with finding a Miss Sassy doll for Calla. Miss Sassy dolls were the craze among kids these days, and they’d been sold out almost everywhere since September. No matter how hard Iris tried, she couldn’t find one of those freaking dolls. Even Angel had been unable to use his celeb status to his advantage. With their unnaturally big heads and big eyes, Miss Sassy dolls looked like they were possessed. Iris couldn’t understand why they were so popular. But then again, she’d owned a Cabbage Patch Doll as a kid, and she’d thought they’d looked perfectly normal, so how could she judge?
When she thought of Calla’s heartbroken face on Christmas morning once she realized that she wasn’t getting a Miss Sassy doll, a part of Iris died inside. She didn’t want to disappoint her daughter, but her search for Miss Sassy wouldn’t stop after Christmas. One of these days, she was going to be able to buy one of those dolls.
She sat on the floor, opened the music app on her phone, and turned on a random Christmas R&B playlist. As she started wrapping again, her limbs ached from working at Greenehouse earlier that day. They’d been busy with customers from open to close, and they’d completely sold out of poinsettias, wreaths, and red and white roses at both locations. Iris’s days now were very different from when she’d worked at Save Face Beauty, but she loved working for her family’s business. Her SFB life felt so far behind her, but she’d always be grateful for it, especially because it had brought her closer to Angel.
Suddenly, Angel’s version of “This Christmas” began to play, and Iris laughed. The music app had a way of playing one of his songs whenever she was thinking about him. She hummed along as his dulcet tones serenaded her.
Just then, she heard the front door open downstairs. A deep voice said, “Ho, ho, ho,” and Leah and Calla laughed. Iris stood and poked her head into the hallway. Angel was jogging up the staircase toward her. Her lips spread into a smile. When Angel reached her, he took her face in her hands and kissed her.
“It’s been too long since I last saw you,” he said, voice low. Iris’s heart pounded as she gazed up at him.
“We just saw each other this morning,” she said, laughing.
“I know, too long.”
They grinned at each other as they kissed again. They’d been together for a year and a half now, and Iris was so in love with Angel, sometimes she felt like her love for him was strong enough to lift her up, up and away like a hot air balloon.
“I’m still wrapping gifts,” she whispered as she took him by the hand. Only then she did she see the paper bag at his feet. He picked it up and followed her inside her bedroom. He placed the bag by her bed as he went to her closet and changed out of his clothes. He shrugged on a dark green sweater and a pair of black jeans. Whenever he wasn’t traveling for work, he spent most of his time at Iris’s house. He kept a lot of his things here.
“What’s in the bag?” she asked, watching him as she sat on the floor to resume her wrapping.
“Ah, that’s my surprise.” He reached into the bag, and with a flourish and a huge smile, her pulled out a Miss Sassy doll.
Iris gasped and jumped to her feet. “Oh my God! How’d you find one?”
“Crazy story. Earlier tonight I was telling one of the DJs at the radio station how we couldn’t find one of those dolls, and he told me that his wife had a collection of them, still in their boxes. Apparently, she thinks they’re going to be worth a lot of money someday.”
Iris walked over and inspected the doll and the box that it came in. Both were in pristine condition. “Did you have to pay a lot for it?”
Angel shook his head. “Nah, his wife just wanted to meet me and get some pictures. I stopped by their house on my way here. That’s what took me so long. I gotta be honest. I don’t know why Calla wants one of these things because they look scary as hell. But she’s a good kid. If she wants a scary doll, I’ll get her the scary doll.”
Iris’s heart melted as she gazed up at him. “Thank you,” she whispered. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “You’re the best boyfriend in the entire universe, and I love you.”
“Entire universe?” he repeated with a grin. “I’ll take it. And I love you more.”
He joined her on the floor and helped her wrap the rest of the gifts.
“I talked to Nick on the way here,” he said.
Iris was wrapping the Miss Sassy doll. “Oh, yeah. What’d he say?”
