Saved By A Bad Boy

[30]. Christmas Trees and Stuff...

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I repeated for at least the seven millionth time, because I still wasn't quite sure Jax was being serious.

"Yes, Lis, I'm sure," he repeated, for at least the seven millionth time.

"I mean, that's a lot of people, all at once...right after you put this place back together again..." I reminded him, looking around the vast dining hall on the third floor of the Maxwell Mansion. It opened up into an even larger lounge area, with expensive couches and huge windows and bare tables. Jax smiled.

"Lissy, it's going to be fine," he assured me.

"I know...I just don't want you to regret this. I feel like you've gotten so far...we've gotten so far...finding closure and everything. I don't want to backtrack," I said.

"We won't. This is what my mom would've wanted, I know it," he replied. He was right. Chloe Maxwell was gone, but what better way to remember her than by doing what she always loved most - spending time with people? And I'm sure it would only be more meaningful to do it here, in the mansion, just like we used to.

The Stanton Christmas Eve Party would be hosted here, in Jax's house. That's what he wanted, anyway. But it was only five days away at this point, which meant it was in desperate need of preparation. Jax had volunteered the mansion - to everyone's surprise. It seemed like far too much of a sacred place to offer up as a festival ground, even just for one night. But Jax wanted to. It was important to him, and so if he thought he could do it...

...then I do too.

"Okay then. Where do we start?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips and gazing at the large open space.

"Well, I have plenty of decorations, of course," Norah was saying, walking around with her heels clicking beneath her. "Some wreaths will be necessary. Absolutely. And some streamers. We need Christmas lights to string up along the ceiling, and right here, in the middle we need-"

"Yes, Mom, we know. A tree," Maya mumbled from where she sat in the corner, pouting. She didn't want to help, but it was in exchange for getting her phone back (which Norah had taken away after she stumbled in late with Dave).

"A big old fat tree," Norah corrected her. "Huge. Massive. Bigger than the one at Rockefeller."

"Impossible," Milo interjected.

"No, not impossible," she said. "And besides that, I'm ordering caterers. A lot. But I need someone to direct them, and I'm going to be much too busy with the guest list-"

"Relax," Jax finally said gently. "I have just the man."

"You're certain?"

"Yup, one hundred percent," Jax continued. Norah nodded hesitantly, and I instantly wondered who he could be talking about. But before I could ask, one of the party planners on duty, Judie I think, came rushing in.

"Ms. Stanton, we have an issue with the wine!" she was saying, as if the sky was about to come crashing down on us. "I'm afraid I'm going to need your undivided attention." Judie seemed to always think she was on HGTV or a reality TV show.

"Oh, yes, yes, alright. Just a moment," Norah said, taking a steadying breath. "Alright. Alyssa, you can get to work on the tables. They need cloth coverings, white and red only. And I already have a sheet laid out with where everything will be. Drinks in the back, desserts near the balcony, you get the idea. Maya, you're going to help your father with invites. I have a list in my purse. And Milo and Jax, you two have tree duty. Do not mess that up. It's very important."

"Yes!" Milo exclaimed. "I knew we were getting tree duty."

"Dude, let's get one of those really short, fat ones," Jax said with a grin. Milo laughed.