CHAPTER 28—DAMIAN
***
Alessandro: Roisin and Connor are on it. We'll figure out what's going on.
MADDIE'S PLANTED HERSELF in front of me like a human shield, ready to take the hit just like she did in Ocean City. Fuck if that doesn't do things to my chest. My mom's face is a roadmap of red blotches, a sure sign she's about to blow. Alessandro and Aisling are marching towards the camera like they're going to reach through the screen and throttle my so-called parents.
All these people, they're here for me. For the shelter. For shit that actually matters. And those assholes on the screen? The ones claiming they're here for me when they're just serving their own agenda? They can go fuck themselves.
My hands are steady, my breathing even. Months of therapy, late-night talks with friends, Maddie's warmth next to me in bed - it's all built me up, brick by brick. No way these ghosts from my past are going to tear me down now.
I lock eyes with the people who ditched me when I was eight. The ones who treated me like a prop in their twisted family sitcom. "You know what?" My voice doesn't shake. Not anymore. "This event is for the pets, but I've got something to say."
Maddie's hand is on my arm, her voice tight. "Don't... You..."
I shake my head, giving her a look that says I've got this. "They're like those slasher flicks you love, Princess. Should've known they'd pop up for one last scare before fucking off for good."
Then I do it. I kiss her, right there in front of everyone. It's not some Hollywood lip-lock, just a soft press of lips, but it says everything. Her hand lingers on my cheek, and I swear I can feel her warmth seeping into my bones.
Aunt Locelli's victory whoop cuts through the tension. "I won!!! I won the bet!!!" It's not the moment to tell her that's not exactly right.
My parents' faces are a mix of confusion and something else - disappointment maybe? Tough shit. I narrow my eyes, the words of that letter burning in my pocket. Time to put this nightmare to bed once and for all.
"I wrote a Dear Santa letter to the Ghost of my Christmas Present." Confused looks bounce around the room like pinballs, but I plow on as my so-called parents try to butt in. Their mouths are moving, but no sound comes out. I catch Roisin and Connor's thumbs up, and suddenly it clicks.
Maddie leans in so only I can hear her. "We're live on the Ocean City feed. You don't have to do this."
"I'm doing this one thing for the shelter, for myself, and then I'll live every damn moment." My voice is gravel and steel. "You know I don't even have social media, so I won't see all the bullshit comments."
I half-expect my bio parents to have bailed by now. But they're still there, silent spectators to the life they threw away. They look... older. Less like the monsters under my bed and more like tired, desperate has-beens. They're not my boogeymen anymore. Not by a long shot.
"Dear Santa," I start, then catch myself. "Shit." Kids might be watching. Gotta keep it PG. "Dear Santa,
I used to think I was broken, a throwaway kid. But now I see I'm the one who's whole. I've built a life, a family, that's worth more than any Christmas miracle.
You can't wrap love in a box or leave it under a tree. It's in the way Maddie looks at me, in Mom's unconditional support, in the wagging tails at the shelter. It's in the way this town rallied around me, around us, to make this Christmas-Adopt-thon happen.
I thought I needed to run from my past, but turns out, I just needed to stand still long enough to let the good stuff catch up. And man, has it caught up. This town, these people - they've shown me what real family means. It's not about blood or presents. It's about showing up, every day, even when it's hard.
I'm not that scared kid anymore, waiting for a family that'll never come home. I've been home with my mom—the one who raised me ever since she gave me love and laughter and caring. And the time and space I needed when I first arrived at her place: always there for me. And here, in Swans Cove, with people who chose me, and who I choose right back. Every single day.
To the me right now, the me who's finally letting himself believe in something good: You're doing alright, kid. Keep going. Keep loving. Keep building this life that's finally, truly yours.
And to those who thought they could waltz back in and claim credit for the man I've become: You're too late. I've already found my happy ending, and you're not in it.
I may still be the Grinch of Swans Cove, but Merry Christmas."
The words come out rough, but real. More real than anything I've said in a long time. I look up from the letter, half-expecting to see their shocked faces staring back at me. But the screens are blank. They're gone. Cut and run, just like before.
But this time, it doesn't feel like abandonment. It feels like freedom.
I turn to Maddie, to the room full of people who've become my real family. Their faces are a mix of pride, love, and a few tears. Even Aunt Locelli looks like she's about to burst.
"Now," I say, my voice steady. "Let's get these pets some homes, shall we?"
