53. Bella
Chapter 53
Bella
W hen I see my Mom’s number flash on my phone screen, I’m too shocked to do anything. I just stare at my phone, not sure what to do or how to feel.
I feel my defenses pop up instantly. My parents probably want to lecture me for the millionth time about how I messed up my life and how I’m doing everything wrong still. Or go off on me for not bothering to see them for Christmas.
I let the call go to voicemail.
“Hey. Are you okay?”
Braden’s concerned tone pulls me out of my thoughts. I look at him and see that he’s finished talking to his family.
I shake my head. “My parents just called me.”
“Oh.” He’s quiet for a second and looks down at my phone. “You don’t want to talk to them?”
“I don’t really feel like being told off by them. Or arguing with them.”
He nods like he understands and pulls me into a hug .
A second later, my phone buzzes with a text. It’s a message in the group text I have with my parents.
Despite our tense relationship, a stab of guilt hits me. It feels wrong to ignore my parents when they’re trying so hard to get ahold of me.
I tap on the screen and read the text.
Mom: Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Your dad and I just wanted to say how much we love you. And that we’re so sorry for how we’ve let things between us get. Could you give us a call when you feel like it? We want to apologize.
Dad: We love you and miss you so much, Bella. We were wrong to handle things the way that we did with you.
For the second time in just a few minutes, I’m stunned.
I show the text to Braden. He reads it, his brow lifting.
“They sound really sorry,” he says quietly.
My chest squeezes. “Yeah. They do. I…I think I want to call them.”
Braden lets a small smile break free. “You should. I bet it would make their whole day to hear from you.”
He kisses my cheek and I stand up and walk into the bedroom to FaceTime them.
I hold my breath as I wait for them to pick up. Mom answers her phone on the third ring.
“Sweetheart. Hi.” I take in the relieved look in her eyes as she looks at me. She smiles, then moves the phone so my dad’s in frame too.
He has that same relieved and happy look on his face as he smiles at me. “It’s so nice to see you, honey.”
My throat aches with the sudden burst of emotion inside of me. I swallow it back. “Hey, guys. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” they both say .
My mom’s eyes go teary. She lets out a breath. “We owe you an apology, sweetheart.”
My dad nods along. “We were wrong for how we treated you when you moved back home after your breakup. We’re so sorry.”
“We should have just supported you instead of criticizing you. We had no right to judge you.”
“I mean, I kind of get it,” I say. “It was a pretty stupid thing I did, moving to be with Matt.”
Dad shakes his head. “You were in love. I did plenty of foolish things when I was in love. And I hated it when my parents told me off for it. I shouldn’t have done the same to you, honey.”
“You should live your life the way you want, sweetheart,” Mom says. “From this moment on, we promise that we won’t give our opinions about what you do. Unless you want them of course.”
I let a smile break free.
“It’s been so hard, not seeing you or talking to you,” Dad says. “We understand why you distanced yourself from us. You had every right to. But we just hope that maybe some day, you’ll give us a chance to make things right with you.”
“As long as you’re happy and safe, that’s all we care about,” Mom says.
I take a second to soak in everything they’ve said. I can tell they mean what they say.
My chest aches. I’d love to have them in my life again.
“I’d love that, you guys,” I say.
They both break into massive smiles.
“Oh, sweetheart. We’re so happy to hear that,” Mom says.
I ask them how their Christmas has been. They tell me they’re about to head to a gathering at their neighbor’s house.
“How about you, sweetheart? What are you doing today?” Mom asks.
“And how is work going?” Dad asks.
My nerves fire off at all the exciting news I have to tell them about Braden and the coffee shop.
Will they be upset that I’m living with a new boyfriend just a few months after meeting him? And that I’m embarking on a huge business venture?
I push aside the doubt that creeps in. They said they support me living my life on my terms. They should be okay with all of this.
I take a breath. “Actually guys, I’m celebrating Christmas with my boyfriend. His name’s Braden.”
My parents’ eyes go wide. But a second later, they catch themselves and rein in their expressions.
“I know that probably sounds nuts, but I swear, things are different with Braden. He’s amazing. He’s so kind and generous and loyal. He’s everything Matt wasn’t.”
Their expressions soften. “That’s a relief to hear,” Mom says. Dad nods along.
“And as far as work goes, I’m opening my own coffee shop this spring.”
Both of their jaws drop.
“Bella, are you serious?” Dad asks.
I nod and tell them about how I started a coffee roasting side gig and how a group of my customers offered to be the investors for my own coffee shop.
