Sitting off to the side, Leonard watched the family as they all talked and laughed together. Celebrating Christmas was a new thing for the Churches—Leonard and Lawrence hadn't kept the holiday since Leonard's mother had left them, and Valerie had never celebrated it at all. At least, not with them.
This gathering was smaller than the Thanksgiving they had celebrated here last year. It was just Lawrence, Jackie, Ashley, Jacob, Leonard, and Valerie this time. They had brought their menorah over, as it was the first night of Hanukkah. And naturally, the Churches had brought gifts for the Chamrouen family, as well as Hanukkah gifts for one another.
The luncheon Christmas meal had included both turkey and ham, and so many side dishes that the family had had to serve themselves buffet-style before moving to sit at the table. Leonard had wondered whether Jackie was going to extra effort for them. Normally this holiday meal would be smaller for her to prepare.
"So you just give each other something small," Ash was saying, "but you do it eight times."
"I usually get money, honestly," Valerie said. "And maybe a big gift for the last night."
"I don't know if I could hold out," Ash said, laughing. "I'd just open everything the first night."
"No way," Valerie said. "I mean, of course I try to peek and guess and all that, but I wouldn't open a present until it was time for it."
Ash laughed again. Leonard smiled, somewhat ruefully. He felt out of place here; Ash and Valerie and Jacob were all close enough in age to fall together as a group, and Jackie and Lawrence were dating. What was he even doing here? Perhaps he should get up and go, or at least disappear to the kitchen and have a drink.
"All right, everyone," Jackie said, and that seemed to be the signal for everyone to hush. "It's time for presents."
Jacob got up, seemingly having self-appointed himself the role of Santa Claus. He passed each person their presents as they came out from under the tree. Soon enough they all had a stack of gifts at their feet.
"We always go youngest first," Jackie explained.
Jacob began opening his gifts. Besides the obligatory envelope of money he had several boxes to open, and he tore into them with relish. He was eighteen now, so not a child, but he was the youngest and still lived at home. This meant that besides several clothing items, he received a remote-control speedboat and a board game. Lastly, he opened the present from Valerie, who had apparently been clued into what to buy for him by his sister—he crowed with delight at the collector's edition action figure she'd gotten him.
Next it was Valerie's turn. Two of her presents were from her family members, so they were smaller, but she grinned when she saw what her father had bought her—a gift card to an upscale makeup boutique. Lawrefnce had bought a handmade wooden barrel puzzle, which she fussed with a bit to see how it came apart, before moving on to the rest of her gifts. Jackie and Ash had gone in together to buy her a set of horror films she had mentioned enjoying, and Jacob had bought a nice bath set.
Ashley's haul was similar to Jacob's and Valerie's—all items she seemed happy with. Next it was Leonard's turn and he reluctantly began opening his items. He didn't keep track of who had given what, simply opening the parcels one after the other; a necktie, a math puzzle book, a pair of slippers, and a couple other things like that. Nothing seemed really very standout, though he thanked everyone cordially for their thoughtfulness, of course.
Everyone knew that the main event was to come next. Jackie began opening her gifts, setting aside each item after she had examined them. Last of all was a card she had set to the side, signed in Lawrence's hand. She gave him a wry look and opened it.
"My dearest Jackie," she began reading, as Lawrence, who was sitting next to her, began to lean in her direction. Leonard could tell where he was headed—down on one knee. "Although we have known each other a relatively short time, I believe you have come to know me as well as anyone I've ever met in my life. You've expressed similar words to me, and I know that you have been expecting this day since that time last New Year's when we kissed so sweetly. I'm only sorry it took me so long to decide what the perfect gift would look like this holiday. You know what I'm leading up to, my darling…" Here she gave him a smirk, pausing, apparently for dramatic effect. "Will I marry you?"
She laughed as he did as he'd been aiming to do, pulling out a ring box and kneeling at her feet. Ash whooped and Valerie clapped her hands, while Jacob called out encouragements to his mother. Leonard smiled wistfully but did not make any noise. Part of him wished he could know what it was like to have this kind of second chance, but strictly speaking, he'd already had a chance like that and had thrown it away.
"Of course you will," she teased him, accepting the ring and allowing him to slip it on her finger. They kissed, and the three younger people applauded.
