“That’s good, right?”
Liam nods. “It is, but I think back to when I went through all of that and chose a school based on Mason, and how I chose to follow what my father wanted and not what I wanted. I remember how miserable I was and how much I hated school. Most of all, I remember the night I walked out on you, left you there in your dorm room, pregnant and alone. I don’t want that for our daughter, and I’m not saying Mack will do that or Paige is going to end up pregnant at eighteen. All I’m saying is I see a lot of me in Mack, and it scares me.”
“Why does that scare you, Liam? You’re a good man. You didn’t know I was pregnant. I know deep down, if you had, you would’ve stayed.”
He smiles and kisses me. “I love you more than life, JoJo,” he whispers against my lips.
“I love you too. Now tell me, why are you scared?”
Liam pulls away and looks into my eyes. “I want Paige to live life to the fullest. I want her to follow her dreams, not Mack’s, or anything they create together. I want her to explore, travel, and find her passion before she settles down. I’m scared they’re heading in our direction. When I was Mack’s age, I cared about three things: football, Josie Preston, and having sex with her.”
I can’t help but blush even though the situation doesn’t call for it. “We can’t stop them from falling in love, but we can prepare them and encourage them to think for themselves. I think Mack has a good role model in Noah, and Paige does as well with the twins. And I think you overthink sometimes. We just gotta go with the flow, Mr. Page.”
Liam growls and tackles me onto the bed. “You know, I brought my Santa hat. Tonight, you can sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what you want for Christmas.”
“Deal,” I tell him. “But fair warning, I’ve been very, very naughty this year.” I wink and get up before Liam can do anything. I’m to the door when I hear him groan into the blankets.
15
Liam
When you have a houseful of people, including three teenagers, and a brand-new baby, the Christmas tree is overflowing on Christmas morning. At some point, after everyone had arrived, Harrison, JD, and I decided that all three of us needed to play Santa. Handing out presents and wearing a Santa hat is something each of us does for our family, and it only made sense that we’d continue with our traditions. The only issue we couldn’t decide was how it would work. Thankfully, we have brilliant women to guide us, men, along in our lives. I don’t remember who blurted the solution out, but it made sense. The dads will take turns. It’s as simple as that.
This Christmas is unlike any other, at least the ones we’ve had in the past. Everyone is here, except for a few people. We’re missing Harrison’s mom, Mason’s dad, Ben, and Katelyn’s parents. My mom, Josie’s parents, and the Davises side of the family. But it’s Mack who I’m focused on at the moment. I’m sure the boy feels awkward, celebrating such an important day without his family. However, Josie has gone above and beyond to make sure he’s comfortable. He has presents under the tree, mostly from Nick, who made sure his son wasn’t going to go without gifts, but from us as well. Watching Mack move among our tight-knit family, it’s like seeing what my future will be. He fits in, and that scares me. I think deep down I want him to be on edge and always on his best behavior. I think I want him to be like I was when I was his age, afraid of Mr. Preston. Although, that fear didn’t stop me from being a complete shithead.
“Dad, are you going to stand there all morning?” Noah’s voice brings me out of my reverie and to the present. He’s sitting on the couch, with his wife and best friend curled into his side. Elle is sitting next to them. Nola’s sitting on the last cushion, and Quinn is on the floor in front of his future wife. Katelyn and Harrison sit together on one of two love seats, with baby Oliver nestled in the middle. Jimmy and Jenna claimed the couch closest to the fireplace. Jenna’s cold. Betty Paige, Eden, and Mack are on the floor, anxiously waiting for their presents. And my wife, the love of my life and the reason I am who I am, is patting the spot next to her. I push myself off the doorjamb and make my way toward her.
“Merry Christmas,” I say as I sit down and kiss her just below her ear.
“Merry Christmas to you.”
If I could meet and fall in love with her all over again, I would do it in a heartbeat. She’s the best thing to ever happen to me, and I hate that I let her down for ten years of her life. I’ll never stop trying to make up for what I put her through.
“Is it presents time?” Betty Paige asks. I have a feeling everyone is waiting, and not so patiently.
“JD, you’re up first,” Harrison says. JD stands and puts his Santa hat on. He tries to laugh like Santa while leaning back and holding his non-existent belly. The dude is skinny, always has been.
“I think you need to eat a sandwich, Santa,” I blurt out. Everyone erupts with laughter, except for Jenna.
“He’s perfect,” she says.
