Her criticism stung. Maybe because it was true. “I never said you were.”

“Uh-huh. Which sister am I?” Amy asked.

I flushed. “What?”

“Which Bennet sister?” Amy narrowed her blue eyes. “Lydia, right? The slutty one.”

I set my laptop on the coffee table. “This conversation is ridiculous. I’m going to get you some breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry,” Amy said.

“You’ll feel better after you eat,” I said.

The cheesy casserole I’d put together the night before was keeping warm in the oven. I put a big slice on a plate and dug out the red napkins, arranging everything as nicely as I could on Momma’s special “sick” tray.

Carrying the tray to the living room, I set it proudly on the coffee table in front of Amy. “Merry Christmas,” I said, satisfied I’d done my best to save Christmas.

Until she vomited all over my open laptop.

CHAPTER 22

Meg

The tree lights twinkled. The Christmas stockings were emptied and flung on the floor. DJ, ignoring his new toys, climbed into the carton John’s mother used to mail their presents. Daisy was burying him under discarded wrapping paper.

“Snow!” she cried, tossing sparkly tissue paper high.

I smiled ruefully at John. “That’s it. No more presents. Next year, I’m giving them a box.”

But they looked so adorable, giggling in their matching Christmas pajamas. I took a picture to send to Momma and my sisters.

John smiled back at me, his eyes warm. “Maybe one or two more.” He laid a flat rectangle in my lap. “For you.”

“Oh my goodness.” I flushed with pleasure and surprise. He’d even wrapped it himself, with a stick-on bow and corners secured with tape.

We’d already exchanged the usual, practical gifts, the way you do when you’re on a budget, shopping from each other’s preselected wish lists, a socket wrench set and a jacket for him, an electric toothbrush and a sweater for me. Underwear. Socks.

Only John had given me a present that wasn’t on my list. The best gift ever—my sisters for Christmas. And now . . . This. It was too much.

“Wait.” I scrambled up. “Let me give you your present first.”

I fetched an envelope tied with ribbons from under the tree, my heart beating in anticipation.

John shot me a bemused look as I handed him the envelope. I held my breath as he unstuck the flap and slid out the pages inside. A computer printout of the North Carolina High School Wrestling Association schedule. A Greensboro map. Hotel reservations.

John stared at the pages in his lap, his face unreadable.

I hurried into explanations. “I called Ben Hardy. At the high school? He said you wouldn’t be reporting scores until next month, but that Jason and some of the other boys had a good chance of making Regionals. Maybe even States.” I took a deep breath, willing John to smile. Praying I’d got this right. “Tickets for the championship aren’t on sale yet. But I made hotel reservations. For both weekends.” I smiled tremulously. “In case your team goes all the way.”