She stared at me for a couple of more seconds, then picked up her pace to get to the kids she adored.
Charlie, Uncle Teague, and Salem went after her, and I headed to my cabin.
As I sat there, eating my dinner in a quiet solitude, I wondered if this was what I preferred or what I’d just chosen for tonight.
What did I want for life? Was it too early to ask that at twenty-one?
I didn’t have any illusions of finding someone who could accept me for who I was, let alone wanted to commit and have kids with me. All I’d ever been told growing up was how bad and evil and sinful gay people were, and how they would never be able to have proper families with children. And that was it, wasn’t it? The answer to my question: I wanted a committed relationship and kids somewhere down the line. I just felt too damaged to believe that there was a chance for me to have them with someone who truly loved and respected me.
I tried to stay in my lane the days before Christmas, mostly because Caitlyn would stay until the day after Christmas and I wanted to give her every chance to be with her kids before she left. I knew I was the new and shiny person for them, but she needed this time as much as they did, and I would be there for them after, too.
The Inn had a handful of rooms occupied for Christmas, so there was still a lot of work to do around the place. I cleaned, as usual, and Charlie was in the office.
I assumed everyone was where they were supposed to be, really, so when I got out of one of the rooms in the backside of the Inn and saw Caitlyn round the corner as if she was looking for me, I froze.
“Hi,” I squeaked, tapping my in-ear headphones to pause the music I had been listening to as I worked.
She gave me this look of acknowledgement I couldn’t quite read. “Hi. Sorry to bother you while you’re working.”
“No, it’s okay. What can I do for you?” I couldn’t think of one thing she could need me for.
“I just wanted to thank you again, and to tell you that I appreciate everything you’ve done for my kids and Law.” Her gaze slid off my face and it felt as if she was trying to decide something. Then she said, “I know you’ll continue to be there for them after I’m gone. Don’t feel guilty about that, all right? You be whatever they need you to be, and don’t worry about what I might think or feel.” When she looked at me again, her eyes held sadness.
I didn’t know what she meant, but I nodded dumbly. “Uh, okay?”
“That’s all.” She smiled. “You’re a breath of fresh air after what everyone’s been through lately. I think you’re exactly the kind of person they need to have in their circle.”
Shrugging awkwardly, I fidgeted with the handle of my cart of supplies. “I mean, kids need to see there are all kinds of people in the world, right?”
For a split second her expression suggested that I was a sweet summer child, but maybe I read her wrong given how quickly it was gone and how I didn’t know her at all.
“Okay. I’ll stop bothering you now,” she said brightly. “I hope you’ll come to the Christmas dinner?”
“Do you think my grandparents would let me skip it?”
Laughing, she shook her head, looking like a supermodel as her hair flipped with the movement. “I suppose not.”
She gave me a wave and left, and I moved to the next room, trying to figure out what I’d missed.
Chapter 7
Law
The jaunty knock on the door had me quickly setting down the eggs on the counter and bumping the fridge door shut with my hip. I was already heading toward the front when I heard Tris yell, “I’ll get it!”
“You will not,” I called, picking up my pace. I made it to the front room at the same time Cait jogged down the stairs.
Tristan turned to us, eyes wide. “But it’s Grams. I canseeher.”
It was true. Mary Mulligan was standing on the front porch, bundled in a hat, scarf, and coat and waving through the window next to the door. I had no idea what she was doing here but it was good to see her.
“You still have to wait for me or Daddy before you open the door, young man. It’s the only way to stay safe,” Cait said, trying for serious and nearly ruining it with her smirk.
Tristan cocked his head. “What about Uncle Charlie?”
Caitlyn’s lips twitched. “Yes, or Uncle Charlie.”
“What about Uncle Teague?”
