Looking Beyond

Chapter 24: Christmas Time!

     Brea was sitting in the living room, attempting to focus on watching one of many Christmas movie specials that were playing on the television that day. Savannah sat down beside her on the couch and frowned. "Bad Christmas themed romance movies? Really Brea?"

     "There isn't anything else on." She sighed. "You have any better ideas?"

     "Not really." Savannah picked up a bag of homemade Chex mix. "Are they all gone?"

     "Almost." She thought about where all of the plans the guys had made. "Erik flew out a couple of days ago. Dan left yesterday and Trevor this morning. Jacob's packing up now."

     "Why aren't you packing?"

     Brea kept her eyes on the tv. "Because I'm spending Christmas with my sister."

     "You could be spending it with Jacob." Savannah ate another handful of Chex mix.

     "He didn't ask, and I wasn't going to assume."

     Savannah swallowed her bite and shook her head. "You spend every Sunday – every single Sunday and some other nights – with his family since your birthday, and you're waiting for an invitation? You're not really good at this girlfriend stuff, are you?"

* * *

     Jacob had stopped at the top of the stairs, listening in as the girls' conversation played out. He never invited her to come, because he naturally thought that she'd be going – she couldn't afford to fly out to see her own family. He pulled out his phone and waited. He had an idea, and he doubted that his parents would say 'no' to him.

* * *

"They've got their family traditions, and I don't want to intrude unless they invite me." Brea sat back and crossed her arms across her chest. "Besides, like I said, I'm spending it with my sister."

     "You don't need to babysit me Brea."

     "I didn't plan on it." She shoved the taller woman's shoulder. "I already got the stuff for your stocking."

     Savannah smiled. "If you weren't my little-big sister, I'd have to knock some sense into you."

     "You're welcome." The two woman settled into their seats, trying to lose themselves in the movie.

* * *

     Jacob pressed the auto-dial number for his mother. It rang twice before she answered, "Merry Christmas!"

     Jacob looked towards the girls on the couch. "Hey Mom!"

     "Jacob! Are you and Brea on your way?"

     Jacob ran his hand over his hair. "About that..."

     "She's coming over, right? She said something about not getting to see her family this year."

     "I didn't ask her to come. I thought she knew." Stating it out loud embarrassed him. Maybe Brea wasn't as serious about him as he had thought.

     "Oh Jacob..." He could hear the pity in his mom's voice. "Even after a few months of dating, and as close as you two appear, you still need to ask her things like 'Would you join me for Christmas?'. Are you home? You can still ask her. The service doesn't start until eleven thirty."

     "She's staying with Savannah, so I'm not sure she'll want to go."

     "Then why not invite her too? She's the one that shares the room with Brea, right?"