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“You’re missed,” she said with a sweet smile.
I scoffed. “I highly doubt that.”
“Stop it, yes you are,” she said softly. She placed a hand on my arm. Her face creased in a worried expression. “Your mom was asking about you.”
I had still not apologized to her for my shitty behavior the night before, and now knowing what I did about Dad, I felt even shittier about it.
Yet, there was Mom, always willing to forgive and love unconditionally, even when I was an absolute fuck up.
“I’ll be right in there,” I said, trying my damndest to hold back the tears.
I was a grown man and had always been told that grown men didn’t cry. Harper remained at my side and didn’t press me for any answers. I appreciated that about her.
“Come on, I’ll be right next to you, and if you say the word, I won’t leave you all night,” she said.
“Promise?”
“Cross my heart. Well… except when I have to use the bathroom.”
“I can always join you, you know.” I winked at her, feeling better already.
With a playful slap, she took my hand into hers and motioned for me to follow her, to rejoin my family.
I knew what I had to do at that moment. I followed her back into the formal living room, and seeing that Aiden had stepped away, I sat down beside my mother.
“Mom, I just wanted to say something.”
She turned to me and smiled. “I know, Jackson.”
“You know what?”
“That you’re sorry,” she said. She clasped my hand in hers. “I know it’s been hard on you, and I should have warned you before bringing Charles over.”
“No, I’m a grown man. I shouldn’t have thrown a fit like a spoiled toddler.”
“It’s okay, I forgive you.”
All these years, I had chosen my dad over my mom, and I’d been wrong. So, so wrong. But seeing the way she looked at me, I knew that I still had plenty of time to make things right.
19
Aiden
“Gather round, everyone!” Mom called out. “I have a gift for you before we all head to bed.”
Nathan groaned but was grinning as he did so. “Don’t you think we’re a little old for matching pajamas, Mom?”
“Never,” she replied, and the smile on her face was enough to convince me, and most likely my brothers, to do anything our mother asked of us. This was the one thing that always seemed to bring her the most joy on the holidays—the whole family in matching Christmas pajamas, wearing them to bed and waking up in them on Christmas morning. We’d then have breakfast before opening our other gifts, and Mom would get tons of photos of us all matching. Dad never bought into the tradition, even though Mom often bought him a pair of his own pajamas. He never wore them.
We sat around the Christmas tree as Mom gathered the presents she had set aside for us, handing them out one by one. She handed me mine and I waited for the others to get theirs. She even handed one to Harper.
“Oh, I wasn’t expecting anything,” Harper said, her cheeks flushed. “You’ve already done so much for me. I apologize that I wasn’t able to get anyone gifts.”
“It’s okay, dear,” Mom said. “I love this part of the holidays, and it was fun shopping for you. I just hope they fit.”
“I’m sure they’ll be perfect,” Harper said with a smile.
Once everyone had a present, Mom motioned for us to open them. As expected, they were matching pajamas, which surprised no one.
