Page 67 of Welcome Home for Christmas
“I’m sorry I said that.”
David wasn’t apologizing for discounting Troy’s career choice, though. That left a sore spot on Troy’s heart. He hadn’t come here with any expectations that his brother would even give this much, though.
Troy offered his hand out for his brother to shake. “Merry Christmas, brother.”
David shook his head. “I don’t deserve to have you shake my hand. I was a dick.”
Troy laughed. “ ’Bout damn time you admit to that. I’ve been calling you one for years.”
“I mean it.” David shoved a hand into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out some yellow ribbon. “Went to the store last night and bought this.” He cut a piece off with his pocket knife, then walked over to the Christmas tree.
Troy’s throat tightened.
“Mom said you wouldn’t come over for Christmas unless I decorated the whole damn tree with yellow ribbons, to show that I support you.” He tied the ribbon on a branch, then turned back to Troy. “I was going to snap a picture and send it to you to try and get you to come. I’ll do the whole tree if I have to, to prove I support what you do. Dad would’ve hated the way I treated you last year. I know he was so proud of having a son in the military.”
Hell, Troy’s throat tightened some more.
“Maybe that’s why I was such a dick. Maybe I’ve been jealous all these years.”
“Dad was proud of you, too,” Troy said.
David offered his hand now. “Can we be brothers again? Please.”
Troy grasped David’s hand and pulled him into a hug. “We never stopped, man. Merry Christmas.”
David clapped a hand across his back. “Merry Christmas to you.”
“Lord, help me,” Troy’s mother said, walking into the room now. Her hair was still mussed from sleep. “I got my Christmas wish!”
Both men turned toward their mother.
She pressed her hands over her chest.
“Now, don’t have a heart attack, Mom,” Troy said.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I have breakfast to make for my boys. It’s Christmas morning. Your brothers Sam and Luke will be coming, too.”
“You cooking bacon?” Troy asked.
“Of course.”
“Sausage?” David asked, following beside Troy into the kitchen.
Their motherpffted. “And ham, eggs, and biscuits, too. We’re going to have ourselves a little early morning pre-celebration before the big celebration.”
It was after lunch when Troy finally got back to Seaside. He called Allison’s cellphone on the way, but she didn’t answer. He texted. No response. She was probably still at her parents’. He’d see her later. Right now he hoped that there was a store open somewhere. He still needed to get her something. He was notoriously bad at picking out the perfect gift when it came to women, but he wanted to get her something. Even though they’d known each other only a couple of weeks, they’d been the best weeks of his life. If anyone deserved a present, it was her.
He wanted to stop in and see little Lucy today, too. He couldn’t give her the forever family she’d wished for yesterday afternoon, but he could be her friend. The problem was she knew him only as Santa, and walking into Mercy’s Place in a red suit on December twenty-fifth would likely cause a riot.
He blew out a breath. After shopping, he’d stop by the children’s shelter and introduce himself to Lucy as Troy Matthews. He wasn’t nearly as exciting as Santa Claus, but Santa came around only once a year, and he intended to stop by a lot more often than that.
—
Allison had been impatiently going through the motions all morning. Usually she preferred that the Christmas festivities would take all day, but today she couldn’t wait to get them over with. The sooner the wrapping paper was torn and the hugs were given out at her parents’ house, the sooner she could get back to Troy.
She wanted him, in her arms, in her bed, in her life.
His truck was in the driveway as she pulled in. He was sitting on a chair beside her door, all smiles and with a present in his hand.
