Chapter 28

DARCY

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I leave Matt's and head back home to help Mom prepare our late lunch. Matt went to his house for family time and will come over with his parents. Sammie's family will also join us, just like every year. Spending Christmas afternoon as a big, blended family has been our tradition since we were kids. We rotate host houses, and this year the Davidsons are hosting.

Cole and Ashleigh roll in right before lunch, and the Christmas greetings go around the room. Everyone is feeling festive, and the love in the room is intoxicating. Jay came with Sammie, and greetings happen again. I love the new faces we have this year. It feels right. Our blended family is growing and changing with the new members.

After eating a huge southern meal full of ham, shrimp and grits, and mac and cheese, that is to die for, we start with a fun game of Dirty Santa. As we've gotten older, the game has become more cutthroat and, honestly, dirtier. It's the highlight of the day.

"Seriously," Jay whines. "Who brought the snuggie?"

"Oh, there it is!" Cole yells. "This is the, what, twelfth appearance of the Reaper snuggie?"

"Is it the same one?" Ashleigh asks.

"Yup," Matt replies. "It's awesome and mint in box. I bought it first and really wanted it, but it went home with who?" He looks around the room.

Sammie's dad raises his hand, looking guilty. "Matt wanted it so bad, I had to throw it back in the mix the next year. Have you ever taken it home, Matt?"

"Nope. But not for lack of trying." His pout is adorable. I'd love to tease him more, but he's across the room. It's difficult to restrain my comments after being so connected in private.

"I'll let Dad's marketing team know they're popular, and maybe we'll get them back to market. Meanwhile, I know what I'm getting Matt for Christmas next year. And since I'm the last pick, I'm stealing the snuggie. Sorry, Jay." Ashleigh gives Matt a wink, and I'm a little jealous she can show him affection, even in a friendly way.

I'm sitting across the room between Mom and Sammie, trying not to look at Matt. It's like Cole, Matt, and Ashleigh are on one team, and I've got Sammie and Jay. Not that I'm complaining, but I wish there weren't any teams here at all.

Jay opens the last gift, and instead of stealing, the game ends.

"And that concludes the end of the family portion of the evening," Matt's mom, Patti, says.

"By the way, Mrs. Hartman, I adore your painting of The Wreck. It's amazing. I'd love to see some of your other works."

"Thank you, Darcy. When did you see it? I just gave it to Matt last night."

Matt glares at his mother as Cole gives me a quizzical look.

"I sent her a picture of it," Matt says quickly. "I needed some advice on where to hang it."

My cheeks heat at the nearly blown cover. I'm also saddened that we're hiding something so beautiful. But the hiding? That's my decision.

Matt's mom smiles and winks at me. "You're welcome anytime. I'm not sure they're that good, but it's something I enjoy."

"Why don't I get to see them?" Coach Hartman asks.

"And on that note, we'll take our leave. Mandy, anything I can help you with?" Mrs. Hartman asks my mom.

"No, I'm good. I'm ready to crash and leave the kids on their own. I'm glad we could do this again. They're all grown up," Mom says as she looks around the room. "Before we know it, we'll have grand-babies."

Cole and Matt roll their eyes. One step at a time, Mom.

All the parents say goodnight and give us all hugs. A single mom may have raised me, but I have the Chapins and Hartmans as surrogate parents too. Just thinking about all the love in the room warms my heart.

"I get to play Santa," Cole declares.

"Why do you get to do it?" Sammie whines. "You did it last year."

"Yeah, we let him do it because he was all pouty last year," I tease. Ashleigh pokes out her bottom lip, mocking him. He kisses her quickly and semi-tackles Sammie as they both rush to the tree. Jay flinches, and I reach over to hold him back.

"She's got this," I tell him. "Just watch."

In a flash, Sammie has Cole flattened to the ground, face down, his arm twisted behind his back, and is tickling him in the ribs.

"Mercy! Mercy!" Cole calls out as he laughs uncontrollably.

Sammie gets up and brushes her hands together. "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it's done." She knows all of Cole's tickle spots. We both do. That's always his weakness with us. Well, tickling and tears.

She makes the rounds for high fives and takes her place by the tree.

Ashleigh looks at Jay and gives him a smile and a shrug. It might take a little explaining for the newbies to figure out our lifetime of inside stories.

"Sweetheart, did you see that?" Cole says to Ashleigh.

"I did, trouble. Come here, and I'll make it better." He makes his way back to his fiancé, and she kisses him and then continues the tickle-fest Sammie started. I like her more every time we're together.

My heart swells with love for them and their bliss. I wonder if Matt and I will ever be that openly affectionate. His eyes meet mine, and he gives me a slight smile and a wink. Is he thinking the same thing?

"Okay," I call out. "Let's get started. Sammie, grab the two boxes wrapped in baseball paper."

She finds the boxes, one in Reapers paper and one in Liberties paper, and hands them to Cole and Matt. We're both excited for the guys to open them.

They rip the paper off and are silent for a second while they realize what they have in their hands.

"No way," Matt whispers.

"How?" Cole asks.

Pride fills my chest that I rendered them both speechless. "I found this website that makes custom bobbleheads. A friend helped with the artwork, but I thought they turned out alright."

"These are amazing," Ashleigh says.

"Someday when you're both kicking ass in the majors, they may make you a bobblehead, but I couldn't wait. I got a pair for you, Mom, and the Hartmans."

Cole comes over to me and hugs me, practically taking the air out of my lungs. "Thank you, Darce. I love it."

Matt gets up to hug me too, and it's awkward. "Thanks, Darce. It's perfect."

I bite my bottom lip to keep myself from reaching out and kissing him. He's so close, his scent invades my space, and I want to snuggle up with him.

Everyone else exchanges gifts, and there's one present left under the tree. Sammie grabs it and looks at the tag. "This one's for you, Darcy. It doesn't say who it's from."

It's beautifully wrapped in white paper with a big orange ribbon holding it together. "I hate to open it. It's so beautiful." Shaking the box tells me there's something of substance inside. I pull off the ribbon and open the box to find an orange bound portfolio with the words "Darcy Davidson Designs" embossed in forest green on the cover.

I open the book and find incredible, professional photos of Chance's house. The lighting and angles are perfect and the spaces look amazing. The pictures are gorgeous and totally magazine worthy. Every room is documented with before and after pictures. The before pictures are from the first walkthrough and are part of the project management spreadsheet. It highlights every little detail, from the up-cycled items to the locally sourced artwork. It's all in there. There's even a narrative that includes Chance's vision and his client testimonial about my professional work ethic and personal touch.

Tears fill my eyes, and the pictures blur as I'm overwhelmed by the gift. It's lavish and extremely generous. I note the photographer's watermark and remember seeing her pictures in a design magazine. Holy shit. These are very professional pictures. This had to cost a fortune.

"How?" I whisper, looking at Matt. He gives me a slight smile and doesn't break eye contact.

Jay is sitting next to me and lets out a low whistle. "Damn, girl, that's nice."

"What is it, Darce?" Cole asks, getting up to come closer.

"It's a portfolio of her project," Jay says. "A very professional portfolio, by the looks of it."

Everyone crowds around to look at the pictures. Everyone except Matt. He sits across the room after giving me the most thoughtful and extravagant gift I've ever received. As everyone clambers to flip through the pictures, he quietly gets up and moves into the kitchen.

"Girl, this place is amazing," Ashleigh says. "OMG, the pool area is incredible. Is that a pizza oven?"

"Sure is," Jay says proudly. "She thought of everything."

"Everything," I whisper to myself.