“He was confirming that we’re all gonna be at your parents’ house on time,” Angel said. “I think he’s nervous about tonight.”
“Well, that’s understandable. It’s a big deal.” She glanced over at Angel. “Did you give him any advice?”
“I mean, I haven’t been in his position yet, so I’m not sure how much my advice would be worth, but I told him to speak from the heart. That’s the best way to go about it.”
“I agree. I wonder how Lily will react.” Iris thought of her youngest sister. Right now, she and Nick should be on the NJ Transit train to Willow Ridge.
“I’m sure she’ll be surprised first, then very, very happy,” Angel said. “And we’ll all be so happy, we’ll probably cry.”
“I know I will,” Iris said, laughing.
Angel smiled softly at her. He reached over and threaded their fingers together. “I’m excited to spend another Christmas with you.”
“Me too.” Last Christmas, Angel and Leah had spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the Greenes as well. Angel’s relationship with his father was okay, but he and his mother didn’t speak much. Angel was protecting his peace, and he was happy with that decision. And his happiness was all that Iris could ask for. “But if my mom tries to rope you into walking around the neighborhood and singing Christmas carols after dinner tomorrow, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Angel smirked. “As long as she lets me sing, ‘Blue Christmas’ just like Elvis, I don’t mind.” He wrapped his arms around Iris’s waist and pulled her closer. He crooned ‘Blue Christmas’ in Elvis’s staccato vibrato as she laughed.
They were interrupted by a knock at her bedroom door. “Mom,” Calla said, “are you ready to go to grandma and grandpa’s yet?”
“One minute!” Iris called.
She and Angel disentangled themselves from each other and wrapped the last couple gifts. Then Angel made quick work of putting the gifts in the closet. Later, when they returned from her parents’ house, she, Angel and Leah would place the gifts under the tree once Calla was asleep.
With the gifts safely out of sight, Iris opened her door. Calla was standing there, waiting eagerly.
“Can we go now, please?” Calla asked. “I want some of grandma’s homemade eggnog before it’s all gone.”
At the bottom of the steps, Leah looked up at Iris and mouthed, Sorry.
It’s okay, Iris mouthed back. It was Christmas Eve, the one night of the year when a kid’s restlessness was part of the deal.
“We’re leaving now, honey,” Iris said. “Just let me put on my shoes.”
Angel appeared behind Iris and stepped around her into the hallway.
“Did y’all hear that?” he asked, looking around, brows furrowed. “I think a Christmas elf was knocking on the bedroom door just now.”
“That wasn’t an elf,” Calla said, giggling. “That was me!”
“That was you?” Angel scratched his head. “I don’t know. Elves might have stopped by and eaten all the cookies you just baked for Santa. I think we need to go downstairs and investigate.”
He scooped Calla up into his arms and carried her as he jogged down the hall and downstairs to the kitchen. Calla squealed and laughed the entire way. Iris’s heart grew three sizes as she watched them.
Look, Terry, she thought. Look how happy Calla is. We miss you. Merry Christmas.
She slipped on her boots and joined everyone downstairs. By the front door, Angel was helping Calla into her winter coat. Leah hurried into the hall too, holding a stack of cookie tins.
“Okay, you have to try these chocolate crinkle cookies,” she said, urging Iris to take a cookie from the tin on top of her stack. “They’re so good, I think I might have a new baking side hustle once Spring semester starts.”
Angel raised an eyebrow. “New side hustle implies that you have a current side hustle, and I don’t remember hearing about one.”
“I definitely told you about how I’ve been selling fake autographed pictures of you to everyone at NYU.”
Angel frowned. “I hope you’re joking.”
Leah smirked and shrugged, and Angel sighed.
Iris laughed as she took a bite of a chocolate crinkle cookie. “Oh, my goodness. This is so good.”
“I know, right?” Leah said.
Their little blended family filed outside, and Iris locked the door behind them. As they walked to Angel’s car, Iris’s phone vibrated in her hand. It was a text alert from her sister group chat. An update from Violet.
