Chapter 9
As always, I had one eye on my children while the rest of my brain paid attention to the adult present exchange. Not that it was necessary. The kids were enjoying their gifts, entertaining themselves just fine. Besides, there were tons of other people, most especially their mother, to watch out for them right now. But it was a habit I didn’t see breaking any time soon.
Not that I was actually paying that close attention to the gift exchange either. My mind was stuck on something else, which was ridiculous because it didn’t warrant the brain time. Except I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that if Felix said he was too old for Oak, then I wasdefinitelytoo old, since I had at least five years on him. I knew Oak had celebrated his twenty-first birthday at the end of summer, which gave us a fourteen-year age gap. I was far too old for him.
Which really shouldn’t matter. I was barely out of a twelve-year relationship, had just moved across the country, and started a new job. More than that, I was barely bisexual, hardly ever attracted to men, and that in and of itself hadn’t happened since early college days. I wasn’t interested inanyrelationshipright now. My focus should be entirely on my children and our new life.
And yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Oak blushed or how he’d practically melted into my arms during the “mistletoe hug”.
“Law?”
I blinked and focused back on the table, seeing all the expectant eyes on me. “Yes? What?”
Charlie’s brows scrunched together. “Do you have Mary’s gift? You mind seemed to be wandering and no one—”
“Yes, sorry,” I answered hastily, glad I was past the days when my cheeks heated from embarrassment. I turned and grabbed the wrapped present I’d set on the table behind me. I made sure to hand it over with a flourish and staunchly ignored my brother’s questioning gaze. “Merry Christmas, Mary.”
She grinned as she took the package from me, opening it with precision so as not to tear the wrapping. When she lifted the lid, she teared up and placed a hand to her mouth. I knew the moment that Teague told me who I had in the gift exchange—he’d proxied for Caitlyn and I, since we’d still been in Arizona and he was organizing it—exactly what I wanted to get for her.
Mary lifted the sign I’d had customized, and turned it so everyone could see it as she read it out loud, “’My favorite people call me Grams.’ Oh, Law. This is lovely.”
I cleared my throat. “Well, we’re lucky to have Grams in our life.”
There was a round of “awws” and I couldn’t help but chuckle. When Mary interrupted the proceedings to scurry around the table, I met her with a tight hug. Then she patted my cheek and shooed me back into my seat. “Your turn.”
I looked around expectantly, but then my gaze landed on Teague. I didn’t know him well enough to know all his expressions yet, but the one he was wearing now was decidedlymischievous. I glared him down, but he didn’t relent. A moment later, smirk still in place, he handed over a brightly wrapped box. I eyed him suspiciously as I took it, but didn’t waste time in opening it.
I didn’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t what I got. A locally published history of Fairville sat on top, and a quick flip through showed pictures and lots of facts. Setting it aside, I was shocked to see a Victorinox Swiss Champ Swiss army knife. I didn’t know a lot about it, but it had every imaginable feature. I was impressed with the craftsmanship, and knew the multi-tool would come in handy. The last thing was a tiny plush Blue from Blue’s Clues. And it was the last thing that clued me in to the meaning of the whole present.
Teague was both welcoming me to town, hoping I would get to know it and love it as much as he did. He was equipping me with everything I needed to be successful. And he was also, albeit playfully, letting me know that the bond I had with my brother was special, and he understood it. It took me a second before I was able to speak.
I caught his gaze and held it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Teague’s smile was huge; he knew I understood, and he nodded just once. Then he put his arm around Charlie and pulled my brother close. I got that too. Teague was the one who had assumed responsibility for Charlie's happiness. I was the backup now.
I was surprisingly okay with that.
The tension sat heavy for a few seconds, not bad, just thick, until Teague gave a little wiggle and held out his hand to Nic. “Gimme gimme!”
“Never gets,” she sassed back, but she stood to retrieve a large gift bag and handed it over. Teague made a show of pulling the tissue paper out, and then laughed a booming sound as hepeered inside. Instead of pulling things out one at a time, he turned it over and dumped out the contents.
The way Charlie groaned while smiling while Teague pawed through the truly impressive pile of snack foods and chocolate, let me know that Teague probably did not need that much sugar. But Teague was absolutely thrilled, and Nic was just as pleased.
The noise drew the attention of the kids, and all three ran over to see what was going on. This set off a round of show and tell. Dana showed off the set of Mason Cash mixing bowls she’d gotten from Mary, Sean had to admonish Tristan not to touch the whittling set from Caitlyn, while Marlie was intrigued by the pink Littman stethoscope Uncle Charlie had gotten her mother. Harper of course, gravitated toward Charlie, and was leaning against his side, admiring the faux leather duster Dana had given him.
I should have been absorbed in the happy chaos around me, but instead, my gaze was drawn time and again to Oak. He was fidgeting and he opened his mouth several times but closed it before speaking. Since he was sitting on the other side of Caitlyn, who was next to me, I leaned back in my chair, waited for him to glance my way, and raised my brows.
“You okay?” I murmured.
Oak’s eyes went wide, and after a second, he nodded. I kept staring and a moment later, he said, almost in a whisper, “I need to make an announcement.”
I didn’t hesitate, sitting straight again and letting out a whistle. The kids knew that sound and went still, Caitlyn chuckled, but everyone else stared at me. I grinned. “The floor’s yours, Oak.”
As one, all attention turned to Oak, and heat blazed up his cheeks. He licked his lips and then rocked onto one hip, not quite able to meet anyone’s gaze, as he dug his wallet out of his back pocket. I slid my chair back an inch, ready to stand, unsure of where the urge to comfort him came from.
“I, uh. I have one more present.” Oak’s gaze was solidly on his wallet as he flipped it open. He stared at it for a long moment, then slid something out and handed it to his grandmother. Mary’s brows scrunched together for a second, then her eyes went wide.
“Oak! Oh, honey. This is wonderful!” She shoved whatever it was at Sean, and then scampered around the table to envelope her oldest grandkid in the tightest of hugs.