“I know it sounds wild, but I swear, I’m going about this the right way,” I tell them. “We drew up contracts, and I had a lawyer look them over. I have a business plan along with more than enough seed money. And I just found the perfect spot for the shop in Uptown. It’ll all work out. I promise.”
I brace myself for half-hearted words of encouragement, but to my surprise, they beam at me.
“Sweetheart, that is amazing,” Dad says.
“We’re so proud of you,” Mom says.
“We’ve always known you’re a hard worker. You can do anything you set your mind to, Bella.”
Mom nods along with what Dad says. “Could we stop by the shop sometime and see it? And maybe meet your boyfriend too?”
I smile at the hopeful lilt to her voice. “I’d really like that.”
We chat for a few more minutes before saying goodbye. When I hang up, I’m smiling.
I walk out of the bedroom and see Braden in the kitchen, rinsing veggies in the sink. I walk over to him. He dries off his hands and hugs me, tucking my head under his chin.
“How did it go?” he asks.
“Really well. They apologized for how they were when I first moved back to Denver.”
“That’s great.”
“When I told them that I’m opening up my own coffee shop, they were so supportive. They even said they’re proud of me. It felt so good.”
He kisses my forehead. “Of course they’re proud of you. You’re amazing.”
“I told them about you. They want to meet you.”
He looks at me. The corner of his mouth hooks up. “I’d love to meet your parents. ”
I hug him tight and nuzzle his chest. “This has been such an amazing Christmas. And it’s not even noon.”
He chuckles. “Well, it’s about to be even more amazing. I’m making my Pop Pop’s famous lamb stew for dinner.”
I grin up at him. “Sounds delicious.”
He grabs the ingredients from the fridge while I chop up the potatoes he just washed.
“Oh! I almost forgot.” I run over to the coffee table, grab Braden’s stocking, and hand it to him.
He tilts his head at me. “I told you that you didn’t have to get me anything for my stocking.”
I bite my lip. “I think you’ll like this.”
When he pulls out the hot pink lace thong, see-through pink bra, dildo, vibrator, and butt plug, his eyes nearly pop out of his head.
“My gift to you is wearing that while you use my toys on me.”
He puts the stocking down and pulls me against him, kissing me hard. “Best Christmas surprise ever,” he rasps.
I giggle. “Let’s get back to cooking.”
A half-hour later, the lamb stew is simmering on the stovetop. I breathe in the yummy aroma of seared meat, roasted veggies, and herbs wafting through the kitchen.
I glance over at Maizie snoozing on her dog bed on the floor between the Christmas tree and the roaring fireplace. I watch the snow fall outside the window. I watch Braden as he opens up a bottle of red wine he set aside for today.
My heart swells in my chest.
I feel him slide his hands around my waist, hugging me from behind. I close my eyes, and smile, savoring this moment. I want to remember this forever, when everything in the world was perfect and right.
I look up at Braden. He flashes a warm smile and my heart slingshots around my chest at just how much I adore this man. At how much I love him.
“Best Christmas ever,” I whisper.
Braden kisses the side of my neck. “Exactly how I feel too, pretty girl.”
I wake to the sound of Braden’s phone ringing.
I lean up on the couch and squint in the darkness. We fell asleep watching Christmas movies this afternoon and now it’s nighttime. The apartment is dark except for the white sparkly lights from the Christmas tree.
Braden is lying on the couch next to me. He starts to stir, then groans. “Damn. That stew knocked me out cold.”
I sit up and yawn. “Was it the stew or the red wine?”
He chuckles. “Both.”
He swipes his phone from the arm of the couch.
“Hello?” he says in a rough voice.
Maizie yawns from her sleeping spot at the end of the couch. I reach over and give her a tummy rub.
“Are you serious?” Braden shoots up.
I turn around to him and take in the alert look on his face.
“You’re certain?” After a second, he starts to smile. “Absolutely…Yes, that works for me…Thank you so much…Merry Christmas to you too.”
He hangs up and looks at me. “That was the patient representative from the bone marrow donation team. My test results came back all clear. I can donate bone marrow to Lucas. They gave me a surgery date. January first.”
I jump over to Braden and hug him. “Oh my god! Braden, that’s the best news ever!”
He hugs his arms around me tight. “I can’t believe it.”
His voice shakes with emotion. I lean back and cup his face in my hands. His eyes are teary and he’s smiling, just like me.
“I can’t wait to tell Lucas,” he says. “Will you come with me to tell him?”
My lips are wobbly as I smile at him. “Of course I will.”