Page 88 of Crumbling Truth

“No, no. We didn’t mean to intrude, but we wanted to bring this over. It’s for the two of you,” he said, waiting until Theo took the box from him.

“Merry Christmas, both of you,” my mom said. She put her hand on my father’s arm, but her gaze snagged on mine and she added, “If you’re willing, we’ll arrange a time to get together someday. If not, we understand.”

They moved back down the steps and along the walk, shoulders curled forward and heads bowed. I’d never seen either one of them look so defeated, so small. The image tugged at my heart.

“Merry Christmas,” I called out just before they reached their car. They both turned in surprise and smiled before getting in.

Theo waited until they were gone to close the door. He lifted one hand to my cheek, the other holding the gift. “Do you want to open it?”

“Not yet,” I replied. I took it from him and returned to the living room to tuck it under the tree.

We managed to keep ourselves busy with decorating the entire first floor of the house until Alex and his crew arrived for an early dinner on Christmas Eve. Toni made herself scarcethe second Dominic’s little feet hit the kitchen floor. After a relaxed meal of homemade pizza, we moved our little group into the living room to watch Dominic inspect every ornament within reach. I knelt beside the little boy, showing him the most indestructible ones I could find.

It was impossibly beautiful. From a life of solitude, I’d suddenly become part of a family, surrounded by people who cared about me.

My gaze landed on Theo, sitting across from his brother and Isabelle. Though he was mid-conversation, his eyes caught mine and his lips curved into a soft smile before he returned his attention to what Alex was saying.

Dominic had just torn the wrapping paper from our gift to him, a shiny red tricycle, when the sound of the side door opening broke through the chaos of Christmas music and laughter.

Theo squeezed my shoulder as he started to stand, but the faces that appeared in the doorway caused him to drop back onto the couch beside me. An incredulous laugh slipped past his lips and his arm tightened around me as we watched his parents walk into the room with armfuls of gifts.

“Well, isn’t this a cozy little scene!” Anita cried as Lou dropped down onto the floor beside Dominic, who threw his chubby arms around the older man. Alex and Theo rose to embrace their mother, but over Theo’s shoulder, she caught my eye and winked.

One thing was certain—I would never again underestimate a member of the Silver family.