Jeremy frowned in the darkness, surprised at how open his dad’s comment was, he didn’t usually share his feelings quite so simply. He hadn’t given much thought to how their entire life of Christmas traditions had been upended the previous year with little warning. Both of his parents seemed truly grateful to have him around this year and it made him think about how they must have felt with him gone.
“Last year must have been hard for you guys,” he said, squeezing his mom’s arm a little.
“It was,” she agreed. “But I think it just makes me appreciate this year even more. I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me, too, and I appreciate you guys easing up on me lately. It means a lot.”
“We love you Jer, we just want you happy.”
And he realized that for the first time in a long time, that was exactly how he felt.
When they got home, they had hot chocolate and snacks by the fire and Jeremy caught his parents up with tales of college life and his trip to Europe. There was still a lot of ground to cover and every time he thought they’d had their fill of hearing about his travels one of them would ask a probing question and off they’d go again. He fell into bed after 2 a.m. having had a few drinks with his parents and sexted a beautiful redhead, whose last text requested that the next time the urge to make cream cheese frosting strikes, he should call her, so he could eat it off her. He was never going to be able to make cinnamon rolls again without his thoughts straying to the stunning siren who wanted him for his body.