Torn [SHAWN MENDES]

~39~

Taryn was really pleased with herself. Despite her generally sour mood, she'd managed to go all out fixing up her house for Christmas. At first she wasn't even getting a tree, but then Patricia decorated her home and it put her mom in a better mood, so Taryn decided to see if it had the same effect. It actually did!

The large freshly cut tree looked beautiful in the living room corner, and was positioned so that she could admire it as she sat in front of the fire. The Douglas fir was covered with ornaments she and Shawn had accrued over the years, though the sentimental pieces remained in the box because she didn't need to look at them. There were also some that she and Jules bought together. She considered contacting him to see if he wanted to divide them up, but she was worried it was too soon.

She hung wreaths on all the exterior doors and strung white lights on the trees and bushes in front. Large bowls and baskets were filled with colorful glass balls and other shiny baubles which she set on all the tables, and some antique ornaments were hung from the dining room chandelier along with a string of silver beads.

An evergreen bough was draped across the mantle with twinkling red and green lights to make it extra pretty. She even bought holiday bathroom accessories for the powder room so that every single room on the main floor was festive.

Taryn enjoyed the Christmas cheer in her home, but she wanted to share her efforts with others. This was why she was having her mom, Karen, and Aaliyah over that night for a cookie exchange and girls' night in.

Patricia arrived early with a huge plastic container full of beautifully decorated sugar cookies. "I've got a couple bottles of wine in my purse," she said as she came in from the cold. "We need to stick them in the fridge."

"Let me take those cookies and you can put the wine away. I have everything on hand for a Christmas cocktail recipe I found online. It's got cranberry and bourbon."

"Sounds like the Merry Martini! That's still the signature drink at The Good Luck Lounge during the holidays."

"Ford's has a spiked orange and ginger punch this year, though I'd steal the Merry Martini if I wasn't afraid of being called a copycat! The drink I'm making tonight is pretty strong, so I'm glad everyone is cool with sleeping over," Taryn said as she put her mom's cookies on a pretty platter.

They'd planned on the night turning into a sleepover since it was unsafe for anyone to drive after having some drinks. Plus, it gave Aaliyah a break from the kids. Because it was a slumber party, Taryn suggested that they wear pajamas. Patricia had on a pair of red and green flannel pants that she paired with a red long-sleeved henley. Taryn was wearing a matching leggings and top set in a soft waffle weave that was covered in a Christmas tree print.

"Your cookies look wonderful," Tricia observed.

"They were really easy to make. Did you know that these have a bunch of different names? Some people call them Russian tea cakes, others say they are Mexican wedding cookies, and then they are also known as snowballs."

"Whatever you call them, they are yummy! Remember when neither of us could cook or bake at all? We've come a long way!"

A few minutes later the doorbell sounded and Taryn opened it to greet Karen and Aaliyah. They set their cookies down after hanging up their coats and taking off their boots. They had on matching red flannel pajamas that they explained the whole family wore the year before.

"Except for Shawn," Aaliyah muttered under her breath, "since he didn't come home."

"Is he coming this year?" Tricia asked.

"No," Karen said. "He's been home twice lately, so they are staying in California with Yasmin's family. They'll come here next Christmas."

Taryn kept a forced smile on her face as they talked about her ex. His mother and sister had no idea that he was the real reason Jules had ended things, since she fibbed and told them a few weeks ago that they'd simply grown apart after realizing they weren't right for each other.