Page 104 of Babies for the Christmas Grump

“You don’t have to juggle it alone, Sunny. You’ve got people who care about you. Not just me, but Ryder, too. You don’t have to figure everything out all at once. But you do have to talk to him. You won’t know what he’s thinking unless you let him in.”

I nod, feeling a little lighter, but also a whole lot heavier. “Yeah. You’re right. It’s just… hard. I’m used to handling things on my own, you know?”

She pats my shoulder, giving me that wise look she always pulls off so effortlessly. “I get it. But you don’t have to handle everything yourself. Sometimes, you need to let the people around you be your support.”

I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, Tinsel makes her move. She bolts past me, knocks over a stack of glittery baubles like they’re bowling pins, and starts chasing the string of lights I’ve yet to untangle.

“Seriously, Tinsel?” I groan. “This isnotyour playtime. We are trying to decorate here.”

Marjorie laughs, watching the tiny furball tear through the room with abandon. “That cat is a demon wrapped in fur. But I love it.”

I laugh despite myself, shaking my head. “Yeah, I bet. She’s got a flair for dramatic entrances.”

“Looks like you two are working hard.”

I jump at the unexpected voice, turning around so fast I nearly trip over a stray strand of tinsel. Claire is standing inthe doorway, leaning against the frame with her arms casually crossed.

Her lips curl up into a half-amused, half-knowing smile, as if she’s been watching the circus unfold for a while now and is thoroughly entertained by it.

“Are you watching us?” I ask, trying and failing to sound outraged.

I must look like I’m one step away from losing it, with the garlands threatening to strangle me, Tinsel wreaking havoc, and the ever-growing sense of panic in my chest. But Claire just raises an eyebrow, clearly unfazed.

“Not exactly.” She pushes herself off the doorframe and strolls into the room as if she’s entering a war zone. “Just happened to be walking by and thought I’d check out what all the noise was about. Looks like Christmas threw up in here.”

I glance around at everything. Glitter-covered baubles, tangled lights, garlands strewn about, and I can’t help but let out a small laugh.

“It’s… it’s a bit much, isn’t it?” I sigh.

Claire walks around the room, taking in the mess with a smirk, looking like she’s about to solve a Rubik’s Cube. Her eyes twinkle as they scan the space, and then she turns to look at us, an idea clearly forming in her mind.

“You need help.”

I can’t help but raise an eyebrow. “I’m sure you don’t want to get involved with this madness.”

Claire’s smile widens to the point where I swear she’s enjoying this more than she should. “Oh, I can do more than just help. I’ve got ideas. Big ones. And, from what I’m seeing here,” she gestures around, “they might just save you a lot of time, frustration, and potential mental breakdowns. I decorated my wellness center myself, and I’ve also held my fair share of festive parties for my clients.”

I exchange a look with Marjorie, who shrugs and smiles.

“I’m all ears,” she says.

Claire steps further into the room, her gaze sweeping the disarray with a sense of purpose. She stands there for a moment, taking it all in.

Her shoulders are relaxed, her posture confident. She’s not fazed by the scale of the task at hand.

“Alright,” she says, rolling up her sleeves with a determined nod, “first things first, those garlands? They’re too much. It’s like someone walked through here and just threw them everywhere. Let’s trim them back. Less is more, trust me.”

I glance at the garlands hanging from the chandeliers, trying to suffocate us, and I can’t help but agree. “Okay, fair point.”

“And those lights?” Claire gestures to the mess of cords I’ve been wrestling with for what feels like hours. “Have you considered using a smart timer? You know, the ones that automatically turn on and off at specific times? They work magic, trust me.”

I blink, processing the idea for a second. “Wait, really?”

Claire puts a hand on her hip. “You’ve got all the ingredients here. Now let me help you cook.”

“Ooh, sounds exciting.” Dex winks at Claire as he sidles into the conversation. “What’s going on? Count me in.”

“Dex, you’re just here for the snacks, aren’t you?” I tease, raising an eyebrow, already knowing where this is going.