Shattered

25. Christmas

I sit down on the couch, looking out the window as snow softly falls outside to create a thick blanket of white outside.

"Ciara?" My dad asks, shaking me from my daze. "Eggnog?" He shoved a mug at me.

I shake my head, denying the cold drink. He sits down next to me, setting down the mug on the table in front of us. "Has he responded to any of your messages?"

I shake my head, returning my gaze to the snow outside.

"He will come around." My dad squeezes my arm. "He can't call the wedding off. He's been with you for years. It can't end like this."

I shrug. "Maybe it does end like this."

The radio station changes, causing both me and my dad to look and see who changed it.

Brad smiles and raises his eggnog to cheers with the other thirds of his band. I roll my eyes. I forgot they were even here.

Casey walks over to them, clinking her glass with theirs. My father squeezes my arm one last time before joining them in their celebration.

Chris sits beside me where my father just was. "Can I get you anything?" He asks.

I laugh under my breath. "A loaded gun, maybe?"

He grabs my chin and forces me to face him. "Ciara, I swear to god if you hurt yourself I will never for-"

I stop him. "I'm not going to hurt myself. It was a joke." I look away. "A bad one. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. You are going through a hard time. Darren doesn't deserv-"

"Can everyone stop bringing up Darren?!" I shout, tired of everyone asking me about him.

"Oh," Casey breaks the silence. She laughs awkwardly. "Well that might be kinda hard because he just texted me that he's here." She grins that stupid smile she gets when she knows I am going to be mad at her for what she just told me. "But you can't yell at me because Fiona is here." She adds quickly.

I stand up. "Fiona, darling. Go fetch Auntie Ciara her jacket please." I smile at the little girl.

"Okay!" She slips out of the room.

"Why is he here?" I ask.

"Because I invited him?" She whispers, knowing I am not going to like her answer.

"Why would you invite him?!" I shout. "He called off the wedding and you invited him to Christmas dinner?"

"I told him you weren't going to be here. I thought I could Parent Trap you guys or something!"

"Uncle Darren is here!" Fiona enters the room with Darren's hand in hers.

"Hey guys-oh." Darren raises his hand to wave but then makes eye contact with me. "Hey Ciara."

"Don't worry about me, Darren. I was just leaving." I start my exit.

"No one is leaving. The ham is finished. Time for dinner!" My dad beams from the kitchen.