Page 97 of An Endless Memory

“Francine?”

“Yeah.” He couldn’t sound prouder. “Catherine insisted she needed a fancy name, and she had several options for us to choose from.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Coming out for Christmas?”

He would be with his wife and new baby. Sutton and Wilder had the twins. Both Cody and Aggie respectively, had newborns. What could I do for them? Lily would have her family. It was better that I keep my own routine. If her aunt was around for Christmas, I had a legitimate reason. “I gotta work.”

“Didn’t you work all Thanksgiving? I assumed you switched with someone.”

I had let them all assume that. Otherwise, they’d be butting into my business. “We’ll have to see what the weather has in store.”

“That’s a cop-out. You have two other nephews to meet.”

I did. Another helping of guilt was heaped on my conscience. I was struggling to be a decent real-but-pretend husband and stepfather, but I was slipping as an uncle. “I’m waiting for newborn life to settle down.”

Austen snorted. “That’s the quiet time. Life with Catherine is crazy busy, and she’s almost legally an adult now.”

I was happy for him. I was. But I had work to do. “I can let you know?—”

“Christmas.”

“What?”

“We’re all home for Christmas. All the babies are birthed. Aggie said she can’t wait for Cutter to meet all of his uncles. I do believe Tova said something similar about Teddy.”

And guilt was roaring back. I was being a shitty uncle. “Fine. I’ll see what I can do around Christmas. But I have to make sure it’s okay with Lily first. I can’t just show up and play husband when I want to.”

A high-pitched cry came over the line. “Oh—gotta run. Christmas, bro. We’re going to plan something for the day.”

“It might not be on Christmas?—”

He hung up. Dammit.

Christmas. I’d need to get to Miles City and find some toys. Though from the way Cali fangirled over the horses, she’d love all the little plastic ponies from the hardware store.

What’d I get a six-month-old baby?

What’d I get a wife I was divorcing at the beginning of July?

All I’d gotten her was a cheap silicone ring.

I scratched the back of my neck. I’d figure it out. Then I’d go be a proper uncle and husband for a few days.

Twenty-One

Lily

The Christmas tree was tucked into the corner of my living room. I’d gotten a six-foot fake tree with ornaments and lights already built in. Cali had chosen it. I had some gifts underneath for Cali and Kellan, and then Cali had insisted on getting Bug, Flakes, Pebbles, each barn cat, and her new hamster, Yellow, each a gift.

It was Christmas Eve. Mom and Dad had taken off this morning and would arrive soon. Eliot said he hoped to make it in time for dinner. Dad had asked about inviting Aunt Linda and Uncle Darren. Other than Dad getting to catch up with his sister and mend any rift that might have developed between them about the trust, it’d also be good for her to see Eliot at the house again.

I was excited to see Linda and to have my parents over, but I also dreaded it. It was Christmas, and the visit should be less awkward and more jubilant. I also wanted them to see that Eliot and I were, indeed, close. We at least had a sexual relationship. Yet the motivation behind the visit for me and Eliot would be to dupe her and my dad.

Cali sprinted to the front door at the first flash of headlights. “It’s Grandma and Grandpa!”

Bug barked from the basement. I’d bring him out after all the guests arrived so we could work on proper introductions. Otherwise, everyone would get a bear hug from a Dalmatian.

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