A Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Christmas by Julie Cantrell

Author:Julie Cantrell [Cantrell, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BlueSpark Press
Published: 2023-07-15T23:00:00+00:00

E: Can you come for Christmas?

T: Considering.

E: I’m going to take that as a yes.

She adds a few emojis to show her excitement.

“Why does this sound like you’re having a conversation with the Magic 8-Ball?” Mom says. “Eight years of no contact and that’s the best he can do?”

Ellie texts back, refusing to give up on this plan.

E: Can’t wait to meet my cousins.

T: We’ll only come on one condition.

“Anything!” Ellie replies, followed with alternating green and red hearts.

But Mom, undoubtedly at her end with the ungrateful men in her life, grumbles, “Of course, there’s a condition.”

Ellie reads her uncle’s next response to herself a few times before daring to speak the words aloud.

“What is it?” Pop asks, his blue eyes watching in the rearview mirror.

Ellie sighs and then reads the text for her family: “My parents have to apologize to Vanessa.”

“What the heck for?” Pop says, laughing as if the whole idea is absurd.

Pip places her hand on his arm, gently, as if to say, “Calm down, honey.”

But Pop pulls away, and Ellie fears she’s made a big mistake by reaching out to her long-lost uncle.

“Nothing has changed,” Mom says. “All he ever thinks about is himself.”

“He’s not thinking about himself,” Pip counters, her tone soft and somber. “He just can’t see anything beyond what Vanessa tells him. She defines his whole reality, no matter how skewed that might be from the truth.”

No one responds, and Ellie is surprised to see Mom and Pop both brewing with uncharacteristic anger. They’re usually the two steadiest souls in the family, the ones to always encourage forgiveness and kindness and compassion above all else.

Clearly, Pop is defending Pip’s honor again, frustrated at the insinuation that Pip owes them an apology after all she’s done to offer love at every turn.

And Mom acts as if there’s no way she’s going to let Uncle Tim hurt their parents ever again. After years of one-sided offenses, and with her heart already shattered on account of Dad, this may just be more turbulence than she can take.

Ellie understands their protective stance. It’s exactly how she feels when someone attacks Mom about Dad’s behaviors.

Finally, Pip adds, “If another apology brings them back home, then we’ll apologize. I’ll apologize ten more times … a hundred times, if need be. I miss my son. And I want to know my grandchildren. And if I have to bow down to Vanessa to make that happen, then I’ll do whatever it takes. Just as we always have.”

With tears in her eyes, she looks at Pop as if begging for his agreement, but if it’s assurance she’s after, he offers none. “But that’s the point, dear. Bowing doesn’t do any good,” he says. “We’ve learned that the hard way.”

“People like her … they just take and take,” Mom says, and Ellie senses she’s talking more about Dad than Vanessa.

“That’s right,” Pop says. “And if you dare to stand up to them, they make you pay. Which is exactly what she did when I finally held my ground at the funeral.

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