“Easier said than done, I’m afraid. I’ve been so good at it for so long, I can’t give it up now. What would my superpower be then?”
“Being hard on yourself is not your superpower. Pissing me off is. I think you need to pick one to give up as a New Year’s resolution, then you can work on the other one later.” I love that sassy mouth. Fuck, how I’ve missed it.
“Fair enough. In that case, I’m willing to give up my current superpower and develop an entirely new one that doesn’t involve making you homicidal when I’m around.”
“That would help me a lot, because prison orange is just not my color.”
The rest of the plane ride goes by way too fast, with us talking and laughing like friends do. But I meant every word I said. I’ll do my best not to screw this up the way I have every other chance she’s given me. Maybe it’s the time of year. Maybe she’s more sentimental than I realized, letting the holidays fill her with cheer. Or perhaps she’s more forgiving than she should be, because I don’t think I’d be as compassionate and charitable as she is.
When we reach her parents’ house, I’m floored by the amount of festive decorations adorning their yard, the outside of their spacious home, and every palm tree in their yard. Even with the bright Florida sun high in the sky, all the lights are lit, and the animated characters are doing their thing.
Landen rushes out to meet us, thrilled to see his mom again. Then he turns his attention to his friend. “Isa, isn’t this awesome? You should see it at night.”
Isa stares at the trimmings with her mouth gaping open and her eyes as big as saucers. When I glance at Juliana, I realize she’s in awe as much as the children are.
A hit-and-run sledgehammer slams into my gut when the stark realization hits me. In all the years I’ve raised Juliana and helped with Isabelle, we’ve never celebrated Christmas like this. I was so focused on providing them with the best of the material things money can buy, I never realized these moments, these memories, are what would’ve stayed with them forever. All the money and success in the world couldn’t buy her expression, or replace the many lost opportunities for a lifetime of reminiscing.
I feel like a complete and utter failure.
Daisy’s parents come outside to greet us with warm smiles and open arms. Everyone gets a hug and a kiss. They don’t care that we’ve never met. They don’t mind that we’re not family. They’re both thrilled to invite us into their home and share their lives with us in every way.
“Rod, this is my mom, Chelle, and my dad, Brian.” Daisy pulls me out of my past and into the present.
“Yeah, we met just a minute ago when your dad laid one on me. I think he snuck a little tongue in there too, I’m not sure.” I’m kidding, we all know that, and a little joke helps break the ice, anyway.
“I did, but just a little. I’ll do better next time.” Brian chuckles as he claps me on the shoulder, then Daisy moves down the line to finish all the introductions.
Brian grabs suitcases out of the SUV we rented and heads toward the door. Kevin and I follow his lead and head to the back of the vehicle.
“Dude, have you ever met parents like that? They literally didn’t think twice before kissing me when I first met them, and I’m dating a friend of the family. I’ve never had anyone’s parents embrace me the way they do. Too bad they’re Daisy’s parents instead of Tracy’s.”
“Then you’ve been around the wrong people, my friend. You’re the best man I know. I don’t know what’s up with Tracy’s family, but they’d never find a better man for their daughter, even if he fits in better with their skin tone.”
His brows draw down and a grim expression covers his face. My poor choice of words didn’t help. I meant what I said as a compliment, but I may have unintentionally implied he shouldn’t be with Tracy. That’s not the message I intended to convey at all.
“Hang on, man. Get that thought out of your head. Tracy isn’t like her parents, the same way I’m not like my dad. We can’t control who raised us, only what we do with the rest of our life.”
He nods, his expression brightening a bit. “It’s hard to keep that in mind sometimes. I’m working on it, though. I’ll get there, eventually. She hasn’t given me any reason to doubt her, other than not taking me home to meet the parents yet.”
“Did you ever consider you may not want to meet them? Tracy doesn’t even go around her family if she can avoid it. Maybe you should cut her some slack. She’s crazy about you.”
“Maybe you’re right.” He tucks a bag under his arm before lifting another one. “Maybe you should take your own advice.”
“What are you talking about?”
He nods toward Daisy. “You just said you’re not your dad and not to judge Tracy by the people who raised her. Take your balls out of your purse and stop being a scared little bitch.”
We walk into Chelle and Brian’s house and I’m the one rooted to the floor with my bottom jaw hanging open. The outside decorations are nothing compared to what’s on the inside. Every room looks like it’s been personally decorated by Santa’s elves. Lighted garland is draped along the staircase bannister and curves around the second-floor landing. Every room has a tree decorated with a theme that matches the other decorations adorning every surface.
Juliana and Isa wander from room to room, gushing over the elaborate decorations. “Mommy, is this the real North Pole?”
Chelle laughs heartily and bends to speak to Isa. “I wish, my sweet little girl. But no, we’re not that lucky. Brian and I just
