That's Christmas To Me

1. I'll Be Home For Christmas

"Gramma!" Connor yelled as he saw his grandma outside. I grabbed the bags from the back as he ran over. She pulled him up and hugged him.

"Mom your back..."

"I'm fine sweetie. I wanna see my handsome grandson." My mom said.

I shut my back gate to my car and came over with our bags, getting over to hug my mom.

"Where's dad?" I asked.

"He's sitting inside. He says it's too cold to come out." She said. I chuckled.

Connor ran inside and went to hug his grandpa.

"Where are Connor and I staying?" I asked.

"Connor has your old room and you have the guest room."

"Perfect. Connor did you hear that? You get your own room!"

Connor giggled. He was sitting with my dad. I sighed and came over.

My dad got up. "Hi sugs."

"Hi."

He hugged me tight. Connor was eating candy that his grandpa had already snuck to him. There were Christmas decorations everywhere.

"Got enough Christmas in your house mom?" I asked. Connor came over and I picked him up.

She gave me a look. "You're the daughter of Scrooge I swear."

I smiled. Connor rested his head on my shoulder. We had been driving all day and it was late.

"Have you eaten yet?" My mom asked. I shook my head.

I heard the doorbell ring.

"Dinners here." My dad said.

"You ordered in? Like you called a place to order?"

My dad hated all technology. I didn't know how he even picked up his phone.

"No. God no. Our new neighbor picked us up food and groceries."

My mom opened the door.

"Hey Mrs Sperling. I think I got everything so I hope you are good with it. I'm always a call away if you..."

He stopped in his tracks.

Oh my god.

"Babe please. Come on I can't stay much longer..."

He kissed my lips one last time. "Okay. Yeah I know you have school in the morning."

God this boy. This college boy in my midst. That was pretty scandalous for a junior in high school but... what my parents don't know don't kill them.

"Let me walk you home." He said.

"I'll be fine. It's four blocks. That's it."

"It's not safe out there. Just to your block and then I'll let you go so that your parents don't see."

"Andy. We live in the safest part of town."

He kissed my lips again, making me relax. His lips were so soft. He was so perfect.

"I'm walking you home."

"Whatever."

•••

"...why didn't you tell me that you were seeing someone else?"

"I thought we were just casual. I mean you never call-"

"-I never call because I can't have my parents knowing that I'm dating a college boy. You come back from college telling me that you got a girl fucking pregnant!"

"We fizzled out!"

"That doesn't matter! You didn't break it off!"

"Whatever. She's pregnant, I proposed to her. Stay out of my life Rory. We were done a long, long time ago. We were nothing but sex for each other occasionally."

I looked away, tears in my eyes.

"See this is it. You're just gonna cry now."

"Get out." I said.

"Whatever."

"Rory?"

My mom looked at me. "You know Andy?"

"Yes. I went to high school with him. He was two years older but we knew each other. Small school you know?"

My mom smiled. "Well this is amazing! Andy come in let me tell you all about my daughter again. I hope you have nothing going on. Aurora Andy has been helping us. I mean you know us we're not getting any younger. Andy make yourself at home. Aurora sit. Catch up you need friends." My mom said. My face turned red.

I sat down at the island. Andy took his shoes and coat off and put some groceries away. He looked really at home. Connor was on my lap as I sat.

"Mommy he looks like daddy when he grows a beard." Connor said. I smiled at my son. He did look like my ex, Adam, a little.

Andy heard it and turned. "So this is your son aurora?" Andy said as he sat down next to me. My mom was trying to help my dad with the remote.

"Yes. This is Connor. He's four." I said. Connor waved. Andy waved back.

He glanced down at my hands. I still had a ring. He had one too though.

"Umm. So...how's everything been?" I asked.

"Good good. Umm I just moved back here about a month ago. My wife, my ex-wife and I weren't great. So now I'm here. It's been nice being back home. I like it here. I have a son, he's sixteen now. A own a law office here. Everything's good." He said.

Connor was playing with Andy's watch on his hand. He was a touchy boy. He didn't really have boundaries. He seemed to really like Andy though.

"Who did you end up marrying?" Andy asked.

"Do you remember Adam Richards from class of 98? I married him." I said.

"Daddy!" Connor yelled.

"Yes daddy." I said. Andy smiled.

"He seemed nice."

I breathed deep and nodded. "Yeah. We were just both busy. I work from home and he's a doctor so I took care of Connor, he worked, we didn't see each other much, so yeah. Kinda just...decided to co-parent. So we actually still live together we're just not...together anymore."

"I mean hey good for you for being civil about it. Especially for this munchkin." Andy said. He giggled.

I looked down at Andy. He smiled at my son. 

Connor was giggling. My mom and dad sat in the living room.

"Do you...have your son for Christmas?" I asked.

"No. I'm getting him for new years." He said.

"Oh. So you're alone on Christmas?"

He nodded.

"Andy! Come over for Christmas this year!" My mom said.

"Oh no mrs sperling...I shouldn't."

"You can come Christmas shopping with me tomorrow." I said.

He smiled softly. "Okay."

"Christmas shopping?" Connor asked.

"Well you have to stay with grandma and grandpa. Cause you can't see your presents until Christmas."

He nodded. I kissed my sons cheek and looked at Andy.

"Then we're gonna Christmas shop."