Chapter 17 – Honey, I’m Home
Luke – 22 years old
A week has flown by with Hadley. I’ve spent as much of it as I can with her, between her studying for a midyear exam and the farm. She’s spent every night in my bed, and I can’t say I’ve got any complaints about it.
When she’s around, nothing else matters. One evening, she told me she had to study, so I stayed behind at the farm fixing up one of Trevor’s old cars.
I’d come home later that night and found my apartment door slightly open. Going into fight-or-flight mode, bracing myself for a fight, I slowly entered my apartment. The lights were low and plastic shopping bags were everywhere. Hadley had stolen my key and come back here, transforming my place into a Christmas wonderland.
She stood by the five-foot Christmas tree with a bashful look on her face, holding out a star. “You want to put it on the top of the tree?”
I wanted to cry in that moment; it was everything I wanted and more. Not the part of putting the star on top if the tree but her being in my new home, her being here when I came home from work. That’s the part I wanted.
We still haven’t put a label on us, but it’s only been just over a month since a came back into her life, and technically only a week of that we’ve been together. As much as I’m ready to make her mine for good, I need to know she wants that too.
It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m finishing up wrapping Hadley’s present. I framed the photo of us, the one I’ve clung to for the last six years. My Tigger and me. I figured if she could see I’ve kept us in my mind and heart for all this time it might be the last tick in the box to make it official between us.
A knock at my door has me bouncing to my feet. Hadley’s home. Although she said she would pop by tomorrow, I’m glad to see her tonight. Maybe I can convince her stay the night?
As I pull open the door, I say, “I should just give you your own key at this point”.
Once the door is all the way open, Liam stands there grinning from ear to ear.
“Honey, I’m home,” he jokes as he drops his backpack on the floor and pulls me into a hug. I don’t react at first, and a million questions swirl around my head . Is he alone? Where’s Nana? What’s wrong? Is this the part where Dad comes and takes me away again?
Like he can hear my inner turmoil. “Relax, Dad thinks I’m spending tonight and tomorrow with Nana at her house.”
Relief hits me for a second, and I hug him back. “So, Nana is alone?” I snap, furious he left her to come see me. I’ am grateful for it, I’ve wanted to see him so much, but not to where he leaves Nana alone on Christmas.
He laughs, patting my shoulder. “I’m not a monster.” Then Nana steps into view.
With her arms out wide to her sides, I run into them, pick her up, and spin her in a circle, thanking her for coming over and over.
Giggling, she says, “Put me down, you hooligan.”
I smile down at her while gently placing her onto her feet. “Cup of tea?” I offer, and she takes my hand in her’s, pulling me back into my apartment.
After I launch into what’s been going on since I left them, they fill me in on how Dad took the news of my disappearance.
“It went down as bad as we expected.” My twin brother sighs. “Twenty minutes after you left the party, he came and asked me where you were, and I told him you had snuck off, saying something about needing space.”
“And then what?”
“He changed tactics and didn’t announce you taking over. When we got back home after the party, he smashed your room up, searching for anything that would help him find you.”
My heartbeat thumps hard in my chest as I drop my head into my hands at the kitchen table.
“So, is he coming to get Luke or not?” Our heads snap up to the sweet voice coming from the kitchen. None of us heard her come into my apartment. The end of her little button nose is red from the cold outside.
She bites the inside of her cheek before saying, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to jump into your private conversation, your front door wasn’t closed properly, and I didn’t know you had guests over.” She pauses, looking like might snap at her eavesdropping. “I heard Liam mention your dad, and after what you said the other night, I guess I just needed to know what he was going to say or do.”
I smile at her as she squirms in front of us. “It’s okay, Tigger, come on, sit down.” I pat the empty chair next to me, and she drops into the seat opposite Nana.
“Well, aren’t you pretty,” Nana says. Hadley’s cheeks burn bright as Liam greets her.
Kissing the top of her head, I move to flick the kettle on and make a round of hot chocolate for us all. Hadley falls into conversation with Nana, and they all laugh loudly at something Liam says. Spinning around to face them, I lean my butt up against the kitchen unit, crossing one leg over the other and folding my arms across my chest, taking them all in at my table. This is my family. In this moment, Dad could walk through my door, and I wouldn’t care. I won’t let him take this away from me again.
“Anyway.” Hadley chuckles, then turns to me. “I actually came over to see if you wanted to join us for Christmas tomorrow.” She turns back to Nana, grabs her hand, and says, “When I was standing there”—she points to the spot by the front door— “not listening into your private conversation one bit”—she then does a three-finger salute— “scouts honour. I messaged Mum and Dad and told them to make room for you both as well. So, if you want to come and have Christmas with us, you’re more than welcome and wanted.”