by Zoe Reid
“I’m not,” I said.
They both gave me a look and then burst out laughing.
I put my hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, maybe I am.”
“Well, Sean’s dad and I met a long time ago right in this town. Did you know we’re ten years apart?” Mom said.
“I didn’t,” Brooklyn said.
I glanced at Mom. I knew she was trying to ease Brooklyn’s mind about our age difference and showing her that it could work out. I appreciated that more than she knew.
Mom and Brooklynn talked for some time, the both of them quickly easing into a comfortable relationship, which made our decision to come here much easier to swallow.
Mom made sandwiches for lunch, and I helped her with dinner. Brooklynn didn’t leave my side, but she had no skills when it came to cooking. She tried her best while Mom gave her some tips along the way.
It was early when we decided to turn in. I set her up in the guest room.
Looking around the room with fresh eyes, it was nowhere near the quality and elegance of the guest room I stayed in the night we first made love.
She sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to her.
I sat and wrapped an arm around her. “We’re going to be okay.”
“I know,” she said. “Your mom is so great. She’s warm and really cares for you. It’s nice to see that.”
“You know your parents care for you, too.”
“Yeah, but not like that. They’re so standoffish. I can’t believe Daddy didn’t even want to hear me out about us.”
“He did tell me to stay away from you,” I said. “He was probably hurt too.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I bet it was his pride more than anything that was hurt.”
I sighed and held her against me. I had to do something for the Turner’s. I put everyone in this situation, and I was the only one who could reconcile them. Christmas wasn’t far away, and I knew how important the holidays were for family.
Brooklynn wasn’t going back without a fight, so I had to be the one to force them all to come together as a family. If she were going to be a part of mine, it wouldn’t be by force.
The next morning, Mom made her famous blueberry muffins with scrambled eggs and bacon.
I never saw Brooklynn eat two servings before. She complimented Mom with each bite. It was nice seeing them getting along so quickly.
After breakfast, we headed into town.
“In all my time here, I’ve never come to town,” Brooklynn said. “Mom always insisted that we shop closer to the boutiques a few towns over.”
“We’re just going to the bank,” I said. “I can take you wherever you want after.”
“No,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I like this much better. I don’t want to rely on my parents for anything, especially money.”
On the way to the bank, Brooklynn insisted on checking out the local shops. She stopped outside a small consignment shop a few doors down from the bank.
“See anything you like?” I asked.
She pointed at a pair of earrings in the display. “Those are beautiful.”
“They are,” I said.
She sighed. “They remind me of a pair that my grandmother had. My dad’s mother. I don’t know where they ended up.”
I smiled at her, knowing that I’d found her Christmas present.
“We should head to the doctors and the hospital now to pay the bills.”
She nodded and took my hand.
Leaving the hospital’s finance department, I felt as if I were floating on a cloud. Without the weight of the bills on my shoulders, I could finally breathe.
“What’s next?” Brooklynn asked.
“I need to stop by the house real quick and then I’m taking you out to lunch.” I hated lying to her, but it was easier to ask forgiveness than permission.
She didn’t question me later when we jumped on the highway, or when we got off a familiar exit.
It was only when I turned into her driveway that she turned to me. “Sean, what the hell are you doing?”
Chapter 18
Brooklynn
“Sean,” I said, grabbing for my seatbelt. “Stop the truck.”
“You’re not jumping out of the truck,” Sean said, locking the door.
“You said we were going out to lunch,” I said, frantic.
“And we still can, after we speak to your family.”
“I don’t want to,” I said, crossing my arms. “You can’t make me.” Daddy’s words about my immaturity flew to my ears.
“It’s the right thing to do. We left quickly yesterday and giving your dad some space; I think he will be willing to talk to us.”
I scoffed. “Then you don’t know Daddy.”
“You do,” he said. “Would he want to have a Christmas without his daughter?”
I frowned but said nothing else. He had me there. But that didn’t mean I had to go crawling back to Daddy. He would listen to us this time. “If he’s not willing to talk then we’re leaving.”
Sean nodded. “We need to try at least. I don’t feel right about keeping you away from your family because of our relationship.”
An actual relationship with Sean sounded heavenly. I just had to get through another confrontation with Daddy.
As the house came into view, my stomach lurched.
I felt as if we were on a rocket ship, headed for a black hole.
Sean pulled around to the front, and the moment he turned the car off, the front door opened.
Daddy charged toward us, his lips curled with anger.
“This isn’t a good idea,” I said.
“It will be fine,” Sean said, getting out of the car.
“You’re back?” Daddy said to me. “I thought so. Your little fantasy with Sean wasn’t the fairy-tale ending you wanted?”
He glared at Sean, but I stayed next to him, not allowing Daddy to bully me.
“I didn’t want to come here,” I said. “Sean practically took me, hostage. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have come back.”
Daddy blinked and glanced at Sean.
