Page 81 of Forever Christmas
Epilogue: Gavin
We are never going to get this place clean again.
It’s Christmas Day, and all I can see is tinsel.
Mom and June went totally nuts decorating every night while we were in the NICU. There isn’t a surface of this apartment that isn’t covered in strands of silver and lights. It’s like walking into a fairy land.
Corabelle’s mother had stockings madefor everybody. We don’t have a fireplace, but all seven of them are strung on the wall. Or they were.
Santa came for all, stuffing the red socks with goodies and little presents until the wire wouldn’t hold. Since Ethan woke everyone up at four this morning, we’ve been eating chocolate from the stash since before breakfast.
Corabelle’s parents arrived late morning with a full dinner. Turkey,ham, casseroles, potatoes, pies. With everyone taking turns holding the baby, Corabelle and I haven’t done much all day but be happy we’re home.
Late afternoon, Tina stops by with presents, a jaunty Santa hat on her head. Corabelle gets a soft new sweater. Ethan a little play mat with bars that cross over and dangle toys. She even has a bracelet for June.
She jiggles Ethan in her lap. “Lookat all of us turning domestic,” she says to him. “We’re all headed toward becoming boring old soccer moms.”
“Not Jenny,” Corabelle says. “I think she’s gotten wilder.”
“You probably missed the meme of her with Phoenix,” Tina says. Ethan lets out a little grumpy cry and she expertly moves him to her shoulder.
“While we were in the NICU?” Corabelle asks.
“I saw it,” I say. “I had plenty of timeto surf in the hospital.”
Corabelle elbows me. “And you didn’t show me?”
I pull out my phone and bring it up. It’s a picture of Jenny, her pink hair wild and flying in a way that makes it look as though little Phoenix, who is behind her in a backpack carrier, has a huge pink wig.
The caption says “How rocker chicks raise their young.”
“It was everywhere for like two days,” Tina says. “Youseriously could not throw a rock at the Internet without hitting it.”
“I bet she was happy,” Corabelle says. “She loves to go viral.”
“Actually, she was pissed they called her a rocker chick when her husband is making waves on the country scene,” Tina says. “She’s been working on ‘damage control.’”
Everyone passes around the phone. June’s eyes light up. “I saw that! Can I get a picture withher? She’s famous!”
We all laugh.
“I’m sure that can be arranged,” Corabelle says. “She’ll probably come over tomorrow. She’s tied up with family today.”
Tina passes Ethan to Corabelle’s mom. “I have something else.” She digs in her purse and pulls out an envelope. “I was asked to show it to you all and read it.”
I glance over at Corabelle, but she shrugs her shoulders. She doesn’t know whatthis is about either.
Tina unfolds a piece of paper. It’s thin and the writing shows through.
My mother gasps. “That’s Robert’s handwriting!” she says.
Now they have my attention. “How did Dad send something to you?” I ask Tina.
She holds up a finger. “I’ll get to that. First, I read.”
Alaina, Gavin, and June,
I’m not a man of words. Not good ones anyway. But I’m going to try to say somethinghere. You left me in the hospital and didn’t come back. That sort of thing breaks a man. Changes him. I’m changed.
