Chapter 21
Wes
Christmas and Untold Stories
Angie had decided to stay the night with me and Clare and drive with us to our parents’ house for Christmas. We started the day with Angie making cinnamon rolls. The way she and Clare giggled during breakfast made my heart squeeze with happiness.
Clare had gone to her place yesterday to pick up some things since she was planning on staying with me the next few days. She was planning on heading to her parents’ house for Christmas breakfast and would be back at my place in plenty of time to join us at my folks’ place.
With Clare going to her family’s this morning, it gave me and Angie time alone, and it had been nice to talk to my sister and get caught up on what else was happening in her world. I felt guilty for being so focused on myself since my return to Boston, and not on my baby sister.
Once Clare got back home, we swung by Angie’s place so she could change, then headed out of the city. I pulled up and parked behind Finn and Rory’s car. Angie drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
Turning to face her in the backseat, I said, “You’ve got this. Finn and Preston are one hundred percent behind you, sis.”
She nodded. “When should I tell them?”
I glanced to Clare.
“I think if it was me, I’d want to get it out of the way. Otherwise, you’re not going to enjoy your Christmas.”
“By the way,” I asked, “I didn’t ask, what is Reece doing today?”
Angie’s body slumped. “He’s home at his condo. I invited him and he laughed. Said he didn’t feel like dying today.”
Opening my door, I laughed. “Smart guy. I like him.”
Christmas at the Ward house was always my favorite time of year. It was crazy, loud, and full of love. Add in two grandbabies and two daughters-in-law, and it was practically heaven if you asked my mother and father.
The second we walked in, my mother zeroed in on Clare.
“Clare! My goodness, how wonderful that you’re here!” She hugged Clare and looked at me as she gave me a thumbs up. “I knew that day when I saw the two of you kissing that you were both in love!”
“Mom,” I groaned as I looked at my father who simply shrugged.
“Maybe Mom will be so engrossed with you and Clare, she won’t even notice me,” Angie whispered as she took off her coat.
“Angie, sweetheart. Are you here alone?” Mom asked as she walked up and kissed Angie on the cheeks before hugging her.
“Yes, Mom. I’m here alone.”
Mom frowned. “That’s a shame. Well, don’t you worry. Did I tell you about Luke, my friend Trish’s son? He graduated from Purdue this fall!”
Angie looked at me with pleading eyes. Clearly Mom could be happy about me and Clare and still try to fix up her last child.
“Mom, what did you say was on the menu?” Preston asked as he walked up and distracted our mother by whispering something to Presley, who quickly ran up to Mom and demanded she show her what Santa had brought her that morning.
Angie walked up to Preston. “Thank you for using your daughter as a weapon for the cause.”
He laughed and pulled her in for a hug. “Congratulations are in order.”
With a single nod, Angie looked around the room. She looked exhausted. “I should just tell them now.”
“It would make for an interesting Christmas, that’s for sure,” Preston stated.
I motioned for us to move on. “Come on, let’s not stand in the entryway and make it any clearer you’ve got a secret you’re hiding.”
My mother soon forgot all about Angie being alone and homed in on Clare and me by asking a million questions about our relationship. We decided not to mention anything about my stupid plans to win Mandy back.
“Jennifer, honey, I know you’re happy about Wes and Clare, but give them some breathing room!” Dad urged.
Smiling at us from her end of the table, she said, “I’m just so happy. All three of my boys have found love.”
Then her eyes swung to Angie. “One more to go!”
“Jennifer…” Dad warned again. “Not today, okay? Let’s just have one day of no matchmaking.”
Mom frowned. “Is it so bad that I want all my kids to be happy.”
“How do you know I’m not happy?” Angie asked.
All eyes went to my sister as no one said a word.
Mom wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “Are you happy? Are you dating anyone?”
“Mom, I don’t have to have a man in my life to make me happy.”
“I know this.”
Clare cleared her throat. “Angie is going to be working for the Boston Red Sox organization.”
I was really hoping Clare was confident that Angie would get the job, considering she barely spoke to the VP about her.
“What?” Finn, Preston, and my father all said at the same time.
Angie gave Clare a look that said she was grateful for the change in subject.
“Angie, when did this happen?” Mom asked.
Sipping her water, Angie put it back down on the table. “Yesterday. Clare told me there was a position that would be opening that she thought I would be perfect for. It’s working in the marketing department after I graduate. It’s not final yet.”
“But I’m positive she’ll get it,” Clare added.
“That’s wonderful, sweetheart,” Dad said as he lifted his glass. “To our Angie, working for the Sox.”
Everyone toasted, and soon smaller conversations broke out among everyone. After telling our mother to go and play with the grandkids, the rest of us, minus my father who was crashed on the sofa sleeping, got to work cleaning up. We were all soon packed into the kitchen with Harmony and Rory talking to Angie.
“How do you think Mom and Dad are going to react to the news?” Finn asked as he handed me a plate to dry.
I shrugged. “Not sure. Could go either way.”