“I’m so sorry, Paul,” Sean said. “I went against your wishes, and I’m the one to blame. But I love your daughter, and I want the best for her. And that means spending Christmas with her family.”
My mouth fell open. “You love me?”
He turned to me. “Of course I do. I wouldn’t have risked everything if I didn’t.”
Sure, I loved him too, but I never thought he’d be the first to say it. And we’d only known each other a short amount of time, telling him I loved him any sooner would have been strange. With his admission, I became even more firm in my decision to leave with him.
“Lust is not love,” Daddy said to Sean. “You took advantage of my daughter and specifically against my wishes.”
“I pushed him, Daddy. I wanted this to happen. After you spoke about me to him, he tried to ignore me. But we couldn’t do it forever.”
Daddy rolled his eyes, though I saw his facade start to crack.
“I want to spend Christmas with you, Daddy,” I said. “But only if you accept that Sean and I are going to be together.”
Daddy frowned. “You took advantage of my hospitality, Sean. I can’t pretend not to feel betrayed.”
“I understand,” Sean said. “And I will do anything to show my gratitude for that. I’ll work day and night to earn your trust again.”
Daddy considered that. “You’re a stand-up guy, Sean.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Daddy waved his hand. “There will be none of that. While this whole situation isn’t ideal, as long as you have her best interests at heart, then we attempt to get back to where we were before.”
“Are you serious?” I asked.
“Yes,” Daddy said. “Sean, if you want, after Christmas, you can have your job back.”
Sean nodded and shook Daddy’s hand. “I’ll consider that. Thank you.”
“
Now, I have to get back to work,” Daddy said. “Say your goodbyes. Brooklynn, I expect you to be inside for lunch immediately.”
Daddy left, and I whirled on Sean. “I can’t believe you did this without telling me.” As much as I was happy that Daddy was okay with us, I couldn’t help feeling the same betrayal that Daddy did with us.
“Would you have come any other way?” he asked.
“You two bartered with my life as if I were a piece in a chess game.”
“Brooklynn, we went against your father. This was the best case scenario. Don’t you understand that?”
“If we’re going to be together, we need to be together. Promise me from now on you will be honest with me.”
He took my hands and pulled me close. We both looked toward the door and thought better of kissing. I wanted to so badly, but I didn’t want to push Daddy or Mom if they happened to be looking out the window. I had no doubt that Daddy would be on high alert for a little while, but we’d be able to wear him down.
Mom would have to side with Daddy in whatever decision he made, even though he’d probably have to drag her kicking and screaming.
All of the things in my life didn’t matter as long as I had Sean by my side. Daddy would be proud to have his daughter with such a hard-worker instead of some wealthy CEO that cheated on me with his secretary. Money didn’t mean happiness, and I knew that now.
“I thought you’d be a little pissed, so I wanted to give you your Christmas present a little early,” he said.
Daddy said Sean could have his job back after the holidays. Did that mean I wouldn’t see him until then? Though I had a lot of explaining to do and Sean needed to be with his Dad. It was the least I could do after making him lose his job.
He went to the truck and grabbed something from the front seat.
That was odd. I didn’t see anything before.
But when he came toward me again, I saw the box was small, easily hidden. Funny, I normally had a nose for gifts in my general vicinity.
I immediately jumped to an engagement ring, but it was probably too soon for that. Sean wouldn’t risk sending my family over the deep end.
“What is it?” I asked.
He kissed my cheek; his scruff tickled my skin. “Why don’t you open it and see?”
I took it from him and tugged off the ribbon of the box. Inside were the same earrings from the display in town.
“How did you do this?” I was with him all day.
“I had Mom run into town to get them. That’s why we stopped back by the house. Well, other than for me to get your suitcase.” He picked up my things from the bed of the truck. I hadn’t noticed that either. I was losing my tough.
I shook my head. “How did you afford them?” I remembered the price tag. I wasn’t good at much, but I did know shopping.
“Thanks to you and your family, I can afford them. I know how much I’ve changed your life and if these can be a reminder of my feelings for you, then they are worth every penny.”
“Oh, Sean. Thank you so much.” I hugged him and gave him a quick peck on the mouth. I wasn’t seeing him for some time, so my parents would understand if they were spying on me.
“They are beautiful,” I said. “I’ll wear them every day.”
He smiled. “I should go now.”
“Text me when you get home,” I said. “And keep in touch. Please. I don’t know what to expect when I go in there.”
He squeezed my arm. “You’re the strongest girl I know. You will be fine. I’m just bummed that I won’t be able to see you every day.”
“Hopefully that will change when you accept the job again,” I said.
He nodded. “We’ll see how Christmas goes.”
“Merry Christmas, then,” I said.
“Merry Christmas.”
I watched him get into his truck and drive away, not moving until his truck was out of sight. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to last without seeing him either, but I had to try. He thought I was a strong woman and I would prove it.
The first thing on my list would be to tell Dad everything, well, almost everything.