Just landed!
Violet
Violet liked to think of herself an inquisitive person, someone who was curious about the world around her. But she didn’t think she’d ever understand why people decided to stand up as soon as the plane landed. What purpose did that serve when everyone had to wait their turn to deplane anyway?
Seated in row fourteen, she let out a deep sigh as her seat mate stood in the center aisle and clumsily pulled his suitcase from the overheard compartment, narrowly missed her arm in the process. Violet bounced her knees and craned her neck, urging people to move faster. She had things to do and family to see. In particular, she was eager to be reunited with her hot husband. She’d been in Atlanta for the past two days because she’d styled Karina for her Karamel Kitty Kristmas concert special. But now Violet was back in New Jersey, and she was ready to see her family. Tonight was a big deal.
After what felt like ten years, but was more like ten minutes, Violet grabbed her bag and made her way off the plane and through the Newark airport, speedwalking toward baggage claim. She checked her phone for alerts. Iris responded to the sister group chat, We’re our way! Lily replied, Same, on the train! There was a text from Xavier too. He was saved in her phone under “Number One Husband.” Hey babe, waiting here for you at baggage claim.
Violet picked up her pace, wanting to reach him faster.
This year had been another whirlwind for her career, filled with photoshoots and red carpets and album covers for her biggest clients, Karina and Angel. Her schedule was often filled with fittings for Black Velvet too, the sister duo who’d become a bona fide household name. Earlier this year she’d styled Black Velvet, Karina, Angel, and actress Gigi Harrison for the Met Gala. She and her assistant Alex hadn’t slept for almost three days straight, but Violet was pleased to report that she didn’t often have days like that now. A perfect work life balance wasn’t exactly attainable, but she was trying to have a healthy work life balance. Peace in her personal life was the backbone that made her professional life possible.
Speaking of her personal life, she laid eyes on her husband, who was standing by the baggage claim carousel assigned to her flight. He looked devastatingly handsome in his black turtleneck and blue jeans. Violet was so excited to see him, she broke into a run. When Xavier saw her running toward him, he laughed and opened his arms wide. Violet dropped her bag, hopped into his arms, and hooked her legs around him. As she kissed him, she felt his laughter rumbling in his chest. They’d been married for almost two years, and she never got tired of kissing him. He was her first love. Her true love. Her only love.
“Hello, husband,” she whispered.
“Hello, wife.” He kissed her again and pulled back to gaze into her eyes. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
Around them, people stared with curious smiles. For all they knew, Violet and Xavier were long distance lovers who were reuniting to spend the holidays together.
Violet slid down his body until she was back on her feet again. Xavier grabbed her large suitcase off the carousel, slung her other bag over his shoulder, took her hand in his, and led her outside to his car.
“I like your outfit,” she said. Her outfit looked similar, a black turtleneck and wide legged dark blue jeans over black Frye campus boots. Usually on flights, she wore a matching sweatsuit set, but she knew she wouldn’t have time to go back to their apartment in Jersey City and change before dinner. There were going to be a lot of pictures taken tonight, and she didn’t want to be seen in sweats.
“You’re welcome,” he said, smiling ruefully. “You should like it. You picked it out.”
Violet shrugged and smiled. “Sometimes I forget just how great my taste is.”
Xavier laughed as he placed her bags in his trunk, and they climbed in his car. Thanks to his pay raise as the head basketball coach at Willow Ridge High, he’d been able to buy a newer car. Still a Nissan Altima, though. He loved it, and Violet loved it too. Although, sometimes, she missed his old car. If only because it had so many memories from the days when she’d first stayed with him during the winter that she’d broken her ankle, and they’d lied to everyone about being married.
“How was the concert?” he asked, as he pulled into traffic and merged onto the highway toward Willow Ridge.
