After Forever & Ever

Chapter 80

Tessa-Present

I tried talking to Hardin when he got back from wherever it was that he went...but he was already fast asleep. Maybe the lack of sleep got to him...I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and forget today even happened.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve...Emery's first Christmas. our First Christmas as a family. I want it to be perfect. We will be having it here with just Vance, Smith, Trish and my mom.And then Christmas Day going to Ken and karen's. Although I think Ken, Karen, Landon and Dakotah might stop by tomorrow and I am praying Hardin is in a better mood then he was today and that we can have a good day.

Waking up the next morning. Hardin is still asleep...I try waking him but he doesn't budge. I want to clean the entire apartment so that it looks nice for when everyone comes over.

Cleaning takes up the entire morning along with cooking and I am still at it well into the afternoon when he finally wakes up.

He comes out to the kitchen while I am stirring the sauce I made for dinner and turns me around and lifts my chin and kisses me. "I'm sorry." he says.

I take a deep breath and turn away. He leans up against the counter.

"Can we just have a good day?" I ask him.

"Yes...it will be a perfect day. I promise." He says to me and I really don't know if I can believe that.

"Where did you go yesterday?" I ask him.

"I went by Vance's." He tells me.

I haven't talked to Vance so that could be true...Ill trust him.

"Do we need anything else for today that you need me to get?" He asks me.

"Actually I forgot drinks...can you go get pop, water and I don't really know what everyone likes to drink." I say to him.

"Yea thats fine...Ill grab a couple bottles of wine or something, and a case of beer." He tells me.

"Are you sure you are okay buying that with.." I say to him worried since he's sober.

"Tess I can purchase alcohol without drinking it." He replies.

"Ok...ok." I respond.

He leaves and I continue to cook and clean. He takes longer than I would have expected and when he gets back he helps me finish cleaning so I can shower.

Vance, Smith and my mom show up around the same time. I pull Vance aside right away letting him know not to say anything about his music since that seems to be a touchy subject right now.

He is confused but agrees because he also wants it to be a good day.

"Hey babe...I am going to put Emery down for a nap." Hardin says to me as I am talking to Vance.

After he puts her down, we get everything on the table for dinner. And dinner is really nice. Hardin is being really nice and everyone is getting along and things are actually good.

After we eat...we all sit down in the living room to open presents. Just as we are about to start Ken, Karen, Landon and Dakotah show up.

We pass out all of the presents and of course the most exciting part is Emery and opening all of the gifts for her.

In this moment I couldn't be happier...this was what I always wanted with us. To be a family, have our families together and just share our love together and with everyone.

We continue to relax and talk with everyone in the living room. Hardin goes to put Emery to bed and I take a sip out of his water bottle.

And I have to stop myself from spitting it out all over the living room in front of everyone...it's not water. It's fucking vodka.