by Ann, Natalie
“That is what I keep telling her,” Sam said, slipping his arm around Dani’s shoulders. “She didn’t think that a few months ago when we were trying to find a venue and she was freaking out wanting to make sure it was just right.”
Dani punched Sam’s arm. “I just want it perfect. I’ve been to a few of your family weddings and I see what is done.”
“Now, Dani,” Diane said. “We don’t compare. Your family isn’t big, but you’ve got a lot of friends and so does Sam. Along with coworkers. This is your wedding and it’s what you want. No one needs a black tie affair like Ella had.”
“No one wants one either,” Bryce said. “Our wedding is going to be low key. Just the way I like things.”
“Oh, do you have a date you want to share?” Sam asked his brother Bryce.
“We do.”
His Uncle Grant and Aunt Diane stopped what they were doing. “When were you going to tell us?”
“Today,” Bryce said, smiling. “But I don’t want to take away from Drake so I figured we’d wait until you just asked me. You know I don’t lie well.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Drake said. “We haven’t even talked about dates.”
“We don’t have an exact date,” Payton said. “We are thinking maybe the end of August, early September?”
“That’s a beautiful time of year,” Aunt Diane said. “And gives us enough time to recover from Sam’s in April.”
“That was the plan,” Bryce said.
“Don’t worry about me. You can get married the next day if you want,” Sam said.
“No way,” Bryce said. “You get to be the lab rat.”
“Lab rat,” Payton said, pinching his arm. “That’s not very nice.”
“No, it’s not,” Uncle Grant said, “but we know the two boys always have to pick at each other.”
“I’m not getting married at all,” Ryder said. “You guys can do it.”
“You’re not getting married because you pick women that even you can’t stand to be around for more than a week,” Jade said to her youngest cousin.
Everyone laughed, himself included. “She has you there, Ryder,” Noah said.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m not taking the plunge. I’m having too much fun coming and going when I want.”
Noah looked around the room as everyone started to bust on Ryder some more. Even Wyatt got a few cracks in, but he was one to talk since he dated plenty too.
His mother was looking at him, he could see it, but he wasn’t sure why. “What?” he asked her.
“Nothing,” she said back. “You’re just being quiet.” She walked over and sat by him. “Are you happy for Drake?”
“Of course I am,” he said back. “Why would you even ask that? The ring was at my place for a week so Kara wouldn’t see it.”
His mother’s jaw dropped. “I should have known you’d know all along.”
“I’m not sure why you would think otherwise,” he said, tweaking her hair.
She laughed. “So are you happy to have some time off? What are you going to do with yourself?”
He didn’t find her question odd at all. “I’m not sure yet. I’ll probably catch up on some work.”
“You need to get out and have some fun,” his mother said.
He laughed. “I’m hardly serious and you know it. Don’t worry about me.”
She tilted her head to the side, then moved away from him. If he didn’t know better he’d think she knew he wasn’t volunteering he was dating someone.
* * *
One down and three to go,” Carolyn told Garrett after the family had left for the day. “It all worked out just fine. Now I know how Grant and Diane felt when Sam and Bryce got engaged. We are only one behind them now.”
“It did work out well. Kara fits in great with our family too.”
“She does.”
“So are we ready to move a bit more with Noah? How is that going?”
“I’m working on it,” she said. “I haven’t wanted to push too much. He brought Paige’s younger brother up last week, so I know he has been working with him. After the holidays I’ll see how it’s going.”
“I’m not sure about that one. Do you think it will work?”
“Noah is used to kids. He handles them well. This one is troubled and Paige is in over her head with him at times. Trust me, I’ve got a good feeling on this one.”
“If you say so,” Garrett said. “Merry Christmas to us and a year of planning the rest of the family.”
She laughed. “Merry Christmas to us. Our kids have no clue and I’d like to keep it that way!”
23
The Truth
“Sebastian seems happy.”
Paige turned and helped her father put the dishes away from their brunch. They never did a big dinner for the holiday, rather coming here to open gifts, filling up on breakfast foods, and then going home so Sebastian could enjoy the loot he got.
He probably didn’t get as much as other fourteen-year-olds, but he wasn’t deprived. She’d given him new clothes, some things for his room, a few games, and a box of his favorite junk food. It’d turned into a tradition of sorts to fill a big box full of candy and chips since she didn’t buy that much weekly.
Her father always gave Sebastian a few smaller things to open, tools mostly—guy things—and then gave him cash. She’d take him to the mall sometime and he could buy what he wanted.
Just like her father had ordered a few things for her and let Sebastian give them to her. Her nephew didn’t have any money, but he always wanted her to get gifts.
“He is,” she said. “He got some of the games he wanted. That always makes him happy.”
“What do you think about him staying with me during the break?”
“What?” she asked. “Why?”
“He mentioned he’d like to earn some money. I can have him working in the shop doing some small things.”
“Dad,” she said. “He’s fourteen.”
