Chapter Sixteen
Stepping forward, Dan grabbed his son in a tight hug, and the family breathed a collective sigh of relief.
It seemed liked forever before Dan released his son, now almost as tall as himself.
“You look good, boy,” Dan said, his voice choked.
Daisy and Tiffany dabbed at her eyes as Aralyn grumbled about dust getting in hers. Trixie blinked rapidly to stop her own tears.
“I finished my exams early,” Tim explained to the family, “thought I’d come a bit early. I—I was going to get a room—”
“Forget it, you’re coming home,” Dan interrupted. “You can have your old room. It’s still waiting for you.”
Tim smiled at his father, whose hand still rested on his shoulder.
“Look at my handsome boy,” Daisy couldn’t stop beaming as she hugged her oldest again. Tim colored slightly as he hugged his mother. The twins hopped over the couch to greet their cousin.
“He showed up at school today,” Aralyn explained. “So we dragged him to the mall.”
“Some things never change,” Tim said dryly.
“Leif, Logan, come help me set the table,” Trixie said. The twins started to protest but their father gave them a stern eye and they followed their mother.
“If this is too awkward, I can go or we can head home,” Tim blurted out.
Daisy shook her head. “I think it’s just what we need tonight,” she stood up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “My boy is home. Your brother will flip.”
“How about I wake him in the morning?” Tim grinned.
Dinner was ready shortly after, baked chicken with salsa risotto, salad, and vegetables. Tim matched the twins for appetite, who were in awe of the cousin they hadn’t seen in several years.
“Trixie, this is fantastic,” Tim helped himself to a third serving of risotto. “The mess hall sucks pretty bad, we all smuggle food into our rooms.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it, Tim,” Trixie smiled at him.
“What’s the Academy like?” Leif demanded. “We might end up there.”
Tim raised one eyebrow.
“Dad keeps threatening us,” Logan asked.
Tim glanced at Bo, who winked at him.
“It’s rough guys. Just like boot camp. Food sucks. You get screamed at and insulted nonstop. Five minutes to shower and it takes twice that long for the water to heat up. And,” he added dramatically, “no girls.”
The twins shuddered, and Tim winked at his parents. “I don’t think you two would make it. Bo’s pretty soft on you with punishments.”
“Soft?” Leif yelped. “You think shoveling the driveway of Manor House in December is soft?”
“Or cleaning everyone’s gutters in the middle of summer?” Logan demanded.
Bo just grinned as everyone laughed. Physical labor had become a useful punishment when grounding and losing internet, phone or Playstation privileges didn’t work.
“Builds character,” Tim said with a smirk.
The dinner continued with laughter, and Tim finally began to feel secure in his family’s love.
***
The Mangans walked home, literally just around the corner. The walk was quiet, except for Daisy’s chatter, nervous the house wasn’t clean enough, his bed would need to be made, she had shopping to do in the morning.
“Mom,” Tim cut her off. “It’s okay. I can make my own bed, and I’m not worried about any mess, which you exaggerate about anyway.”
Daisy smiled. “I can’t help it. It’s just so good to have you home!”
Tim glanced at his dad, who walked just slightly ahead of him and his mother; Daisy’s arm was tucked into Tim’s. Dan was nodding in agreement but Tim noticed Dan hadn’t said a word since they left the Duke house.
Soon enough, Tim found himself in his own living room. It hadn’t changed much, still painted in warm colors, the fireplace ready for use, family pictures everywhere. It wasn’t as cluttered as the Duke house, but Daisy had professional cleaners come in weekly, since she spent so much time at the office.
“Dana,” Dan called. “We’re home!”
“Okay!” came the yelled response.
“Can you come down here for a minute?”
There was silence and then their daughter appeared on the steps. “Is this important, I have to study for—Tim!” The fifteen year bolted down the stairs and threw herself into her brother’s arms. Tim picked her up and swung her around. “You’re home!”
“Yep,” he squeezed her tightly.
“I thought you weren’t coming till this weekend!” Dana exclaimed when Tim finally set her down.
“I got done a little early, thought I’d surprise everyone.”
