December 20th
“Oh, you girls did wonderful.”
Jordyn smiled at her mother-in-law’s praise. “We really did try, Cecelia.”
“I know. And I did shove it on you all last minute, didn’t I?”
“A little,” Jordyn said with a laugh.
Cecelia shrugged, and spun a small circle in the great hall of the Marcello mansion. It made the skirt of her deep green dress spin wide around her legs, and showed off the kitten heels she wore. Even at her age, Cecelia still liked to wear heels. It always made Jordyn smile.
“Yes, well, no matter. You all did amazing. Look at this place.”
Jordyn had.
A lot.
Several times over the past few days.
The final details of the Christmas party had come together fantastically. It helped that each of the girls—her, Kim, and Catrina—each fulfilled their duties, and without issue or complaint. Nothing was left hanging. Everything fell into place just so.
The decorations were up.
A live tree was in every room.
Lights twinkled.
Hot food was waiting.
Jordyn and Cecelia stepped to the side as servers carrying trays moved from the kitchen through the great hall. The hired staff moved quietly between spaces as they readied for guests. They didn’t seem to need much help with their jobs.
For that, Jordyn was grateful.
As it was, the girls still had enough to handle on their own. Greeting guests. Making sure every single little thing planned for the night went off without a hitch. Keeping Cecelia placated and happy so that she would trust them more often with parties and the like.
Cecelia eyed one of the trays with sweets as the last of the servers passed them by. “I tried one of those earlier.”
Jordyn gave her mother-in-law a look. “Cecelia.”
“I had to try the food, now.”
“Seriously.”
Cecelia waved a hand. “I had to. It’s very good, by the way.”
Jordyn hid her smile by taking a sip of water she had been nursing for a half hour. It was supposed to be her time for a break, after all.
“Is that so?” she asked.
“Quite good.”
“Even for catering?”
Cecelia rolled her eyes upward. “Well, I do know you girls cooked a bit.”
“We did.”
“But the catering is also good, Jordyn.”
She let her smile bloom in full force at that, not bothering to hide it a bit. Despite all of the reservations Cecelia had seemed to have for this party, Jordyn was pleased to see the woman was impressed, and enjoying herself.
So far.
The guests had yet to arrive.
Speaking of which …
Jordyn checked her watch.
“Just about time, isn’t it?” Cecelia asked.
Jordyn nodded. “Just about. Cars will be coming up the drive soon enough.”
Cecelia turned to look over the only tree in the great hall. It stood tall at over twenty feet. The top damn near grazed the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The girls had opted for a different color scheme in each space where the guests would be using for the party. The main room was blue and silver. The kitchen, gold. The entertainment room, green and red.
The main hall?
White and red.
The large tree was all decked out in the Christmas colors. White twinkle lights flashed along with the music that pumped out from the sound system at a low level. Instead of traditional Christmas carols, they had opted for a more choir feel in their choices.
From the living room, Jordyn could hear the kids laughing and playing with toys. Gifts that their grandparents had allowed them to open early.
“Everything is perfect,” Cecelia said, smiling to herself.
Even as she said that, Jordyn thought she heard an echo of sadness in her mother-in-law’s tone. She wasn’t entirely sure, but she didn’t want Cecelia upset in any way. This was intended to be a good, happy, and relaxing day for her.
“Something is wrong,” Jordyn said. “So what is it, Cecelia?”
“Oh, nothing.”
“Just tell me. I’m sure I could fix it. We’ve got …” Jordyn checked her watch again. “Well, like three minutes. But hey, have faith. What is it?”
Cecelia laughed quietly, and turned to pat her daughter-in-law on the cheek with a soft, gentle palm. “Nothing, dear. I was just thinking it would have been nice to have Lucian here, that’s all. He likes Christmas—it’s the only holiday he does care for. But … what can you do?”
Jordyn’s own happiness deflated a bit.
She couldn’t help it.
“Apparently, we can’t always get what we want for Christmas,” Jordyn murmured.
Cecelia sighed. “No, we cannot.”
“Cecelia, I am not wearing this damn Santa hat!”
Antony’s shout echoed from somewhere upstairs on the second level. Cecelia gave Jordyn a little wink before heading in the direction of her husband’s voice.
Jordyn already knew …
Cecelia would win that battle.
Antony should have known better.
• • •
At the front doors of the mansion, Jordyn stood with her sisters-in-law to greet the guests as they came into the mansion, and hand over a gift. Each gift bag held a gold-flaked Christmas ornament with Swarovski crystals inside, specialty chocolates imported from France, and a few other favorite things Cecelia had picked out.
“Ma, is it okay if we play in the second wing?”
Jordyn turned away from a guest she had been greeting to reply to her oldest daughter. Liliana looked sweet as could be in her gold and white dress. Somehow—for unknown reasons that Jordyn was grateful—her daughter had managed to stay clean. She could not say the same for Cella, but one thing at a damn time.
Plus, John had also been in a good mood all day.
Another check in Jordyn’s favor.
It was the small things, after all.
“Can we?” Liliana asked.
Jordyn’s distraction was handled by Kim stepping in to greet the next guest, so Liliana could be taken care of. Bending down to talk to her daughter, Jordyn had her back to the door. Cold air blew over her body as the door was opened again.
“Well, do you think you should play in the other wing?” Jordyn asked. “We’re supposed to be saying hello to everyone, and having a party, Liliana.”
“I know, Ma.”
“So … maybe later?”
Liliana didn’t answer. Her gaze darted over her mother’s shoulder, and then upward at someone behind Jordyn.
Jordyn didn’t know why, but she just knew who was standing there.
Maybe it was her daughter’s growing smile.
Maybe it was his shadow overtaking them.
Maybe it was her suddenly racing heart, and thrumming soul.
Lucian.
“Merry Christmas, Jordyn,” he said.