Christmas Eve. Five years later…
“DAD! YOU’RE GONNA GET US slaughtered. Watch the damn barn door,” Kaiden shouts, as Mason sits next to him on the floor in front of the television, clutching a game remote in his hands.
“Watch your goddamn mouth,” Mason scolds our nine-year-old son as he glares down and loses patience. “And remember this is a fuckin’ game.”
Amelia’s twenty-one-month-old son, Jamison Emery Wills, is climbing up and over Mason’s back, pulling on his ear with one hand and slapping his cheek with the other. Mason pays no mind. He never does. The kids run all over him, usually at the most inopportune times, yet he never complains.
“Dinner will be ready soon,” I call from the kitchen.
“Wait. Where’s Averie?” Amelia questions, fixing a plate for Jamie. “I thought she was supposed be here by now.”
Amelia’s belly has grown with a second baby on the way. In two months, we’ll have another member to welcome home.
“She said she and Jax had to stop for a few last minute pick-ups,” I relay.
Amelia rolls her eyes but smiles. “You mean, Averie’s doing her Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve again.”
“Yes,” I confirm. “Wouldn’t be gifts from her if they weren’t wrapped in department store paper bags.”
Amelia laughs and I smile. Averie Marie Dyer has grown in age, but she’s not changed her ways. Any of them.
“She and Jax have something to tell us,” Amelia reminds what I haven’t forgotten.
I already know something is coming because Averie told me herself. Her voice was unsteady when she called last week.
Please don’t be mad I haven’t said anything, and please do whatever you gotta do to keep Mason calm when we get in.
As a mother, I’ve worried. I tried to get her to talk to me over the phone. To elaborate even in the slightest. But, as always, Averie’s stubbornness prevailed. I got nothing out of her.
Mom, really. Everything is fine. I just need you not to freak the hell out.
“Think she’s finally getting married?” Amelia asks.
Averie loves Jaxson. There’s not one piece of me that doesn’t recognize the way she looks at him. Though, their visits home are few and far between, I’ve witnessed her adoration for him firsthand. I can hear it in her voice and understand it in her words.
My youngest daughter found the love of her life. At age thirteen, the man she was meant to be with was brought to her by the man I was meant for as well.
Jaxson’s asked for her hand in marriage, going about this the traditional way. He went to Thomas first. Thomas readily agreed. Then me, and I was the same. Then of course, he went to Mason. There, he was lectured, scolded, and warned, but ultimately Mason gave his blessing.
However, even if the two are in engaged, Averie has yet to fully commit.
“Maybe they are getting married,” I return, setting the plates on the counter and watching as Mason drops the game remote next to Kaiden, grabs Jamison from his back, and moves to stand.
“You don’t think they’re…” Amelia hesitates, picking at the corner of a folded napkin.
“What?”
“Breaking up or anything, do you?”
Not a chance. “I don’t think Jaxson would ever let her leave him.”
Smiling, Amelia watches Mason approach. “Guess not if he’s anything like his uncle.”
“What’re you two hens goin’ on about?” Mason inquires.
“Nothing,” Amelia brushes off.
“Averie,” I answer. “And Jax.”
A mumbled gruff comes from Mason as he steps into the kitchen. Jamie reaches his arms out, signaling he wants his mom. Mason bends, handing the almost two-year-old over.
“Brayden on his way?” Mason asks.
“He is,” Amelia returns. “Just sent a text. He’s stopping now to get your beer.”
As Mason stands beside me at the counter, the front door swings opens.
All heads turn and Jaxson enters first. He’s dressed in a heavy coat, scarf, and gloves. It’s cold outside of course, but the California native wasn’t taking any chances on the crisp Washington air.
He doesn’t only look chilled to his core, though. Jaxson also looks exhausted.
“Don’t kick my ass,” he orders, his heated gaze locked to Mason’s. “None of this was my idea.”
Oh, no.
“Where’s Averie?” I insist.
Clasping to the heels of my anxiety, Mason also bids, “Is she all right?”
Amelia, sensing my distress, gently places her hand on my arm.
“Right here!” Averie calls from the porch. “Good God, have you people been outside? It’s freezing!” she punishes.
As my youngest enters through the front door, holding a paper cup of what looks to be gas station coffee, my heart stammers in my chest. My eyes brim with tears. Mason’s hand rests against my shoulder and he squeezes hard. I’m guessing he’s seen what I just have.
The ring on Averie’s finger isn’t the same one from her engagement. From here, I’d readily swear, there’s just no way. The size is too big, the width too thick.
My beautiful girl is married.
“You got hitched without me!” Amelia cries out so loudly Kaiden jolts in place and turns his head. Rushing to her sister, Amelia roughly grabs Averie’s hand and admonishes, “Dang it! I can’t believe you did this.”