The room erupts in cheers and applause. Maddie's hand finds mine, squeezing tight. I squeeze back, feeling the strength of our connection, of all the connections I've made here.
This is what family looks like. This is what home feels like. And no ghost from my past can take that away.
"AND BACK TO SWANS COVE for a little Karaoke moment..." Grant Torre's voice booms from the screen, yanking me back to the present.
I take a deep breath, letting it all sink in. This evening? It's been a rollercoaster, but in the best way possible. Foster families from all over are flooding our system with applications. Landon Adams, Aunt Locelli's billionaire nephew with a heart of gold, has pledged food, vet care, and pet daycare for every foster family that steps up. It's a big ask, taking in a furry friend. Time, money - it all adds up.
But it's working. We're actually making a difference here.
One application catches my eye, and I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. Kellan. That son of a bitch actually did it. He's applying to foster, but he's got a caveat - needs to make sure he's sober for a year first. It's like a weight lifts off my chest. He's getting help. He's not alone in this fight anymore.
That's when I hear it. Maddie's voice, belting out "All I Want for Christmas is You" like she's auditioning for American Idol. And it's terrible. I mean, objectively, cats in heat sound better than this. But she's pointing at me, dancing around with Aisling and Sorcha, and her happiness makes me smile. It makes me happy to see her enjoy herself like this.
She's in the moment. Truly, honestly happy. No facade, no putting on a show for anyone. Just Maddie, in all her off-key glory.
I catch Alessandro's eye as he and Aisling get ready to head out. They've got to get back to Ava at her grandparents'. The night's winding down, Christmas Eve ticking away into Christmas proper.
Then I feel it. Mom's hand on my back, warm and steady. I turn to look at her, and the smile on her face... it hits me right in the gut. She sees it. She sees me, actually enjoying a moment that I thought would be forever tainted by memories I'd rather forget.
Maddie's off-key tone carries across the room, and my eyes are drawn to her like a magnet. That red velvet dress hugs her curves in all the right places, riding up her thighs as she dances. Her curls are wild, bouncing with every move, and all I can think about is how they felt wrapped around my fingers last night.
This woman, who came here chasing success, has found something so much deeper. She's not just playing a part anymore. She's fully herself, unafraid to be vulnerable, to throw herself into the moment with abandon. And she's absolutely magnificent.
For a second, I'm transported back to this morning - Maddie in my arms, her skin warm and soft against mine, the taste of her lips still lingering. The way she whispered my name, all breathy and needy, nearly undid me. Shaking off the memory, I force myself to focus on the present, but damn if I'm not counting the minutes until I can get her alone again.
And the thing is, the physical is even better now because I know her. Really know her. Love her. It's the way her mind works that sets me on fire just as much as her touch does. That brilliant brain of hers, always three steps ahead, coming up with ideas that leave me in awe. When she gets excited about a new story angle, her eyes light up and her hands start flying, and I swear it's the sexiest thing I've ever seen. She challenges me, pushes me to think differently, to be better. And somehow, she does it all while accepting me exactly as I am, gruff exterior and all.
I've always known love isn't about perfection. It's about finding someone who matches your fire, who challenges you to be better while loving you exactly as you are. Maddie does that for me, effortlessly.
She stands her ground when I push. She sees through my defenses but respects them. And somehow, without me even realizing it, she's become an essential part of my life. Not in a way that weakens me, but in a way that makes me stronger, better.
And I want to do that for her. To be that for her.
I wrote about love in that letter to my future self, but this - what I feel watching Maddie now - this is beyond words. It's powerful. It's a force that doesn't make me want to retreat, but makes me want to stand tall and embrace it fully.
Loving her is going to be an adventure. We're both too passionate, too driven for anything less. And I can't wait for every moment of it. Because with Maddie, I don't just see a partner. I see a future that's exciting, inspiring, and profoundly real.
I can't wait to show her what that means. To prove that when I love, I love with every fiber of my being. No reservations, no half measures. All in, every day, through whatever life throws our way.
Maddie catches my eye mid-song. Her face lights up with a smile so bright it puts all the Christmas lights to shame. She blows me a kiss, and I feel my heart stutter in my chest. This woman, who roared into my life like an F1 car on the final lap, didn't just break down my walls - she became the reason I wanted to demolish them myself. And fuck if I don't want to spend the rest of my life on this circuit with her, chasing podiums, popping champagne, and yeah, even decking the halls and jingling some bells. Who knew the holidays could feel like a victory lap?