Episode 485: Grown Up Christmas List

Ava skidded to a stop beside him, not sure what to say or feel about her biological parents groping on the doorstep.

The pair in question popped apart. "I’m sorry," her birth mom said, noticeably breathless and flushed, fluster in her voice. "I did not mean for that to happen."

Of course not, Avalon thought, crossing her arms, Sarette didn’t mean for anything that happened with Calvin Baird to have happened. She just swept it all away as if it never had.

"I’m sorry," Sarette repeated. "You invite us over on Christmas Eve, a family day, and I’m practically committing adultery on your doorstep."

A family day? Ava’s spine stiffened. "I didn’t invite you for Christmas Eve. I just…" She didn’t want to interfere, but this concern, this feeling for her sort of brother wouldn’t go away. "Your son, Paul, seemed really upset about something when we saw him at the beach house. I can’t shake it. That’s all. I just wanted to know if everything’s okay with him."

"He seems fine, thank you for asking," Sarette said and looked to Calvin. "So that’s all, then."

Disappointment shone in their eyes as they turned away, down the steps. Part of Ava yearned to stop them, the little girl inside her that thought dreamily of having not only a mom at Christmas again, but a dad, now, too. The rest of her, was afraid, didn’t know if she should, if that wouldn’t feel like a betrayal to her mother’s memory, if she wouldn’t be setting herself up for another loss since Sarette did not intend to be her mom in public.

Sebastian still had no idea what to do about his own parents, but when Ava’s dad turned back, his and Sarette’s gifts in hand to leave with their daughter, Bas realized if he extended the invite, Ava could share a little of her holiday with them, let them in a little more, test the emotional waters without having to commit. "It’s Christmas Eve, I always invite visitors in on Christmas Eve, it’s a superstition thing."

Ava sailed him a weary look. She squeezed his hand, too.

Episode 486: The Holly & The Ivy