Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100750 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Gemma curtsied. Lynnea, on the other hand, tapped her cheek and gazed evilly at the ceiling. “I know about how babies are made.”
Oh, God.
“No, you don’t, Lynnea. Stop saying that,” Gemma said with so much mom sass that Nadia cringed. Gemma had had to grow up a lot in the past handful of months. Something Nadia had never wanted for her daughter. Either of them. They needed to stay babies for as long as possible, and never leave her.
“Yes, I do!”
“Girls, please.” Nadia had no intention of asking her daughter how she knew where babies came from, until later.
“There’s a mommy and a daddy, and they—”
“Lynnea, stop,” Nadia demanded. “This isn’t something you talk about except with me, got it?” The last thing she needed was for Lynnea to say something to Astrid today. Freya would lose her ever-loving mind. As it was, Freya was none too happy to have to celebrate Christmas early on account of Nadia wanting to be elsewhere. Nadia couldn’t win and suspected this would be the last Christmas she spent with her in-laws. Next year, they could take the girls for one day. Cleo and Freya were doing a damn good job of making her feel unwelcome.
Those feelings weren’t an exaggeration. When they arrived at the Karlssons’ house, the environment was anything but welcoming. Freya barely said hello. Lars couldn’t get the day off from work, even though it was Saturday. Leif couldn’t put his phone down to talk to anyone, not that Nadia could blame him. Being the only young man in the family had to be boring for him.
When it came time for presents, everyone gathered in the living room while Otto handed gifts out. Freya chose to have Astrid and Leif wait until the actual holiday, since they’d be at the Karlssons’ place again. Nadia understood. She gave her niece and nephew their gifts and anxiously waited for them to open them.
“They’re going to wait,” Freya said.
“I’d really like them to open them now,” Nadia responded. “Especially Leif.” She’d given him one of Rafe’s ties and tie clips, knowing how important it had been to Rafe that young men dress up for occasions. It had taken a lot for Nadia to go through some of Rafe’s things and find the right one for Leif.
“He’ll wait.”
“Astrid—” Nadia stopped talking and nodded. There was no use in arguing. Besides, the kids didn’t look eager to open anything anyway.
Nadia was handed a small box. She waited until the girls opened their presents, smiling along with them each time they held up their new toy or item of clothing. When the girls finished, Freya and Cleo left the room, saying they needed to get dinner ready. Nadia sat there, with the small box in her lap and a forced smile on her lips.
“I’m sorry,” Otto said. “Rafe’s death has been hard on her, and seeing you and the girls—”
“I get it.” She didn’t. Her children were Cleo’s grandchildren. Her son’s children. Cleo should’ve showered them with love and affection, the way only a grandma could. But no, she was cold and mean.
“Mommy.” Gemma caught Nadia’s attention. She strained a weak smile.
“Yeah, baby.”
“I don’t feel good. Can we go home?” Nadia wanted to hug and kiss her daughter for being sick. It was the excuse she needed to get the hell out of there.
“Yeah, we can.”
“Nadia—” Otto started to say but stopped when she shook her head. Getting out of there had to happen before she broke down. Otto stood, gathered the girls’ presents, and carried them out to the car. Nadia said nothing to her mother- and sister-in-law and could barely hug Otto. The first holiday after losing your spouse wasn’t supposed to be shitty.
As soon as they pulled away, she looked at Gemma in the rearview and saw her crying. “What’s wrong, Gemma?”
Gemma wiped angrily at her tears. “I’m mad at Grandma and Grandpa.”
Me too.
“How come?” Nadia asked. “They bought you some really nice clothes.”
“It’s not that. It’s the way Grandma treats you. She’s mean.”
“It’s okay, Gemma.”
“No, it’s not! You lost Daddy and need her to love you the same way, and she’s mean. You didn’t even open your present from her.”
Nope, because I don’t want to know what’s in there.
“She didn’t buy you much things,” Lynnea said. At the stoplight, Nadia turned and saw tears in Lynnea’s eyes.
“My loves.” Nadia could barely hold back her sob.
“Last year Grandma gave you a million presents.”
She didn’t, but that’s a nice thought.
“It’s not about how many presents you get, Gemma. It’s the thought that counts.”
“Well, her thoughts are mean,” Gemma said as she looked out her window.
When they arrived home, Nadia unloaded the car, emptied the boxes, and threw the wrapping paper away. She made multiple trips up and down the stairs when she could’ve easily asked the girls to come get their stuff. She kept her emotions in check until she went into her bedroom. A waft of Rafe’s cologne washed over her. She swore he was in their bedroom, hugging her. Did he know how his mother had acted?