Page 21 of Final Score

CHAPTER 12

As much as I might act indifferent to the holidays, Christmas is my favorite time of year. Between the lights, the music, and the overall atmosphere, it brings me joy. Though I wouldn’t let anyone in my personal life find that out.

My mother has made Christmas an entire production year after year for as long as I can remember. We spend Christmas Eve baking sweets, watching our favorite holiday movies, and going to a midnight mass service at our local church. Christmas morning would be organized chaos. Full of presents, a large breakfast, helping at the firefighters’ local toy drive, then an evening swim on the beaches of Southern California. As kids, my brother Trey and I used to hate volunteering at the toy drive, but this year I’m looking forward to it.

Maybe it’s Kat’s influence, but I want to make this holiday memorable. Not just for myself but for my family, too. I hate knowing that she’s spending Christmas alone. Well, not alone since she’s spending it with Fallon and her family but without her mom. Having one parent missing during the holidays is hard enough, but spending it without either, I couldn’t imagine.

It’s those memories that run through my head, filling me with nostalgia as the cab pulls up to my parents’ bungalow style home. The tan house blends into lush gardens, with pink flowers lining the entryway and a large tree in the middle of the yard. I had fallen off that tree one summer after Trey dared me to climb to the highest branch, breaking my arm at the age of 9. Mom had been furious. ‘The trouble twins’ she had called us from then on, despite Trey being five years older than myself.

Smiling at the thought, I grab my bags from the back of the cab before tipping the driver. After finding a last-minute connecting flight, I was three hours ahead of my scheduled arrival. I haven’t seen my family since last Christmas, and at Mom’s request, all her children would be under one roof this year.

I texted Kat to let her know I had arrived safely as I walked inside the house.

Jenner: I made it home, beautiful. How’s Fallon’s?

Kat: Glad you made it safe! Everything is great here. McGarret says hi & Merry Christmas!!

Attached was a picture of Kat smiling brightly for the camera as she loved on Fallon’s dog. She was adorable.

The inside of our family’s house looked like it belonged in a Christmas decor catalog. Christmas music was playing through the speakers in the living room, where a brightly decorated tree took up half of the space. Decked with multi-colored lights, homemade ornaments, and popcorn garland, the tree shimmered in the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the picture window at the front of the house.

Our Mother always kept the house cozy. She wasn’t the type to fill the house with modern decor and elements, despite living in a well-to-do neighborhood. She preferred a classic and comfortable environment. The kind where you weren’t afraid to put your feet up after a long day. A place where everyone was always welcome.

Walking through the living room and into the kitchen, I found Mom singing along to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” as she pulled a fresh batch of cookies out of the oven. Dressed in a lightweight cream sweater, jeans, and a Mrs. Claus, themed apron Charlotte Blackwell looked like she belonged in a Hallmark movie herself. She had let her hair go grey a few years ago. Yet a few black strands were still woven through the messy bun at the base of her neck.

“Hi Mom.” I called over the music, announcing myself. She jumped, startled by another person in an otherwise empty house. I watched as she avoided dropping the entire pan of cookies on the floor, placing the baking sheet on the counter before clutching her chest.

“Jenner Anthony Blackwell. You scared me half to death.” She laughed, the wrinkles at the corner of her eyes becoming more prominent as she smiled. My mother rushed around the island counter crushing me in a hug. “I’ve missed you!” She exclaimed, before glancing at the clock on the stove. “Wait, what time is it? You weren’t supposed to be here for another few hours.”

“I caught an earlier flight.” I answered, grabbing a warm cookie from the tray in front of me. Cookies fresh out of the oven were my weakness, and I was hungry after traveling all morning.

“That is just the best surprise! More time with my baby boy!”

“Are Dad and Trey still at work?” I asked, knowing they always volunteered to take the longer shifts leading up to the holidays.

“Yes, it’s their last shift before Christmas Eve tomorrow, but they’ll be home around 6 for dinner. Why don’t you go get freshened up from your trip, and then you can tell me all about school and how the team is doing this season?” Smiling, she handed me another cookie across the table before shooing me away from the kitchen. Cooking was her specialty and a time she used to think and relax. Besides a few select times I asked to help, it was a rule to stay out of the kitchen while she worked her magic.

“Oh, and don’t think I’ve forgotten about the fact that you’re dating Katherine Townsend. I want to hear all about it.” She called as I made my way up the stairs to my childhood bedroom.

I shouldn’t have been surprised she would want details about my relationship with Kat. Our mothers had been close friends before her father’s accident. After that, everything changed.

I was filling Mom in on life at college when the back door opened. Loud, gruff voices filled the room as Trey and my father walked into the house recounting the events of their shift.

“Little Brother!” Trey yelled. Slapping me on the shoulder as he walked into the living room.

Trey was my favorite and only brother, but he was still a pain in my ass. At 27, he looked like an older version of me. Same jet-black hair and a tall, muscular build. He stood a few inches taller than my 6’3” frame and had a nice five o’clock shadow growing on his face. Otherwise, you’d never be able to tell us apart. The genes in my family ran strong, seeing as we were both carbon copies of our father. It was nice to know I’d still be good looking at any age.

Trey had gone into the family business and worked alongside our father at the 117. He had fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter and was on the fast track to becoming Capitan of his own station soon enough. No one had doubted that Trey would follow in our father’s footsteps. He had always been an adrenaline junkie, running towards danger instead of away from it like any sane person would.

“Where’s my favorite niece?” I asked, waiting to be tackled in a hug by a tiny, sparkle wearing, sugar fueled ninja.

“She’s with Bethany today and tomorrow. I’ll have her on Christmas Day.”

Trey had gotten Bethany pregnant when they were 22. Their relationship had ended soon after Charlie was born. After a rough few years and a nasty custody battle later, Trey and Bethany were finally getting along and doing their best to co-parent their daughter. I couldn’t imagine having a child at this age... On a good day, I can barely take care of myself, let alone another human. Yet, anytime I was in town, my niece was a tiny shadow following my every move.

“Jenner!” Dad smiled warmly as he walked into the kitchen, by-passing Trey, and me, to kiss Mom on the cheek before handing her a bouquet of bright red roses. Growing up, our father had made it a priority to show us how we should treat a woman by providing the example himself.

My father’s hair was thinning at the sides, grey patches peppering themselves into his short dark hair as he adjusted the ball cap on his head. His tan skin was a stark contrast against his blue San Diego Firefighter t-shirt. The same one was worn by Trey. Noticing my stare at the shield across his chest, Gregory Blackwell crossed his arms before leaning against the counter.