The Butterfly Project (Sequel to A Cutter's Lullaby)

Chapter 17

So this song was suggested to me during A Cutter's Lullaby, but I feel like it fits this story in this part, so I'd like to dedicate this chapter to and thank Jaden_loves_Lawliet for suggesting the song Pretty Little Girl by Blink 182!

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I wasn't going to let either of them know, but I was in such a state of nervousness that my leg was bouncing at a ceaseless pace. My mind spun around with endless possibilities of what this trip could turn out like. I nearly jumped out of my skin when Nicole reached to rest her hand on my shoulder from the back seat.

Before I could turn to see what she wanted, she had already leaned up to my seat murmuring, "If it makes you feel any better, I'm nervous too. But we'll get through this."

She surprised me when I felt her place a soft kiss on my cheek before moving back to rest in her seat again. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Alex was grinning slightly now, telling me that she had clearly seen it.

When we finally reached the house and we all made our way to the door, I made sure to take Nicole's hand into mine. She gently squeezed my hand as Alex knocked on the front door. I peered over at her, she had Tommy balanced on her hip and the breeze had blown some of her now shoulder length hair into her face. She truly was a gorgeous sight to behold.

"Well hello dear, it's so nice to finally meet you!" My mother greets Nicole the moment she opens the door. Alex lets her step past as my mom reaches out to give Nicole a side hug saying, "I'm Tonya, but you can call mom if you'd like."

I watched Nicole's cheeks swiftly turn pink as she murmured, "Hi, I'm Nicole. It's nice to meet you too."

"And this must be Thomas!" My mom didn't miss a single beat as she turned her focus to Tommy. She reached out to gently stroke his face as she remarked to me, "I can't get over how much he looks like you when you were a baby."

"Hey guys, can we head inside now? It's freezing." Alex asks as she doesn't hesitate to open the door and step inside before receiving an answer.

"She's absolutely right, let's get out of the cold." My mother agrees and we all head into the much warmer house.

I made sure to allow Nick to go in before me so I could see her expression as she saw the house. My mom truly loved Christmas and she always went all out for the holiday season. The first thing that seemed to catch her attention was the heavily decorated tree in the far corner of the living room, just like the rest of the house it looked like a Christmas bomb had went off in the room.

"Your mom really likes Christmas, doesn't she?" She whispered to me before handing Tommy to me so she could take off her shoes.

"You have no idea." I reply in an equally quiet tone.

"Oh, just so you know, your father is here too." My mother informs me as she takes Nicole's coat and then reaches for mine.

Before anything could be said Alex hurried back into the room saying to Nicole, "You should come meet our brother Nick."

Nicole nods and then follows Alex upstairs to Nick's room. As soon as we were alone, my mom pulled me into the kitchen, out of sight for the moment.

I made sure that the room was empty before murmuring, "Who told him?"

"Nick said that he needed to know." She whispers.

"But that means..."

"Yes dear, I know." She agrees and then when she sees the look on my face she asks, "Does she not know about...?"

I shook my head before she could finish.

"Honey, how could you not tell her?"

"Mom I just got her back, I wasn't ready to drop that kind of bomb on her."

"But none of it was your fault, you were clearly in a dark place after you and Nicole split up. You shouldn't have been taken advantage of like that, it was just wrong and cruel." She states and I could tell that it was beginning to bother her like it usually does.

"Let's just not talk about it anymore."

She nodded, "You're right, but just so you know he hasn't brought her along."

I hated to admit that I was truly relieved to hear that, but I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest at her words.

"So, where is he?" I questioned to change the subject slightly.

"I think he might actually be in Nick's room." She says in a hesitant tone.

I let out a sigh murmuring, "Well at least Alex is up there with her."

I tell my mom that I'll be right back before slipping out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I found that she had been right about my dad being in Nick's room and as soon as he saw me he got up from the computer chair to give me a quick hug with a pat on the bag.

"It looks like you lucked out on this, didn't you? You've got a beautiful girl and a sweet kid, I'd say you've got it made." He tells me with a grin before moving his attention back to Tommy, simply observing him with a smile.

Later that day mom called us all down for lunch and afterwards my dad had to leave, causing me to relax a bit knowing that nothing could be brought up. I was surprised that my mom didn't make Nicole or me plan to stay in separate rooms and her reasoning caused me to cringe.

"Don't think I don't know how you made that baby, Christopher." She scolds before placing one of the last suitcases next to the dresser before heading back downstairs.

I was glad that Nicole hadn't been in the room to hear that remark since Alex was currently showing Nicole her bedroom. Still when she came into my old bedroom I could tell that she was troubled by something.

So, I asked about it, "You alright?"

She shrugged, "Alex was telling me that your mom was probably going to be trying to finish wrapping mine and Tommy's present's later tonight. I just feel bad that I haven't gotten anything for your family and they've already been so nice to me even though they just met me."

I pulled her to sit down on the bed beside me suggesting, "How about this, we'll get Alex to watch Tommy and we can go Christmas shopping."

"Chris, it's only a week away from Christmas. Don't you think everything would be gone by now?"

I shook my head, "I doubt it, but there's only one way to find out."

She sat there considering it for a moment and then nodded, "Alright, let's give it a try."