Chapter 3 - Christmas Eve
Sarah didn’t tell Claire immediately.
That decision haunted her throughout Christmas Eve.
Claire arrived at the house with her seventeen-year-old son, Noah, carrying wrapped gifts and two pies.
Julian was supposedly still working.
Sarah wore her hair swept to one side.
It didn’t hide everything.
Claire noticed before she removed her coat.
“Mom.”
Sarah turned away.
“What happened to your hair?”
“I tried something different.”
Claire stared.
“With garden shears?”
Noah laughed.
Sarah forced a smile.
“Your grandmother is apparently entering her punk-rock era.”
But Claire didn’t laugh.
She stepped closer.
“Mom, seriously.”
Sarah looked into her daughter’s worried eyes.
For one second, she nearly told her everything.
Then headlights moved across the front windows.
Julian’s black SUV entered the driveway.
Victoria’s silver Mercedes followed behind it.
Claire frowned.
“Why is Victoria here?”
Sarah’s expression remained still.
“Julian invited her.”
Claire’s face changed.
“He did what?”
Julian entered carrying wine.
Victoria followed with a designer gift bag.
“Merry Christmas.”
Sarah watched Claire look from her husband to Victoria.
Julian kissed Claire’s cheek.
“You don’t mind, right?”
Claire clearly did.
But like always, she swallowed it.
“No.”
Victoria approached Sarah.
Her eyes briefly moved toward the uneven section of hair.
“Love the new look.”
Sarah smiled.
“Thank you.”
Noah noticed the exchange.
His eyes narrowed.
Dinner preparations continued.
Around six, the rest of the family arrived.
Sarah’s brother David.
His wife Ellen.
Two cousins.
Several longtime friends.
By seven, fourteen people filled the dining room.
Sarah had arranged the table exactly as she had every Christmas for more than two decades.
Her late husband’s chair remained empty at one end.
Sarah’s chair stood at the other.
When she returned from the kitchen carrying the roast, Julian was sitting in it.
Her chair.
The conversation slowly stopped.
Sarah placed the platter on the table.
“Julian.”
He looked up.
“Yes?”
“You’re in my seat.”
Victoria covered a smile with her wineglass.
Julian leaned back.
“I thought we should change things this year.”
Sarah glanced around the table.
Claire looked uncomfortable.
David looked confused.
Noah was staring directly at his father.
Sarah spoke calmly.
“Get up.”
Julian smiled.
“Sarah, it’s a chair.”
“Then you won’t mind leaving it.”
A few people shifted awkwardly.
Julian didn’t move.
Instead, he lifted his wineglass.
“You know, I’ve actually been meaning to discuss this with everyone.”
Claire stiffened.
“Discuss what?”
Julian looked at Sarah.
Then he reached into his jacket.
He removed a set of keys.
Sarah recognized them.
Copies of her house keys.
Julian placed them on the table.
“As of January first, there are going to be some changes around here.”
Noah whispered.
“Dad, what are you doing?”
Julian ignored him.
He looked at Sarah.
“I think it’s time everyone understood that this house belongs to the family now.”
Sarah slowly pulled out the chair beside him.
She sat down.
Then she smiled.
“Good.”
Julian frowned.
May you like
Sarah unfolded her napkin.
“Because I’ve been meaning to explain something to the family too.”
