Page 74 of Pinch

It’s Christmas morning, and we’re opening gifts at Dad’s house in Wilmington. My half-brother Finn is sitting on the floor with his back to the couch in front of my half-sister Sabrina, who sits beside her dad Slayde, my mom Kenny’s second husband.

My family can get a little confusing with all the halves, especially with my two moms insisting we keep everybody close. I’m not complaining—I love my big, twisted family.

“That gift is rank, and you should stop dead-naming Gavin,” Sabrina grumbles under her breath.

“Easy, Tiger.” Slayde scolds his daughter in a low voice, giving her a nudge. “It’s Christmas.”

A former boxing champ, Slayde’s past is pretty dark, but he loves us as much as we love him. He also works at my dad’s private investigation firm as one of their lead trackers.

“I’m just saying, he asked us to call him Gavin.” My teenage sister pushes her long dark hair behind her shoulder. “We should respect his wishes.”

“Good grief, Bree, we respect your brother.” Kenny fusses from where she sits, looking more like Sabrina’s twin sister than her mom.

They’re both petite with pale skin, dark brown hair, and big blue eyes. The blue eyes are the only thing I got from my mom Kenny. Otherwise, I look exactly like my dad.

“What is dead naming?” Elaine frowns from where she’s digging in the bag again.

“Calling him Lane instead of Gavin,” Sabrina explains.

“My sister, the social justice warrior.” I lean forward to tug her foot. “I don’t expect them to remember after all this time.”

Elaine drops her hands looking up at me with sad eyes. “Does it really hurt your feelings, Laney? I’ll try to do better.”

“It’s all good.” I wave her away. “Aren’t you going to open your gifts, Dad?”

“I’m too busy enjoying the floor show.” He picks up a small box, turning it in his hands. “I hope this isn’t jewelry.”

“Open it!” Kenny cries, and I guess it’s from her.

He tears the paper back then shakes his head. It’s a pewter badge that opens like a locket to reveal a picture of all of us in it.

“That’s different.” He turns it so we can see.

“Found it on eBay,” she explains.

“I think it’s cute,” Elaine jumps in, taking it from him to study.

We continue unwrapping our gifts, sitting on the floor beside the Christmas tree, and it’s good to be here with my family. My mind jumps ahead to next year and a little baby ripping through all the paper, looking for gifts. It tugs a smile at the corner of my lips.

I guess next Christmas might be too soon for a baby to be walking, then I realize I don’t even know Haddy’s due date.

My stomach tightens, and I remember her face, her worried eyes, the way she told me then fell straight into the bushes.

“What are you grinning about?” Dad nudges me with his foot.

We’re all lying around now inspecting each other’s’ gifts, being together.

I glance up at him, thinking about our past and how our mixed-up family came to be. “Can I talk to you about something?”

His brow lowers, and he uncrosses his foot to stand. “Anybody want some coffee? Gav and I are treating.”

Five yeses ring out.

We take everybody’s orders, and he gives me a nudge as we start for the door. “See if Starbucks is even open. We might have to improvise.”

We do manage to find a coffee shop that’s open, andwhile we wait for all the different specialty items to be prepared, I decide to come clean.

I’ve always been able to talk to my dad, and he’s good at keeping things between us until I give him the okay to share. Probably because he’s a PI.