Down To You (The Love On Edge Series) by Addison Kline Page B

house. Welcome home. Love Always, Holly
     
     
    Brant’s heart quickened as he opened the box and found the silver key that unlocked the front door of 56 Wallace Road. He was blown away. It was official. Brant was moving back in. As Brant took the key out of the box and reached for his key chain from his back pocket, he held it up and smiled at Holly. No words could possibly express how happy he was. He was already planning in his head when he could get his stuff from his cramped bachelor pad.
     
    Suddenly, a crash coming from the direction of the basement door caught everyone’s attention. It sounded like someone was dragging something incredibly heavy up the basement steps. Sloane appeared at the top of the basement steps and she was yelling directions at her lackies, Luke and Greg.
     
    “Be careful, now! Don’t drop it!” she demanded.
     
     
    Finally, after several moments of stern direction from Sloane, who was still dressed in her candy-striped Christmas pajamas, Greg and Luke appeared in the living room carrying a huge red fabric sack. With Sloane dressed in her festive pajamas, she looked like a little English elf who had stolen Santa’s sack of presents.
     
    “Oh, children!” Sloane yelled in a high pitched, sing-song voice, “Auntie Sloane brought you some goodies!” Randy and Tressa’s eyes immediately broadened. Sloane was another one responsible for spoiling the Edgemont children during the holidays. Randy and Tressa came running towards their mother’s best friend, with Belle toddling close behind. Sloane had Luke pass Randy a big, heavy package. Tressa received a pink and black leopard print gift bag that was overflowing with Tissue paper. Meanwhile Belle’s package was a bit smaller than Randy’s and not nearly as heavy.
     
    The children ripped the wrapping paper off of their presents and they all laughed from excitement. Randy had received a huge remote controlled pick-up truck that looked almost exactly like his father’s truck, complete with horn and engine sounds and blinking lights. Tressa quickly tore the tissue paper from her gift bag to reveal a pink and purple leopard-print purse, complete with a set of lip gloss designed for little girls.
     
    “Mom! Look!”
     
    Holly’s eyes went wide at the pattern of the purse, and rolled at the sight of the lip gloss.
     
    “Gee, Sloane. You shouldn’t have,” Holly said sarcastically with a laugh.
     
    “It’s not for you , it’s for her! My little fashionista!”
     
    Finally, Belle was able to tear through her wrapping paper and squealed in delight when she saw the baby doll through the plastic of the box and promised to name the baby after Sloane. Sloane was touched.
     
    *****
     
     
    Christmas had gone off without a hitch. The Edgemont and McCresson family and friends had finally finished opening presents around mid-morning and then they enjoyed Gloria’s hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs and scrapple. Holly then kicked everyone out of the kitchen while she prepared her usual Christmas Day staples: a honeybaked ham, pineapple stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry mold, a broccoli quiche, and a big bowl of ambrosia. She had trays out to make cookie trays and cheese trays, and of course her refrigerator was overflowing with drinks and desserts. Thanks to Sloane and Luke, Holly’s wine cart was well-stocked and Greg brought an entire cooler of beer, so Marv, Brant and Greg were very happy men, indeed. Holly rolled the wine cart into the living room, along with two coolers: one for the men that was filled with beer, and one for the kids that was chock full of chocolate milk and juice boxes. Then she slapped a note on the kitchen door that read:
     
    Holly’s Territory – Stay Out!
     
    Holly didn’t mind people wanting to help, but she loved doing Christmas dinner by herself. It was hard work, but offering a feast that was lovingly prepared, in her opinion, was the best gift that she could possibly give her family. She