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“Jackson overheard Henry call us both some names and he?
?s upset,” Elias tells me. Damn it, Henry. I squeeze my eyes closed and bear hug Jackson. “He was also momentarily worried about having to move because someone else is staying in your rooms, but I told him not to worry about that.”
“Thanks,” I say to him. I pull away from Jackson and wipe his tears. “Jackson, baby, listen to me. I’ll talk to your dad. In the meantime, we need to decorate those cookies before you go to bed, okay?”
“Do we have to go tomorrow?”
“Let me think about it, okay?” He’ll hate me tomorrow when we see Henry anyway. I don’t know yet what Henry called us, but if we don’t do anything else while we’re over there tomorrow, he will be apologizing to my son.
Jackson nods. I hand him his clothes, item by item, so he can dress himself in his pajamas. Jackson’s mood lightens bit by bit as we head downstairs and decorate cookies; this time it’s only Elias, Jackson, and me.
“Shoo, Elias.” I hold up a butterknife with icing on it as if I might fling the icing at him. It’s maybe the third time I’ve said something in efforts to get him out of the kitchen.
He raises an eyebrow, as if daring me to follow through on my idle threat. “Why are you trying to get rid of me, Raelynn?”
“Because your family is here and ever since we’ve been home, you’ve been with us.” That was another reason why I didn’t want to spend Christmas here. As an afterthought, I whisper, “And it’s past Bree’s bedtime.”
He glances at the clock on the oven and frowns. “Okay, you have a point. J-man, I need you to finish this one for me.” He slides the cookie he was working on over to Jackson and a moment later, it’s just the two of us in the kitchen.
Soon, Jackson and I leave out a plate of cookies for Santa, say goodnight to everyone in the living room, and then head upstairs to bed. Elias’s bed was made to be a fort, especially a Christmas fort. Derek helped me wrap and string lights on the headboard and footboard as well as the tall bedposts. While his questions to Jackson irked me because I felt like he was spying on me in a way, the questions he directed at me while we hung the lights and draped blankets and sheets over Elias’s bed were almost casual and friendly.
He also tried to tell me that I was Elias’s perfect type, but failed to elaborate. Derek thinks his friend is head over heels in love with me already and he said I better not hurt him. I’m not so sure about that, but I do know things are definitely serious. Far more serious than it may be if kids weren’t involved.
And maybe it’s risky, but I decide to slide into the middle of the bed with Jackson to my left. This way I get to sleep next to Elias, too, instead of only Jackson. Jackson cuddles against my side and whispers about how he loves Christmas forts the best. Also part of our tradition is me reading a few Christmas books. I love these moments with him.
Each year, he gets bigger, older, and soon, he’ll start complaining about these traditions, I’m sure. I cherish every year he eagerly cuddles with me and waits for me to read him a book. Or when he wants to build a blanket fort and play underneath it for hours rather than watching TV. Practically any moment where he needs me or wants to spend time with me because one day, he’ll grow up and those moments will come less frequently.
I’m lightly dozing off when the bed dips and a kiss is pressed to my cheek. Elias sits up next to me with a smile.
“This is magical,” he whispers.
“That’s why it’s a Christmas fort.”
“Santa is here. Where are...?” He nods toward Jackson.
“That heavy bag you carried in?”
“Got it. You stay. I’ll take care of it. Don’t want to wake him if you move.”
“Thanks.”
Elias kisses me one more time before disappearing to place Jackson’s gifts from Santa underneath the tree. Jackson rolls away from me while he’s gone. After a little while, Elias returns and scoots as close to me as possible, taking my hand in his.
“Do you know what Henry said?” I whisper.
“I’m a prick and you’re a liar. He said it while we were outside and Jackson heard him.”
I sigh. So far, Henry has done more harm than good. If he can’t get his act together, he can just go away. Henry still has some growing up to do. He needs to think. He’s making stupid mistakes and he’s not thinking about how his choices affect Jackson.
Elias pulls me into his arms.
“Elias,” I say, about to argue.
“Don’t even think about it. It’s been a rough day. You need the comfort I can give you. Jackson will be okay.”
I don’t really want to argue either. I chose to sleep in the middle of the bed for a reason, didn’t I? With a deep breath, I relax against him.
“I have a request,” Elias whispers a few minutes later.