“It was fun. Karina and the crew told me to tell you hi and Merry Christmas.” Karina, Brian, and Melody had actually said “Have a sexy Christmas with your husband, girl!” But Violet figured that sharing the abridged version of their message would suffice. “How was brunch with the team yesterday?” she asked. “I’m sorry I had to miss it.”
Yesterday morning, Xavier and his assistant coach had treated the basketball team to brunch at the Willow Ridge Diner. In the upcoming week between Christmas and New Year’s, the team was participating in a county basketball tournament. Violet had blocked out her schedule so that she could make it to every game. She loved watching Xavier doing his thing as a coach. It reminded her of how excited she used to feel while watching him at his games in high school.
“Brunch was great,” he said. “The students told me to tell you hi. I ended up eating some leftovers today for lunch.”
“Aww. I’m sorry, babe. I’m sure you wished that you’d eaten one of my delicious homecooked meals instead.”
He slid her a sidelong glance, and his lips curled in a smirk. “Baby, you are talented in many ways, but we both know that cooking isn’t part of your repertoire.”
Violet playfully smacked his arm. She’d taken it upon herself to learn how to cook this year. It had been a difficult process that had often resulted in nearly inedible meals. Xavier was definitely the better cook between the two of them.
“One day I’m gonna be the best cook ever,” she said. “And you’re gonna have to eat your words.”
“Impossible. I’m already the best cook ever, so how could that be?”
“I’ll surpass you,” she said, smiling. “And what makes you think you’re the best anyway?”
“Well, I don’t ever hear you complaining about my food.” He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “Just admit it. You love my cooking almost as much as you love my handsome face and my smile.”
Violet laughed and rolled her eyes. “I forgot that one of the reasons I married you is because you’re so humble.”
He winked at her, and she laughed again. No marriage was perfect, but she would bet that their marriage was pretty darn close. They had their fair share of little disagreements here and there, of course, but overall, their life together was easy. They knew each other inside and out. Sometimes she felt like Xavier knew her better than she knew herself. Since they’d gotten married, people were always asking if or when they planned to have kids. Number one, mind your business. And two, yes, they wanted to have kids someday. Violet wanted children who had Xavier’s eyes and her fashion sense. But they weren’t worried about that right now. They were enjoying life together, just the two of them.
Xavier turned up the radio. Angel’s new version of “This Christmas” was playing. At the same time, Violet’s phone vibrated with a text from Iris. Violet read her sister’s text and smiled.
“Iris said that Angel told her that he thinks Nick is nervous,” she informed Xavier.
Xavier nodded and switched over to the slow lane. Their exit for Willow Ridge was coming up. “Makes sense.”
“Were you nervous when you proposed to me?” Violet asked.
“Of course.”
“Really?” She blinked. Xavier was one of the most confident people she knew. “But why? You knew I’d say yes.”
“I had a good feeling that you would,” he said. “But it’s still a moment that you want to get right. You want it to be perfect because you can’t redo it.”
“Well… technically we redid our wedding, and that turned out more than fine,” she said.
He chuckled, nodding. “True.”
Soon, they pulled up to her parents’ home. The house was adorned with Christmas lights, and an inflatable Black Santa Claus surrounded by reindeer was positioned in the front yard. The other houses in the neighborhood looked just as festive. There was nothing better than being in Willow Ridge during the holidays.
“Wait a second before we go inside,” Xavier said, placing his hand on Violet’s shoulder as she reached for the door handle. “I want to give you one of your gifts early. I couldn’t wait.”
“Oh?” She pivoted to face him. The original plan had been to exchange gifts at their apartment tomorrow morning before going to Iris’s house for Christmas breakfast and Secret Santa. “What is it?”
“Close your eyes,” he said. She listened and held her eyes shut. She heard him reach into the backseat. “Okay, you can open them now.”
Slowly, Violet opened her eyes. He’d placed a small square box in her lap. It was covered in green Peanuts wrapping paper. Charlie Brown stood next to his beloved, scraggly Christmas tree. Violet picked up the box and turned it over in her hands. She looked at Xavier.