“He’s not going to be climbing under any lifts. He asked; I didn’t offer.”
She looked out of the kitchen but couldn’t see Sebastian. He was probably on his phone in the corner. There weren’t games for him to play here and he got bored fast if there was nothing on TV.
“He wants to learn?” she asked. “He told me he wanted to go to college a few weeks ago. I’m surprised he wants to learn to work on cars.”
“Wanting to know how to work on a car doesn’t mean he won’t go to college. It just means he wants to earn some money and fix things on his own. He’s going to be driving in a few years and I’m sure he wants to buy his own car and work on it. He won’t ask you for one.”
She sighed. “No, he won’t. I can give him what he needs, but a car is a lot different than sneakers.”
“I’ll deal with the car when the time comes. You know that. It will give us something to work on together. What do you say you let him stay a few days? If he hates it and wants to come home, I’ll bring him back.”
“If he asked you, I guess he really wants to do it.”
“And it will give you time to spend with this new guy you’re seeing.”
She ground her teeth. She should have suspected that was what this was about. “Sebastian!”
“What?” he yelled back.
“Get your butt in here.”
“What did I do?” he asked, moving slowly into the kitchen. Her father was grinning at her.
“You told Grandpa about Noah?”
“Yeah. So? I didn’t think it was a secret. Why didn’t you tell him?”
Why didn’t she was a good question. “It’s only been a few dates.”
“You snuck—”
“Stop.”
Her father started to laugh. “I told your aunt that you wanted to stay with me for the week and earn some money in the garage. I think she suspects you want her to have some time she can spend with Noah and not worry about getting home to you. Is that why you asked?”
Sebastian put his head down. A sure sign that was his motivation. “Well, was it, Sebastian?” she asked.
“Yes and no.”
“What part of yes and what part of no is it?”
“I think you should be able to spend some time with Noah and not worry about me being home alone or getting home earlier. And I want to earn some of my own money.”
“Why do you want money?” she asked. “You never do anything or go anywhere.” Unless he wanted to and was afraid to ask.
“I don’t want Grandpa to have to buy your gifts and say they are from me. Why can’t I earn my own money and pick them out myself?”
She wanted to argue with him but knew he was growing up before her eyes and how many kids nowadays felt that way?
“Any other reason?” she asked.
“Sometimes I want other games or things and I don’t want to ask you.”
She wanted to argue but knew she couldn’t. She only had so much money. He never asked for much and she was thankful for it, but when he did, or holidays came around, she tried to give him what he wanted.
She and Cora had worked at the garage when they were kids for money and it taught them responsibility. Well, it taught it to her. Cora blew through her money.
“Maybe it’s time you did start to earn some money. Your mother and I worked there when we were about your age.”
“You did?” he asked.
“We did. Just in the office. Filing, answering the phone. Cora went out on pickups with your grandpa more, but I didn’t want any part of that.”
“She probably figured she’d be able to slack off that way,” Sebastian said. “Or hit on guys.”
“Sebastian,” she said, lifting her eyebrow.
“What? I’m sure it’s the truth.”
Her father jumped in. “You can go back to the other room. You don’t have any clothes here, but maybe Paige wouldn’t mind bringing you back on Saturday and you can stay all next week. You’ve got the whole week off, right?”
“Yeah, we don’t go back until the following Monday. Then Paige can spend New Year’s Eve with Noah.”
She rolled her eyes. “Go.” The minute he was out of the room her father smirked at her. “What?”
“He just wants you to have a life too. He likes this guy and you knew that might be hard to find.”
“I know. I should be happy, but I don’t want him to think I don’t care about him or am putting him second either.”
“I don’t think he thinks that at all. Has he mentioned wanting to visit his mother?”
“No,” she said. “He brought her up the other day and we talked more than we have in the past. But he got upset and ran to his room. It’s baby steps. The last time he saw her was two years ago and she was putting the guilt on him about not visiting.”
“She’s medicated so much now. She knows what she did even if she doesn’t remember doing it,” her father said.
“I’m glad that she seems to be in a better place, but that doesn’t change what she did or how she treated her son for years. He needs time and he is a kid. If he wants to see her, I’ll take him, but I’m not forcing it. He needs to get to a place in his life where he’s happy.” She hesitated and then finally admitted, “He wants me to legally be his mother. I guess I’d adopt him.”
“I’m not surprised he asked. Are you considering pursuing it?”
“Yes. And I see a glimmer of happiness now and again. Maybe it’s helping with Noah, maybe not. I don’t know, but I’m not risking any setbacks that a visit with Cora could do.”
“It’s probably wise. She wanted me to get him a gift for Christmas and give it to him.”
“Did you?” she asked.
“No. I was torn. Would he be more upset if he got something from her feeling the way he does or if she didn’t do anything at all?”
“I don’t know the answer to that any more than you. Today isn’t the day to bring it up.”
“No, it’s not.”
