A Home for Christmas

by Vaughn, Ann

  “Thanks!” Cam said, his face beaming.

  “So, what do you want to do to celebrate?”

  “I don’t know. What do you think, Mom?”

  “Up to you, bud. Wherever you want to go.”

  “Can we play LaserTag?”

  Jenna looked over to Riley, knowing that LaserTag would involve him, not her. Riley smiled. Oh boy. She was in trouble now.

  “Sure, LaserTag it is.”

  Jenna decided if she hadn’t already been falling for Riley Stanton, after seeing the excitement on Cam’s face each time they came out of the LaserTag room, she definitely would be now. Going through LaserTag with a former Navy SEAL, Cam was in seventh heaven. They won every single time they went in. Cam never had won at LaserTag before. Every time they came out, he had an even more exciting story than the last time. She knew she would never forget the look on his face or the sound of excitement in his voice.

  By the time they got home, Cam was worn out. He and Riley played two rounds on the PlayStation and then Cam, on his own, told them good night and went to bed.

  “Thank you so much for all you did for him today,” Jenna told Riley, handing him a mug of hot chocolate as she settled on the couch next to him. “You really helped pull him out of his pre-race funk.”

  “His dad has really done a number on him, hasn’t he?”

  She sighed. “He has. Wade is…I don’t even know him any more. He’s definitely not the same guy I knew. I wish I could talk to him like I used to, but I can’t even relate to him any more.”

  “He’s changed that much?”

  “Yes.”

  He reached out to tuck a lock of her hair that had escaped her ponytail behind her ear, then trailed the backs of his fingers down her cheek. Jenna closed her eyes and slightly leaned into his touch. Riley placed his mug on the coffee table and cupped her face in his hands, leaned forward and for the first time, gently captured her lips in a tender, lingering kiss. Jenna gasped and he used that opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue sweeping into her mouth to duel with hers. She tasted so sweet, just as he thought she would.

  In the hall, well out of their line of sight, Cam watched Riley kiss his mom and couldn’t help the hopeful feeling that raced through him at the sight. He really, really liked Riley, even if it had only been two days since they knew him. He was really cool and he wasn’t all caught up in himself the way Cam’s dad was. After watching them for a minute, Cam quietly tiptoed back to his room and prayed that his mom would decide to keep Riley around.

  Chapter Five

  The following week was like nothing Jenna had ever experienced before. Riley came over every evening after work. He helped Cam with his homework. He got there before she did on Wednesday and he and Cam had dinner ready by the time she got home. Jenna had to fight tears as she sat at the table. It had been so long since someone had cooked for her. To be honest, other than her mother, she didn’t think anyone ever had. Wade certainly never did.

  Watching Cam work so closely with Riley, having Riley there filling the role that Wade had abandoned, even sitting at a table with candlelight and roses and food she hadn’t had to prepare…it was a lot for her to handle. She was barely hanging on by a thread and when Riley had initiated the blessing, she lost it.

  “Mom?” Cam asked, uncertain of what was happening.

  Jenna covered her face with her hands, silently crying. She heard the scrape of a chair and then suddenly Riley was there, his arms around her, lifting her from the chair. She heard him say something to Cam and then he carried her from the room. He sat on the couch and cradled her in his lap and just held her while she cried. After several minutes, when her tears had subsided somewhat, Riley reached down to cup her chin in his hand and lift her face so he could see her eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Nothing to be sorry about,” he said, smoothing his hands over her cheeks to wipe her tears away.

  “Mom?” Cam asked, drawing her attention. “You OK?”

  “I’m good, bud, I’m sorry.”

  Riley looked up at Cam and made eye contact with him. Jenna wasn’t sure what passed between them, but Cam got up and left, leaving her there with Riley.

  “Look at me,” he said, softly. When she raised her eyes to meet his gaze, he lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “What’s going on?”

  She took a deep breath. “It’s just…no one’s ever done something like this for me before.”

