She snorts, and I’m tempted to slap her stupid ignorant ass, but a crowd has formed now, and several people have their phones out, recording this. I won’t lower myself to her standards, so I keep my shoulders back and my chin up as I ignore her derision and say what I need to say. “I honestly don’t care whether you believe me or not, but you should take a long hard look at yourself.” I glance over her shoulder to the young boy and girl, hanging back, clearly upset and scared. “What kind of a role model are you as a mother to accost an innocent woman in the street and level unfounded accusations at her? You don’t care that your children are trembling with fright. You’d rather have your five seconds of fame. Well, shame on you.”
She folds her arms and purses her lips, not paying her children any attention, and I feel for them.
“You’re not fit to be a mother, and you have the nerve to throw shade at me? Get a life, you sad bitch. I’m done wasting my time on you.” I grab Dillon’s hand, pulling him in close. “And if you ever look at my boyfriend like that again, I will punch you in your self-righteous face. Go crawl back under that judgmental rock you came out of.” I turn around, lifting one shoulder. “Come on, guys. We’ve got some ice-skating to do.”
“Darling. Come in, come in,” Mom says, almost blinding us with her dazzling smile as she steps aside, ushering us into the house. Dad is there too, and we exchange hugs.
“Merry Christmas, Easton.” Mom bends down, pulling him into a hug. “Did Santa come?”
“He did, Grandma! And he even brought me a present from my daddy in heaven.”
“Wow. That’s amazing. I can’t wait to hear about all your gifts.”
Dad holds out his hand, smiling at his grandson. “I think I saw some under the tree with your name on them.”
Easton rushes Dad, almost knocking him over. “Yay! More presents!” He starts tugging Dad down the hallway. “Let’s go, Grandpa.”
“Don’t open them without me,” Mom calls after him before reeling me in for another hug. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay.” Dillon squeezes my hand, and I lean into his side. Truth is, I’m not sure exactly how I feel. I’m missing Reeve and sad he isn’t here, but Dillon has gone out of his way to make this day so special already. He showered me with gifts that made me swoon, cry, and blush. I’m wearing some of the lingerie he bought me, having kept the racier stuff, as well as the sex toys, for our private time.
“Is this new?” Mom asks, fingering the pretty diamond bracelet on my wrist.
“It was one of my gifts from Dillon.”
Mom smiles at him. “You have good taste. It’s exquisite.”
“I know.” He wears a signature cocky grin, and Mom laughs.
“He also recorded an album of new songs, just for me, and he gave me this gorgeous printed leather album with the lyrics to his sweetest songs.” I smile up at him. “He has spoiled me rotten all morning.”
Mom leans in, hugging him, and it brings a tear to my eye. “I have come to expect no less.” Her smile is warm as she squeezes his hand, and I almost burst into tears. Knowing my parents have accepted him is honestly the best Christmas present I could receive.
“Merry Christmas, Lauren.” Dillon hugs her.
“How is E?”
“He’s good. It was Dillon’s idea to leave a gift for him from Reeve, and we took him out to the memorial garden to open it after breakfast. He wished his daddy and Lainey a Merry Christmas, and he’s been fine since.” I was so worried he’d be upset today, but he’s taking it in stride.
“Dillon and Jamie were up until four this morning setting up his train set, and we had to practically drag him out of the house to come here.” Dillon had his old train set shipped here from Ireland, and he found a guy to spruce it up and another guy to build a wooden base for it. “Dillon designed the set himself, and it’s a miniature replica of Ireland with cliffs, mountains, woods, quaint Irish shops, traditional housefronts, surrounded by the sea. There are even a few miniature people scattered around. The guys had to clear out the playroom to assemble it.”
“That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see it.” She loops her arm in mine. “Come in and have a drink before the others get here.”
I help Mom in the kitchen while Dillon joins Dad and Easton in the living room after he’s opened his gifts from my parents. “I’ll need to build an extension to the playroom at this rate,” I joke as I sip my mimosa. “Easton has so many new toys.”
“As long as he is happy.”
“He is.”
Mom leans back against the counter, facing me. “I can see that. I’m glad it’s working out for you, Vivien. God knows you deserve every happiness after the year you’ve endured.”
“I’ll be glad to ring in the new year,” I admit. “And I’m looking forward to the future, but I miss him today.”
“You’ll miss him every Christmas, darling.” She walks to me, giving me a hug. “But this one will be especially hard because it’s the very first one you have spent without him. Don’t be too hard on yourself, and from what I’ve seen, Dillon understands.”
“He does. He’s been amazing. He really has.”
“I’m happy to have been proven wrong about him. I saw the video last night, and I’m so proud of you, Vivien. I know it’s not easy putting yourself out there, but you can’t let these people destroy your happiness. Watching you defend yourself and your family yesterday brought tears to my eyes. You were so dignified.”
“Dillon encourages me to be brave, and I didn’t hesitate to defend myself.”
“He’s good for you, and you’re different with him. I see you coming to life again and that’s all I want for you. It’s what Reeve would want too.”
Dinner is a lively affair, and Easton is the center of attention. We FaceTime the O’Donoghues, and it’s an experience. It’s nighttime there, and they have a houseful of family and friends over. Drink is flowing, and they are all in good spirits. Easton is already begging me to take him to Ireland, and if Dillon wasn’t leaving to go on tour in ten days, I would suggest we book a trip.
But he is, and I don’t want him to go.
“You look like you could use this,” Dillon says, coming up alongside me as I stare out the window of my parents’ sunroom, looking at the old oak tree that holds so many memories. The others are playing board games with Easton in the living room, and I broke away, needing a few minutes alone. I should have known it wouldn’t take Dillon long to find me.
I take the champagne flute from his hand. “Thank you.”
He circles his arms around me from behind, and I lean back against his solid chest. “You can talk to me. I know you’re missing him.”
“This is the very first Christmas I’ve spent without him. I have lived twenty-five Christmases with him by my side. I feel disconnected without him here.” Tears spill down my cheeks because I don’t have the energy to hide them anymore. “These last few years, Reeve was actually very quiet at Christmas, and I longed to remove the sad look I always saw on his face.”