A few hours later they were back at her apartment. She was making grilled cheese sandwiches when the doorbell rang. She knew Noah was coming over, but she didn’t think he’d be here until later. It was barely two.
“Hey, Merry Christmas,” she heard Sebastian say. “What’s in the box?”
“Some gifts.”
She shook her head, glad she thought to pick him up something small. She’d had a feeling he was going to do that and was happy he told her yesterday that he did. It was just the way he was.
She looked down at the grilled cheese and decided to wait until it was done cooking. Otherwise it’d get burned or be half cooked. Either would just open up a dialogue for her to get busted on and she wasn’t in the mood today.
“It smells good in here,” Noah said, walking in the kitchen. “Merry Christmas.”
“It’s just grilled cheese. We ate brunch around nine and both are hungry now. Can I make one for you?”
“I’m good. We do brunch too but ate closer to eleven. I’m stuffed.”
“I didn’t expect you this early,” she said, sliding the two sandwiches on a plate and passing them to Sebastian. He grabbed chips and walked into the living room. She should say something about his lack of manners but wanted the time with Noah.
“I normally stay later, but some of the other ones were leaving too and I said I had stuff to do. No one questioned it.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Can I get a kiss?” she asked now that Sebastian had left the room.
“You can. I’m not allowed to do this in front of him?”
“You can. I just thought we’d feel it out.”
“I know something I want to feel,” he whispered to her and then grabbed her ass.
“I’ve got a surprise for you, but I’ll tell you later.”
“Sounds promising. Make your sandwich then you can come open your gift.”
She finished her sandwich and put it on the plate, then went into the living room. There was a box on the floor and a small one on top. “This is for Sebastian.”
“Sweet,” he said, reaching for it. She could tell already it was a video game and she hoped it wasn’t one she’d bought him. If so she’d take hers back. “Awesome. I wanted the new Call of Duty.”
“Why didn’t you ask for it?” she asked.
“Because it cost more than the other ones. This is brand new.”
Noah looked at her and winked. “He was playing it at my house so I figured he wouldn’t mind it.”
“That was very thoughtful of you,” she said. And not surprising he figured out or listened and remembered Sebastian didn’t have it.
“This is for you.”
She reached for the box and ripped it open to see a massive crockpot. Her jaw dropped. There were two cookbooks on top of it. “Thanks...I think.”
He started to laugh. “It was Sebastian’s idea. He told me you wanted one.”
She turned and narrowed her eyes at Sebastian. “What? Noah said that is how he does most of his cooking. I just figured he could show you how to use it and I wouldn’t have to eat grilled cheese all the time.”
“Man, guess that was a lame gift,” he said, shaking his head. “I thought you wanted one. I never wanted to be one of those guys who gets a woman appliances or cleaning things for holidays, yet I just became that person to get played.”
“It’s great. I should learn how to use it.” She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “Here is your gift.”
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said.
“I know, but I wanted to.”
She watched as he opened up the scarf and driving gloves she’d gotten him. It wasn’t anything fancy, but she’d noticed he kept saying his hands were cold when they were out and he never had gloves on.
“These are great. I can’t find the pair I had and keep forgetting to get new ones. Perfect.” He kissed her on the lips, his eyes moving to Sebastian, then back to her. “Thank you.”
“I’ve got a gift for you too,” Sebastia
n said.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said.
“No, but it’s kind of a gift for Paige too.”
She rolled her eyes knowing what was coming. She wanted to make a wise comment but then realized that maybe this was his idea of a gift and she wasn’t going to complain if it was. Maybe it’d be good for everyone to have the space.
“What is it?” Noah asked.
“I’m spending the week at Grandpa’s.”
“Really?” Noah asked, laughing. “Was that your surprise too?”
“Yes, it was.”
Sebastian started to laugh and then opened his game. “Want to play against me?”
“Sure,” Noah said.
Yeah, Sebastian was happy right now and that was all that mattered.
24
With Family
“Did you tell Mom about Paige?” Noah asked.
Wyatt turned his head. The two of them were in the kitchen putting snacks on a plate. Paige was in the other room talking with Dani. Sam decided to have a New Year’s Eve party with all the cousins. Most were here or on the way now.
“No, why? What’s the big deal if I did?”
“Did Ryder tell Aunt Diane?” he asked.
“I have no clue. You’d have to ask Ryder when he gets here. That is if you want to get anywhere near whatever bimbo he decides to bring.”
Noah shook his head. “He’s bringing someone?”
Wyatt laughed at his brother. “Ryder hardly ever doesn’t have a date for something like this.”
“You didn’t bring one,” Noah pointed out. Everyone else in the family seemed to be paired up but Wyatt, Jade, and Ryder.
“When have you ever known me to bring some date for the first time to a family event? If it was somewhere else, maybe, but with family, no way.”
Now that Noah thought of it, Wyatt never brought dates for any family party unless there were more non-family members in attendance. Since this was just the seven of them and significant others it was a stupid question on his part.