“Oh my god, that’s so awesome! I have to call Kendall, she’ll flip! You know she still has a crush on you,” Dana teased.
“Did she grow out of that awkward phase yet?” he couldn’t resist asking, which earned him a punch on the arm. “Get rid of the braces?”
“Yes, and yes,” Dana replied. “Do Aralyn and Tiffany know you’re here?”
“Yep. Jesse doesn’t though. But I’m going to have a talk with him about you.”
“About me?” Dana asked.
Tim shook his head and ran his hand over his sister’s shiny dark hair. “You’re gorgeous, Dana. Jesse needs to be making sure those horny boys aren’t bothering you.”
Dana burst out laughing. “Trust me, not a problem.”
“I wanna hear all about this soccer camp thing you mentioned,” he said. “But tomorrow. I heard something about studying?”
“It’s just history,” she started to say, then made a face. “But I can’t afford to let my grades slide at all.”
“I’m here for two weeks. Go study,” he ordered.
She grinned, and hugged him again. “I’m sure I can spare a few minutes for one of my very favorite older brothers.”
“Only a few,” he said. “I don’t want you risking that camp.”
After a cup of hot chocolate, Dana returned to her studies, and Tim was left alone with his parents in the living room. Dan and Daisy relaxed on the sofa, as Tim wandered the room, looking at pictures that had appeared in his absence, family gatherings he had missed, camping trips, winning games for Dana, honor society awards for Jesse.
The room filled with a somewhat uncomfortable silence, as Tim thought about everything he had missed out on. He knew he needed to face his dad and have a long overdue talk, but he wasn’t sure he could do it tonight.
Daisy came up behind him. “Sugar, what do you want for breakfast?”
“Don’t worry about it, Mom, I know you have to go the office.”
She laughed. “We have breakfast together every morning, Tim. I know you’re probably awake early.”
He nodded and turned to her, slipping one arm around her. “I could go for some of your biscuits,” he admitted.
Daisy beamed. “Biscuits it is. I have fresh crabapple jelly too, from the farm.”
Tim smiled as well. “Think I can get Moms to give me a jar or two to take back with me?”
“I’m sure she will,” Daisy ran her hand over his shorn hair. “I’ve missed you, Timmy.”
Tim felt his throat stick as he hugged her tightly. “I’ve missed you too, Mom. Dad too.”
“Talk when you’re ready,” she whispered in his ear. He nodded.
“I think I may head to bed,” he said. “We turn in pretty early and it’s been a long day.”
“Let me get your sheets,” Daisy said.
Dan clapped him on the shoulder briefly as he headed upstairs.
***
Tim woke with a start, and then realized where he was. Sitting up in bed, he looked around his old room. Right before he left, he had torn down all of his posters in a strung out rage. The result was bare ivory walls. His desk was still there, so was his dresser, but the pictures he had smashed in the same rage were long gone, the glass shards vacuumed away.
He closed his eyes and rubbed his face. He had a lot to make up for, he thought.
The smell of bacon tantalized him into getting up, but he was determined to be up before his mother tomorrow and make her breakfast.
With a grin, he stopped at Jesse’s room and cracked the door open. Jesse had come in after Tim was asleep, and didn’t know his big brother was home. The shower was going, so Tim figured Dana was already up.
Sneaking into his brother’s room, he saw Jesse; sprawled on his stomach, head half under his pillow. Chuckling, he gently removed the pillow from his brother’s grasp, aimed the light at his brother's face, snapped it on, and barked out, “Private Mangan! Up and ready, now!’
Jesse twitched violently and sat up, blinking at the light. “What the hell—Tim?”
“Get up, little brother,” Tim laughed, and pounced on his brother to tackle him. Jesse fought back and for a couple minutes they rolled around trying to headlock each other. Tim won, but both brothers were laughing.
“Man, it’s good to see you,” Jesse punched his arm. “But I thought you weren’t coming till the weekend.”
“Change of plans,” Tim said, getting to his feet. “Now get your sorry ass up out of bed so you’re not late. I’ll try to save you a biscuit.”
