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When he’s gone, I cock an eyebrow at Corinne and ask, “You two know each other, huh?”

“Yeah,” she murlass door behind her,it clear she doesn’t want to talk about it anyeUnless I was on an active mission with the Navy SEALS, I’ve never missed a Christmas with my family since the time I left home It may be that I only had leave for two days and I’d fly in, celebrate, and fly back out again My parents learned having a son in the military meant they couldn’t always be the priority, and so they were happy hatever bits of tiet with me

Of course, I would try to visit at other ti on where I was stationed at the time

Since co to Jaerous work, we also handle a lot of other types of security issues that aren’t pressing and dangerous As such, we’ve generally had ti Kynan believes is important for his employees

I should be in uest roo for Mo It’s a tradition After, we pass out presents and sit around in pajah forent projects, but within the safety of my family’s home, I can relax and just be their kid

But it’s Christmas Eve, and I’m not in North Carolina with loves, and scarf, and I’ outside of St Francis Catholic Church in Hazelwood, where ht mass is set to start soon

I’ as all the parishioners walk fro on and off for two days now The ground is carpeted with a thick blanket of fluffy snow, but the roads and parking lot have been plowed About ten minutes before the service starts, I see her

Walking arht and knit caps on their heads as Laney laughs at so hands, and Brian brings up their rear

It’s been three days since I sat at the Dolans’ dinner table Three days since I’ve seen Jaime I’ve tried every day to reach out to her, to set up a tinored me, then she answered via text and said, “I’m just not ready”

I respected that answer for a full twenty-four hours before I said, “Fuck it” She ht not be ready, but I am

So it ith regret I had to callhome for Christmas I didn’t even dare try to co to my loved ones

Yeah… I toldin love with a woure out how to correct it until it was too late

My mother—Gina Murdock—can be as sweet as the southern tea she brews or as viperous as a copperhead when she’s angry I got the range of emotions from her, but, in the end, she only wants me to be happy, so she understoodJaime hoet her to forgive ht, maybe we can take a weekend trip to North Carolina

The bell in the church tolls lers rush inside I start walking that way, leaving deep footprints in the snow I enter into the warm vestibule and scan the interior of the church, easily locating Jaime and her family four rows back from the front

I choose a seat in the very last row, then take off my coat I’ve never been to a Catholic ht, and I want to see what’s so ical about this tradition for the Dolan family

And then after… well, Jai to talk

?

I stand off to the side of the church steps, having walked out just before the priest did It’s still snowing, and I’iving peaceful blessings to each person alks past him After what seems like forever, I see Jaime’s parents They shake hands with the priest, followed by Brian, then Jaime and Laney