That's Christmas To Me

13. I'll Be Home

Andy was already up and at it when I woke up. I groaned as I saw that he was showered and ready.

"Andrew." I said. He chuckled.

"Hey." He said. He kissed my cheek. I smiled softly.

I moved to cuddle with Andy's leftover pillow because that's all that's left.

"Come on sweetheart. Up." He said. I groaned again.

"If you're a morning person this might be a deal breaker and I don't think I can date you again." I said.

"I'm not. But my son and his girlfriend are coming, so I am."

"How are they getting here?"

"Jake got his license a few weeks ago."

"Ahh." I said.

He smiled and helped me up. I sighed.

"What should I wear? Like are we doing a fancy dinner?"

"Yeah. I mean kinda. Like another Christmas dinner."

"Okay." I said. Andy seemed excited.

"I'll meet you at my house?" He asked. I nodded and smiled.

"I'll see you in a bit." I said.

He gave my forehead a kiss before leaving. I sighed and stretched.

•••

Connor and Adam had already left. Now it was just me getting ready. I was pretty much done.

I finished up putting my hair in a little clip before grabbing my cardigan and throwing it on. I sighed and smiled. This was gonna be fun.

I grabbed my purse and jacket, saying bye to my parents before leaving to Andy's house. I walked in. Andy was cleaning a little.

"Hi. My Aurora you clean up very nice." He said.

I rolled my eyes. "Why thank you Mr. Barber."

"Oh my pleasure." He said as he came over to kiss me. He took off my jacket as he did.

I smiled softly at him as he hung up my jacket. "You do look really pretty."

"Thank you." I said and smiled. "When's Jacob getting here?"

"Uhm I think in like thirty minutes. And his girlfriend is coming, her name is Sarah. She's a sweetheart."

"Lovely." I said. Andy seemed nervous.

"Why are you nervous?" I asked.

"Not sure." He said. "I haven't seen Jake in a while though. And the whole him meeting you thing. I don't know."

I smiled and pulled him into a hug. He rested his head on my shoulder and chuckled.

"And you're good with helping me cook?" He asked.

"Of course." I said. He pulled away and kissed me.

"Thank you." He whispered. I nodded.

•••

I was cooking as I heard the door open. Andy went over. There was Jacob and I'm assuming Sarah with him.

"Hey. Uhh mom sent over some of your old things that you forgot." Jacob said as he set down a box.

"Oh. Awesome. Do you know what it is?"

"I think like books and stuff, some old yearbooks, that sort of stuff. She said it was for a new life of yours? I don't know she gets on these things." He said. He hugged his dad.

Sarah stood quietly. She saw me and smiled. I smiled back.

"And Sarah. Hi." Andy said and hugged her.

"Hi mr barber. Thank you for inviting me."

"Of course. You're family." Andy said.

Jacob locked eyes with me. I smiled.

"Dad who's this?" Jacob asked.

"This is Aurora." Andy said. He nudged me over.

"Hi. Aurora Richards." I said and shook his hand.

"No way. Like the Aurora Richards? The famous author of every single good romance book ever made?" Sarah asked.

I chuckled. "I mean yeah I suppose." I said.

She pulled out my book from her bag. Trace The Steps of course.

"That's the one that everyone talks about." I said. Andy tensed and smiled.

"I just finished it on the way here! Does Lynn ever get back together with Stephen? I have to know!" She said. "Sorry I'm fangirling but I mean come on."

I looked at Andy and nodded. "Yes she does."

"Mom gave her that book. They did a book club on it. She studied it really hard." Jacob said. Andy nodded.

"I just recently read it. I enjoyed it."

"So dad is this your new...girlfriend?" Jacob asked.

"Yeah. Umm we actually dated before your mom and I had you." Andy said. Jacob and Sarah were taking off their jackets and we were moving to the kitchen while I cooked. Andy offered some drinks.

"Oh. So Aurora you're from here?" Jacob asked.

"Yeah. My parents live next door."

"Oh Mr and Mrs Sperling. Your mom makes the best cookies." Jacob said.

I smiled. "That she does." I said as I put the food in the oven to bake.

"So when did you guys date?" Jacob asked.

"I was still in highschool and your dad was in his freshman year of college. We dated for a bit and things kinda fizzled and he had you and I actually got married and had a kid. But yeah now we're trying things out again." I said. White lies.

"Oh my goodness! Trace The Steps is about your dad Jacob!" Sarah said.

"I- well." I said. Shit.

Jacob looked at Andy. Oh it's too early in the day.

"I didn't write it."

"Sarah what was the book about?" Jacob asked.

"I don't wanna spoil it." She said.

"Just explain what happens."

"Well Lynn and Stephen are dating for a long time but Lynn doesn't realize that Stephen thought differently of their relationship and he gets a girl pregnant which basically he cheated on her but he didn't think so and then Lynn retraces her steps in life to try to make up for what she lost because of Stephen."

"Dad how long did you guys date for?"

"Until we were both in college."

"When?"

"Until 2002."

Jacob groaned. "You wrote a book about my dad?"

"It wasn't like that. I was telling a story. Half of its fiction." I said.

"Except for the part where my mom is the other woman." Jacob said.

"Jake you don't get it. I- I cheated on Aurora with your mom. I got your mom pregnant with you and I left her. And I hurt Aurora because of it." Andy said. "I'm not proud but you have to just- I was gonna tell you and I didn't know how and I didn't wanna do it over text. I'm sorry."

I stayed quiet. He got up and went into the other room.

"You know that the last thing I wanted was a fucking step mom." He said as he walked out.