Brenna stared at the suitcase as though it had personally betrayed her. “You’re seriously leaving?” I told her yes, and then explained the part she had apparently never considered: my house was not available as a free holiday venue while I was gone. I had already told Trevor the eighteen guests would need another arrangement. I had not purchased the groceries, prepared bedrooms, borrowed chairs, or agreed to watch anyone’s children. The only Christmas plans I had made were my own.
Her anger arrived quickly. She said Trevor’s family had already booked flights and expected to stay with me. I opened the group chat screenshot and placed the tablet between us. “You knew I would say no if you asked early, so you waited until Elias was excited.” Brenna’s face changed when she saw her own words. There was nothing left to misunderstand.
I hugged Elias, promised we would have our own Christmas afternoon together after I returned, and climbed into the rideshare.
Three days later, Brenna called from a rented vacation house. Trevor’s relatives had divided the cooking, childcare, cleaning, and grocery bill among themselves.
Apparently, Christmas still happened.
It simply required everyone to do the work they had spent nine years calling “Grandma’s tradition.”
For the first time in years, I woke up Christmas morning with nowhere I was required to be.
