Raffe steps behind me. “We should go upstairs and change.”
I nod, giving the little family one last look before heading upstairs with him. The entire club is wearing pajamas tonight. I’m so excited because honestly, when are you ever going to see a bunch of scary bikers in red and green jammies?
Raffe and I smile at each other as we get dressed. I swear we get cheesier and cheesier the longer we’re together.
When it’s time to open presents, everyone goes one by one. “Okay, these are from me. Everyone got the same thing. All but three of you,” I say to the adults. The kids tore into their gifts hours ago.
“Alright!” Brody yells. “Fuck yeah.” He shoves an entire piece of fudge into his mouth.
My mother holds her quilt up proudly for everyone to see, but when the attention focuses on Billie Rose, she lets out a little sob. She’s reading the card I wrote to her. The one that explains my gift. Her hands shake as she lifts the wind chime from the box.
“Grandpa told Jenny it was his mother who told him about the wind chimes. That’s who he got it from. Maybe when he heard them it was his mama calling him home.” She begins to cry.
I almost feel bad for making her so emotional on Christmas Eve, but when she jumps from her seat to give me a hug, I’m glad I did.
She whispers in my ear, “I needed this so bad, Jenny. I’ve wondered my whole life what he meant. Now I know. Oh my gosh, and he actually listened to these.” She hugs them to her chest before rushing over to show her mom and dad.
Dirk gives me a little nod of his head. He’s pleased his daughter is over the moon with her gift.
“Okay, who’s next?” my mom asks.
“Oh, I’m not done! I haven’t given Raffe his gift.” I hand him a little box with a red bow on top.
His brows pull together curiously as he opens it. When he sees what’s inside, his mouth falls open. He doesn’t say anything for a long moment.
“What is it?” Jackson asks.
Raffe lifts his head and stares at me. He wants to know how I did this. So, I tell him the same story my mother told me while she sobs quietly across the room from us. Ray wraps his arm around her and hands her a tissue.
“I always thought your dad hated me,” Raffe chuckles sadly. He stands up and walks over to my mother, pulling her to her feet and hugging her as if she were his own.
“Dad’s bike is here?” Jackson asks excitedly, handing Rowan to Billie Rose. He grabs his dad by the shoulder and pushes himtoward the door. I don’t know who is more excited to see this bike.
When we step outside, there it sits. Raffe stops, covering his mouth with his hand while Jackson hops around it like a little kid. “Fuck. I can’t wait for spring. Aspen and I can ride it around the farm.”
Most of the women stay inside where it’s warm. “Don’t let Willow here you sayin’ that,” Jesse says, giving me a side hug.
Everyone goes back to the party, leaving Raffe and me to make starry eyes at each other in the falling snow.
“I want to take you on a ride so bad right now,” he says, a youthful smile pulling at his face.
“Maybe a midnight ride around the parking lot?” I suggest.
“It’s a date.”
He takes my hand and together we walk back inside, finding the family already on to the next person. I take a deep breath. “I love this,” I say, pointing to the group.
“Me too.”
We sit down next to each other.
“We’re down to two people. Jackson and Raffe,” Ray announces.
“I’ll go last,” Raffe says.
Jackson passes out his gifts. When he hands me mine, he keeps hold of it. “Aren’t you even going to ask why this is the first gift you’ve gotten all night?” he asks.
“No. I don’t need gifts, Jackson. Just being here with all of you is gift enough.”
