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I rode my Ducati to my parents’ house for Christmas Eve dinner. So much had changed in a year, starting with my cool-ass motorcycle, which Quinn had transferred to my name once everything with the court had settled. But that wasn’t the only change, and mostly, it was all for the better.
The evening was sure to be strained but not nearly what it had been the previous year. For the most part, I made up with my parents. Bruno helped me realize that if I wanted them off my back permanently, I should communicate more and a few concessions that I could agree to would go a long way. They would know I was okay on my own, and I’d know they were content with that. And leaving the rest of my life the fuck alone.
I’d set up quarterly meetings with my mother about my finances and how I was coping. She, in turn, reported whatever she wanted to about it to my dad. I felt more comfortable working through her, and she felt better knowing the truth of what was going on in my life. And that included her agreement to keep father in line and out of my business. So far, it was working.
The phone call I’d never answered last year had been from her. She had actually taken the time to research pup-play to better understand me and what I was into. She still didn’t completely get it but could accept it if it meant I was healthy and happy.
My father was still not on the same page with any of that, but with Mom acting as a buffer, I could at least stand having Christmas Eve dinner with them. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be too much of a dick. If he started in, I’d leave. I would much rather be with Quinn anyway. Since his mother and siblings were in Tallahassee, he was spending the evening with Jax and Ward, who had become our best buddies. It pissed me off that Quinn’s family were too consumed with their own lives to make time for him, but that was a problem for another time.
I parked the Ducati on the porch by the front door, not caring much if they didn’t like it. Then, I rang the doorbell as I walked in. “Hey!” I called out. “I’m here.”
Everyone gathered in what my mother referred to as the sitting room, but I considered it merely a stuffy living room without a TV. Either way, a few cousins, uncles, and aunts sat around the room. Everyone had wine or water in their hands.
Mother stood and walked over to me, grabbing my shoulders and kissing my cheek. “Darling. I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Son.” My dad shook my hand. “I heard you put in notice at your work.”
I huffed. “Spying again?”
“Relax. I heard it from your mother. But that’s fine.” He held his hands up. “I have something for you.”
“Oh?”
Mother smiled sweetly as Dad crossed the room to grab the present from under the small tree set up in the corner. It was the same miniature fir with silver bells and tinsel they had always sat on that table every year. I was more interested in how much she knew about this mystery gift. “It’s fine.” She put her hand on my shoulder, telling me she did, in fact, know what the gift was.
He handed me a neatly wrapped box. The bow was red, and the paper was shimmery gold. “Very pretty.” I tore into it, dropping the paper right there in the center of the room. Sure, it was a childish move, but it was still difficult to give my father any leeway. Truthfully, I didn’t trust him and wanted to push the envelope whenever I could to see how far I could go. I opened the cardboard box and pulled out a nice leather messenger bag. “Oh. This is nice.”
“It has your name engraved. There.” My father pointed to the golden oval tag that did indeed have my name, Royce Mabry, on it. “If you’re going into business for yourself or joining forces with friends, or whatever you’re doing, this should help.” He scowled a little, but this was the best gesture I’d seen from him since I was a kid.
“Thanks, Father. This is nice.” I was shocked. I’d expected him to harass me over quitting again, but the more I stayed at that job, the more stifled I felt. Instead, I would work with Jax and concentrate on building my portfolio back up. That little nugget of love for my father that I had buried deeply in my chest felt a little warmer at that moment. But I didn’t want to get my hopes up that everything was perfect. It was my father we were talking about. Not to mention, Mother was giving him the eye, obviously keeping him in line. For one moment in my life though, I’d take it as a win.
“You’re more than welcome. Now come have a drink.”
“In a second. First, I actually have something for Mom.” I reached into my inside jacket pocket and pulled out the present. It was a necklace I’d run across one day while shopping for Quinn. I’d landed on a new watch for him, which I’d give him when I returned home.
Home.
That’s what Quinn had given me, whether he knew it or not.
Mother opened the jewelry box and everyone aw’d over it. “Thank you, Royce. It’s very elegant in a modern way. It’s perfect.”
I kissed her cheek. “Glad you like it. It made me think of you.” I didn’t tell her my intentions came from a deep appreciation for her finally stepping up and getting my father off my back, because it was truly a Christmas present, but was a little bit of that too.
“I do. I love it.”
“Great.” Dad clapped his hands. “Let’s eat.” Smug bastard. I didn’t think he liked too much attention being spent on anyone else but him.
The rest of the evening was subdued, and I might even admit it was nice. It still wasn’t the warm and loving family I’d always dreamed of, but it was easier than it used to be. I had hope that my father finally moved on and realized I was grown and on my way to becoming an extremely successful businessman. Exactly what he’d always wanted. But on my own terms. Maybe that was the reason for the present.
After dinner, my mother walked me out. “I have something for you too, Royce. Wait here.” She went back to the tree and dug in, pulling out a present. The small box was wrapped as elegantly as the first one I’d opened.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.” She nudged my shoulder.
The wrapping paper was placed on a side table this time, and I opened the box. A silver dog tag charm sat on the velvet lining. “Nice.”
“Turn it over.”