“You better save me more than one!’ Jesse called as Tim sauntered out the door.
Tim just laughed.
He found his parents downstairs in the kitchen, arms around each other, kissing. Clearing his throat, he took his seat at the table and poured himself a glass of juice.
His parents finally pulled apart, chuckling. Daisy stepped over to the oven and removed a tray of biscuits. Tim’s mouth watered at the sight as she placed them in a basket and brought it to the table.
“These look great, Mom,” he reached for them eagerly.
“Eat up, sugar,” she chuckled. “I made two batches.”
Between her husband and oldest son, the number of biscuits had rapidly decreased by the time her younger children made it to the table. Daisy had made extra eggs and bacon after watching Tim eat dinner the night before and he didn’t disappoint.
“Man, eat enough biscuits?” Jesse griped, reaching for the basket. Tim was faster and snatched the basket.
“You’re right. I said I’d leave you one, not three,” he smirked, handing the basket to his sister, who rolled her eyes and took two, passing one to Jesse.
After his siblings were on the way to school, his dad to work, Tim insisted on cleaning up for his mother.
“What are you planning on doing today?” Daisy asked.
“I’ve got some present shopping to do. I didn’t want to haul stuff on the plane,” he answered.
“Would you like some company?” she asked. “I’m due for a day off.”
“I don’t want to take you away from work,” he answered, surprised.
Daisy laughed. “Sugar, I’m the owner. I can take a day off to be with my son. Besides, a lot of the staff is already on vacation.”
“Okay then,” he agreed happily. “I could use your help with the girls’ presents anyway.”
***
Presents for the men in the family were easy. Gift cards to their favorite stores would please them, and that was on the list for most of them anyway. The girls, Tim had more trouble with and definitely needed his mother. After making sure the kitchen was spotless, he showered and dressed warmly.
He wandered around the house a bit while his mother showered and dressed, poking his head in his siblings’ room just to see them and get a better feel for who they had become.
Dana’s walls were still pale pink but her curtains and bed were a deep crimson and white. Posted of various soccer stars lined her walls. He recognized Brandy Chastain and David Beckham, but that was it. He peeked through her cds to see what she was listening to. Contemporary music, he recognized a few names, Linkin Park, Nickelback, Coldplay, U2. Bottles of nail polish were lined up along one of the shelves over her desk, a few containers of makeup sat on her vanity table. A corkboard had various tickets from concerts and games pinned all over it, and he recognized a picture of himself, in his dress blues. Tucked into the side of the mirror over the vanity was another picture, and he recognized the second girl as Kendall, standing next to his sister, both in soccer uniforms. She had grown into a real cutie, he thought with a smile, noting the green streaks in her hair.
Jesse’s room was unchanged, he thought with a chuckle. The walls were dark green, but there were books everywhere. The bookshelves were crammed full, his desk had more stacked on it, and there were piles of books on the floor. How did Jesse have time for a girlfriend when his nose was always in a book? Tim wondered. Lots of nature books, and nature sound cds mixed in with classic Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
He didn’t go in his parents’ room, but he did wander through the rest of the house. After a quiet morning, Daisy suggested his favorite burger place, which made him smile. He drove them out to Sleepyside to Wimpys, where they enjoyed burgers, fries shakes.
“Don’t tell your father,” Daisy smiled. “He’ll be mad we didn’t wait for him.”
Tim grinned. It was nice, having lunch with her. Even after three children, Daisy kept a curvy figure, no evidence of an eating disorder in her youth. There were a few lines around her eyes, but she didn’t look her age. Her hair was still dark with no trace of gray, but Tim didn’t know if she colored it. Tim had always thought his mother was the prettiest woman in the family, even prettier than Diana, and he still did. Dan was no fool, he thought. His father had realized what a gem Daisy was and had been smart enough to marry her.
After lunch, Daisy directed him to the mall, where she helped him select gifts of jewelry and clothes for the girls. She knew their colors and styles and sizes, and Tim was glad he hadn’t had to resort to gift cards for everyone.
