Read Online A Christmas to Love You by Megan Smith - Free Book Online

proposal was pretty special. “Seriously?”
    She nods and bites back I smile. She loved every minute of her proposal. It’s their love story and she wouldn’t change it for the world.
    “I can’t believe you said that.”
    My daughter, in front of her brothers and father, grabs Hunter by the tie and pulls him close to her face. “Just kidding, now kiss me.” And he does and the boys all groan at the same time.
    “Let’s put the movie in.” Cooper yells in Hunter’s ear breaking their kiss. Boys.
    I start to laugh, I can’t help it. This is what keeps me going every day.
    Hunter shoves Cooper into Jaylinn. “What are we watching?”
    “The Grinch.” Alex yells.
    “Well that settles that.” Andrew says laughing.
    Chloe grins. “He’s obsessed.”
    “Jim Carrey made that movie.” Cooper ruffles Mason’s perfectly styled hair.
    “Asshole.”
    “Mason, mouth.” I warn.
    “Sorry.”
    “Oh wait.” I jump up. “I can’t believe I almost forgot.”
    I run into the kitchen and grab the three new ornaments from the top of the fridge. I hand one perfectly wrapped box to Hailey and the other to MacKenzie. “Open these.”
    They open the gifts, take the ornaments out of the boxes and examine them. Hailey’s has two bears, one in blue and the other in pink, holding a heart. Caleb and Alexis are written on the Santa hats that they are wearing and the heart has the year. MacKenzie’s is a princess crown with Olivia’s name and the year she was born on it. They each got two, one for here and the other for their houses.
    Both girls smile at each other, go right to the Christmas tree to hang them side by side and then turn and wrap their arms around me. “Thanks, Mom.” MacKenzie and Hailey say at the same time.
    Hugging them, “You’re welcome. Now let’s watch that movie.”
    And that’s how our night ends, we are all cuddled in watching The Grinch on Christmas Eve, another tradition that we’ve had for a few years now.

 
    My time is running out.
    I have to talk to them, tell them what’s going on before it’s too late.
    I’m scared.
    I’m alone.
    But today is Christmas and that’s all I’m going to focus on. One more day isn’t going to hurt anything.
    Right?

 
    Jaylinn woke me up this morning at the ass crack of dawn. She told me if I got up that there would be a special present that she would give me later. Who the hell am I to argue with that? So we got up, opened the few presents we got each other and then made love in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.
    We are both lying under the Christmas tree and looking up. “Hunter and I used to do this every year when we were kids.”
    I reach over and take her hand in mine. “When are you guys going to talk about this shit? Hasn’t it been long enough?”
    She cuts me a look. “I’ve tried and I’m tired of trying. If he wants to act the way he is that’s on him.”
    “It’s not right.”
    “It’s not but I can’t fix it.”
    I know she’s been trying to patch things up but with it being Christmas and all I’m really hoping they try working things out. It’s putting a strain on Hunter and me and also MacKenzie and Jaylinn. We all want to get back to the way things used to be but it’s been trying.

    Later that afternoon Jaylinn leaves to pick up Layla and her mom. It makes no sense to me because Layla lives with Eli now, they’re roommates. Apparently a bunch of shit went down when I wasn’t around earlier this year and Eli offered her a room. Jaylinn said that Layla asked her to pick her up; she didn’t want to bother Eli. Whatever.
    I arrive at mom’s alone and with hands full of gifts for the kids. We may have gone a little overboard but they’re our nieces and nephews and who doesn’t love buying toys at Christmas?
    “Merry Christmas, Sweetheart.” Mom greets me and helps take some of the gifts.
    “Merry Christmas,”
    “Uncle Coop,” Alex and Ryder come charging at me.
    “Hey guys,” they each grab