Page 14 of Everything For Love

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Of all the places we could be, I’m happy it’s in Johannesburg and not some remote village, although the people there need the most help. The house my contact at Doctors Without Borders found for Aubrey and Amelie is in a gated community, which was one of my concerns. Had I left it up to Aubrey, they’d live in the village where she plans to work, and this didn’t sit well with me. When I leave, I need to make sure Amelie’s safe. That she has a car service taking her to and from school, and that someone is home when she is. Unfortunately, that won’t be Aubrey. The second we arrived in town her new employer whisked her off to assist with a delivery an hour away. As much as I hate thinking ill of my wife, or soon to be ex-wife, I want our daughter to see how absent her mother is going to be and ask to come home with me.

The rental is a cluster home, and has what Amelie calls the oddest swing set she’s ever seen in the backyard. The rooms are nice size. Mack will have a bedroom for when he comes to visit his mom. The cabinetry needs to be replaced and the bathrooms are in desperate need of remodeling, but this is what Aubrey wanted. Actually, no. It’s what I required if Amelie was going to live in South Africa. If Aubrey had her way, Amelie would be running barefoot in some remote village. Even though I’ve done it and it’s where I met my wife, it’s not what I want for our daughter.

Amelie wants to play out front. She’s waiting for her new friend to come outside. I’m homesick, missing my son, and wishing we were back in Beaumont opening presents. Amelie doesn’t even realize it’s Christmas since she opened all her gifts before she left. Thank God for smartphones and the clock app otherwise I’d be lost on what time it is here when it’s nine a.m. eastern in the U.S. I press the video button to call Mack. I expect him to be awake since he’s one of those who wakes up at five a.m. on Christmas Day. His phone rings and by the fourth ring I’m about to hang up when his face fills my screen. An instant wave of emotion washes over me. Regret, sadness, and longing. I miss my boy.

“Hey, Dad!”

“Merry Christmas,” I tell him. “How’s it going there?”

He shrugs. “It’s pretty cool. The lodge is huge. JD’s a riot. He said I can call him that instead of Mr. Davis. And Mr. and Mrs. Westbury said I can call them Liam and Josie. I never realized how popular Liam’s band was until we got there. Dad, the ladies were going crazy, screaming his name. It was sort of embarrassing. I mean, I was embarrassed for the women.”

“I’m sure Liam appreciates you taking his side. I can’t imagine living like that.”

“Yeah. Same with Quinn, too. Only a couple people recognized Noah and that was after someone went gaga for Liam. I never want to be famous.”

I laugh. “I hear ya, bud. How’s everything else?”

“It’s good. We’re going on this really long snowmobile ride tomorrow. Elle found a diner but it’s only accessible by snowmobile, so we rented some and went there. The food was okay, but the ride was fun.”

“Have you opened your presents yet?”

He nods. “Yes, thank you for everything. I don’t how you managed to get the Griffey cleats, but I’m so grateful. And of course, the new phone is awesome. Peyton said she’d help me set it up later.”

“You’re welcome. Did Liam like his gift?” Mack has taken a liking to photography and captured a moment between Liam and Betty Paige. When I saw it, I told him he should print it and give it to them, but Mack had a better idea.

Mack’s face lights up. “He loved it. He says he has some camera equipment back home and we’re going to look through it when we get back.”

“That’s great. What else have you done?”

“Lots of snowboarding. We met, like, an Olympic snowboarder. His name is Rush. He’s pretty cool. I think Eden likes him.”

“How’s Noah?”

“He’s good. He plays with the baby a lot because he doesn’t want to get hurt. He and Peyton have to leave before everyone else, I think.”

“Baby? What baby?” I’m not aware that any of their crew was pregnant. Surely, Josie would’ve said something, or Paige would’ve told Mack.

“Uh, Peyton’s mom and dad are adopting, but not yet. It’s whatever comes first. His name is Oliver. He’s pretty cute, and has chubby cheeks. But he cries a lot.”

“Yeah, babies do that.”

“Where’s Mom?”

I should’ve been prepared for this question, but I’m not. “Mom’s working,” I tell him. “She should be back in town in a few days and then she can call.”

“Doesn’t she have her phone?”

“Cell service is spotty at times.”

“Where’s Amelie?”

“Hang on, let me get her.”

I walk back into the house and call for her. “Come outside, please.” Service is better outside and too unreliable once I go in doors. “Mack’s on the phone.”

Amelie beams, which I find funny. Days ago, she wouldn’t look at him. I hand her the phone and step back to give her some privacy.

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