“Please tell me you found the ring.”
We shared a startled glance, and he appeared around the bushes we were behind. Addi held up the ring. “We did.”
“You knew we were here?” I asked.
He shrugged. “If Grace hadn’t been so irritated, she would have noticed the footprints as well. She was determined not to go farther, so I just let her speak.”
“She’s not usually so…” Addi trailed off.
“Angry? Hurtful?”
“Yes.”
He held out his hand, and she dropped the ring into his palm. He studied it for a moment, then slid it into his pocket.
“I hurt her first. I need to make it up to her.” He paused. “I was correct then when I had assumed she confided in you, Addi? She told me how close you are.”
“She did,” Addi confirmed, her voice low. “She’s determined to end this marriage. She insists it was a mistake.”
He frowned, looking sad and forlorn for a moment. Then he shook his head. “It was not. And I am as determined to keep her as she is determined to be rid of me.”
“Why?” I asked before I could stop myself.
He looked at me as if I were crazy.
“Because she is the only warmth in my life. Without her, the cold will destroy me.”
His words hung heavy in the air. I had no idea how to reply to a statement that profound.
He cocked his head to the side, studying us. “Thank you for keeping our secret. One day, you will no longer have that burden.”
He turned and left, his footsteps heavy and measured.
Addi looked at me. “What the hell was that?”
His footsteps faded, and I whistled. “I hope Gracie is prepared. That was a man determined to win.” I looked down at her. “And I don’t think he’ll fight fairly.”
“Oh boy.”
Addison
Taking advantage of the break in the storm, Brayden and I walked a bit more, watched the skaters, and even had a snowball fight. We sat by the fire Aiden had started, warming up and enjoying the quiet. Brayden whittled some sticks for marshmallows later. Aiden joined us, and between them, they got a large pile done. Aiden was quiet at first, his knife moving over the ends fast.
“Great wedding,” he suddenly said.
Brayden snickered. “Yeah, it was.”
“You’re not mad at me, are you? I really wanted to give the toast.”
I flung myself into his massive arms, hugging him tight. “We would have been disappointed if you hadn’t,” I assured him. “You were very funny.”
“Bentley smacked me later and refused to give me a cigar. Mad Dog snuck me one, though, so I figured if he was okay with it, you would be.”
“We were more than okay.”
He relaxed and started telling us some funny stories, sounding more like Aiden. It hadn’t even occurred to me he’d be worried. It was strange how weddings and holidays seemed to make people more emotional. I was glad he said something so we could reassure him. He hugged me again before we left to head inside, holding me tight.
“Love you, Addi-girl,” he whispered, using his old nickname for me.
“Love you back, Uncle A.”
He stood with a grin. “I’m still your favorite, right?”
“Always.”
We left him smiling and happy.
I was beginning to feel tired, and I wondered how early we could head home. Between the wedding and Christmas and all the hidden drama, I felt drained.
Brayden kissed my head. “I’ll whisk you away after supper. We can have a bath and some sleep, okay, little elf?”
“You know me too well.”
He stroked under my eye, his touch gentle. “I know this little bruise forming means you’ve had enough. No one will think twice about us cutting out a little early. Technically, we’re on our honeymoon.”
I was grateful for that excuse.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when we got back to the Hub, but luckily, everything seemed fine. Jaxson was in the library reading, and Gracie was in the kitchen. Brayden kissed me, then went to find his dad, hoping for a game of chess. They started one each Christmas day, and it usually lasted until the New Year. They would take long breaks, sometimes a day between moves, trying to outdo each other. Maddox often won, although Brayden had beaten him two years in a row.
Gracie smiled as I walked into the kitchen. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright. I spied a bottle of wine on the counter—her favorite kind—and it was half empty. It was unusual for her to drink so much, but I supposed given the stress she was feeling, it was understandable. I poured myself a glass of red and asked what I could do to help.
