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December 24th, 2020
Christmas on the OBX always went one way. On the twenty-fourth, the Pogues celebrated with their families. It often meant that JJ would go to the Château, with Big John and John B. On the twenty-fifth, they'd all regroup there. No presents allowed, only a fun hangout. That rule was heavily directed at Kat, most of the time.
This was her first Christmas back. She wasn't sure how it was going to go, considering the last time she celebrated it. Well, celebrated wasn't exactly the word, but she was willing to erase the memory entirely from her mind. Eager to, really.
"Chess is for old people," Henry calls out, walking into the living room with a red sweater on. "Can't you kids be normal, for once?"
Kat barely hums, moving the pieces across the board. "I can once I've won."
"Sorry?" Billy giggles in front of her, wearing one of Kat's cardigans. "More like prepare to lose, Darcy."
Billy hasn't won a single chess game against Kat. Not once. Maybe she's waiting for some Christmas miracle? It wasn't going to come, but who was she to crush her dreams...
"Why do you do that to yourself?" Max asks, carrying a plate of potatoes for the table.
His sister narrows her eyes at him after her turn. "Because no one else will play with Kitty, because you're all a bunch of wuss."
Kat snorts. "Yeah, what she said. Checkmate, by the way, babe."
She blinks at the board, a few times, to make sure Kat didn't cheat. "Frick you."
She laughs so loud she barely hears the doorbell. Then, she nearly falls on her face, getting up in a hurry and rushing for the door before either one of her uncles – but mostly Henry – gets a chance to open it before her.
The twenty-fourth was family night. Which is exactly why Kat opens the door for JJ.
For a handful of seconds, they just stare at each other. Kat, because she isn't sure she's ever seen him in actual jeans that reach his feet. A dress shirt, yes, at Midsummers. Oh, she remembers that well.
