Page 56 of All of Me

“Don’t play dumb,” he snaps. “This is exactly like you, making everything about you, ruining things for everyone else.”

I step back, holding Ruby tighter while Sara clings to my leg. “You’ve got a lot of nerve,” I say, my voice shaking with barely contained fury. “I said I was sorry. I explained what happened. But that’s not enough for you. You have to twist this into something ugly because you can’t stand the idea that you might be the one in the wrong here!”

Adam glares at me, his chest rising and falling sharply, like he’s barely holding himself together. The tension crackles between us, heavy and suffocating, but before he can launch into another tirade, the door creaks open. Katie steps onto the porch, her face pale and pinched with unease.

“Adam,” she says softly, placing a hand on his arm to steady him. “Maybe we should take a step back.”

“No,” he snaps, shaking off her touch, his eyes locked on me like I’m the sole cause of his misery. “She needs to hear this.”

Katie glances at me, her expression tight and apologetic, like she’s caught in a storm she never signed up for. Her voice is softer when she tries again. “Adam, this isn’t helping anything. Just let it go.”

But I’ve had enough. My patience, my restraint, all of it shatters like ice under his boots.

“No, Adam,” I say, my voice firm and unshaking as I meet his glare head-on. “We are done here. I’m not jealous of you, and I’m not trying to ruin your night. You changed the pickup time at the last minute and expected me to drop everything to fit your schedule. That’s on you, not me. Don’t stand here and try to twist this into something it’s not.”

For a second, he says nothing, his jaw tight, his fists clenching at his sides. I can feel Katie’s gaze bouncing between us nervously, but I don’t back down.

I shift Ruby in my arms, her soft whimpers cutting through the sharp tension, and pass her over to Katie. I crouch to kiss Sara’s curls. She clings to me for a moment, her small arms warm around my neck before I stand and straighten my shoulders.

I hold Sara’s bag out to Adam, my fingers trembling despite my effort to appear steady. “Take care of them,” I say softly, though my voice cracks around the words. I lean down to kiss Ruby’s forehead one more time, lingering for a beat longer than necessary. “Bring them back when you’re done. No later than nine o’clock.”

Adam scoffs, his voice dripping with frustration. “Callie, that’s barely three hours.”

I whip my head up to glare at him, my patience snapping. “Well, the papers say eight o’clock. Would you prefer I stick to that?”

He falls silent, his mouth pressed into a thin line as his glare burns into me. Katie shifts uncomfortably at his side, Ruby on her hip and her hand curling around Sara’s bag like she doesn’t know what to do with herself.

I don’t wait for another word. Without sparing him or Katie another glance, I turn on my heel and head back toward the van. My boots crunch against the snow. The moment I’m inside, I slam the door shut and let out a shaky breath.

Owen doesn’t say anything at first. He just reaches over and covers my hand with his, the warmth of his touch steadying me, anchoring me.

“Are you okay?” he asks after a long pause, his voice gentle, careful.

I blink back the tears threatening to fall, swallowing the tight knot in my throat. “No,” I whisper honestly, my voice barely audible. “But let’s just get back to my mom’s.”

Owen squeezes my hand, his grip strong and reassuring. “Okay,” he says quietly.

The snow continues to fall as I pull out of the driveway, dusting the windshield in soft white flakes. The glow of the Christmas lights fades in the rearview mirror, but the sting of Adam’s words lingers like a bruise I know will take days to fade.

The warmth of Mom and Wayne’s house envelops us as we step back inside, a stark contrast to the cold chaos with Adam. I finally feel my chest loosen, the knot of tension easing as the aroma of ham and cinnamon wraps around me like the hug I didn’t know I needed.

I kick off my boots and hang up my coat, Owen mirroring my actions before leaning in to press a soft kiss to my cheek. His arm slips around my waist, his touch grounding me back to the present moment.

Laughter echoes from the living room, light and unrestrained, pulling me in like a lifeline. Barrett’s voice rises above the rest, excitement bubbling over. “Grammy, look! My castle has a moat now!”

Owen chuckles softly, his smile reaching his eyes. “Sounds like he’s having a great time.”

“He always does here,” I reply, my mind drifting to all the times he’s run through this house, pockets filled with dollar bills and wearing the goofy neckties Wayne loves to give him. It’s a place of comfort for him, and that thought fills me with a sense of peace.

We step into the living room to find Barrett proudly showing off his creation to Mom and Wayne, who are perched on the couch. My sister Taylor is sprawled out on the floor with her daughter Ava, who is carefully arranging crayons in a rainbow pattern. Meredith, Wayne’s daughter, sits cross-legged in an armchair with a steaming mug of cider, laughing at Barrett’s enthusiastic storytelling.

“There you two are,” Mom says, her voice warm and welcoming. “Everything okay?”

I hesitate, glancing at Owen. He gives me a small nod, his hand brushing against mine in quiet encouragement. “Yeah,” I say finally. “The girls are with Adam now. It wasn’t… smooth, but it’s done.”

Mom’s face softens, her eyes filled with quiet understanding. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Come sit. Dinner’s almost ready.”

I nod, but before I can take a step toward the couch, the sound of jingling bells cuts through the air. Everyone freezes, heads turning toward the front door.

---