“Thanks, wifey,” JD replies. He crouches down and picks up the first package. It goes to Quinn. We thought about waiting for everyone to open their gift but realized we would be here forever, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing. JD continues to pass out presents and then hands the Santa duties off to Harrison, who continues. By the time it’s my turn, I’m down on all fours, under the tree, pulling out the last of the gifts.
Wrapping paper covers the floor, and boxes continue to stack on top of each other. Each of us has made a pile of our things along the wall to keep our space as clutter-free as possible. I come across a box with my name on it and do a double-take when I see who it’s from. I glance at Mack, who’s looking at the floor. I rip away the paper and open the box. Inside is a framed picture of Betty Paige and me. I’m crouched down and looking up at her, and her hand is on my cheek.
“Where did you get this?” I ask Mack.
“I took it,” he says. “I didn’t know how to thank you for . . .” he stops talking and takes a deep breath. “I thought you’d like it.”
“I love it. Do you like photography?”
Mack nods. “I do.”
“Do you have a camera?”
“Yes, it’s not great, but it works. I’m saving to buy a new one.”
I nod and turn my attention back to the picture. Candid shots like this mean more to me than the family posed photo. The image captures so much more. “This is amazing, Mack. Thank you.” I stand and go to him. I hold my hand out, waiting for him to shake my hand, but when he sets his hand into mine, I pull him up instead and into my arms. “Truly an amazing gift. When we get back to Beaumont, remind me to show you some of the equipment I have, and we’ll see what kind of pictures you can take.”
“I’d like that, sir.”
Mack and I have had a moment, one I never expected. When I let the boy go, I hand Josie’s the frame. Tears form in her eyes almost instantly, but she wipes them away before anyone other than me can see them.
“I told you he’d love it,” I hear Betty Paige say to Mack. She’s right, I do.
With all the presents opened, and most of them put away, the wives head into the kitchen to start dinner, and the husbands clean. The kids got off easy, in my opinion, and head out to the slopes.
“Eden sure likes to snowboard,” I say to JD.
“Yeah, she does, although I hope she doesn’t give up surfing. This cold, wet shit ain’t for me.”
Harrison laughs. “You have it so easy.” He slaps his hand down on JD’s shoulder, who scoffs.
“You’re an arse,” he says to Harrison. “Bringing a baby home for Christmas. You have all the clocks going tick-tock, tick-tock.”
“Not ours,” I say. “JoJo and I are done having kids.”
“Except now you have Mack,” Harrison says.
I shake my head slowly. “Nick will be back by New Year’s, and things will be back to normal. I’ll go back to being the dad who loathes any boy who looks at my daughter.”
“Except you like the kid,” JD says. He’s right, I do, and I
’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
After we have everything cleaned up, the men and Peyton head outside for a little game of football, and because Noah wants to play, he’s the designated quarterback for both teams, and no one can tackle him. Except for maybe his wife. The last thing any of us want is for Noah to get hurt. He has to fly back to Portland tomorrow and get ready for his game next week. It’s then that we’ll celebrate Christmas with my mom. She’ll happily miss the holidays, but she won’t miss her grandson’s football game.
Outside, we separate into teams. I take Peyton on mine because—well, why not. I’ve seen her play, and she could’ve undoubtedly started on the varsity at Beaumont High if she tried out for the team. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Mason would’ve let her if he was alive, and Nick felt the same way. He was prepared for her to show up in August of her freshman year. He already knew what position she’d play and everything. Honestly, I was a bit sad she didn’t do it. I would’ve loved to cheer my ass off for her.
It’s cold out but not as cold as it was earlier in the week. Noah crouches down, pretending he has a center in front of him. He looks at me, Quinn, and then Peyton calls the play and yells hike. Peyton and I take off running. We cross each other, with Harrison and JD hot on our heels, and leave Quinn available for the short pass. Elle is guarding her brother, but he’s too tall and easily catches the pass from Noah. But Elle is sneaky fast and can grab her brother before he can get any farther.
“Second down,” I yell as I run back.
“And short,” Elle says, cocking her eyebrow at me. I put my arm around her, and we walk back to the line of scrimmage together.
“I knew you paid attention when we watched the games.”
Elle winks and tosses the ball back to Noah. “I know more than you think, Uncle Liam.”
“Lovely,” I mutter.
Nola stands on our makeshift sideline, marking our imaginary downs and keeping time. We are only playing five-minute quarters due to the freezing air and elevation. I know that once we’re inside, we’re going to hack up a lung or two.