Leonard sat by feeling awkward for a moment, but after a quick glance at Valerie, who was looking at him, he joined in.
After this, Lawrence opened his gifts. Nothing nearly as exciting came up in his set of parcels, so when he was done everyone arose to clean up the wrapping paper that had been discarded all around them.
"Have you three seen The Santacapade?" Ash asked.
"No," Valerie said with a laugh. "That sounds awful."
"It is, but that's what makes it good," Ash said. "Let's watch it."
And so they settled in to watch the movie, which was about a heist job performed at the North Pole in Santa's workshop. Valerie laughed along with Ash's commentary, and Jacob offered various comments of his own. Leonard used this time to allow himself to doze a bit.
Eventually, the movie ended and sunset began to approach, so Leonard and Lawrence arose to begin cooking the Hanukkah food to enjoy for supper: latkes, the traditional potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, the small jelly donuts, for dessert. Preparing this food took a lot of deep frying—the oil being a symbol for the holy oil of the temple at the first Hanukkah.
Jackie joined them in the kitchen while they worked. The younger people stayed in the living room, laughing and talking.
"I didn't tell either of you the outcome of my trip last month," Leonard said, watching the latkes as they fried in the pan. "The reason I left was to interview about publishing my research last summer. The UNSC is interested in contracting me to conduct this research for them."
"Oh, wow, Leonard," Jackie said. "That's exciting. Why didn't you share that before now?"
"I knew what happened today was coming, that's all," he said. "I'm going to be expected to physically move the business headquarters. I believe with your marriage on the table, asking you to move with me will be a matter of convincing my father to do so, as well." He glanced over at Lawrence.
Lawrence seemed to take this in for a moment. "You're asking us to move to New Mombasa with you?" he asked.
"No," Leonard said. "I'm asking you to move to Reach with me."
"Leonard," Jackie said in astonishment. "Why, Reach is… That's so far!"
"I know," he said, and flipped the latkes he had been babysitting. "I wanted to be certain we were all on the same page before I mentioned it."
"Well, we'd have to discuss it," Lawrence said. "My first impulse is to say no, but I understand what Jackie means to your business."
"My impulse is to say no as well," Jackie said quietly. "I'm sorry, Leonard, I know you rely on me for a lot, but…I can't fathom moving that far away from my other family, and my friends, just when Larry and I are getting started together."
There was a silence. "I think that's your answer, Leonard," Lawrence said. "I'm really sorry."
Leonard frowned to himself, scooping up the latkes and placing them on the paper towel-covered plate that sat nearby. "I suppose I could have predicted this," he grumbled. He'd hoped they would at least have given it some more thought and discussion than that before declining, but if they were sure, they were sure.
"Leonard, it's all right to be upset," Jackie said. "Just please don't take it out on us tonight."
He looked at her. "I wouldn't have," he said, but he figured he was mostly lying when he said that. And the others in the room knew it, judging by the looks Jackie and his father gave him.
"It's okay," he said. "I'll…get over it."
"Good to hear," Lawrence said. They continued to work, mostly in silence, until all the food was ready.
The family then moved to the window in preparation of lighting the menorah candle. It was dusk now, the perfect time to light the candles. Lawrence approached the menorah, lit the shamash candle, then used it to light the first candle.
"Blessed are the traditions of our people, including lighting the Hanukkah lights," he said.
He put down the shamash, placing it in its holder in the center of the menorah. "Blessed are the strengths of our people, which have kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season."
He stepped back. "Blessed are the miracles in our lives, such as the Hanukkah miracle that we witnessed in this season."
They all regarded the lit candles for a time.
"Latkes?" Lawrence eventually asked, gesturing back toward the table. It wasn't in the room proper, but it was in the next room, which had to be good enough on this occasion. The younger people moved to the table, and Lawrence gave them each a bag of gelt, the gold-wrapped chocolate coins used to play with the dreidel. Valerie got out the dreidel, which she had in her pocket, and smiled at Ash and Jake.
"Now you get to learn to play," she told them. She got herself a plate of latkes dressed with sour cream, poured herself a glass of white wine, and sat down at the head of the table.