Tim was helping her with dinner, before his siblings and father arrived, when he turned to her and said, “Mom, I’m sorry.”
Daisy turned from where she was layering potatoes and cheese in a dish, looking startled. “For?”
“Everything I did,” he said. “I’m sorry for what I put you and dad through, the whole family. I never should have gotten involved with those kids and I knew damn well not to mess with drugs. I know I said some pretty horrible things to you, and I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you, or you let down.”
Daisy felt the ache in her heart when she saw the devastated look on her firstborn’s face. Walking to him, she fiercely hugged the boy who was bordering on tears. “Timothy Aaron Mangan, don’t you dare you think let me down. I let you down. I’m your mother, I should have clued in faster, reacted sooner. You’ve paid for your mistakes, we all have paid for our mistakes, but don’t you ever doubt that I don’t love you more than anything in this world. I’ve hated being separated from my baby, but you’ve grown into a fine young man, and I am so proud of you for that.” She touched his face as the tears slid down her cheeks.
Tim lifted her in a tight hug, his own tears slipping out.
***
Saturday morning, Aralyn poked her inside the warm yellow Mangan kitchen from the back door, greeted by the smell of frying bacon and male chatter.
Jesse was scribbling on his notebook as Dan browsed the paper and sipped coffee. Daisy was turning more pancakes on the griddle, at which Jesse kept glancing up to eye.
“Hello, hello!” Arlayn called.
Tim was scarfing down pancakes, grunting a greeting to his cousin as he did so. The rest of the family greeted her cheerfully as dropped into the seat next to Tim.
“Do they not feed you at the Academy?” she asked. “You eat like the twins!”
Tim took a long swallow of milk. “Not like Mom does. Damn, I’ve missed these.”
“Save some for the rest of us,” Jesse said crossly. “I’m a growing boy, I need to eat too!”
“Don’t worry sugar, there’s plenty,” Daisy set a plate in front of her younger son, running her hand over his thick hair. “You still need a haircut.”
“Stephanie likes it like this,” he replied.
“Man, you’re so whipped,” Tim chuckled, trying to steal a piece of his brother’s bacon. Jesse stabbed at him lightly with his fork.
“Aralyn, you hungry, sugar? We got plenty,” Daisy offered, setting a glass in front of her.
Aralyn helped herself to the juice pitcher. “No, thanks. Dad made waffles so I’m full. I just came by to drag Tim off for a bit.”
“You better not drag me back to the mall,” he replied, sitting back from his empty plate and looking longingly at the griddle where the next batch was cooking.
“Wrong cousin, dopey,” she replied. “I don’t go near the place without Tiffany to guide me.”
“Morning, Mangans!” Dana appeared, still in her blue and white pajamas. Her dark hair was tousled and she wore pink bunny slippers. “Hey, Aralyn.”
“Hi, Dana!” Arlayn greeted her cheerfully. The younger girl took one of the extra seats.
“Is there any food left or did the Abominable Stomach eat it all?”
“Hey, I’m a growing boy too!” Tim protested.
Daisy set the next plate of pancakes in front of Jesse and glanced at her husband with a smile. Dan wasn’t really reading the paper; he was smiling at his children’s conversation.
“Well, if you’re done, I need your help,” Aralyn stared pointedly at Tim.
“One more plate?” he wheedled. “I’ll split with you. You know Mom’s pancakes are famous.”
Aralyn rolled her eyes. “Okay, I might have one.”
It was another half hour before Aralyn wrangled her cousin away from the kitchen and up to his room.
“What’s up, Blondie?” he asked, shutting the door behind him.
Aralyn flopped on his unmade bed, making her self comfortable as he sat in the chair at his desk.
“I need advice. Guy advice,” she answered.
Tim frowned. “You got trouble with Kent? Want me to kick his ass?”
“No,” she laughed. “Not at all. Just the opposite. Things are great.”
“Then why do you need advice?” he asked.
“Well, um, you’re a bit more…experienced than I am, in um, some things,” she felt her face began to heat up.
“Other than handling weapons…you mean sex,” he caught on.
A bit embarrassed, Aralyn nodded.
