Merry Little Lies by Addison Lloyd

Author:Addison Lloyd [Lloyd, Addison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

Rob and I arrived at Carli's party fashionably early. I wanted to make sure Rob was settled before the other guests arrived. His mom wasn’t sure about letting him go, but it had been a week since his surgery, and he was doing well. I promised her if he got tired, I’d bring him home early.

Their Christmas Eve get together involved finger foods, games, presents, and fun. I had gone last year, and it had been the bright spot of my holiday. It was very low-key which I liked. No dressing up in fancy clothes that would have made me feel out of place. We also did white elephant gifts. I suspected that might've been for my benefit. But when I'd asked Carli, she said that it had been something her mom’s family had been doing for years.

White elephant gifts were gifts that you had gotten from someone else that you didn’t really want or need. It was basically regifting. If you didn't have anything to regift, you could pick out anything around your house and wrap it up in a pretty package. The fancier the better. People fought over gifts, only to find out at the very end that it was cords from someone’s junk drawer.

The home was decorated with beautifully colored lights that gave it a festive air. The tree was real and although Mrs. G (that’s what I called her) didn't like to spend a lot of money, this was one thing she made an exception for. We’d had real trees up until Teddy got sick and then it was just too much work.

Slowly people started to arrive. It wasn’t usually a big group. Some family and friends. I’d met most of them last year, but I couldn’t remember their names.

Carli sat beside Rob on the couch. Christmas music played in the background because Mrs. G was cheesy like that. But it was nice and fun.

I couldn’t shake this sadness. Aaron hadn’t texted me all day. I hated when he pulled back like that, but then I did it too. Again, I wondered what the point was.

Everyone seemed to have someone which was ridiculous. I tried to focus on Carli's uncle Gus. He was the youngest of Mrs. G’s siblings and loved telling stories. I wasn’t sure which, if any, were true. Tonight’s involved an epic showdown between his cocker spaniel and Siamese cat all over the Christmas tree.

“No one was a winner here,” he said throwing up his hands. “Least of all that little angel who once sat at the very top of the tree and ended up as a dog’s chew toy.”

It promised to be a good evening or at least a stress-free evening.

The doorbell chimed and Mrs. G jumped up.

“That must be your dad and Aaron.”

“Wait, what? You invited them?” Carli stood up so fast, Rob got jostled in the process. I could see the strain on his face he tried to hide.

My pulse quickened and my stomach flipped. I moved next to Carli to support her.

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