Underneath the Sycamore Tree(69)

“Dad wouldn’t even spread the damn frosting around. He just put a spoonful on top and doused the thing with whatever sprinkles was closest to him.”

Cam laughs. “He did that on purpose.”

I grin. “Are you still like that?”

Kaiden says, “No” the same time Cam answers, “Yes.”

Glancing between them, I see how light Cam’s eyes are as she watches her son. The holidays are meant to bring people together, and it seems like it has here.

Cam looks from him to me. “He’s nowhere near as obsessed with perfection, but if we put him in a baking competition, he’d win first place hands down.”

Kaiden’s face turns pink. “Mom. Jesus.”

Cam’s eyes widen as she stares at him.

He grumbles and rolls the dough flat, not meeting her teary eyes.

I can’t help but stare though, because the watery gaze she gives Kaiden is nothing like the one I’m used to seeing from Mama. Cam’s is full of awe and love knowing her son finally called her something other than her first name. It’s so beautiful I feel like I shouldn’t be intruding on the moment.

Jabbing my finger behind me, I make an excuse to go to my room. I suppose I could be honest and admit I need to lie down, but instead I tell them I have presents left to wrap. Considering I don’t have any money, it’s a stupid one to make, but neither says a word.

Once I’m in my room, I play with the beaded bracelet on my wrist before walking over to my dresser and pulling out the old pair of Harry Potter pajamas. Running my fingers across the worn, dingy material, I set them on the bed and stare.

If Kaiden can let Cam in, I can do the same for Dad. Mama too if she’ll let me. The difference between them is that Dad let me in a long time ago—when he said yes to moving in, when he picked me up, when he brought me back to visit. He’s tried more than Mama has. It’s her turn to let me in.

After playing around with a couple items from my room, I stand back and smile at the outcome of my makeshift Christmas Eve present. Dad didn’t ask for it, but I think that’s what makes it more special.

Running my hand over the thick frame housing my flattened Hufflepuff shirt with a picture of Lo and me as kids, I swallow past the lump in my throat.

After stealing some wrapping paper from Cam, I finish taping up the end before setting the gift off to the side. Finally taking Kaiden’s advice, I grab his laptop from where he keeps it on my nightstand and put on a cheesy Christmas movie before pulling the blankets around me.

Still aching, I rest on my back and feel my lids grow heavy before I succumb to sleep.

“Emery.”

“Emery.”

Someone is shaking me, pulling me away from a nap that I don’t want to end. I can feel the exhaustion settle into my body—limbs heavy and brain foggy and back sore. I grumble and try ignoring the intruder, but they keep persisting.

“Wake up, baby.”

“Go away, Kaiden,” I murmur, wanting to push him away. He usually lets me sleep when I need it, so I’m not sure why he’s being pushy now.

A throat clears. “Not me, Mouse.”

My eyes crack open, and the first thing I see is Mama beside me. She’s sitting on the edge of my bed with a weary smile on her face. Grandma and Kaiden are off to the side, Kaiden leaning against my dresser and Grandma looking amused from behind Mama.

“Does your stepbrother usually call you baby?” Grandma asks. Her curiosity is mixed with a teasing tone, which makes me blush.

Mama squeezes my shoulder. “You look a little pale, Em.”

Em. I haven’t heard her call me that in a long time. It almost sounds off coming from her unpainted lips.

“I’m okay,” I say, sitting up. She helps me, noticing my slowness, and then hugs me to her until I’m breathing in her lavender scent.

“When did you guys get here?” I look at Grandma and smile, reaching out to squeeze her hand before pulling away from Mama.

“Only ten minutes ago,” she answers.

“I’m glad you came.”

She glances at Kaiden, then Grandma, and then back to me. “Can I speak to you alone for a moment?”

Wanting to ask Kaiden to stay might not be a good idea, because I don’t know what she’s planning on talking to me about. Based on her distant study of his casual demeanor, I think he is a big part of it.

“We’ll be downstairs,” Grandma says, tugging Kaiden along with her. He relents, shooting me an amused grin before Grandma closes my bedroom door behind them.

“Please be careful, Sunshine.”

I blink slowly, unsure of where this is heading.

She takes my hand in hers. “That boy has heartbreak written all over his face, and the circumstances aren’t exactly ideal for you two.”

At first, I’m not sure what the feeling in my chest is, but it builds up and up the more I replay her words. That’s when I realize that it’s anger.

“No.”

Her lips part.

“No,” I repeat, pulling my hand away from hers, “you don’t get to warn me away from people. I love you, Mama, but you gave up that right a long time ago.”

“Em—”

“Kaiden has been in my corner from the very beginning,” I inform her gingerly. “He’s annoying and sometimes downright rude, but he’s also a realist, probably more so than anyone else I know. He tells it how it is even if it hurts. I need him in my life.”