“This has been a crazy few weeks. You and Clare, Angie pregnant. Man…we don’t have a dull family, that’s for sure.”
“No, we don’t,” I agreed with a chuckle.
“Speaking of Clare. How are things going?”
My eyes found her instantly. “Good. Really good,” I said with a smile. “I feel like every time I see her, even if she’s been out of my sight for a few minutes, I get this weird fluttery feeling in my chest and I can’t believe it’s all real.”
Finn bumped my arm. “Being in love is something else, isn’t it. I’m just glad you finally opened your damn eyes and realized what you had in front of you. Mandy was a…”
His words faded.
“A bitch?”
“That’s one word I could use to describe her.”
Looking at Clare once more, my heart squeezed in my chest as she laughed at something Rory said.
“I’m going to ask her to move in with me.”
My brother froze mid rinse of a plate. “Are you serious? You don’t think you’re moving a bit fast?”
“No. I’m not asking her to marry me, just move in with me.”
Finn nodded. “You think she will?”
“I sure as shit hope so.”
“Maybe you should look at getting a house.”
It was my turn to pause what I was doing. “And what? Get a crazy ass dog like yours?”
“Hey,” he said, pointing to me. “You leave Flash out of this. He’s the best dog ever.”
I rolled my eyes. “Didn’t he tear up your prized football, a sofa, too many plants to count. Presley’s stuffed animals? I could go on.”
Finn looked away, wiped at his eyes, then turned back to face me.
“Dude, are those tears in your eyes?”
Wiping at the corner of his eyes again, he shook his head. “No. Don’t be stupid.”
All I could do was laugh. Flash was the firehouse puppy at Finn’s old station he had worked at. Once he decided to leave, he and Rory stole Flash from the department, even though they will both profess that Flash wasn’t stolen. Rory’s father was Finn’s boss and didn’t like the idea of them together. Unfortunately, he still hasn’t spoken to Rory. Not even after Karleigh was born.
“Still nothing from Rory’s father?”
Finn shook his head. “No.”
“His loss,” I said as I jerked my head in the direction of Rory holding their daughter.
“Damn right it is.”
Dad walked into the kitchen and stretched. “Okay, your mom is ready for presents.”
Presley flew into the kitchen behind Dad yelling, “Presents! Presents!”
“Go,” I said to Finn. “I’ll finish up these few dishes. By then Mom will have all the presents passed out to everyone.”
“Okay, sounds good,” Finn said as he took Karleigh from Rory, and they headed out to the living room.
“Let me help you finish these,” Clare said as she picked up where Finn had left off.
Once the kitchen was cleared of everyone, Clare leaned in. “I don’t think she’s going to tell them today.”
“I don’t think so either.”
“I feel bad for her. I can’t imagine your parents would turn her away, but I understand she’s worried about them feeling disappointed.”
“No, once they get over the initial shock and see that Angie has everything planned out, they’ll be thrilled at the idea of a new grandbaby. I don’t honestly think my mom is going to get over Reece and Angie not marrying, though.”
Clare handed me the last plate. I dried it and placed it in the cabinet. Turning, I leaned against the counter and looked at Clare.
“Do you want kids?” I asked as she tilted her head and grinned.
“I do. You?”
“I wouldn’t mind a little Clare and a little Wes.”
Her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink. “I think that sounds nice.”
“Is it too soon in our relationship to be talking about this?”
She giggled. “Maybe, but it’s nice to know where we stand on that.”
I reached my hand out for her and drew her to me. Clare fit between my open legs, and feeling her body against mine was driving me insane.
“You remember we’re in your parents’ kitchen, right?”
Smiling, I replied, “Trust me, I remember. I simply wanted to say that you have been the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten.”
Clare brought her hands up from my chest to my face as she reached up to gently kiss me.
“And you have been the greatest gift of my life. I remember being younger and praying every night that I would find someone who would love me like my father loves my mother. You’re the answer to that prayer, Wes.”
It was my turn to frame her face with my hands and kiss her. This kiss was deeper than the first. Our tongues moved together in a hunger that nearly had me turning her and lifting her up onto the counter. Instead, I pulled my mouth back and rested my forehead to hers. Both of us were breathing heavy.
“Clare, you saved my heart from being torn apart.”
“Wes,” she whispered, her hands gently on my chest. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.”
“You’re not dreaming, princess.”
I wrapped my arms around her tighter and held her. I wanted to hold her forever and never let go.
“I wasted so much time chasing after someone I didn’t want because I was too blind to see what was in front of me.”
Clare drew back and looked up at me. “I don’t know. I had fun on our little outings.”
Laughing, I kissed her forehead. “So did I.”
Angie cleared her throat. “When you two are done in here, Mom would like to start opening presents, and Presley is ready to come unglued waiting.”
Clare and I gave each other one more kiss as Angie pretended to gag, but also had a wide smile on her face.
The moment Presley saw us, she tore open a present. Everyone laughed, and soon the chaos that was my family on Christmas Day began, and I have never been so happy in my entire life.