  “Like what? Take care of you?” She nodded. “Better get used to it, babe.”

  She squeezed his hand, tears falling down her cheeks again. This time, Riley leaned forward and kissed them away before touching his lips to hers. For the first time, Jenna didn’t hold herself back. Maybe it was because Cam was just down the hall and she knew it couldn’t get out-of-control. Whatever the case, she turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

  “Thank you, Riley,’ she whispered when they pulled apart, pressing her forehead to his, and placing her fingertips against his lower lip. He nipped her fingertip lightly, then ran his tongue around her finger.

  “Anytime,” he replied. “and I mean that. You don’t have to do it all alone any more.”

  “Riley,” she whispered, kissing him, “please don’t make promises you can’t keep. My heart is fragile enough, but Cam…”

  He kissed her back. “Quit while you’re ahead, babe. Don’t piss me off.”

  She smiled and combed her fingers through the back of his hair. “I’ll try.”

  “Good. Let me take care of you, Jenna. You and Cam.”

  “Tell you what. You’re still here by Christmas and we’ll talk,” she said, giving him a final kiss then sliding off his lap.

  He watched her walk down the hall to Cam’s room. Closing his eyes and letting his head fall back on the couch, he reached down to adjust himself in his jeans. For the first time since leaving the Navy, Riley felt like he wasn’t just spinning his wheels. Jenna and Cam had come to mean a lot to him in just a few short days…and that surprised him. He’d never really seen himself as the settling down sort but after spending these days with them, it was becoming easier to see. He wanted them both. He admired Jenna’s strength and courage. She’d distanced herself from her ex. He’d checked her financials. She’d made a success of her maid service and bought this house without any of Blackwell’s money. It was a nice house in a nice neighborhood. Not as big as the house she’d had when she was with Blackwell, but no shack, either. All the money that Blackwell sent for Cam, she was putting into a college fund for him, except in December, when she used part of it to buy Cam’s Christmas presents.

  “Falling asleep on me, Stanton?” she asked.

  He smiled when she sat beside him but didn’t open his eyes.

  “Just thinking,” he said softly.

  “About?”

  “You.”

  “You flatter me,” she said and he could hear the smile in her voice.

  “Just stating facts. You and Cam…Jenna, you both mean a lot to me.”

  “Riley…” she started but he stopped her by pulling her into his arms and kissing her until she was clinging to him and breathless.

  “Don’t over think it, OK?” She nodded. He kissed her once more, then reluctantly released her and stood. “Good night, Jenna.”

  “Good night, Riley,” she echoed.

  ***

  The next few days passed just as pleasantly as the previous ones. Jenna was learning to take Riley’s kindness in stride and not get quite as emotional over the small, thoughtful things he did. Friday night, Jenna sat pensively in the living room while Cam was on the phone with Wade in his bedroom. She hated when Cam spoke to Wade because he was always sullen for the first few hours afterward. Riley was working late that night and told her he probably wouldn’t make it over until Saturday morning. It was the first night since she met him that he wouldn’t be with them and she found she missed him more than she was prepared for. />
  Cam came out of his room and handed the phone to her.

  “Dad wants to talk to you,” he said, then left her to go back into his room.

  Taking a deep breath and praying to keep her cool, Jenna raised the phone to her ear.

  “Hello?”

  “Who the hell is Riley?” Wade snapped without preamble.

  She closed her eyes and counted to ten before speaking.

  “Hello, Jenna. How are you?” she said dryly.

  “Cut the bullshit, Jenna! Who is this guy you’ve had around my son?”

  “Excuse me? Where do you get off, Wade? How many girlfriends have you had around your son since our divorce?”

  “We’re not talking about me.”

  “Riley is none of your business.”

  “He damn sure is if he’s gonna be in my kid’s life!”

  “I’m not doing this with you, Wade. Did you need to discuss anything about Cam?”

  “I want an answer, dammit, Jenna.”