“She got married,” I whisper.
Mason’s mouth is at my ear. He kisses the side of my neck before smiling into it. “Appears she did.”
“When?” I utter, loud enough Averie can hear.
Jaxson looks guilty, his expression giving way to his knowing he’s in trouble. At least he is with me. Averie’s always doing things her way, in her time. I’ve come to rely on Jaxson to at least inform us all of what she’s up to. With Averie, we all need to be prepared.
“Does it matter what day we said ‘I do’?” Averie wonders, walking to me in cautious steps. Her eyes are shining in happy elation.
“Last month? Last week? Last year? Tell me!” Amelia cries out again.
Averie rolls her eyes, flipping her gaze to Amelia’s. “Jax and I wanted this time for us. We didn’t want anyone to fuss or worry over a damn wedding that only lasted ten minutes.”
“Jax wants whatever Averie wants,” Jaxson enters at Averie’s back, standing behind her and waiting to defend his new bride. Shrugging, he adds, “Or so this is what she tells me.”
“Mom?” Averie calls and my eyes make their way to hers. “Are you mad?”
“Of course I’m not mad, honey,” I assure. “I’m just surprised.”
“Well, I’m furious!” Amelia scolds. “I had a plan all set to go, and you’ve gone and ruined it.”
Oh, my.
After Averie’s determination to give Amelia a wedding she’d only remember smiling, Amelia’s been constructing to scheme. However, Amelia isn’t nearly as good at getting dubious plans set in motion as Averie.
Thank God.
However, since my girls have become best friends, Averie’s insistence and orneriness has started to wear off on her older sister. Much to Mason’s dismay.
“There may be more news yet to share,” Averie quietly states, lowering her head, but keeping her eyes to Mason.
At Averie’s statement, Amelia’s eyes widen and she steps in closer.
“Fuckin’ saw that comin’,” Mason grouses, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me to him. “Go ahead, Averie. Get it out.”
Jax makes way for my daughter’s coat. Once his hands are at the collar, ready to bring it down, she turns toward him and holds his hand in place to stop him.
“Mom,” Averie calls, a severe blush crossing her face. “Remember what I asked you to do when I called?”
Mason. She wants me to handle Mason.
“I remember, honey.”
Averie nods to Jaxson and he takes the coat down her arms. A million thoughts twist and turn in my head about what Averie could’ve done.
Tattoos across her neck. Piercings on her chest. Breast implants. All of this would be considered Averie.
But when Jaxson drops the coat, the room charges with surprise as we all look to Averie’s stomach.
My youngest girl has always been an athlete. Even as an adult, living in California, she’s taken up running. She says it helps relieve stress and wishes she’d done cardio training years ago. Because of this, she’s always been not only thin but very toned.
However, that is no more. Averie’s belly is bigger than it’s ever been.
“Before or after,” Mason seethes and my body tenses.
Looking over my shoulder, I find my husband’s beautiful face has turned to stone. His eyes are venomous, staring right into the heart of Averie—her new husband, Jaxson.
Shit. Right. Damage control.
“Mason, honey, Averie’s probably tired. Let’s all sit.”
“One-word answer expected. Before or after?”
“Mason,” Averie whispers.
“Does it matter?” Jax flips back. “I put that engagement ring on her finger three years ago. She’s been mine the entire time. Before that too if you count the headache she’s been giving me all these years.”
“Hey!” Averie snaps, turning her scowl to Jax.
“About to get my ass beat, Averie. I love you every day of my goddamn life, but truth is truth.”
“I guess it is,” she confirms.
Turning fully into Mason, I place my hands on his chest. As if someone snapped their fingers in front of his face, his gaze drops from Jaxson and he looks to me.
“You good with this?” he asks.
My daughters are married. They’re happy and loved. Their children adore them, or soon will. Each of us is healthy and safe.
“I don’t think we’ve ever been in a better place.”
“Jaxson lives then,” he whispers and Amelia gasps. “For now.”
“Whatever!” Averie calls. “I’m starving. Sixteen weeks in and this little bundle of goodness has already gained me eleven pounds.”
“Little bundle of goodness,” Jaxson mumbles. “The baby didn’t do that, Averie. Your fondness for ice cream and potato chips has.”
Averie tosses a glare to Jaxson. Holding his hands to his sides, he pleads, “Whatever you want. Have it.”
Standing in the kitchen of my home, I watch Amelia holding her beautiful boy in her arms, another in her belly on the way. Averie’s clutching Jaxson’s hand as she rummages her finger through a crystal bowl of homemade Christmas candy with the other. Mason’s watching Kaiden shrug in front of the television as he loses another virtual life.
Here I am, blessed to be at the center of them all.
Keeping Happy.