My mom smiled at me. “You can make the gravy in a bit. The boys set the tables, the turkeys will be out soon, and dinner is in about an hour. Did you and Brayden have a nice walk in the woods?”
Gracie’s gaze snapped to mine, and I smiled innocently. “We walked on the beach and watched them skate. We mostly sat by the fire and whittled sticks with Aiden.”
I saw Gracie visibly relax.
“Why don’t you take your wine and sit by the tree? You’ve been going all day. I’ll call when it’s gravy time.”
I took her up on her offer and curled up by the tree. Shelby was busy sketching on the other end of the sofa. Ronan was asleep on another. Thomas was busy on his laptop, listening to someone in his earbuds, but he offered me a smile and a wink as I sat down.
Outside, the snow was getting heavier and harder. The wind was picking up as the sun went down, and I had a feeling Jaxson wouldn’t be going anywhere. I thought about what he’d said about hurting Gracie. I wondered if she would ever tell me the whole story.
How had I missed the fact that something huge was happening in her life, and I didn’t know about it? I had been so caught up in the opening of the winery, the wedding, and everything else, I had missed the signs. She had been quieter than normal, and we hadn’t seen much of each other outside of work. I vowed to do better once the holidays were over.
She walked into the room just as Jaxson appeared across the way. They stood looking at each other. His pain was evident in his gaze. Her anger colored her vision, and she glared at him and turned on her heel and walked away.
He watched her leave with a slight shake of his head, and he headed downstairs, disappearing from view.
For the first time ever, I wanted Christmas done. We really needed to talk.
Brayden
Dinner was its usual loud, boisterous affair. There was so much food. Platters of turkey and ham. My mom’s garlic mashed potatoes plus a huge dish of roasted ones. Liv’s curried cheese vegetables—the yams, carrots, and cauliflower tasty with a bite of curry and the rich sauce. Massive containers of stuffing. Platters of warm buns. Vast boats of gravy my wife had made.
Dishes of homemade cranberry sauce, festive in color. An area filled with nothing but cookies and tarts, pies, and sweets. A feast made with love by all the women in our lives, including my wife. I grinned, thinking about how much I loved calling Addi my wife.
Tables were set up like a U, and there was a lot of shouting and passing of platters. It always shocked me that no matter how much food was prepared, it disappeared. The Callaghan boys, their father included, were frightening when it came to meals. I noticed Jaxson was fascinated, watching them devour plate after plate of food. He informed the mothers he had never seen a feast such as this or tasted food so delicious. There was no doubt all the women found him charming, Addi included, except for the one he wanted to charm the most.
The food vanished, the wine flowed freely, lulling us all into a sated, quiet mood. The dishes were loaded into the two dishwashers, and everyone drifted to their favorite spot for some downtime. A lot of bodies were napping. Some reading. Some simply relaxing. Richard sat across from Gracie, scrolling through his phone, showing her amusing pictures at times. She had finally relaxed, the wine she had been sipping catching up to her. I felt relief at the fact that the
day was almost over and Gracie’s bombshell remained a secret. She could figure it out with Jaxson and move on. I knew she would tell her parents once it was done, although I was sure some of the details would be glossed over. She would make it sound like an amusing incident, and she would close this chapter.
I was an idiot to think so.
It happened so innocently. So quickly. Jaxson stood, announcing that he was going to leave. There was a chorus of objections he waved aside, insisting he would drive slowly and the vehicle he had rented had four-wheel drive and snow tires. He assured everyone he had only drunk one glass of wine and was fine. He stated he had work to do and had to return home. He kissed all the mothers and Nan, shook the hands of the dads and Pops, his gratitude sincere and honest.
He headed in our direction, obviously planning on saying goodnight to Richard and the rest of us. Gracie set aside her wineglass, watching him come closer with mounting anxiety. Richard glanced her way with a frown, as if noticing her reaction to Jaxson. He narrowed his eyes, suddenly watchful.
