“Anyway, it turns out it was just chickenpox,” Connie confirms, “and they just had to run its course, but they appeared all over his chest and arms pretty quickly too.”
“I kept him home for three days,” Wes adds. “It was horrible watching your son scratch all day long.”
“And Calena was out too since she had them all over her body,” Chase chimes in.
I start to stand and gently sway with Milo against my chest. He reaches up and grabs my hair but doesn’t pull it. He just wraps his little hand around a strand and holds it.
“Now that we’ve discussed how I got chickenpox in high school, I think I’ll take my son and my girlfriend—if she doesn’t leave me because of my inappropriate family—home.” He gives me a look with a silent smile, letting me know he doesn’t think I’ll actually leave him. At least not for something like this.
“Actually, you didn’t really say how you got them,” Gabby says, her tiny little devil horns popping up from her head, making me grin from ear to ear. Chase laughs.
It wouldn’t take much imagination to guess how he got chickenpox in high school.
“And we’re not going to,” Colton says as he heads over to retrieve the diaper bag.
“Next time,” Harrison adds, glancing down at his daughter. “We’re out too. This one needs a bath and a bottle.”
“Oh, Harrison, I made you up a little to-go bag. I had some extra chocolate chip cookies, so I threw those in there too,” Connie says, heading over to the counter and grabbing the grocery sack.
“What the hell?” Chase says, glancing at his brother.
“Seriously? You’re sending all the cookies with Harrison? He’s not even a son,” Colton argues.
Connie just rolls her eyes. “I have some for you two as well.”
“But we all know who her favorite is,” Harrison says, heading over to give Connie a hug. “Thanks, Mama Callahan.”
“You’re welcome, my boy.”
I can see the love between them, and it pings my heart with sadness. I was close to Tina’s mom too. Often, I’d be invited over to their house for dinners or celebrations. After my own Mom moved away, and Grandma was put in the nursing home, her family sort of became my family. I’ve missed Tina these last few weeks, but now I’m missing her little family too. They weren’t as big and loud as the Callahans, but it was nice to belong.
We all say goodbye, and I help get Milo situated in his seat. We throw the blanket over his head and make our way to Colton’s truck, the cold winds blowing in more snow.
“Oh, Colt, we’re having Christmas dinner here. Will that work for you and Hollis?” Connie asks from the front porch.
He glances my way, and if he notices the tears swimming in my eyes, he doesn’t say anything. “Will that work for you?” he whispers, squeezing my hand in comfort.
“Yeah,” I croak over the lump in my throat. “That would be fine.”
“Sounds good, Mom. Just text me what you want us to bring,” Colton says as he leads me the rest of the way to his truck.
Inside, the cab is already warm as I slip inside and rub my hands on my jeans. After Colton gets the car seat secured, he jumps in the driver’s seat and glances my way. “You okay?”
I nod instantly. “Yeah.”
“I know my family can be a lot. If you’re not ready for something like Christmas—” he starts, but I cut him off.
“No, it’s not that. I’m honored they’d invite me along,” I assure him.
“Well, you’re part of the family now,” he whispers, bringing my hand to his mouth and running his lips over my knuckles. “They want you here, but if it’s too much, too soon for you, all you have to do is say so.”
“It’s not, Colt, I swear.” I take a deep breath. “It just reminds me of Tina and her parents. She has an older brother too, who wasn’t always at dinners, but they usually tried to include me after my mom moved to Florida. Tonight just made me miss them a little more.”
He gazes at me from across the seat, his eyes full of compassion and understanding. “Have you talked to Tina much?”
I nod. “We text all the time.”
“But it’s not the same,” he concludes.
“No,” I whisper, hating the emotions that are suddenly bubbling up, as if from out of nowhere.
“I can’t replace your best friend, sweetheart, but I’m here for you. My family too,” he tells me as he pulls me across the console and wraps his arms around my neck. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whisper, absorbing all his heat and support as I cling around his neck. “Thank you.”
He kisses me on the forehead again as Milo lets out a holler, letting us know he’s not happy to just be sitting here. Colton straightens and buckles up. “You don’t ever have to thank me for loving you, Hollis. Ever. That’s the easiest thing in the world to do.”