“Lina and Phil had sex last night,” Alice said.

“Okay.” Lina held up her hands. “No more! And if you don’t mind, I’m going to get back to the kitchen.” She left the dining room and walked straight into Phil.

“Whoa.” His hands clasped her hips.

“Stop smiling,” she whispered, fisting his shirt. “My entire family knows we had sex because of you.”

“What?” He frowned down at her.

“That’s right. Just one look at you and they could tell. So stop smiling.”

Whereas Christmas Eve included only the immediate family in the Hunter household, Christmas day was the one time a year both Lina and Phil’s families combined for a joint celebration. Like she had on the previous day, Lina felt as if Phil had never left, watching him seamlessly fall back into his role of host as he made drinks, kept the fire going, adjusted the thermostat when the house felt too warm and otherwise acted like the man of the house. She kept expecting to wake up out of a dream and realize Phil had never actually moved out.

Only his mother’s behavior kept her rooted in reality, as she was teary-eyed one minute and hugging Lina the next. “I know he broke his vows to you, but he loves you and it breaks my heart to see the two of you apart,” Mrs. Hunter said to Lina when she managed to pull her into a quiet corner. “Can’t you find it in your heart to forgive him?”

Lina’s throat constricted as she met Susan Hunter’s tear-filled eyes. “It’s complicated,” Lina whispered, squeezing Susan’s hands.

“I love you like you’re one of my own, so I’m going to speak to you like you’re one of my own. No marriage is perfect and no person is perfect. Forgiveness is part of being a good Christian. Think about your children.”

“Mom.” Phil was behind his mother, his hands sliding down her arms. “This isn’t the time or the place for whatever you’re saying.”

“I—”

“Jeanie is looking for you in the kitchen,” he said as he gently nudged her away from Lina. “Let me talk to my wife.”

“It’s fine,” Lina assured Phil as soon as his mother walked away.

“No it isn’t. It’s not her place.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works with parents.”

“How come you didn’t tell me Drew was coming?”

“Because it was none of your business. You’re a guest this year too.” When she attempted to step around him, he wrapped his fingers around her upper arm.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You don’t live here anymore.” She yanked her arm from his grasp. “You don’t get a say in the guest list.”

“What did I do?” He frowned down at her. “Why are you suddenly angry at me?”