“Did you wrap this yourself?” she asked. She knew that he hated wrapping gifts and always opted for gift bags instead.
He nodded. “I watched some tutorials on YouTube. I know you love a nicely wrapped gift.”
She smiled at him, heart melting. She unwrapped the box and opened the top of it. Inside, there was a snow globe. Violet lifted it out of the box and saw that there was a picture of her and Xavier inside of the snow globe. It was taken on their wedding day as they’d gazed at each other during their first dance. When she turned the snow globe around, there was another picture of them in almost the same pose, but this picture was taken over a decade ago at their senior prom as they’d danced together after being crowned prom king and queen.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “This is the sweetest gift I’ve ever received in my life! I love you!”
She crawled across the center console until she was straddling in his lap. She kissed him square on the mouth.
“I love you too,” he said, laughing.
“Your gifts are at home!” she said. “I didn’t bring them with me! I have nothing to give you right now! But I can tell you what your gifts are. I got you a—”
“No, don’t spoil it for me!” he said, stopping her. “I gave you this gift early because I missed you and couldn’t resist. I’ll open my gifts tomorrow.”
“Okay,” she said, smiling.
She’d gotten him a new watch, a yearlong membership at a fancy new gym near their apartment and lots of new clothes. She’d gone a little crazy with the clothes, to be honest, but she couldn’t help it.
Hand in hand, they walked up her parents’ driveway. As they stepped inside the house, they were greeted with a hug from Dahlia, who announced, “Violet and Xavier are here!” She took their coats, and Benjamin hugged them both, followed by hugs from Iris and Angel and Leah and Calla.
Xavier followed Benjamin to the living room where he was watching TV.
“How was Atlanta?” Angel asked Violet as the two of them remained standing in the hall.
“It was fun. I heard a rumor that you’re doing a Christmas special there next year.”
“My team and I talked about it,” he said. “Since it’s so close to Christmas, I’d want Iris and Calla to come too, but it might be hard for Iris to get away then since the store will be so busy. We’ll see. Calla would probably love to hear all the Christmas music.”
It warmed Violet’s heart to know that Angel loved her sister and niece so wholly. He was the perfect addition to their family. Overcome with gratitude, Violet hugged Angel.
“What was that for?” he asked, smiling as Violet pulled away.
She smiled too and shrugged. “Just because.”
Angel laughed and went to join Xavier and Benjamin in the living room. Dahlia, Calla and Leah sat in the living room too, eating from the various cookies tins on the coffee table.
Violet found Iris in the kitchen, pouring herself a cup of eggnog. She glanced up at Violet.
“Want some?” she asked.
“Yes, please.” Violet opened the cabinet above the sink and grabbed their dad’s bottle of whiskey. She held it up. “Spiked?”
Iris laughed and nodded. “Spiked.”
Iris filled their mugs with eggnog and Violet added doses of whiskey.
“You’re sure Lily has no idea?” Violet asked, after taking a sip.
Iris shook her head. “None at all. Marcus and Caleb should be here soon too. Oh, wait, you haven’t seen the backyard yet, have you? Nick set up everything yesterday. Come look outside.”
Intrigued, Violet followed Iris through the dining room. When they stepped onto the back patio, Violet gasped.
“Oh my gosh,” she said. “Lily is gonna love this.”
Lily
The NJ Transit train conductor announced that Willow Ridge was the next stop. Lily glanced over at Nick, who was rubbing his palms up and down his denim clad thighs. He scratched his chin and bounced his knees. He touched his coat pocket for what seemed like the hundredth time. He released a deep breath. When he noticed Lily watching him, he smiled and let out a shaky laugh.
“You’re sure everything’s okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine, I promise.” He linked his fingers through hers. His palm was sweaty, which let Lily know that he was feeling nervous about something.
