Page 124 of Shut Up and Jingle Me
Her gaze softens. “I know. I can’t change the past, Maxie, but I want to be someone you can be proud to call your mom.”
He presses a hand over his mouth, nodding once, and for a heartbeat, I can see it—the weight lifting, just a little.
“I should let you go,” she says after a pause. “I just needed to see you. To tell you that I left, and that I’m proud of you. For building something out of your life after what we did.”
He swallows again, voice barely a whisper. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Take care of yourself, okay?” she says. “And maybe…call me sometime?”
He nods, and she smiles—small, trembling, but real—before the screen goes black.
For a while, the only sound in the room is the faint hum of the fairy lights. Max stares down at the phone in his hand, thumb brushing the dark glass like he can still feel her there.
Then he exhales—long, unsteady—and sets it down on the nightstand.
I sit beside him, close enough that our knees touch, and he leans into me like gravity’s finally let go. I slide my fingers through his, and he squeezes back.
Outside, snow starts to fall, soft against the windowpane, catching the glow from the Christmas lights.
And in the quiet, with his hand warm in mine, I realize that maybe this is what healing looks like—not loud or perfect, just a little more light finding its way in.
I study his profile, the way his thumb traces idle circles against my skin. His expression isn’t sad—just thoughtful and faraway. “You okay?” I ask quietly.
He nods, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “Yeah. It was…good to hear her voice again. Strange, but good.”
I squeeze his hand. “She’ll keep calling,” I say. “She sounded like she meant it.”
“I think she did.” His gaze flicks toward me. “And I’m glad you were here for it.”
Before I can answer, a sharp knock rattles the door, followed by Luke’s voice, loud enough to shatter the calm. “Open up, festive sinners! We’re doing drinks before break, and if you’re not dressed, I’m picking your outfits!”
Daniel’s voice joins in, gleeful as ever. “I brought mistletoe! Don’t test me, Calder!”
Todd yells from somewhere down the hall, “Tell the Grinch we’re not leaving without him!”
Max groans into my neck. “They’re getting worse.”
I laugh, pulling back just enough to grab his hand. “They’re getting louder. There’s a difference.”
He catches my wrist before I can reach the door, tugging me in for a quick, easy kiss—just long enough to make my heart stutter. “You sure you want to go, Princess? We could stay in.”
“Mmm,” I hum and fall into his kiss for a moment. “We will have lots of time later.”
His eyes drop shut as I pull away, and he nods resigned.
When we open the door, Luke and Daniel are both wearing matching ugly sweaters that light up when they move. Todd’s holding a bag of takeout, Peter’s already halfway through a candy cane.
Luke smirks. “About time. Look at you two—domestic bliss incarnate.”
Daniel waves his phone. “Smile! I need photographic evidence that our favorite Grinch is officially reformed.”
Max groans, but I swear I see the edge of a smile when I lace our fingers together.
We step into the hall, the noise and laughter wrapping around us like another set of Christmas lights, and everything feels exactly right.
I glance up at him, and he looks down at me with that quiet, steady warmth that still undoes me.
Later that evening