“You and Kent getting it on?” he asked. “He not performing?”
“What? No! I mean, no we’re not getting it on,” she blushed furiously as Tim chuckled.
“But you want to.”
“Well, we’re moving in that direction,” she admitted. “I just—I don’t know when it’s right. When was it right for you?”
Tim chuckled. “It’s different for guys, Aralyn, you know that. I don’t think there’s really a ‘right’ time for us.”
“Duh, I know that, as chauvinistic as it is! But I mean, well, have you ever had—I mean, I know you have a lot of girlfriends and such, but have you ever, well…”
“Had a virgin?” he finished.
She nodded, glad he still understood her well enough to know what she was trying to say.
Tim scratched his shorn head. “Not that I’m aware of. Most of the women I get involved tend to be uh…older. More experienced.”
“Can you actually tell if a girl is a virgin other than the blood?” she asked.
Tim looked at her funny. “Ari, you are a virgin, aren’t you?”
Blushing furiously again, she nodded. “Is Kent?”
Another embarrassed nod.
“Oh, boy," Tim chuckled. "That ought to be fun, two virgins trying to figure it out. I’m guessing the two of you have read enough that you can manage?”
Aralyn’s face was flaming red now. “I’m sure we’ll be okay.”
Tim laughed at her mortification. “Ari, I really am proud of you for waiting until you found someone you really care about. I think that’s important for you girls. Now, as for Kent, you want me to talk to him? Give him some pointers?”
“What? No!” Aralyn gasped, her blush deepening to a level Tim hadn’t thought possible.
“Then what are you asking me for?” he asked, amused.
She bit her lip. “I don’t know. I just…what if I’m not any good at it?”
Tim rubbed his jaw. “If you hadn’t noticed by the number of cousins we have, I think the members of this family are quite skilled at sex, Aralyn. Present company included,” he winked roguishly at her. “Minus the kids part, I promise. Besides, our parents are too happy to not be having sex regularly.”
She rolled her eyes. “Gross. I don’t doubt your conquests, Tim. I just don’t want to disappoint Cam.”
“Are you kidding?” Tim asked. “I’ve seen the way the guy looks at you. I think you could spit on him and he’d still put you on a pedestal.”
“What if I’m not ready?” she asked.
Tim’s green eyes narrowed and the humor left his handsome face. “Is Kent putting pressure on you? Because I will break his kneecaps if he is.”
Aralyn shook her head. “No, he’s really great about not pressuring me. I think it’s kind of painful for him, because I keep, you know, stopping things before, well, it gets intense.”
“Painful? Wh—” then he laughed. “Aralyn Duke, are you giving that poor guy blueballs?”
Aralyn’s face was on fire again. “I don’t mean to,” she muttered.
Tim burst out laughing. “You tease! Kent must really be into you to put up with that.”
“Tim, can you be serious for a moment please?” she asked, annoyed. “I really need your advice, not harassment.”
He managed to slow his laughter. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. Go on.”
“I think I’m ready. I mean, we’ve been making out more and more and sometimes, I just can’t keep my hands off him.”
“That’s the Duke libido all right,” he smirked. “Or Mangan. Or Belden. Whichever combination you choose, you’ve got two of the three.”
She frowned at him and he held up his hands in surrender.
“Anyways, we were skating at the lake the other day and he fell in the snow, so his pants were wet. We went to the lake house and Regan and Jim caught us making out.”
Tim burst into laughter, almost falling out of his chair. Aralyn grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, trying not to laugh as well.
“Stop laughing! We had already decided not to do it then, because neither of us had a condom. They just caught us kissing.”
“And how much clothing was off?” Tim demanded, knowing by her flaming red face she was holding back.
“Just his pants. Not his boxers,” she added quickly. “And my sweater. I still had my bra on!”
“At least you’re smart enough to wait until there’s a condom. And better Regan than your dad,” Tim chuckled, then his green eyes widened. “Did he tell Bo?”
“You think I’d be walking around free if he had?” Aralyn demanded. “No. But for the first time, I really felt like I was ready to you know, do it.”