One moment, Jaxson was striding toward us, and the next moment, he stumbled over the edge of a throw rug. He righted himself quickly, but his cardigan caught on the edge of a table, pulling at his pocket. The ring he had slid inside earlier flew out, soaring through the air and hitting the floor with a metallic thud that seemed to echo. It rolled on the wood floor, landing in front of none other than Gracie. The heavy platinum band spun like a top, the diamonds catching the light, the last few circles reminding me of a lazy drunk wobbling side to side, before it stopped. Jaxson hurried forward, but Richard bent, picking up the ring and studying it.
“Pretty ring.” He narrowed his eyes. “Why is it in your pocket?”
“I forgot it was there.” Jaxson held out his hand. “If I may have it back, please.”
Richard held out the ring, then pulled back, squinting as he read something inside the ring. Jaxson went pale, and I shut my eyes, knowing whatever was inside the ring had just brought the secret out.
“My Saving Grace?” Richard snarled. “Why does this say ‘My Saving Grace’? Are you…” His eyes widened. “Are you having an affair with my daughter?” His voice rose. My dad jumped to his feet, heading in our direction, Aiden following. Addi and I stood, knowing what was about to happen would not be pleasant.
Richard’s gaze swung to Gracie. “What is going on?”
“This is why I don’t drink,” Gracie said, then, once again, burst into tears.
“Are you screwing with my daughter?” Richard bellowed. “You’re her boss!”
He stepped toward Jaxson, who shook his head. “No. Absolutely not.”
Richard shook his hand, the diamonds catching the light. “Explain this!”
Jaxson sighed and dropped his hand. There was nowhere to hide anymore. “We’re not having an affair, Richard. We’re married.”
For a moment, only the sound of Gracie’s sobs filled the air.
From behind us, one of the Callaghan boys muttered, “Well, holy…night. I wasn’t expecting that.”
Then it happened. Richard’s fist shot out so fast, none of us had time to react. I heard the sound of bone meeting bone, and Jaxson stumbled backward, the ring once again hitting the floor. It rolled under the sofa.
My dad sprinted over, wrapping his arms around Richard to hold him back. He was yelling and cursing, trying to get to Jaxson. Oddly enough, Gracie stood, blocking his way as Jaxson straightened up, holding his jaw. Katy stood mute and confused across the room, watching the scene unfold in front of her. My mom stood beside her, wrapping her arm around her shoulders in comfort as Katy covered her mouth.
“Talk about decking the halls,” another voice spoke up.
“I told you this wouldn’t stay secret,” I stated to Addi.
Richard’s wild gaze turned on me. “You knew?” he yelled. “You knew about this?” He struggled harder against my dad’s grip. Dad looked startled then lifted his eyebrows, indicating the door, telling me silently to get out. Others began to file from the room. It was like the proverbial sinking ship. The rats were getting out.
Holy shit.
Another Christmas I was going to have to run for it. At least this time I had my shoes. I grabbed Addi’s hand. “Time to go.”
I tugged her unwillingly behind me. I heard my dad tell Jaxson to get out, and he followed close behind me. We headed to his rental, and I took the keys from his hands. He looked as if he was in shock, and I wasn’t sure he should be driving.
I headed to our house in his SUV, the normally short drive seemingly taking forever. The windows were so covered in snow and ice, visibility was almost nonexistent, and I didn’t stop to scrape them. I pulled up and turned off the engine, grateful to have arrived.
“I should just go,” he muttered.
“You can’t drive in this, Jaxson. It would be suicide.”
We led him inside, and he sat down heavily on the sofa. Addi went and got the ice pack, pressing it to his rapidly swelling cheek.
“Gracie,” he breathed. “I need to go back.”
“No,” I insisted. “You need to stay right here and let Gracie figure this out with her family. You’ll be involved soon enough.”
“What just happened?” he asked in a daze.
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family, Jaxson. Brace yourself. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.”
I sat down, pulling Addi to my lap. “Enjoying your honeymoon?” I quipped, trying to lighten the air. “What’s a family holiday without a secret being leaked and fistfights happening? I mean, usually, it’s the triplets and eggnog is involved, but at least this one was different.”