“Do you have room for one more?” I glance over at the voice to find Mack standing here.
“I thought you went skiing?”
“We did but came back.”
“Where’s Paige?” I ask.
Mack points to the house. “She’s coming out to stand with Nola.”
“All right, why don’t you sub for Noah.”
“Hey,” Noah says, acting as if he’s hurt. “What if Mack and I swap?”
“Yeah, whatever.” I’m almost out of breath, and I think I’ve pulled a muscle.
Noah hands Mack the ball, and for a moment, they talk among themselves. “Traitor,” I mumble at Noah, who just shakes his head. Mack takes up the center position, putting Peyton, Quinn, and me on defense.
“Let’s go, Quinn. Hit someone.”
I look over at Nola and then at Quinn. “She always into violence?”
He shakes his head and laughs. “Not normally. When we watch Noah’s games, she cringes a lot.”
“Me too,” Peyton adds.
“Hey!” Noah yells from the sideline.
“Sorry, babe,” his wife says back, although I’m not sure she means it.
Mack calls his play and points at me. What the hell? That’s okay because I’m ready for him if he thinks he’s going to run right past me. I get lower in my stance and wait for him to take his three steps back, only he doesn’t. He takes five. Like I used to. Like Noah does. In this moment, I’m thankful there is snow on the ground, and none of Noah’s receivers are here because I have a feeling Mack can throw the ball. I may not want to see what he can do here, but come football season, I’m going to have a front-row seat to his game.
He passes the ball off to Harrison, who runs right toward me, only when he gets close enough for me to grab, he tosses the ball behind to JD, who takes off running toward an empty field.
“Son of a bitch,” I scream as JD enters the endzone, and of course, he dances in victory. “Smart play,” I say to Mack. “Did your dad teach you to take five steps like that?”
He shakes his head. “No, sir.”
“Where’d you learn it?”
“From watching old videos of you.”
His words take the air from my lungs. Compared to my son, I was nothing of a quarterback. A high school kid dubbed the golden boy who flopped big time when he got to college. But Noah, he’s the real deal and puts me to shame in the record books.
“I don’t know what to say, Mack. I’m really honored.”
Mack smiles and then ducks his head. Peyton, Noah, and Quinn come to me and start talking strategy, but I’m too focused on Mack. He approaches Harrison, Elle, and JD, and they huddle together. When Mack looks over his shoulder and smiles at me, I realize then that our relationship isn’t going to be the typical father of the girl he’s dating. It’s going to be so much more.
Also by Heidi McLaughlin
THE BEAUMONT SERIES
Forever My Girl – Beaumont Series #1
My Everything – Beaumont Series #1.5
My Unexpected Forever – Beaumont Series #2
Finding My Forever – Beaumont Series #3
Finding My Way – Beaumont Series #4
12 Days of Forever – Beaumont Series #4.5
My Kind of Forever – Beaumont Series #5
Forever Our Boys - Beaumont Series #5.5
A Beaumont Family Christmas
The Beaumont Boxed Set - #1
THE BEAUMONT SERIES: NEXT GENERATION
Holding Onto Forever
My Unexpected Love
Chasing My Forever
Peyton & Noah
Fighting For Our Forever
CAPE HARBOR SERIES
After All
Until Then
THE ARCHER BROTHERS
Here with Me
Choose Me
Save Me
LOST IN YOU SERIES
Lost in You
Lost in Us
THE BOYS OF SUMMER
Third Base
Home Run
Grand Slam
Hawk
THE REALITY DUET
Blind Reality
Twisted Reality
SOCIETY X
Dark Room
Viewing Room
Play Room
THE CLUTCH SERIES
Roman
STANDALONE NOVELS
Stripped Bare
Blow
Sexcation
HOLIDAY NOVELS
Santa’s Secret
It’s a Wonderful Holiday
THE DATING SERIES
A Date for Midnight
A Date with an Admirer
A Date for Good Luck
A Date for the Hunt
A Date for the Derby
A Date to Play Fore
A Date with a Foodie
A Date for the Fair
A Date for the Regatta
A Date for the Masquerade
A Date with a Turkey
A Date with an Elf
About Heidi McLaughlin
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.
Don’t miss more books by Heidi McLaughlin! Sign up for her newsletter, or join the fun in her fan group!
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www.heidimclaughlin.com
Heidi McLaughlin, A Beaumont Family Christmas (The Beaumont Series)
A Beaumont Family Christmas (The Beaumont Series) Page 10