A chorus of “Hear, hear!” went through the room.
Derrick waited until the voices died down before stepping away from the fireplace and clearing his throat to get everyone’s attention.
“I want to make a toast, too,” he began. “To my wife, Eva, who loves me, despite my flaws. To my daughter, Violet, who will be on lockdown until she’s thirty.” The group chuckled. “And to my brothers and sister.” His voice thickened on the last sentence, and he cleared his throat again. The group fell completely silent, with only the soft sound of a Christmas carol playing in the background. “I’m glad we’ve grown closer over the past six months, and I want you to know how much I appreciate your support. To family,” he finished with a smile at them.
Everyone in the room raised their glasses. “To family.”
THE END