Page 37

ROSIE

My cheeks hurt from smiling and my back hurts from the somersaults that Smudge has been doing. I like to think she’s as excited as I am, that she can feel the love bursting from every inch of the big house.

My tour was more eloquent than Jackson’s first one. He said it wasn’t fair because he didn’t have enough stuff to show off, but I’m still counting it as a win.

Cody loves my office so I’ve backed up all my saved games and allowed him free reign over the console. He’s only had to be dragged out of there a few times in the days since they arrived, and Jackson and I have been taking turns playing with him.

Cody even said off-hand yesterday that he preferred when I played with him and Jackson’s has complained about it nonstop since.

Now, it’s Christmas Eve, and I’m peeling potatoes at the kitchen table as Gloria commandeers my kitchen.

“Are you sure I can’t help with the—” I ask, attempting to get out of my seat.

Gloria brandishes her knife in my direction, and I settle back in. “For the last time, honey, you need to rest your feet, not worry about cooking for half a dozen people. Just cook my grandchild, that’s your one job today.”

I laugh. “But I like cooking.”

“I’m sure you like sitting down too. Are you sure you don’t need a blanket over there?”

I bite back my smile. It is kind of nice to be fussed over, even if I have assured her that a blanket will hinder my potato peeling abilities. “I’m all good, honestly. Let me know when you want me to move onto the carrots.”

Gloria puts the turkey into the oven and starts clearing up.

I shift in my seat, and she holds up a hand without looking at me.

“Rosie, I like you a lot, but I swear if you try and get out of that seat one more time I will tie you to it.” She shoots me a wink as she opens the dishwasher.

“Besides, this is Jackson’s job. Jackson! Get in here and clean your kitchen.”

He appears out of the office. “I’ve already lost five-one to my nephew and now I’m being made to do chores. What happened to the Christmas spirit?”

He steps up to my table and bends down for a kiss. I tug at the Santa hat Tara shoved on his head as soon as we woke up this morning that he’s refused to take off.

“How much do you hate being banished from the kitchen?” he whispers.

“How much do you hate losing to a twelve year old?” I whisper back.

He groans dramatically before rounding the kitchen island and attempting to clear away plates.

“What have you been cooking in here anyway? Christmas isn’t till tomorrow.”

“We’re slow cooking,” Gloria says, picking up her wine glass and crossing to my table. “Can I get you a drink, honey?” She starts picking up my supplies.

“I’m okay, thank you.” I smile, leaning back in my chair and stretching out my toes. I’ll get up in a few minutes and get one, I tell myself as I lean into the stretch.

Gloria bustles back with a glass of water and sets it in front of me. “Just in case.”

I stare at the glass, blinking back the heat that burns behind my eyes. It’s just a small thing. I could hate the fact that she ignored my answer and got one for me anyway, but I just feel…warm.

“Have you guys had any thoughts on names?” Gloria asks, taking a seat beside me and patting my hand with hers. She shoots me a warm smile that crinkles the corner of her eyes.

“We’re not telling anyone yet, Mum,” Jackson says from the kitchen.

“Not telling anyone what?” Tara asks, walking into the kitchen with a box of chocolates and offering one to Gloria and me wordlessly. “Are you guys having another secret baby?”

“Just the one,” Jackson drawls, bent over the dishwasher.

“We’ve got a few names on the go,” I tell them both. “But until we decide we’re keeping it quiet.”

“I’m very partial to Tara,” Tara says wickedly. “It just rolls off the tongue.”

Jackson guffaws. “What have you done to be a namesake?”

“Uh, I covered for you when you snuck out at fifteen to go make out with Tia from two streets down.”

“Jackson Harper!” Gloria gasps.

“And kept that secret for a good fifteen years until right now.” Jackson throws a tea towel at her from the kitchen and Tara snatches it from the air, rounding the island to snap it at his legs.

Gloria sighs dramatically. “They always get like this when they’re home. Fighting like cats and dogs.”

Jackson gets Tara in a headlock, and she sneaks out of the hold like a pro-wrestler, cackling in his face as her legs sweep out from under him and she tries to kick out his knee.

“They like each other really, promise.”

Cleo and I have never been like this. I never come up with a witty response quick enough and if I do snap back I just end up getting myself into more trouble than it’s worth.

“How do you know?”

“What, love?”

“Know that they like each other.” I shift awkwardly. “Know that it’s not…cruel.”

I glance back at the table, tracing the water ring from my glass as it seeps into the wood.

Gloria takes a moment. “Well, I guess it comes from knowing them all. I’ve watched them as children when they used to have screaming matches.

The girls were the worst for it, arguing about stealing clothes and toys and what have you.