He’d been fidgety like this all week. Yesterday, she’d overheard him mumbling to himself in his office. His voice had been too low for her to clearly make out any words, but it had sounded like he was practicing some sort of speech. Then he’d randomly disappeared for a handful of hours. When he’d returned, shortly before dinner, he’d mumbled something about having a last-minute meeting with Marcus about his next book contract with M&M. Lily didn’t have a chance to ask more questions because he’d come home with new toys for Tomcat and had asked if she wanted to walk to the Union Square holiday market for some hot chocolate, which was her favorite thing to do at this time of year.
She figured Nick was stressed because the television adaptation of The Elves of Ceradon was in post-production, and the studio recently announced that the show was slated to premiere next summer. Nick had admitted to her that even though he was excited about the show, he was wary that having so many new eyes on his series might open him up to scrutiny and vitriol. Lily understood his wariness. The show was going to be a big deal, and it was impossible to please everyone. But Lily was a half glass full kind of person. It was in her nature to put a positive spin on things.
“Babe, I promise you the show will be great,” she assured him now, squeezing his hand. It stilled his fidgety movements. “We visited the set. You saw how great the cast was. You handed in the draft of book three on time. You have nothing to worry about. It’s Christmas! I think you can sit back and relax now.”
Nick looked at her with furrowed brows, like he was confused as to why she’d mentioned the show or his draft. Then he blinked and smiled. “Yeah, I know. You’re right.”
“Okay, good.”
As she smiled back at him, his eyes softened. “I love you,” he said. He kissed her mouth, then kissed her forehead and pulled her closer.
“I love you too,” she whispered.
Their relationship was Lily’s soft place to land. They’d been together for four and a half years, and she loved the cozy life that they’d built. She loved when they both took up space on opposite ends of the couch as he worked on his draft and she edited a manuscript, with Tomcat curled up on the cushion between them. She loved how they had a two-person book club and talked about books over dinner, or while brushing their teeth at night, or as he walked her to work in the morning. She loved their random adventures around the city, visiting bookstores and libraries, popping into random movie matinees on the weekends. She loved when he took the train with her to New Jersey to visit her sisters and her parents. She loved when they met up with Marcus and Caleb, and Dani and Oliver. Years ago, when she was sleeping on Violet’s couch, struggling at a job that she hated, Lily couldn’t have imagined that her life would be so full, so happy. She was grateful. And something about the holidays multiplied her gratitude tenfold.
Her phone vibrated with a text from Yolanda. She’d sent a picture of Tomcat sitting on Henry’s lap, wearing a Santa hat. There was a brand-new mouse toy in his mouth.
Mr. Tomcat is on the lookout for reindeer.
Yolanda and Henry had agreed to watch Tomcat for Lily and Nick while they stayed overnight at her parents’ house for Christmas. Lily, Tomcat, and Nick had moved into a two-bedroom unit in his building two years ago. She’d loved her Crown Heights studio. It was charming and quaint, and after living with Violet who’d stored clothes and shoes in every available space, Lily had loved living in place that was all her own. But she’d spent a lot of her time at Nick’s, and he only lived a few short blocks away from the Happy Go Lucky Press office on 19th and Sixth Ave, so moving in with him made sense. Also, she wanted to live with him and blend their lives. She was a senior editor at Happy Go Lucky Press now. Earlier this year, a middle grade novel she’d edited, Mia Jones and The Tree People by Kerry Black, had been named a Newbery Honor book, the first ever for the Happy Go Lucky team. It was the best job she’d ever had.
She leaned closer to Nick and showed him the picture of Tomcat that Yolanda had sent.
Nick laughed. “They’re going to spoil him rotten.”
“I know,” Lily said, smiling as she texted back, Thank you for taking care of him!
The train reached the Willow Ridge stop. Nick hopped up and grabbed Lily’s duffel bag for her and stepped aside to let her walk off the train first. He was still being a little fidgety, but she figured it might wear off later tonight once they were having fun with family and he could take his mind off work things. For the past two years, his mom had spent Christmas with them too, but this year she was staying in North Carolina and spending Christmas with her friends from work. She and Nick’s dad were divorced, and his dad was living in Memphis with extended family. Nick and his dad didn’t speak very often, but when they did catch up, his dad seemed to be doing better than he had before. Nick told Lily that since being around her and the Greenes, he was finally able to feel what it was like to be part of a loving, stable family.
