PART 3 #3
The women start to chatter first. Not me or Bethany. Both of us are looking at each other wondering why Lily didn’t say yes. She loves him with every bone in her body. So why run?
“It’s their business,” Dozer says loud enough for us all to hear. “Stay out of it.”
“Come on, everyone. Let’s open presents,” Cap suggests. It's a good subject change because as soon as he says presents, one of the kids shouts, “Presents!” and we’re all engulfed in a circus of kids screaming and running into the house, shouting the same thing.
By the time I open my last present from my new HOC family, I’m exhausted and ready for a nap. They spoiled us—me, Will, and the baby. Honestly, I have no idea what I’m going to do with all the stuff I’ve been given.
Grabbing the last present under the tree, Will thrusts it into my hands.
“Mommy, you still haven’t opened your last present.
” My eyes dart to Sunny when Will calls me mommy.
She’s sitting beside Smoke and curled up at the end of the couch.
Her eyes turn sad for a mere second before she smiles at me and nods.
Smoke cups Sunny’s knee in support and squeezes it.
She confessed to me a few weeks ago that she was seeing a therapist and that she was working through a lot of things.
One of them, the guilt she’s had for so long about not being a good enough mother to Will.
She also told me that seeing how good I am to Will and how much she loves me actually brings her a measure of peace.
I don’t know how, and I don’t know if she truly means it, but hearing her say it helps relieve my fears that she’s not going to one day change her mind about giving Will up.
It’s done after all, but if she ever wanted to be a bigger part of Will’s life, I would let her.
Really for the both of us, it all comes down to what Will wants and what’s best for her.
That won't ever change.
“Open it," Will demands.
I consider it for a second. But one look around the room and at all the people still hanging around has me shaking my head. Mav says from where he’s sitting behind me, holding me. “This one came with special instructions for her to open it alone.”
Will’s little nose wrinkles. “But I want to see what’s inside.”
“I’ll show you after I open it, okay?” I say, hoping she'll forget all about it soon in case it's not something I can share with her.
She rolls her eyes at me and walks away.
Not thirty minutes later, people start gathering their things and taking off. Everyone but Griz sticks around for a while so Will can show him everything she received for Christmas and my new preschool, though I’m sure he's already seen it by the knowing smile he sends my way.
I snuggle deeper into Mav’s arms and enjoy the feel of his hot breaths on my neck. He pulls me to the right a little so I’m sitting a bit more on his lap. Murmuring into my ear, he says, “Mmmm...did I tell you how good you smell today? I love this new perfume.”
I shake my head no.
“No. Well, it makes me want to bend you over right here and now and fuck you senseless.” He trails kisses from behind my ear to my neck. “Did I tell you how hot you look in your new clothes?”
Again I tell him no. He rubs his hand down my tight black stretch pants, and on the way up, it slides to the back of my thigh. He lifts me so I’m sitting right on top of him. “I love the feel of these. You’re covered, but it feels like you’re naked.”
Will comes running into the room, and Mav immediately stops everything. Will has caught us more than once in a compromising position, and let me tell you; it’s extremely hard to explain to a five-year-old why Mav’s hand was up my shirt. Especially off the top of your head.
“Mav! Griz wants to see me ride my bike. Will you help me one more time? Just push me, and I’ll ride it like I was doing before.”
I hear Mav give a tired groan, not because he doesn’t want to help but because we’re both exhausted.
Instead of making up an excuse, he tells her yes, and scoots me off his lap.
Before leaving, he kisses me deeply and says, “Maybe now’s the best time to”—eyeing the present I’ve sat on the couch beside me—“open that thing and get it over with.”
I think he’s right. Christmas is nearly over, and I’ve put it off long enough.
“Just let me make sure it’s not anything I need to worry about, okay?” When I finally nod at him, Mav grabs the present and starts to open it.
We sort of had an agreement that even though it was addressed to me, Mav would at least be the one to open it and make sure it wasn’t anything that would harm me or the baby or scare the life out of me.
He turns away from me a little after he gets the wrapping paper off. I see that it’s a small wooden chest. He shields me from what’s inside, but I hear it when he lifts the lid. I move a little closer and see Mav's displeasure at finding out what’s inside.
His jaw ticks before he harshly whispers, “I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him.”
Reaching for it, I say, “What? What is it?”
He goes to pull the box further away from me, but I say his name. He pauses. “It’s from Pappy.”
My stomach churns. At the same time, my heart beats a little faster. “What is it?” I ask.
“A letter and some pictures.” He exhales a long breath. “Pictures of him, and by the looks of her, your mom. It doesn’t look like their affair was a one-time deal either.”