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“Yes, I’m afraid to tell you that your father and I are Santa Claus” She clucked her tongue “We’ve tried to shield you from life’s harsh realities as best we could”

Laughing, Max joined her by the tree As a teenager, he’d rolled his eyes at Valerie’s insistence at still putting presents from Santa under the tree on Christrabbed presents fro a bow to one of the

“Wait, this says ‘Jeremy’”

Valerie glanced over fro “I got hi stuffers, nice thick socks, a turtleneck, and soreat hand-warmers frorew up in Victoria Oh, and I hope you kids are still using Spotify The little box for him is a year’s subscription”

Max stared at her as she hu on the TV and filled the stockings—including the non-personalized guest stocking, which was clearly for Jere, she jolted

“Max? What is it?”

“Does it bug you that I don’t call you ‘mom’?” Oh God He’d finally asked it out loud

Valerie blinked, her eyebrows shooting up “What? No, sweetheart”

He fidgeted, trying to say it the right way now that he’d brought it up after so long “It’s just, soht because she was my mom and that’s what I called her”

“Of course” Valerie was using her best soothing voice, and it helped Max breathe

“But Meg calls Dad that” Max grimaced “You knohat I mean”

“Yes And that’s her choice” She s around long enough for her to call hi But you can call me whatever you want”

In unison, they said, “As long as you don’t call me late for dinner”

It felt dah Valerie smiled fondly “You used to roll your eyes whenever my s”

“I did,” Max ad and he wasn’t even sure why

“Max, your mom was a wonderful woman I wish I could have known her, which probably sounds a little funny since I’m married to your dad I could never take her place But we can love people in different ways There’s a whole world of love to give”

Throat tight, he nodded, tears burning his eyes “You’ve been—” He s and the presents under the tree “You’ve always been an a about Jeremy”