Xavier was waiting to pick them up outside the train station. He got out of the car and hugged Lily. Because he and Violet lived so close to the city in Jersey City, they saw each other pretty often.
“Merry Christmas, favorite brother-in-law,” Lily said.
“I gotta hold onto that title before Angel tries to swoop in and take it from me,” Xavier said, and Lily laughed.
She sat in the passenger seat of Xavier’s car, while he and Nick placed their bags in the trunk. She glanced at them in the rearview mirror and watched as Xavier said something to Nick. Nick listened intently as if Xavier was sharing the secrets of the universe. He nodded sagely, and Xavier put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. He said something that made Nick laugh and they both got in the car. Lily didn’t have a chance to ask what they’d talked about because Xavier immediately launched into a story about how Violet wasn’t the best at hiding his Christmas gifts around their apartment, and he was sure she’d bought him an entire store’s worth of clothing. Then Angel’s Christmas song came on the radio, and they talked about how much the loved it.
Soon, they pulled up in front of her parents’ house, and Lily smiled at the Black Santa on the front lawn. Xavier was quick to retrieve their bags from the trunk. Nick hopped out of the backseat and opened Lily’s door for her.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling as she got out of the car.
Nick continued to stand in front of her. She could see his breath in the cold December air.
“I really love you,” he said, taking her face in his hands. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” She laughed and tilted her head, wondering what had come over him. He kissed her, soft and sweet, and held her close. When he pulled away, he kissed her forehead. She was still laughing.
“What’s all this for?” she asked.
He simply shook his head and smiled. He kissed her one more time. “See you in a few minutes.”
“What?” She blinked as he abruptly jogged up the driveway and inside the house.
She turned to Xavier, who shrugged, but he was smirking, and there was a knowing glint in his eyes. He walked with Lily up the driveway, and before they reached the front step, Angel’s younger sister Leah opened the door.
“Merry Christmas!” she sang. She was holding a cookie tin.
“Merry Christmas,” Lily said, hugging Leah.
Xavier quickly slipped past Leah inside, but when Lily tried to follow him, Leah blocked her way and closed the door behind her. She thrusted the cookie tin toward Lily.
“Here, try one of my cookies,” she said. “I was baking all day. Calla helped. The chocolate crinkle cookies are my favorite. Iris loved them too.”
“Oh, um, sure.” Lily picked a chocolate crinkle cookie and took a bite. It was warm and gooey. “Wow, Leah, this is good.”
“Thank you! I was saying earlier that I want to start new side hustle in the Spring. Have I ever told that I’ve been selling autographed pictures of Angel for almost two hundred and fifty dollars a pop? I’m the one who’s autographing them. It looks just like his signature too. I put all the money that I make toward my fund to buy another puppy. Maxine needs a friend! So even though I’m making money off a lie, it’s all going toward a good cause, depending on how you look at it.”
Lily chuckled. She adored Leah. She was like their snarky, goth, bonus sister. But Lily didn’t know they were still standing outside. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms to generate warmth.
“Do you mind if we go inside now?” she asked. “I’m kinda cold.”
Leah balanced the cookie tin on her hip and checked the time on her phone.
“Okay, yeah, you’re all good to go inside. I was sent out here as a distraction, but everyone should be ready now.”
Lily’s brows furrowed. “Ready for what?”
“You’ll see,” Leah said with a smile.
She opened the door and stepped into the hallway, allowing Lily to pass her. Inside, the lights were dimmed, illuminating the Christmas tree in the living room. Her family members were standing in the hall, each holding a yellow lily flower.
Lily quietly gasped, and her heartbeat picked up pace. “What is happening?” she whispered.