Chapter 19
Sean
Christmas tunes crooned out of the speakers in the hallway outside of Dad’s room. All the nurses were decked out in Christmas attire. Some of them wore elf or Santa hats while some went all out with big white fluffy beards. The cheerful Christmas spirit was in the air, but not in our room.
Mom tried to make it seem a little more festive by hanging tinsel on the curtains and even bringing a small fake tree for Dad to look at whenever he was awake. It was pitiful, but I didn’t tell Mom that.
We were all trying.
After finding out I wasn’t a match for Dad’s kidney transplant, my mood spiraled. Thankfully, I had Brooklynn to keep up my spirits. She texted me all day. We talked about everything, though I tried to steer clear of talking about Dad too much. It hurt that we had to spend Christmas Eve in a hospital eating Jell-O and terrible cafeteria turkey instead of being at home, surrounded by the warmth of a fire and an actual tree.
I watched the steady rise and fall of Dad’s chest as Mom held his hand.
He didn’t talk much as the very action exhausted him. But he was awake. Who knew for how long. It was getting later, but Mom and I weren’t going home until Christmas was here.
The waiting game was hell. All I wanted to do was scream at the doctors and nurses to save my father. But that would do nothing. It was up to fate now on whether he would live or die.
Someone knocked on the door, and I turned around to see who it was. The nurses never knocked…
Brooklynn stood in the doorway.
My jaw dropped. She looked like a Christmas miracle dressed in red and white striped leggings and an oversized white sweater.
I stood up from my chair and took her into my arms. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to come here,” Paul said from behind her.
I glanced at Brooklynn, and she smiled broadly.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Mom hugged Brooklynn, and she introduced herself to Paul.
“You’re Brooklynn’s father,” Mom said, appraising him.
Paul swallowed hard as if he were gearing up for punishment from Mom. I’d never seen him so scared before. But Mom could be severe and intimidating when she wanted.
“I know what my daughter told you,” Paul said. “But I’m here with Christmas spirit and the best of intentions.”
“While I’m grateful to see Brooklynn,” I said. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
Paul walked over to Dad and sat in my chair next to him. “Mr. Wade. Brooklynn told me about Sean not being a match for your transplant, so I took it upon myself to have the tests administered. It appears that someone in this room is a match and that someone is me.”
“What?” Dad croaked. Tears pooled at the corner of his eyes. “I don’t understand.”
Paul turned to Mom and me. “Brooklyn and I had a long discussion about what happened between her and you, Sean. It’s clear that she is just as in love with you as you are her. And if we’re going to be a family, this is something that family’s do for each other.”
“It’s too much,” Dad said, now fully crying.
Something pinched in my chest, and I had to take a breath before I broke down as well.
“It’s not,” Paul said. “It’s my pleasure. My grandmother was ill for much of her life and if I could have helped her, I would. This is my way of helping another member of my family.”
Did he think of us as a family?
I shook hands with Paul and Mom hugged him again.
While our parents got acquainted, I pulled Brooklynn aside to talk to her.
“This is so unexpected,” I said. “After the check, your dad gave us and now this. I feel as if I’m forever in your debt.”
“The only thing you need to do is be with me,” she said. “That’s all I ask.”
“That won’t
be hard at all,” I said, kissing her.
She molded her body against mine as I deepened the kiss.
Since we were in front of our parents, I didn’t kiss her for long even though I wanted to do so much more.
“I love you so much,” I said, pecking her on the lips.
“I love you too.”
I laughed, unable to hide the giddy feeling inside of me. Everything was going to be alright for once. “I love how you’ve never given up on me, even when I pushed you away.”
“Well, when I like something, I have to have it.”
“You have me, baby. Always.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear,” she said. “Now let’s get on with some Christmas celebrations.”
Brooklynn left the room and returned with Mrs. Turner and Gavin. Bethany was a little standoffish at first, but Mom welcomed her into the family with open arms.
Dad eventually had her laughing so much that she shed her stuck-up personality and had fun for once.
Gavin was happy about Brooklynn and me finally getting together, claiming that he knew it from the start. With that little tidbit of information, I wondered if he helped convince Paul of my intentions as well.
None of these people were at all like I imagined when I accepted the job. But now I had a fantastic girlfriend and an extended family. This was the best Christmas I could have ever asked for.
Bethany had ordered a feast for us to enjoy that night. And even though we were cramped in the small hospital room, I knew right then and there it would be the most special Christmas Eve ever.
After Dad fell asleep, the Turner’s decided to go home. While I would have wanted Brooklynn to stay the night, I thought it best for her to go back to her own comfortable bed. One that I hoped we’d share someday.
She wrapped her arms around me, and I held her against me. “Merry Christmas, Brooklynn.”
“Merry Christmas, Sean.”
I kissed her goodbye and waited until the sound of Mrs. Turner’s heels clicking across the floor had faded into the distance.
I took Mom’s hand, and we sat together next to the hospital bed while visions of a happy future and sugar plums danced in our heads.
