Page 80 of The Christmas Arrangement

Then Nick clears his throat. “I’ll go first.”

He looks at each of us in turn. “I’m grateful we’re all here. That nobody walked away, even though it would’ve been easier.”

Mom’s shoulders shake.

“I regret that some of you are in pain, now,” he continues. “That I can’t take that away for you.” He looks at Ivy for a long beat.

“Tomorrow,” he finishes, “I’m going to keep showing up. For all of you.” Then he adds, “And I’m going to finish that elfing manger if it’s the last thing I do.”

When the laughter dies down, Noelle speaks. “I’m grateful for truth. Even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts, because that means someone was brave enough to have a tough conversation.”

Ivy squeezes my hand.

“I regret every time I ever chose fear over honesty.”

Nick reaches for her hand.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to take Holly to the library and check out every book about motherhood we have on the shelves.”

More laughter. Holly laughs the loudest.

It’s Ivy’s turn, and my heart is pounding.

“I’m grateful I asked Dash to help me with that heavy planter.”

“Asked? More like directed,” I tease.

She smiles, then grows serious. “I regret that I thought I could decide what was right for both of us. That was wrong.”

“Tomorrow,” she continues, “I’m going to wake up in bed next to Dash. I hope.”

Her face is beet red again, but she holds her head up. Progress.

It’s my turn.

“I’m grateful I finally know the truth about my father.” Daniel’s eyes meet mine, bright and damp.

“I regret the time we lost. All of us.” I look at Mom, then back at Daniel. “Time we can’t get back.”

Mom makes a small sound.

“But tomorrow”—my voice catches—“after I wake up in bed with Ivy, I’m going to build the life I want. Not the life someone else chose for me.”

Mom’s face crumples, but she doesn’t interrupt.

Daniel goes next. He’s been quiet through most of dinner. Now he clears his throat.

“I’m grateful to Ivy,” he says. “She’s given me a chance to meet my son and to see Rachel again.”

Mom’s head lifts slightly.

“I regret not coming to find you sooner.” His voice breaks. “The first time I saw that Vlad show and I wondered, I should’ve?—”

“You didn’t know,” I say.

“I should’ve found out,” he insists.

He takes a shaky breath. “Tomorrow, I’m to figure out how to be part of your lives. Yours, Dash. And your mom’s. If she’ll have me.”