Sothis Christmas Novels & Stories

The drive back from the marina was conducted in a heavy, strained silence. Cami sat in the back of the SUV with Ariana, her hand tightly gripping Ariana’s as if she were afraid her friend might vanish if she let go. Mateo drove, his eyes fixed on the road, his reflection in the rearview mirror a constant, watchful presence. When they finally entered the foyer of the mansion, the festive Christmas decorations—the towering tree, the garlands, the flickering candles—seemed mocking. The "perfect family Christmas" Cami had envisioned was a fractured mess.

I've been ignoring him, but his persistence is becoming problematic. I deleted the message without reading it. The Christmas gala is in two days. The annual event where the city's elite gather to see and be seen, to make deals and alliances over champagne and caviar. I'll need to bring Ava, show her off as my devoted wife, maintain the illusion that everything is fine. She'll smile and play her part because she has no choice. Because I've made sure she has nowhere else to go and no one else to turn to. And I'll stand beside her, touching her waist, playing the role of perfect husband, hating myself a little more with every passing moment.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Jaxon said low and careful from his place at the door to the living room, his hand resting on the frame. His eyes were on me, like he was trying to gauge whether I meant it when I said everything was fine. I stood at the window, staring out as snow fell in languid flakes, casting a pale luminance over everything in sight. Christmas was looming, yet somehow, it didn't feel quite as festively joyful as it had other years.

"So, you're saying the magic isn't necessarily related to Christmas per say, but the season as a whole?" Again, he shrugged. "Maybe. Christmas, Yule, Chanukah, Saturnalia - haven't you ever noticed that almost every culture has some kind of celebration at this time of year? No matter what you call it, it's a time with a pretty deep resonance in the human psyche. In fact, today is the actual solstice, which is the even older holiday. Could be we got zapped here today because this is the most magical day of the year."

Neither of us expected she'd be the one to save me. I closed the book. "I love you," I said to the empty room. "We know," I imagined them replying. "I mean it." "We know." --- Tia Sofia came for Christmas. She was seventy-one now, slowing down, her body reminding her that she wasn't young anymore. But her eyes were still sharp, her laugh still loud. "You've done well here," she said, looking around the house. "I've tried." "You've continued." "That's the same thing."

She says to me, “Juniper,” Dante's husky voice sounds and I look up, blinking at him and wondering what he wants this time. “Do you want anything in particular for Christmas?” Yes, for you to leave me alone! I wish that was the truth. What I want is quite the opposite. As much as I try to deny it, I love having him all over me, I love the way he worships my body and that is all I want for Christmas. I want this hot Alpha daddy for Christmas.

“We should decorate with red and gold, and maybe throw in a bit of green? But red would look wonderful!” I stood there, frozen, unable to fully process what Sarah was saying. The festive chatter around me seemed to fade into a distant hum as realization hit me like a punch to the solar plexus. They were planning a Christmas day engagement party for Arthur and Savannah. My heart sank, and I could feel a tight knot forming in the pit of my stomach. Sarah continued, her voice cheerful and bright, completely oblivious to the turmoil within me. "We thought it would be perfect! And even though we know Sophia and Arthur married on Christmas Eve, which is why he now cannot stand Christmas, we now wa

She dared corrected and I scoffed. “It seems no one has told you how things work around here,” she shifted on her feet as I stared daggers at her from across the room. “Your pitch was great except for one little thing, Leah,” I gritted out, leaning against the table. “We don't dabble in that Christmas nonsense and there will be no celebrations just as there haven't been for the last five years!,” a couple of my employees jumped in their seats at the increase of my voice. “Is that clear?,” I seethed, my tone dangerously low and as quickly as the words left my mouth there were collect nods.

"Maya! Oh my god, finally. I've been trying to reach you all morning." Her voice had that high-pitched quality it got when she was excited or panicking. With Sophie, it was usually both. "Sorry, meetings. What's up?" "Okay, so don't say no right away. Just hear me out completely before you make any decisions." I stopped typing. That was never a good sign. "Sophie..." "I want you to come home with me for Christmas. Like, actually home. To Colorado. To the estate." My stomach dropped. "I don't know if that's a good idea."

It's a special moment, and they all feel a sense of connection and belonging. It's December, and Samantha and Andrew are getting ready for the holidays. They are hosting a Christmas party at their home, and they are excited to see all of their family and friends. They decorate the house with lights and ornaments, and they bake cookies and make hot chocolate. On Christmas Eve, they sit around the fireplace and read stories to their grandchildren. They feel a deep sense of joy and gratitude, knowing that they have everything they could ever want.