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***
Christmas morning.
The first thing I did was text Mo but I hadn’t heard back from her. Not that I was expecting to. After gifts and breakfast, most of us went out to the lake to play a game of three-on-three hockey.
The rules were the guys couldn’t check the girls, but the girls definitely abused that rule. I landed on my ass on more than one occasion, courtesy of Ace.
McKenna stood on the side playing score keeper and ref while the teams played hard.
Team one, Dad, Myke, Ace, and Cael, was freaking stacked. My team consisted of Uncle Ketty, Teagh, Mom, and Syd. Needless to say, the team with four hockey players on it was certainly stronger than the one with two players on it, regardless of who was sitting out a shift. But it was still fun.
McKenna called time after she received a text from Aunt Ronnie, saying that dinner was ready. We all made our way back to the house, through the snow and trees, while spirits were high. Snowball fights ensued on the walk back, only further elevating the mood.
After everyone ditched boots and jackets, and tossing skates on the back deck, we made our way in. The smell of turkey and ham, as well as all the other dishes, filled the air.
Then, rising above the smells and voices, Lucky’s bark fought to be heard. She jumped up from her dog bed, more nimble than she should for her senior age, and ran toward the front foyer.
My grandparents and parents exchanged frowns but before any of them could go see who walked into the house, there was a booming, “Merry Christmas!” from the foyer.
“Jonny?” Mom jumped out of the kitchen chair at the sound of my second oldest brother’s voice.
Sure enough, my brother himself walked into the family room, void of his jacket but snow still speckling his close-cropped hair.
“Hey, Mom.” Jonny’s words were soft, but his smile was wide.
Mom ran up to him and embraced him, her arms around his middle while he looped his arms around her neck. “Oh, Jonny! I’m so glad you made it!”
“Where’s Jenna?” Dad asked as he walked in to greet Jon Jon as well.
Jonny squeezed Mom and let her go before shrugging, more or less dismissing Dad’s question. “I decided that I needed to do the holiday with you guys. She understands, but she decided to stay in the Bahamas with her family.”
Dad stared at him in the way he sometimes did, trying to read between the lines, but ended up letting it go. “We’re glad you’re here.”
The rest of the day flew by in a rush of positive emotions. Before everyone headed to bed, the Ketterhagens left. In the morning, Aunt Nat, Uncle Joe, and Nick were due to leave as well, leaving just my immediate family and grandparents for Jonny’s birthday.
It was easy to forget the fact that come next week, I’d be in a new school with a new hockey team. It was easy to forget that my parents were disappointed in my actions. It was easy to forget that people I’d called friends had no problem throwing me under the bus.
This was definitely a needed break and made me realize that amid all my bitching about my brothers and hockey and the future, it was when my family was together that everything felt completely whole.
It felt right.