  “Riley is someone who has shown an interest in both me and Cam. He’s the first man I’ve brought around our son since the divorce. That’s five years, Wade.”

  “I don’t like it,” he snapped.

  “Well, it really doesn’t matter what you like. I have full custody. You haven’t seen your son in over six months. You don’t get to dictate to me who I choose to see.”

  “Bullshit!” Wade growled.

  “Good-bye, Wade,” she said, ending the call.

  She closed her eyes for a moment, calming her temper, then got up and went to Cam’s room. He was lying on his back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

  “You OK?” she asked, sitting on the side of his bed.

  He sighed. “Yeah. I’m sorry I said something to him about Riley.”

  “He’s not a secret, Cam. It’s OK if you talk about him.”

  “I know, but I should have known better than to say anything about him to Dad…I was just so mad at him for not coming to my last race and I wanted to get back at him.”

  Jenna’s heart hurt for her son. He didn’t deserve to be treated the way that Wade treated him. One day, Wade would regret these years he missed out on…but that didn’t help Cam now.

  “I know, baby, you don’t have to apologize to me.”

  “Yeah, but it made him gripe at you.”

  “He tried to gripe at me,” she amended, winking at him. “Don’t you worry about me, Cam, OK? I can handle your dad.”

  “Is Riley coming over tonight?”

  “I don’t think so. He had to work late.”

  “Is he on a mission?”

  “Not like you’re thinking. He’s working in the surveillance room.”

  “Boring!”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Do you like Riley, Mom? Like, really like him?”

  She laughed and stood up. “Good night, Cameron.”

  “I take that as a yes!!” he called after her, making her laugh.

  Jenna went into her room and got dressed for bed. Once she was settled under her covers, she took out her phone and texted Riley.

  Busy?

  His reply was almost immediate. Nope. Just got home, actually.

  Can I call you?

  Her phone rang in her hand and she smiled as she answered.

  “Hi,” she said, settling into the pillows.

  “What’s up?”

  “First, I missed you today. We’ve been together every day for seven days. Gotten used to seeing your face.”

  His warm chuckle melted over her through the line. “I missed you, too. More than you know.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yup….but that’s not why you’ve called, I have a feeling.”

  She sighed. “Well, not only why…Wade called Cam tonight.”

  “That’s good, right?”

  “Not really. Every time they talk, Cam gets real quiet for hours afterward. Tonight, he gave Wade an earful…about you.”

  “Oh, bet that didn’t go over well.”

  “Mm, like a ton of bricks. Wade made him give the phone to me and then tried to get on his high horse about who the hell I was bringing around his son. Can you believe that? After all the women he has paraded around Cam since the divorce! I ended up hanging up on him. He immediately called back but I didn’t answer.”

  “Did he threaten you?”

  “No. That’s not Wade’s style.”

  “Even still. If he calls again, answer, put him on hold, call me and merge the calls. I’ll handle him.”

  “That’s sweet of you, but not necessary. The only way Wade bothers me is in how he handles Cam. Nothing he can say to me or about me bothers me anymore.”

  “Still, if he calls and harasses you, I want to know, OK?”

  “OK. What do you want to do tomorrow?”

  “I’ve got to work in the morning but I’m free after that.”

  “Just come by when you’re done. We’ll be waiting.”

  “Will do. Goodnight, Jenna.”

  “Goodnight, Riley.”

  The next morning, Jenna was awakened by pounding on her front door. Grabbing her robe, she got up and ran to the door, Cam close behind her. When they saw who was on the other side, they exchanged shocked looks.

  “Go call Riley,” she told Cam and waited until he was in his room before she opened the door. “What are you doing here, Wade?”

  “Is he here?” he snapped.

  “He’s in his room.”

  “Not Cam. Your boyfriend.”

  Jenna’s eyes bugged. “Are you freakin' kidding me? You couldn’t be bothered to come to your son’s last race last weekend but you flew all the way here overnight because I’m seeing someone!?!?!”

