Page 149 of A Merry Mountain Christmas

Mary cringes. “Honey, Jace only came because I was busy.”

“He said we’d play the game, Mom. If he doesn’t, that means he’s a liar too.” Aidan eyes us both with an accusatory scowl. “Are you a liar, Jace?”

Shit. There’s no good way to answer that.

Mary’s shoulders slump in defeat. “Okay, the library’s open for a little while longer. Maybe you can play one quick game.” Her gaze lifts to mine. “If it’s okay with Jace, of course.”

I’m torn. Part of me wants to spend more time with Aidan and Mary, but I’m not sure my heart can take it.

I’m still trying to decide how to answer when Aidan says, “We have to play it at home. Ms. Liu said the library was closing early today, so Jace and I wouldn’t have been able to play our game there anyway.”

Was that part of what had upset him?

“Oh, Aidan,” Mary says, looking flustered. “I’m sure Jace…”

“Your mother probably has other plans,” I say as I take a step toward the door, abandoning the coat even though it was expensive and I need it.Maybe another timeis on the tip of my tongue, but I stop myself from saying it, because there won’t be another time and he would take the words to heart.

Aidan throws my coat to the side and gets to his feet, fisting his hands at his sides. “Shedoesn’thave other plans,” he says belligerently.

Mary hesitates, then gives me a pleading look. “Jace, I owe you—”

I cut her off, saying gruffly, “You don’t owe me anything.”

She looks like she’s on the verge of protesting but says instead, “If you don’t have plans…”

I look away. Truthfully, Iwantto go home with them, but the sane part of me insists it will only make things worse. Aidan will only grow more attached to me, and me to him and his mother.

“Jace,” Mary pleads. “Can I speak to you in the hall for a moment?”

“Of course.”

She turns back to Aidan. “I’ll be right back.”

He frowns but doesn’t say anything.

I walk out of the room, and she follows.

“Jace,” she says in a hushed tone as soon as we’re in the hall. “I owe you a massive apology. I didn’t handle yesterday well.”

“You’re just a mother looking out for her son,” I say as neutrally as possible.

“I realize this is a lot to ask,” she says, her cheeks turning pink, “but would you mind coming home with us? I’m worried he’ll have another meltdown. You don’t have to stay long, just long enough that he doesn’t think you’re a liar.”

Is she concerned that I’ll look like a liar, or that she will? I want to tell her no, but I don’t want to upset Aidan, and some sick, masochistic side of me wants to spend time with Mary. Even if it hurts.

I take a deep breath, looking back and forth between Aidan and Mary. Her eyes are beseeching.

“All right,” I sigh. “All right.”

CHAPTER NINE

MARY

He came. He didn’t need to come, but he did. When the principal told me that Jace was sitting with Aidan—and that Aidan had calmed down for him—tears immediately filled my eyes. Now, as I drive Aidan back to our house, gratitude nearly makes me crumble. I can’t stop thinking of the way he was curled up beside Jace. The trust on my son’s face…

I’d threatened to have Jace arrested if he ever came near Aidan again, but Aidan had needed him, and he’d come. When was the last time I’d been able to rely on a man like that? Glenn would have come in last in the Father Olympics, and my own father…I’d loved him, and he’d shined brighter than everyone around him—kind of like Molly—except he’d lacked her loyalty, her steadfastness.

But Jace is different, and I treated him worse than garbage left out on the curb. Garbage with leftover fish in it.

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