AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This year, she even found grown-up pajamas with little feet and a hood with a reindeer face and fake antlers. They looked like something we’d wear as kids, not grown men, but I would have worn anything to make Mom smile, especially after everything she’d been through. Each of us were a different reindeer, with Jackson having the red nose signaling he was Rudolph. For some reason, that made me laugh.
Jackson kept turning the pajamas over in his hands, frowning as he stared at the face of the reindeer. Nathan just laughed as he looked at him, shaking his head with resignation. Kat stared at hers with a look of confusion at first, as if not sure what to think. Harper just grinned and said, “These are so adorable. Thank you.”
She would look pretty adorable in hers, I had to admit.
“I know, they’re a bit silly, but I thought we could all use some silliness,” Mom said. “After the last few years.”
No one dared bad mouth the pajamas, not even Jackson who seemed to be acting less obnoxious toward Mom. I hoped that he had apologized to her at least, even if he hadn’t apologized to me yet.
Mom took her seat next to me again and grinned.
“So, what do you think?” she asked.
“They’re… certainly festive,” I said.
She laughed. “I thought y’all would look so cute in them, I couldn’t resist.”
“I’m surprised they make pajamas like this in our size.” We weren’t small men; it was hard enough to buy normal clothes for us at times, but footie pajamas for men over six feet tall? I was a bit stumped as to where she found them.
“I had them custom-made for you guys by a local tailor here in Chamonix.”
“Wow, impressive,” I said.
My eyes fell on Jackson who was refilling his mug with hot chocolate and slipping a little something else in there as well. Mom noticed where my gaze had landed.
“You should have invited your date from last night over, Mom.”
“Nah, this is time for family,” she said softly.
“You mean you didn’t want Jackson to throw another fit?”
She shrugged and took my hand into hers. “Jackson apologized to me for his behavior, and I understand that he’s had a hard time after what happened with your dad. He didn’t see your dad the way you did, Aiden, it’s been a lot harder on him. I should have been more aware of that before bringing a man to dinner.”
“Jackson is a grown man, Mom, and you’re allowed to move on and be happy.”
“I know, and I am. And Jackson and I talked about things. I think he realizes now that his dad and I are truly over. I see things moving forward in a more positive direction.”
“I hope so.”
“I know you two have had your differences. I just hope that one day you can put them aside and see each other the way I see both of you, as amazing, strong men.”
I didn’t want to bring my mom down on Christmas, but I wasn’t sure if Jackson and I could ever be close. I had tried over the years. God knows, I tried everything. But he always turned to personal, hurtful attacks just like Dad used to, and it wasn’t something I wanted to deal with anymore. I was tired of trying.
It was like Mom had read my mind.
“Jackson has always had a sharp tongue, and he is bad about pushing things too far. It’s because he can’t properly handle his emotions. He took after your dad too much. But I see him working through those issues, he’s growing up, he’s changing into a better man every day.”
Again, I hoped so. Jackson seemed to chug his hot chocolate, which I knew was more than just hot chocolate. Mom might have seen the positive changes he’d made, but she seemed to not notice the large amount of alcohol he was consuming. As his brother, it worried me, but I knew that there was nothing I could say to get him to bring it under control. He was too much like Dad. He might not ever admit he had a problem.
Mom yawnedand checked her watch. “Goodness, it’s getting late. We better get to bed so Santa can come… it’ll be an early morning of gifts, remember.”
She slipped from the room, and the others seemed to be considering their options, as well. Kat whispered to Harper, but I overheard, “You’ll have the room to yourself tonight,” and both girls chuckled. Did Kat have a boyfriend here in Chamonix too? I’d have to ask her about it.
Kat said her goodnights and headed upstairs as Harper began clearing away the mugs.
“Don’t worry about that,” I told her with a laugh.
“I know, the staff will clean it up. I’d just like to help if I can.”
