Page 59 of 27 Kisses
“I wish I could. But I need to do this with Lanie. And take care of some things at the diner. We’ll be back early tomorrow. Don’t forget to start the ham.” He catches my gaze. “I’ve left instructions.”
“I’ve got it.” I squeeze his arm again. “Now go before Lanie drags you into the van.”
He smiles, but it can’t hide the sadness still lingering in his eyes. “See you tomorrow, love.”
After they leave, I trudge into the house, feeling slightly better. Aidyn loves me. That’s all that matters.
My parents are in the living room, putting gifts under the tree.
“Garrett, how are you, dear?”
“Good, thanks.” I nod to the pile of presents—professionally wrapped, of course. Why do something yourself if you can find others to do it? That’s not really fair to them, but after years of nothing, I’m not ready to forgive and forget. “You’ve been busy.”
“This is our first Christmas in a while with all…um…our kids.” Her eyes shine as she stumbles over the words, and it’s the first real emotion I’ve seen from her in a long time.
All the media bullshit over Christmas being the happiest time of the year makes me want to scream. But my mother would not welcome my observations, so I keep them to myself.
“Oh, Garrett! I found all our old Christmas videos.”
No please, God. “Found them?”
“The files, dear. They were all saved to a…leap…bounce…” Her brow furrows.
“Jump?”
“Yes. Jump drive. Lanie downloaded them and converted them to— I don’t know, but we’ll be able to play them on the television.” She beams. “Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Wonderful.” I suddenly can’t take it anymore. The family togetherness that’s a little too late. Wanting to relive the past. I just can’t. “I’ll be in my office if you need me.”
Her smile drops. “But I thought we could go through the videos. Pick the ones we want.”
Not a chance in hell. “Sorry, Mother. I need to catch up on work.”
“But it’s Christmas. David, tell him.”
“It’s Christmas, Garrett,” my father says with a sympathetic look. “But since everyone will be here tomorrow, now’s probably the best time to do it.”
I smile at his unexpected break in alliance with my mother, even as she scowls at him. “Thanks, Father. I’ll get to it then.”
As I walk away, Mother whispers harshly. “You’re supposed to support me, David.”
“Let him be. You can boss everyone around tomorrow.”
Her outraged squawk is the last thing I hear as I close my office door.
One Day until Christmas
As I follow Aidyn’s instructions for cooking the ham—that’s already mostly prepared—I wonder why he isn’t already here. Is he ghosting me? On family Christmas? But Aidyn wouldn’t do that. I need to calm the fuck down.
Aidyn and Lanie arrive before the others, so I forgive him for his tardiness.
My house is full as most gather in the living room and some in the kitchen. Isaac and Adrian arrive with Simon and Reginald, the prince’s steward. Aidyn gets a panicked look on his face when they come face-to-face with my parents. Right. The custody battle. But Isaac is polite, and only a slight tightness around his eyes gives away his stress at seeing them again.
“Hello, Lanie.” Adrian smiles, and I sometimes forget he’s a prince. He’s definitely got the regal and handsome thing down. But it’s times like these that I remember. Lanie was obsessed with the royal wedding—that didn’t happen—and Prince Adrian. So much so that she wasn’t able to talk to him without blushing or knocking things over for a long time.
“Prince Adrian,” she says with a smile. “It’s nice to see you again.”
He gives her a mock stern look. “I’ve told you to call me Adrian. We’re family.”