Tim shook his head, an amused smile on his lips. “It’s called sex, Aralyn. If you can’t say the word, you shouldn’t be having it.”
Aralyn sighed. “I know, it just feels weird. To talk about it, I mean. With you.”
Tim nodded. “I know I’m bad about returning emails but Ari, you know how much you mean to me. If you need to talk to me, don’t hesitate. Even if it’s about sex. And I promise you this,” he leaned forward, “Kent does one thing to upset you or hurt you or pressure you, and I will personally dismember him and scatter the body parts.”
Aralyn laughed. “I knew I could count on you.”
“Just be careful, Aralyn. Kent’s a decent fellow, and I know he’s got a pretty wide streak of honor, but you tell him to double bag it. You turn up pregnant; Bo will hunt the guy down himself. And that’s one thing all the men in this family do well.”
Aralyn nodded.
“Look, if you think you’re ready; then go for it. And if you’re not, tell Kent. He’ll back off. And if he doesn’t, tell me. Better he get blueballs than you get pregnant or regret giving it up to him. But you two have something special, I think you’ll be just fine.”
Aralyn smiled. “Thanks, Tim. I’m glad you’re here, I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too, Blondie.”
“There’s uh, actually one more thing I want to talk to you about. About Tiffany.”
Tim nodded. “What’s going on with you two?”
Aralyn looked startled. “You can tell?”
“You two can’t fake it that well. What’s happened?”
“You know she’ll kill me, right?” Aralyn asked.
“Let me handle that. But tell me what’s got you twinkies all stiff and awkward around each other.”
Aralyn managed a smile at the old reference to her and Tiffany being almost twins, they were so close. She took a deep breath. “Tiffany has a boyfriend.”
“And?” Tim waited. “So why she joking about Dean yesterday?”
“It’s not anyone we go to school with,” Aralyn hedged, hating the fact she was going to break Tiffany’s confidence again. She had already told Cam. But this was major, and Tiffany was headed for heartbreak, Aralyn knew it. Tim would be able to help. He always got them out of scrapes when they were younger.
Tim frowned, his green eyes concerned. “Aralyn, get to the point.”
“He’s married!” she blurted out.
Tim’s eyes widened. “He’s what?”
“Married,” she whispered. “I don’t know how old.”
Tim ran his hand over his face. “Married? Tiffany Duke is involved with a married man?”
Aralyn nodded. “I tried to talk her out of it, Tim. I don’t know when it started, or how long she’s had these feelings, I don’t even know who it is. She won’t say.”
“It must be someone you know,” he mused.
“She insists it’s not, but Tim, I’m worried. She’s not acting like herself, and I know she’s lying to Honey and Luke about where she goes. She hangs out at some bookstore near Croton a lot but I don’t know which one.”
“I can’t believe she’s seeing a married man,” Tim muttered, pacing the room. “You’re sure he’s married?”
Aralyn nodded. “I’m scared for her, Tim. She’s said some really ugly things to me the other day and…I think they’ve gotten physical. Something definitely changed with her.”
Tim knelt in front of her. “Let me handle this,” he said. “I’ll see if I can’t track down this bookstore and find out what the hell is going on. In the meantime, I’ll have a chat with Tiffany without letting her know what you told me, okay?”
Aralyn threw her arms around her cousin. “Thanks heaps, Tim.”
“Of course. Hey, you got lunch plans? I was going to swing out to Crabapple Farm, see Moms and Grandpa Peter. I’m hoping to talk to her into some hamburgers. Man, I miss those!”
Aralyn laughed. “Save yourself the drive. Everyone will be over tonight. Moms is bringing hamburgers.”
Tim grinned.
***
Cam had pulled up in the drive way to see Bo up on a ladder, stringing lights along the edge of the roof. He hurried to help the older man.
“You need some help Mr. Duke?” he called.
“If you could just hold the ladder Cam, that’d be great. I ain’t got any idea where those boys of mine ran off too,” Bo called back down.
Cam watched nervously as the older man hung the lights, and quickly offered to climb the ladder.
