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Back The Christmas Fix Save as PDF
Chapters (50)
  1. Dedication
  2. About This Book
  3. CHAPTER ONE
  4. CHAPTER TWO
  5. CHAPTER THREE
  6. CHAPTER FOUR
  7. CHAPTER FIVE
  8. CHAPTER SIX
  9. CHAPTER SEVEN
  10. CHAPTER EIGHT
  11. CHAPTER NINE
  12. CHAPTER TEN
  13. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  14. CHAPTER TWELVE
  15. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  16. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  17. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  18. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  19. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  20. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  21. CHAPTER NINTEEN
  22. CHAPTER TWENTY
  23. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  32. CHAPTER THIRTY
  33. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  42. CHAPTER FORTY
  43. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  44. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  45. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

They dined family-style on turkey and ham, roasted vegetables, stuffing, and enough mashed potatoes and gravy to fill a community swimming pool. Cat’s plate was never empty and neither was her heart. The people she cared most about were in this room, and there was nowhere else she’d rather be.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Somewhere between the best slice of pumpkin pie Cat had ever had and the worst cup of coffee, Sara popped up at her elbow. “Hi, Cat!”

“Hey, Sara. Guys, this is Noah’s daughter Sara.” Cat made the introductions to her parents and grandmother.

“My grandma is here too,” Sara said. “I’ll go get her!” She skipped over to the table and pulled the woman in the gray dress out of her chair. It looked like she rose with great reluctance. Her hair was streaked with gray, her face was bare and lined. Her forearms seemed painfully thin.

“Grandma, this is my friend Cat and her family.” Sara made the introductions like a pro. “This is my grandma, Louisa.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Louisa,” Cat said offering her hand.

Louisa stared blankly at it for several seconds before accepting it limply. The skin of her hand was paper thin. “Hello,” she whispered, her eyes flat and dark, looking everywhere but at them.

“Sara,” Mellody said, appearing at the table. “Why don’t we let Grandma get back to her pie?” she suggested cheerfully.

Louisa gave them a ghost of a nod and left.

“Cat, this is my husband-to-be, Ricky,” Mellody announced, drawing the man in the argyle sweater to her side.

“It’s nice to meet you, Ricky,” Cat said, offering her hand.

He shook it warmly. “Great to meet you.”

Cat made the introductions around the table. “It’s really nice of you to give up your own plans with your family to spend Thanksgiving with us,” she told Mellody.

“Merry is family, and best of all, I didn’t have to cook or clean up,” Mellody grinned. “Best holiday ever.” She snuggled into Ricky’s side.

“Shall we check out the pie, babe?” Ricky asked.

“We shall.” Mellody waved her good-bye as they made their way over to the dessert table.

Cat watched them go, curious whether Louisa was Mellody or Noah’s mother. Whoever she was, it seemed that the will to live had left her long before. Cat rubbed at the goosebumps on her arms. She felt as if she’d just crossed paths with a ghost.

Cat rejoined her family’s conversation and listened to Gannon and Paige banter about work and babies. Her parents doted on each other and little Gabby. Nonni struck up a flirtatious conversation with Drake and Henry.

It felt so good, so right, being in this funny little fire hall on a holiday like today. Outside the brick walls, a town was on its way to being rebuilt, and spirits and expectations were rising. She wouldn’t let them down.