Page 143 of On Cloud Nine

“Okay, then there’s Myles. He’s a veterinarian, right?” Matthew nods. “Myles is married to Helene, and they have three kids, Taylor, Willow—who’s the reason we have Bear—and baby Riley.”

“Perfect.” He pats my thigh.

“Then there’s Mitchell and his husband, Theo. They have two kiddos, named, um…” I pause, racking my brain. “Wren aaand…Finn?”

Matthew chuckles. “Are you sure you haven’t met my family before?”

“You’re sweet. Okay, then your baby brother Mac and his wife, Korina. They have a little boy named Isaac. Finally, your youngest sister, Madison?”

“You’ve got a better memory than my own parents.”

“Years of memorizing people for ORO and family events have paid off,” I laugh, but my chest aches.

Even though my parents and I don’t usually spend Christmas together, it’s still going to hurt not sending them a present or giving them a call this year.

I’m glad I booked an extra session with my therapist when we get back next week. The holidays and being around a happy family may be harder than I anticipated.

My parents have made their choice.I have nothing to feel guilty for, I remind myself.

I’ve fallen so in love with the freedom to be who I am without criticism and overanalysis. I’m not giving that up ever again.

We pull up to the Hudsons’ two-story brick house. It’s gorgeous against the snowy landscape. The red and green Christmas lights on the roof, windows, and banisters make it look like one of those homes trapped in a snow globe.

How in the world did Matthew’s parents raise six children here? The house I grew up in is four or five times this size, and it always felt like I took up too much space inside of it despite there being only three of us.

We park and get out of the car. Matthew grabs our suitcases, which are stuffed to the brim for our weeklong stay. He gives me a quick kiss. His lips are warm against my temple before he laces his free hand with mine and leads us up the salted path to the front door.

“Hello, it’s us,”he says, entering the house.

Us.

A simple word that makes me feel like I’m flying.

Aaron tumbles toward us before I even have my Moncler snow boots unlaced. He wraps his small arms around Matthew’s jeans. “Uncle Mattie,” he squeals, following his excitement with a jumble of gibberish. “I have to show you the f-fort thing outside. You come? Please, come, please.”

“Of course, buddy.” Matthew shucks off his beanie. His hair is adorably messy, and he hasn’t shaved in a few days, so his jaw is peppered in a thick scruff. “Let us get settled in, and I’ll make sure that the fort is fortified.”

“F-fortified?” Aaron cocks his head curiously.

“Protected. Safe,” Matthew explains.

“Aaron?” A woman’s voice echoes through the hall, and when she comes into view, I recognize her from the photos. Maya, with a baby on her hip. “Oh, there you all are. Everyone’s in the den except Madison and Mitchell. They got stuck in traffic.” She lets out a sigh, tossing her cropped brown hair over her shoulders. “And you must be Molly, the woman who’s taken over my brother’s life,” she laughs. “I’m Maya, and this little gal is Sophia.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” My nerves spark like fireworks in my chest. Maya reaches her free arm toward me and loops it around my shoulders in a halfway hug.

“Wait, do you do hugs?” She cranes her neck back, pulling away slightly.

Um. I’ve never been asked, but I’d like to be the kind of person who does hugs from now on.

“Yes, I do.” I nod, and she pulls me back into a full embrace. I lean into her arms. Baby Sophia giggles between us.

Oh goodness.Am I actually about to cry?I blink a few times, willing the tears not to fall.

It’s quite lovely to be greeted this way.

“We’re so happy to have you here.” Her cheeks dimple before her eyes light up. “Now…”

Matthew cuts her off with a hug, then places a hand on my lower back. “Come on, can we at least get Molly in front of the fire with a glass of Mom’s cider before you start bombarding her with questions?”

---