  “You’re my wife, Jenna!” he snapped.

  “Ex-wife, Wade!”

  “Only because you were being stubborn,” he shot back, pushing past her into the house.

  Jenna looked at him as if he’d just sprouted two heads. “You have got to be joking!”

  He shot her a lethal glare. “You didn’t answer my question. Is he here?”

  “No, he isn’t, not that it’s any of your business.”

  “Who you bring around my son is one hundred percent my business.”

  “OK. Now you’re just being delusional. We’ve been divorced five years. In that time you have gone through at least six live-in girlfriends, all of whom were around Cam at one point or another and I never said a single word, did I?”

  “That’s different,” he growled.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I never intended any of those women to be around for any length of time.”

  “And that makes it better?!?! What kind of an example is that for you to set for your son?”

  “Are you sleeping with him?”

  “That is none of your business!”

  He took a step closer to her, she knew he thought to intimidate her, but her days of caring what Wade Blackwell said and thought were long gone. When she didn’t back down, he scowled at her.

  “You’ve changed,” he noted.

  “Yes, I have. You need to go, Wade. Go on back to L.A.”

  He reached out to touch her hair but she jerked back.

  “You cut your hair.”

  “A long time ago, Dad,” Cam said, coming up behind him.

  “Go on back to your room, Son, your mom and I need to talk.”

  “No, sir. I’m staying right here with Mom.”

  Wade rounded on Cam, who took a step closer to Jenna’s side.

  “Wade, you really need to…” She stopped when they heard tires squeal outside. Cam crossed over to the front door and opened it to let Riley in.

  “Hey, baby,” he said, coming to Jenna’s side. “Wade.”

  “Do I know you?”

  Riley shrugged. “You knew my brothers, Trevor and Aaron Stanton.”

  Wade nodded, eyes narrowing. “Riley Stanton. The oldest brother. Heard you were a SEAL.”

  “Guilty.”


  “Wade was just leaving, weren’t you?” Jenna cut in.

  Wade’s gaze shifted from Jenna to Riley, then back to Jenna.

  “We need to talk,” he told her.

  “So talk.”

  “Privately.”

  She slid her arm around Riley’s waist, ducking under his arm. “Anything you need to say to me you can say in front of Riley.”

  “Dammit, Jenna, I…”

  “Watch your tone, Blackwell,” Riley warned him, his own tone menacing.

  “Now, listen here, I don’t care what your background is, you can’t come here around my family and…”

  “We’re not your family!” Cam exploded. “You left us! This is our house, not yours! Mom bought this with her own money and we don’t want you here so get the hell out!”

  “Cameron!” Jenna gasped.

  Riley, seeing the anger in Wade’s eyes, released Jenna and stepped in front of Cam when he saw Wade make a move to grab his son.

  “You need to go. Now,” Riley told him.

  “You’re not going to tell me what to do regarding my own family,” Wade seethed.

  “We’re not your family!” Cam yelled. “You don’t care about us and I don’t want you around. I’m sick of being your son! I don’t even want your stupid name any more! I hate you!!!!” With that parting shot, Cam turned and ran to his room, leaving the adults in stunned silence.

  “What have you done to my boy?” Wade growled at Jenna.

  “What have I? What did you do last Saturday, Wade?”

  “What?” he asked, clearly taken back by her question.

  “Last Saturday after Thanksgiving. What did you do?”

  “Nothing. I was at home.”

  She shook her head. “And that is exactly why you are losing your son. It was his last race of the season. He won the race and the championship. He desperately wanted you to be there, but you told him you had a publicity thing.”

  “It was a little race at the local track, not like he was on the major circuit, which he should be, by the way.”

  Jenna shook her head and turned to look up at Riley.

  “Will you please see him out? I’ve got to go see to my son.”

  “With pleasure,” Riley said, scowling down at Wade.

  “Don’t walk away from me, Jenna,” Wade snapped, which, in front of Riley was a huge mistake.