Bo glanced at him and smiled. “You think I’m too old to be doing this, fella?”
“No, sir, but um, that ladder seems kinda uneven,” he said quickly.
Bo chuckled. “And my daughter would kill me if you fell and broke your neck.”
They finished the lights quickly and Bo invited Cam in. Aralyn hadn’t known he was coming; he was just in the neighborhood.
Walking inside the Duke house, he was amazed by the colorful decorations. Garlands and wreaths were everywhere, candles, and snowmen. The tree was tall and full and loaded to the hilt with decorations, many of which were vague lumps of clay, or handprint impressions. Clearly these were beloved childhood mementos. Lights of all colors, silvery icicles everywhere, packages spilling out from under three. This was a house of love, he thought, this was the kind of family he wanted to be in.
The house smelled of ginger and pumpkin, and Trixie, pleased to see Cam, offered him fresh baked diabetic friendly cookies she had specially made for him.
Cam felt a twinge in his heart. Every year his mother had the house professionally decorated, and a tree to match, in a specific color scheme. There were no childhood ornaments of his or his sisters’, no fresh treats being baked to fill the house with tantalizing smells. Christmas Day they gathered for a quiet opening of presents, everything requested from lists made earlier in the month.
Aralyn hurried down the stairs with a smile, throwing her arms around Cam for a kiss. He kept it brief, always aware of Bo’s presence and the twins, who made their usual vomit and gagging noises.
Tiffany and Tim followed her down the stairs, greeting Cam.
“We were just about to go out for coffee,” Aralyn smiled up at Cam, glad he was affectionate. The way her knees wobbled when he kissed her, she needed to be able to hold onto him for balance. “Come with?”
“Of course,” he brushed her bangs back, noting the bright pink-red streaks she had added that morning. “Nice hair.”
She giggled. “It’s temporary, I promise.”
Moments later they were on their way out.
Bo stood watching the four young people drive off, smiling. Trixie came up next to him, slipping her arms around his waist.
“You all right?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he kissed the top of her head. “It’s good to see the Three Musketeers together again. I just gotta wonder where the time went.”
Trixie smiled as she leaned her head against her husband’s chest. “Remember our first Christmas together? In Atlanta? Matt flew our families down. You and Jim and even managed not to deck each other.”
Bo chuckled. “Yeah, I remember. I remember them all, Sweetheart.” His hand rubbed her back as he kissed her blond curls.
The real fun began when the children were old enough to realize what was happening around them. As the kids grew, so did the excitement and noise level. Regardless of which house the holiday was at, Moms Belden took charge of the children in the kitchen, building gingerbread houses until the children would get bored and eventually wander off.
Some were easy to distinguish. Riley’s were always the most precise, Tiffany’s almost as good. Aralyn’s never followed the others, building on extras in a slapdash method, in between eating the pieces dipped in frosting. Leif and Logan would build other things, Rayma’s were the most artistic, Mabon and Dana tag teamed for the most creatively decorated. Miles was bored easily, Jesse was more interested in eating the treats, and Tim grumpily deemed himself above such babyish play. Once Jim’s children were old enough, Helen continued the tradition of building the gingerbread houses with them, and some of the older kids still participated. Helen loved the sound of her house full of young voices and laughter, and quietly looked forward to the day when there would be great grandchildren to run through the house.
These days, she eagerly attended her grandchildrens sports games and activities, and often had the Fraynes over for dinner, as they were the closest. It had pained her deeply when young Tim was sent away, but this Christmas would be extra special, for with Tim home, the family was complete.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
Author’s Notes
- I would like to thank all of my readers, as today is my third Jixaversary as a Jix Author. Your support and encouraging words are a huge part of what keeps me writing. As usual, my Dukes have ushered me through another Jixaversary and the fun won’t stop any time soon!
- A huge yee-haa to the fabulous Donna, for editing this!
- A huge yee-haa to Ronda, for a consult on the level of rating for the sex conversation.
- Everyone happy to finally meet Tim? He’ll be back in the next chapter too!
- Word Count for third year as an author – 106,922! Woot!
- Word Count, 5,379
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