Leonard and Lawrence served themselves as well and sat down along at the other end of the table. Jackie joined them after observing the gameplay for a time.
"So when are you leaving for Reach, exactly, Leonard?" Jackie said. "We ought to plan ahead for that to make sure we transition everything properly financially."
"I need to get to Reach by April 1st," he said. "So I plan to leave around February 20th. That'll give me a little extra time just in case slipspace is acting up."
Jackie and Lawrence looked at one another. "We were talking about an April wedding, but if you have to leave that early…" Lawrence said.
"I do," Leonard said.
"February would be okay," Jackie mused. "It's awfully soon, we'd have to book everything immediately, but it could work."
"A Valentine's wedding is probably out of the question," Lawrence said. "Everything will already be booked up."
"You don't have to plan around me," Leonard said.
"Nonsense, Leonard," Jackie said. "You want to be there, don't you?"
"I do," he said. "But it's frankly completely up to you whether you go to that effort. And expense, I'm sure."
"We can do it," Lawrence said firmly.
There was a burst of laughter from the other end of the table and they watched as Valerie gathered the pile of gelt that was between the three of them to herself.
Lawrence smiled. "I'm glad they're enjoying the game," he remarked. "And I'm glad we all get along so well."
"I'm thankful for that, as well," Jackie said. "Adult step-siblings might ordinarily have no reason to try to get along, but this is nice."
Leonard nodded and gazed at his daughter for a bit. She had grown to be a capable, confident, sociable young woman. He'd unfortunately missed so much of this process. Yet, he'd done his best to facilitate it as well. He wondered whether she realized that part. He wondered whether she cared.
After eating the latkes and the sufganiyot, and another round with the dreidel that included the older adults, Lawrence went and blew the candles out.
They moved to the couch and chairs again, talking, laughing, being comfortable with one another. Once again Leonard allowed himself to doze, having consumed a bit more wine than he had done on any recent occasion during dinner. Eventually someone gently shook his shoulder, and he looked up. It was Jackie.
"I'd be willing to host you if you wanted to spend the night, but you probably just want to go home," she teased him.
He grunted, looking around a bit. Valerie was putting on her coat, and Lawrence had his hanging over his arm. "Indeed, Jackie," he muttered, pushing himself off the arms of the couch to rise. "Thank you for the sentiment."
"Have a nice night, Leonard," she said, giving him a light pat on the shoulder.
Leonard nodded, put on his coat, and gathered his gifts into a shopping bag that Ash had handed him. "Thank you for the nice evening," he said, and Valerie and Lawrence echoed the sentiment. Jackie thanked them, and then he began to head for the door.
But then he noticed that the menorah was still sitting on the windowsill. "Did you plan to take that, Dad?" he asked.
"No," Lawrence said. "I'll be here tomorrow evening anyway."
"Oh," Leonard said, and Valerie chuckled.
"That's the reality, now, Dad," she said. "Get used to it."
"I am," he grumbled, causing Valerie to roll her eyes good-naturedly.
"If you say so," she said.
The three headed out the door, and the door closed behind them.
"That was fun," Lawrence commented as they piled together into the car.
"It was strange, too," Leonard said.
"Good strange," Valerie said firmly.
"Yes…good strange," Leonard agreed, with some resignation. "I didn't know what to expect, but it was nice."
"It was," Lawrence said. "And it probably set the precedent for the future. So I'm glad you two enjoyed it."
"It's going to be so weird," Valerie said. "Having a grandmother. You being together with someone."
Lawrence smiled. "That's good weird, right?"
"Yes," she affirmed. "Good weird."
Leonard smiled slightly. He was glad for his father, even as upset as he was about their decision not to go with him to Reach. "I'm glad you've found happiness, Dad," he said. "You couldn't ask for a finer partner."
"I couldn't," Lawrence said. "I fell in love with her for a reason."
Leonard nodded, wistful. Valerie looked at him; he felt her eyes on him from the backseat and he frowned. "What?"
"Nothing." She rested her head back on the headrest. "I'm happy for them, too."
"Mm. Good." Leonard rested his head back as well.
He dozed the rest of the way home, insensible to any other comments Valerie might have. He was happy for them, of course. He couldn't help being happy for them.
But this whole situation was not fair.