But eventually, they started ending their arguments with laughter instead, and when I’d try to get involved I’d say, you know ‘you’re sisters, don’t be mean to each other’, and they’d just tell me to leave them alone because I was annoying. ”

I try to smile, but it doesn’t fit my mouth right, coming out as a blurted question. “What would you have done if it was? Cruel, I mean.”

Gloria looks at me shrewdly before taking my hand in hers. “They bicker and argue, but they’re still thick as thieves when all’s said and done. They still love each other. Not all siblings are like that, and I guess it would be really hard if it’s not.”

I shift in my chair, cradling my bump.

“Jackson told us about what happened,” she says softly. “I’m sorry that your sister did that to you.”

I shrug, reaching up to adjust my glasses.

“If it helps, the girls were ready to launch an entire smear campaign. It was very elaborate.”

My lips twitch at the thought. Before this trip, I’d spoken to the Harpers on an off, the occasional text or a friendly wave through video call, but I already feel more a part of their family than I ever have my own.

“I just never understood why she hates me so much,” I admit with a whisper.

Gloria sends me a small smile. “You might never know that, honey. You’ve just got to learn to love yourself more.”

A loud laugh snaps me out of it as I see Tara giggling and showing Jackson something on her phone.

He looks up and shoots me a wink.

“You’ve raised lovely children,” I say quietly to Gloria.

She beams at me. “Well, I wish someone had told me that thirty five years ago. I tell you, motherhood is a constant battle to convince yourself you’re doing a good job.”

I smile and rub my hand against my belly. “I already feel like that.”

Jackson appears at my shoulder, gently tugging at the hair that’s draped over my shoulder. “I’ve got to go run an errand.”

“An errand?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “On Christmas Eve?”

He grins impishly. “Important Christmas Eve errand.”

“How long will you be?” Gloria asks, checking the gold watch on her wrist .

“Not long,” he reassures us both before he presses a kiss to my lips and runs out of the room.

“He’s either forgotten something, or he’s about to pull off a ridiculous surprise.

” Gloria tells me, leaning her chin on her hand.

I smile, thinking of the car that’s waiting for her on her driveway at home.

“He’s always been that way, going above and beyond.

He’s been like that since his father died. ”

Jackson hasn’t shared much about his father, only that he’d had an accident when he was younger.

“It was so hard.” Gloria’s voice wobbles and I rest my hand gently on her forearm as her words tumble out. “I’d lost my Oliver, but I had three kids to care for. Tara shut down, she wouldn’t leave her room or talk to me. Ella started acting out at school, getting in trouble and starting fights. ”

She crosses her arms across her body.

“Jackson was the glue that kept us together when we were falling apart. He’d annoy Tara until she started laughing again, he would hang out with Ella at school so she wasn’t so lonely and then he’d play rugby on the weekends.

He just didn’t stop, that boy. It was so easy for him to be positive. To look after us.”

That sounds like Jackson, I think with a smile, imagining a younger Jackson without the tattoos, with gangly limbs and a fresh face. “I can’t imagine how difficult that must have been for all of you.”

I’ve never not had both parents, never had to face the grief of losing one.

Despite how difficult our relationship is, I know they’re still there.

Still sitting at the same kitchen table, still waking up in the morning.

I could see them again, if I wanted to. I could sit with my dad as he talks about his latest project in the garage, or hear my mum’s gossip about the neighbors.

There’s a part of me that does want that, but I just don’t think they do.

They haven’t reached out since Cleo posted that video.

Apart from my dad dropping off the crib and the thank you text I sent that was left on read, they haven’t reached out once, not even to invite me over for Christmas. They just don’t want me.

Tears burn my eyes but Gloria nudges me with a smile, dragging me from my thoughts. “As soon as he started talking about you, I knew you were the one.”

I blush as I shift in my seat, cradling my bump. “Oh, well.” I gesture to my bump.

“He was always going to be an amazing father, Rosie,” Gloria tells me. “He would be there for this baby regardless. But he’s chosen the best partner. You two just…” She shrugs. “Fit.”

I feel my eyes sting, and I blink back the tears. I’m unsure what to do with the compliment, with the affection from this woman I’ve only known for a handful of days.

“I think so too,” I admit quietly.

I lean forward, resting my elbow on the table, but Smudge shifts in my belly. I grab Gloria’s hand with a smile, pulling it to the side of my belly where Smudge likes to kick. It only takes a few seconds for a flutter to hit the spot, and Gloria gasps.

“She’s a twister.” She grins at me.

I laugh, before taking a sip of my drink. “I wish she’d be a bit lazier. She’s giving my internal organs a hammering.”

“I think Jackson permanently dislodged my spleen with a foot once.”

I choke on my water. “Huh?”