CHAPTER 7 ALEXIS
After breakfast, Danny asks if we can video chat with his sister, and of course I agree. She answers right away as we settle in beside each other on Danny’s couch.
“Merry Christmas!” She’s wearing festive Christmas pajamas and a Santa hat, and she flips the video to show the boys playing with new toys in a heap of wrapping paper under the tree.
I spot Rush sitting on the couch watching the boys fondly, and my heart feels so happy that Anna has found some happiness with him. I got to know him a little better when we were in San Diego, and since he and Danny are so close, I feel like I’ll get to know him more and more as time goes on.
“Merry Christmas!” Danny says. “Hey Lucas and Leo, was Santa good to you?”
“Yes!” both boys yell back at the same time, and Danny chuckles.
“Thanks to their uncle,” Anna mutters, and I can’t help but wonder what that means. Is Danny one of Santa’s elves?
It wouldn’t surprise me. He loves his family and when he loves, he loves hard.
“Is that Rush Ross I see sitting on your couch?” Danny asks.
“In fact, it is, and guess what?” Anna says excitedly.
“What?” we ask at the same time.
“We’re engaged! Ahh!” She holds her hand in front of the phone to show us the big rock gracing her ring finger.
“Whoa! Congratulations!” Danny says.
“You knew, didn’t you,” she accuses, and Danny makes a sarcastic face that says nope, no way, sure didn’t.
We chat a few more minutes as Anna tells us how they’re going to wait a while before tying the knot, but they’re moving to Vegas before the kids go back to school after winter break—which means in the next two weeks. “We found a place, and it’s a quick close.”
“We’re moving, too,” Danny says. “I put in an offer on a place up near Spring Valley, and they accepted.”
“That’s where we’re going, too!” Anna says.
Anna and I both squeal as we think about how close we’ll be. I finally have the kind of sister I always wanted.
“Is Mom there?” Danny asks Anna, and she shakes her head.
“She was very mysterious about her plans, but she said she’d be by in the afternoon.” She shrugs.
“I’ll video chat her next and get to the bottom of things,” Danny says, and Anna laughs.
“Good luck with that.” Leo and Lucas start arguing over one of the toys, and Anna says, “Gotta run. Love you guys.” She ends the call, and we glance at each other.
“Wow,” I breathe. “Rush Ross is going to be my brother-in-law.”
“Keep it in your pants, woman.” He rolls his eyes, and I giggle.
He dials his mom next, and when she answers, she’s smiling. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas, Mom,” he says warmly. “What are you up to?”
She clears her throat, and she’s looking away from the screen and giving a look. It’s that mom look where she’s widening her eyes and furrowing her brow at the same time with disapproval.
“Who are you looking at?” Danny asks.
“Nobody,” she says, and she does it again as she gives the same look to whoever she’s with.
Clearly whoever is with her wants to be in the chat, and she doesn’t want it.
“What’s going on?” Danny presses.
“Nothing. Why do you ask?” Her voice is a little higher than usual, which gives her away immediately. She clears her throat and looks away. “I’m just hanging out here at home all alone, getting ready to go to Anna’s in a bit.”
“All alone? Prove it,” Danny says.
“I don’t have to prove a thing to you. Now tell me, how are you two today?” she asks, trying but failing to shift the subject off herself.
Danny narrows his eyes at his mother. “Fine.”
“Did you exchange gifts?” she asks.
“Mm-hm,” Danny murmurs.
“And how did you each like the houses?” She freezes for a beat, and then she gasps. “Oh!” She slaps a hand over her mouth.
“Wait a minute. How’d you know what she got for me?” Danny asks, onto her little fib now.
“Oh, fine. You know I can’t lie worth a darn anyway.” She moves to the other side of the room, and there stands Gregory beside her.
Smiling.
Smiling.
I’ve never seen the man smile a day in his life, but Danny’s mom clearly makes him happy.
“Merry Christmas, Gregory,” I say with a wide smile of my own.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Oh, stop with that nonsense today,” I chide. “What’s going on here?”
“Well, Gregory and I got to working together to make sure you two were safe and protected, and we sort of just…well…I guess we just kind of…”
“Bonded,” Gregory fills in for her.
“Yes. We bonded,” she says.
“Bonded?” Danny repeats. “As in…”
“Oh, stop it, Danny!” his mom says, her cheeks turning bright red as she giggles like a schoolgirl.
I nudge him in the ribs with my elbow, and he chuckles.
“Well we won’t keep you if you have more, uh…bonding to do.” Danny gives me a look, and I giggle.
“No! We’re all done bonding for today!” his mother assures us, and my giggle turns into a full-on laugh. “We need to get over to Anna’s. Bye!” She ends the call, and Danny turns to look at me.
“Well,” he says, clearly at a loss for words.
“I mean, I kind of suspected,” I admit.
“Yeah. I did, too, but to see the evidence right in front of my face…”
“It’s nice,” I say. “I’m happy for them. He’s the best, Danny. Really. And your mom, she’s a sweetheart. They’re a good match.”
“But he won’t be around for her when he’s traveling with you,” he points out.
“Just like I won’t be around for you when I’m traveling with him.” I press my lips together as the sad reality plows into us a little harder than either of us was expecting.
He reaches his arm around me, and I lean into his chest.
“We’ll deal with it as it comes,” he says softly.
I nod, and we put on some Christmas movies and settle in to enjoy each other’s company for the rest of the day, warm and cozy under a blanket as we snuggle.
I already know we’re building memories I’ll be able to hold onto when we’re apart. That time is coming, and it’s a sad reality we’re going to have to face sooner than later.