Page 13 of Lyrical

“Gifts. I missed Christmas.”

“That wasn’t necessary, Daniel.” Did I mention he was considerate? “And how’d you fit that in there with everything else?”

“I told you I don’t need much.”

“Hmm. I hope you have a warmer coat in there.”

“I do, Mom.”

“Good.”

We walked up the front path, the door becoming increasingly closer. The love of my life was behind it. The rest of my heart beside me.

My past and my future were about to collide in that present moment, and I fucking prayed I’d walk away in one piece.

“Surprise!”

The front door swung open the second we stepped onto the porch, which confirmed that yes, they were watching us. My mom was first in line, ready to pounce.

“Oh, my goodness, just look at you.” She squashed his cheeks with her hands. Of course, she had to stand on her tiptoes to do it. “So handsome.”

“Hi, Grandma.”

“And so tall.” She glanced to the side of her. “Frank, was he always this tall?”

I could understand her enthusiasm, and I related well to the tall and handsome sentiment, but we were about to become snow figures soon. “Mom, let him get through the door first.”

“Oh, yes. Of course. Come in, come in.”

She moved aside, bringing her hands down to grip his arms instead. We stepped into the foyer and I kicked off my boots, looking around. Mom and Frank, Stephen and Perry were cloistered around the front door. I didn’t see Chase.

“I bet you broke a few Italian hearts when you left, dear.”

Daniel smiled. “No, Grandma.”

“So modest, he is. You must have lots of girlfriends.”

I didn’t want to bethatkind of mom, but yeah, if he did have any they weren’t good enough for him. That was already a fact.

“Sweetheart, let the boy breathe.” Frank moved in, giving him a hug. “Ciao! Che piacere vederti! Come va?”

“Fantastico.”

“All right, enough gibberish. We speak English here.”

“Hi, Aunt Perry.”

“Damn right,” Perry said.

“Perry, dear. Language.”

“Yes, Mrs. B.”

Perry grinned at Daniel, right before she crushed him with another hug to replace Frank’s. I knew Uncle Stephen’s wasn’t far behind.

It was then that I saw Chase, hands in his front pockets, leaning against the kitchen doorframe. Our eyes locked, and I felt both relief and panic.

Perry sidled up to me, giving Stephen his turn, and whispered, “He’s been acting cool about it, but I know he’s shitting bricks. He’s nervous, Jills. He really wants this to go well.”

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