Page 122 of Unbreakable
And though I’d been that kid for Ma at one point, I wasn’t a kid anymore. I thought maybe she’d want to see what the kids were enjoying about Christmas.
But as I scrolled up in the chain, I noticed that attitude was nothing new from her.
I’d sent her plenty of pictures. I sent updates on how Greyson was doing over the last week.
She sent me stuff about old teachers or coaches of mine she ran into, what was new at the Catholic church I grew up in. But it was always me initiating conversations about anything related to the kids or Jeanine. What kind of grandmother didn’t check in about their grandson in the hospital? Jeanine talked to herparents every day, sometimes multiple times a day, while Grey was in the hospital.
I sent a picture of Jeannie and I from ourWhite Christmasdate, and her response wasyou look nice. Notlook at the two of you!orwow, you two are gorgeous. It could be read to be only directed at me.
When Jeannie and I fought about Mom’s behavior last, I don’t think I saw just how serious it was.
Ma didn’t care about the kids, or Jeanine. Just me.
But that’s the thing: the moment I married Jeanine, or even brought her into my life, I wanted Ma to appreciate her too. She was part of my life, and thus part of me. I chose Jeanine to be my wife, my family.
Ma never accepted Jeanine.
So much so that she didn’t really accept our children either. She was happy for me when I told her Greyson was on the way, though she was mad at how long it took me to tell her.
But when Jeannie got pregnant with Alice and I called to tell Ma the good news, she didn’t respond so warmly. “Did you want more than one, honey?”
I hated that it took me this long to see what Jeannie had seen for years: Ma loved me. Just me. Not Jeanine. Not Greyson, Alice, or Bella.
My mother didn’t respect my family.
But I am my family. I chose them without reservation.
If my mother didn’t love my wife and kids, I couldn’t waste time with her anymore.
It made my stomach turn, but I knew what I needed to do.
FORTY-SIX
DYLAN
NOW | DECEMBER
Have I told you I love you today?
Jeannie
Not yet
I love you J. Miss you so much baby
Love you too. Miss you
“Your son doing okay?”
Colton Jones and I waited for our drinks at the small coffee shop across the street from our hotel, one of those ultracool places where I find it hard to blend in.
“Yeah, he’s a lot better, thanks. And thanks for sending food. We got to bring him home before Christmas.”
“Poor lil dude,” he said. “That probably sucked.”
I got unexpectedly emotional reflecting back on all of it. “Pretty rough. Did I miss anything while I was out?”
“Same old shit, different day,” he sighed, stepping to the counter as his name was called out. Colton smiled with a “thank you” when he picked it up, and the man behind the counter didnot seem immune to Colt’s charms, doing a double take and cooing out a “you’re welcome.”
