“Breathe,” I tell them. I step forward and kiss Liam. Betty Paige pretends to gag. But she smiles when I pull her into my arms and kiss her on top of her head. I inhale deeply, loving the scent of her shampoo. She’s growing up too fast, and I’m desperately trying to hang on to every bit of her that I can.
“Come on into the deli. It’s quiet right now. I’ll bring us some pie.” Liam holds the door for Paige and me. We walk through the flower shop and into the deli, where my assistant manager, Trudy, waves to Liam and Paige. Trudy started working for me after she moved to Beaumont from the big city. She had retired and was bored most days and would often find herself sitting in the deli, reading a book. When I placed the “Now Hiring” sign in the window, she applied and has been a lifesaver ever since. Trudy not only runs the deli but the flower shop as well, giving me more freedom to travel with Liam and be home when Paige needs me. Not that she needs me often. She’s a thirty-year-old in a teenager’s body. “Needing” Mom or Dad is so uncool right now.
I cut three slices of pie and put each piece on a separate plate—pumpkin for me, apple for Paige, and blueberry for Liam. Paige and Liam get a scoop of ice cream after I heat theirs in the microwave. When I get to their table, they’re engrossed an in-depth discussion with fingers moving all over the table. To me, it looks like they’ve set up an obstacle course with the salt and pepper shakers and the condiment bottles. When I approach, they sit up and each reach for their pie.
“Do you want anything to drink?” I ask before sitting down.
“I’ll get whatever you need,” Trudy says from behind me. “Sit down, enjoy your pie.” I smile and do as she says.
“We’re lucky to have her,” Liam says before he takes his first bite. “Damn, this is so good.” His eyes close as he finishes eating. That’s the other thing about Trudy; she can bake circles around me.
“Did you speak to Jenna and Katelyn?” Liam asks.
“I did. Everyone is coming. Just waiting to hear from Noah.”
“Can Mack come?” Betty Paige asks. I freeze while Liam chokes.
“Honey, I’m sure Mack wants to spend Christmas with his family.”
“And I’m not spending my holidays with Nick,” Liam barks out. As if we didn’t already know this. I swear, this feud is going to be the death of me. More so, if anything does happen between Mack and Paige, Liam is liable to . . . well, I don’t know. There are too many scenarios and possibilities. Liam accepted Nick into Noah’s life because he had no choice. I wasn’t going to ask my son to forget about the man who helped raise him. Liam gets that. But he’s determined to put his foot down where any relationship between Mack and his daughter is concerned.
“Daddy,” Paige whines.
“The answer is no, Paige.”
“That’s so unfair. Noah gets to bring Peyton.”
I stifle a laugh at her argument. She uses it anytime Liam tells her no. He sets his fork down and makes a steeple with his fingers. These two butt heads like there’s no tomorrow.
“Betty Paige, Peyton is your brother’s wife. Of course, he can bring her. Mack, is your friend, who would rather—and I’m just guessing here—spend Christmas with his parents and sister.”
She sighs heavily. “Maybe Mack can come after Christmas?”
Liam glances at me, and I shrug. Honestly, we love Mack. He’s a great kid and excels at whatever he does. Despite Nick and Liam's issues, there isn’t another boy Liam would rather see his daughter start dating when she’s allowed to date—which isn’t for another forty years or so.
“If you ask your mother nicely, maybe she’ll reach out to Mack’s parents and see if we can arrange something.”
Paige’s eyes go wide, and her mouth drops open. Before she even asks, I set my hand on hers and nod. “I’ll ask Nick and Aubrey. If they say yes, you can invite Mack.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you.” She bounces up from her seat and tackles me with a hug. She goes over to Liam next and whispers, “Don’t worry, Daddy. You’re still my number one guy.”
When she goes back to her chair, I hand Liam a napkin. “Your eyes are sweating.”
He clears his throat and excuses himself. Trudy returns with our drinks. A vanilla milkshake for Paige, a chocolate one for Liam, and coffee for me.
“I made Dad cry,” Paige says.
I nod as I take a sip of my coffee. “You gotta give your dad a break sometimes. He doesn’t want you to grow up.”
“Is it because he missed so much time with Noah?”
Shrugging, I sigh and set my mug down. “One of the reasons, but mostly because you’re his baby. Growing up is hard on parents. One day, you’re this tiny little thing we carry around, and then you’re a walking, talking, sassing teenager. It’s like we blink and boom, you’re a big kid.”
Liam returns, clear-eyed, and with a smile on his face. He sits down, glances at the milkshake Trudy brought him, and starts drinking. Betty Paige and I watch with rapt attention as he sucks on the straw.
“He’s going to give himself a brain freeze,” she says quietly.
“He deserves it if he’s going to drink like that.”
Liam gets to the end of the glass and sets it down. He lets out what is undoubtedly a satisfying “ah” and looks at us.
“Feel better?” I ask.
He rubs his stomach and winks. If we were at home, he’d let out a burp, and I’d yell at him for being rude. Thankfully, we’re in public, and even though we own the deli, Liam would never do anything to embarrass me.
“Much,” he says, going back to his pie. “Okay, let’s talk vacation. When are we leaving?”
“Friday morning. Paige is going to miss school. I figured with everyone else coming, we can fly on a commercial airline and let Harrison and Jimmy use the jet.”
Liam nods. “I’ll touch base with the guys later and check-in. Did you ask my mom?”
“I did, but she’s going on a cruise with her friends, and I told her not to worry about us, we’ll celebrate when she gets back. She was worried we’d be upset that she made plans.”
Liam shakes his head. “Not at all. I’m happy she’s found people to socialize with.”
The relationship Liam has with his mother, Bianca, is good, but sometimes odd. She’s a part of our lives and is very close to Noah and Betty Paige. I talk to her occasionally, but we’re not close and never will be. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the way she treated Noah and me in those first ten years. Liam knows how I feel and doesn’t push me to have some miraculous change of heart. She’s good to the kids now, and that’s all I can ask for.
“And you said you haven’t spoken to Noah yet?”
I shake my head. “I left him a message. I’m hoping he’ll call back tonight.”
“Does the reservation matter on headcount?”
“No, we have the whole house, and there’s enough space for everyone. The house is at the base of the mountain, not far from the lodge, and there’s a hot tub on the deck.”
“Oh, can I bring my bikini?” Paige blurts out.