Free This Holiday Magic by Celeste O. Norfleet

chef was world renowned and reservations were almost impossible to get... So where was Nya?
    She looked around and then started to leave. A few steps away, she heard the restaurant door being unlocked and opened. She turned, seeing a gorgeous man dressed in jeans and a T-shirt standing in the open doorway. With blond hair and sea-blue eyes, he looked as if he’d come right off a movie set.
    â€œExcuse me. Are you Janelle?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Yes.”
    He smiled and deep dimples cut through his handsome face. “Hi, I’m Brad. Come on in. We’ve been waiting for you.” He held the door for her to enter. Once inside she looked around, amazed by the sheer splendor and ambience of the entranceway.
    â€œFollow me. We’re in the kitchen, and lunch is almost ready,” he said, heading around the bar to the main dining area. “Nya’s already sipping champagne.”
    â€œOf course she is,” Janelle confirmed. She knew her sister too well. Even in muted light and empty, the place sparkled and shone with stunning radiance.
    â€œSo, you’re Nya’s sister.”
    â€œYep, one of them.”
    â€œI’ve known Nya for a while. I didn’t know she had sisters,” he said.
    â€œShe has two. We’re all stepsisters. Different mothers and different fathers,” she said. Brad turned and looked at her, confused. She smiled. “It’s complicated. Trust me, explaining it will probably give you a headache.”
    They snaked through the spotless stainless-steel counters and wait stations to a small room beside the main kitchen, where Nya was sitting at a small round table, talking on her cell phone. When she saw Janelle she smiled, waved and quickly ended her conversation. “Thanks, Brad.”
    He blew her an air-kiss and went back to the kitchen.
    â€œHey, girl,” she exclaimed with her arms open wide.
    Janelle smiled and walked over to her. They hugged and laughed. “It’s so good to see you. Oh, my God, you look sensational.”
    â€œYou, too,” Janelle said.
    â€œWell, yeah, of course I do, but I wasn’t exactly working in the middle of the desert. You’re practically glowing. Come on. Let’s sit down. Brad made us something amazing for lunch.”
    â€œBrad, huh? Nice. He’s gorgeous.”
    She smiled and winked. “We’re just friends. Long story, great ending,” she said just as her cell phone rang again. Nya looked at the number and smiled. “I need to get this.” She pressed the FaceTime accept button and smiled. “We’re here,” she said, turning the phone around so Janelle could speak.
    â€œHello, ladies,” Mia said, sing-songing a greeting to her two sisters.
    Janelle beamed with delight at seeing her other sister on the video app on Nya’s cell phone. “Oh, my God, Mia, look at you. You look fantastic. How are you and how’s everybody?”
    â€œI’m fine. We’re all fine. Everything’s great. I’m so sorry to miss our pre-Christmas lunch and shopping this year. But how are you?”
    â€œI’m wonderful. It’s so good to see you. How’s my godson?”
    â€œ
Our
godson,” Nya joked.
    â€œHe’s amazing. Hold on a second. I’ll let you see him. He just went down for his nap.” Mia held her phone down to her sleeping baby in the crib. Both Janelle and Nya squealed with joy at seeing him and then silenced quickly. But it was too late. He began to stir and his lower lip pouted.
    A second later his eyes opened. He whimpered and then started crying. “Aw-ww,” Janelle and Nya said in unison.
    â€œOh, well, ladies, looks like I’m back on mommy duty. I’ll call you guys later tonight. Have a great lunch. Welcome home, Janelle. I love you both,” Mia said, waving.
    Janelle smiled as Nya ended the call. “It feels so good to be home. You have no idea.”
    â€œIt’s