Leah gently placed her hand against Lily’s lower back and urged her forward.
Dahlia gave her flower to Lily first. She was smiling, teary-eyed. She kissed Lily on the cheek. On the other side of Lily, Benjamin kissed her cheek too. He told Lily that she’d always be his baby girl, no matter what. Xavier handed Lily a flower next, followed by Angel. Both men were smiling so huge. Thanks to them, she’d learned what it was like to have brothers. Then she blinked when she realized that Marcus and Caleb were standing there with flowers too.
“Thank you for loving Nick,” Marcus whispered as he handed her a flower.
Then there was little Calla, who proudly held her flower up to Lily. “Here you go, Auntie!” she said.
Lily laughed as her eyes welled up. She clasped her bouquet of lilies to her chest as her heart pounded harder. She had a feeling that she knew what was happening now, but it was still so surreal.
Last, there were Violet and Iris, who stood at the kitchen entrance. They handed Lily flowers as well, and they were teary-eyed as they looped their arms through Lily’s and led her through the dining room.
“Oh, my goodness,” Lily whispered to them. “Nick is proposing, right? That’s what’s happening?”
Iris squeezed Lily’s arm and smiled.
“You’ve made it this far,” Violet said with a grin. “Don’t ask us to spoil the rest now.”
Iris and Violet slid open the back patio door. Candles and flower petals led up a path to Nick, who was standing beneath her parents’ gazebo that was lit up with Christmas lights. Nick was smiling at Lily so openly and full of love. Gone was his nervous, fidgety energy. Instead, he looked calm and ready.
“We love you, sister,” Iris and Violet whispered.
Then they let go of Lily so that she could continue the rest of the journey on her own. She couldn’t take her eyes off Nick as she walked toward him, pulse pounding.
“Hi,” she said once she reached him.
He took both of her hands in his. “Hi.”
His smile was infectious, and joyous laughter bubbled up inside of Lily.
“Is this why you’ve been so nervous?” she asked.
He nodded and laughed a little too. He released a deep breath.
“Lily, the day that you came into my life, I was knocked sideways,” he said. “Literally. Earlier that night in Amsterdam, I’d fallen off my bike, and I sat there wondering if I’d ever stop feeling like I’d been living my life in half measures. Then I read your email, and after a lot of twists and turns, we finally met in person, and I loved you even more. Knowing you and loving you has changed my life changed for the better. I love waking up to you every day. I love existing in your orbit. I’m the luckiest person in the world to be loved by you. You’ve even turned me into someone who isn’t afraid of cats.” Lily laughed softly, and Nick grinned. “When I think of you, I’m reminded of a quote from a book of poems by Alice Walker. ‘I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.’ I honor you, Lily, and I honor our love.”
Lily’s heartbeat quickened as Nick got down on one knee. He pulled a ring box out of his coat pocket and opened it, revealing an engagement ring with yellow and white diamonds in the shape of a flower. It was so beautiful, it took her breath away.
“Lily, you are the love of my life,” he said, gazing up at her. “Will you marry me?”
As Lily stared into the eyes of the man who she loved with all her being, she thought of everything that had led them to this moment. And it had all started with a random email she’d sent on a summer evening years ago.
Giving him her answer was easier than breathing.
“Yes.”
Songs I listened to while writing this story: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by The Jackson 5, “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway, “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley, “Happy Holidays to You” by The Whispers, “Silent Night” by The Temptations, “Please Come Home for Christmas” by The Eagles, “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole, “Carol of the Bells” by Destiny’s Child, “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey, and “Christmas Time is Here” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio
Happy holidays!!!! ♥️
xo, Kristina
Thank you for closing this chapter of Lily and Nick!! It was only right since this series started with the two of them and ends on a beautiful note with them as well. Truly beautiful ❤️
I hope this series continues even if just with more short stories or holiday novellas 🫶🏽🙏🏽. Merry Christmas
and Happy Holidays