“This is awful,” she whispered.
“Christmas took an unexpected detour,” I agreed. I hugged her close. “It’s going to be okay, Addi. Somehow, it will be.”
“What are we going to do?”
I looked over at Jaxson. I thought about Gracie’s tears. Richard’s fury. The chaos that had no doubt continued after we’d made our escape. I indicated Jaxson, sitting with his shoulders hunched over on our sofa. I kept my voice low.
“They need to figure it out, Addi. It’s their story to tell. Their future to decide.”
She rested her head on my shoulder. “Will we ever know what happened?”
I had to admit, I hoped so.
It was a tale I wanted to hear.
The Father Circle of Truth
BENTLEY
I stared inside the large, elegant room, watching Addi move around, her dress floating like a cloud around her tiny frame. She looked so much like Emmy did when I married her. Young, beautiful—with her whole life ahead of her.
Where the hell did the time go?
It seemed like only yesterday I was holding her in my arms, cradling her safely. Protecting her from the world. I was the one to slay the monsters under her bed. I held her when she had a nightmare. Kissed away the tears when she scraped her knee. She always looked at me as if I were a hero who could do no wrong. As if I were the center of her universe.
And now, I had been replaced.
I took a long draw on the scotch in my glass, ignoring the cold that surrounded me.
I should have worn a coat.
I should have brought the bottle of scotch outside instead of just asking for a triple shot.
I should have pitched Brayden over the balcony when I had a chance.
I drained the glass, holding it against my chest.
Addi looked to Brayden now for comforting. It was his arms she sought for protection. His counsel she listened to. The little bastard had usurped me.
“Bent, you’re growling.”
I startled at the sight of Aiden and Maddox standing beside me. I hadn’t even heard them come outside. Aiden handed me my coat.
“Emmy said you needed this.”
I shrugged it on, not letting go of my glass.
Maddox chuckled and held up a bottle of scotch. “I thought maybe you needed this as well.”
<
br /> “You’re going to have to share.” Richard VanRyan appeared beside Maddox.
“I brought glasses,” Reid offered.
Hal Smithers chuckled darkly. “I brought a second bottle.”
Van’s deep laughter echoed in the dark. “You guys are a sorry lot.”
I glared at him. “Wait until Sammy’s getting married. When some little shit steals your baby girl.”
“Hey, that little shit is my son,” Maddox protested.
I waved my hand. “I was talking in general terms.”
He laughed. “You were talking in scotch-soaked terms. You know they were meant to be together, Bent.”
He was right. Brayden was perfect for Addi. He respected her. Encouraged her. Let her fly. No one could be as proud of her as he was, aside from me. She was smart. Brilliant at running ABC. Another man might have felt diminished by her, but not Brayden. He was comfortable enough in his own skin to know how special she was. He knew the real Addi. The sweet, loving woman behind the stern mask she wore as a businesswoman. She was lucky to have him.
Maddox added some more scotch to my glass and filled up the other ones. We toasted in silence and sipped the liquor.
Jen appeared, a hand on his hip. “A BAM convention on the balcony. Six sorrowful-looking men, drowning themselves in scotch.” He shook his head sadly, although his eyes danced with glee. “Six hot-looking men, I might add. I had hoped you would bypass the sob fest, but I came prepared.” He walked over and lit the propane heater, the warmth almost instant. He indicated the cleaned-off table and the closed box on the surface. “You can sit and drink. I don’t want any of you pitching over the edge into the water. And there are some cigars. At least be civil, sit, wallow, and have your smoke. Your wives will drag your sorry asses home when you’re done.”
“Our asses aren’t sorry,” Aiden chuckled. “We’re here to support Bent.”
Jen pursed his lips, ignoring Aiden. “And soon you’ll all be crying about whose turn it is next. Wailing about the lost years.” He sighed. “I’ve seen it before.” He focused his gaze on me.
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