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The next hour was filled with laughter, smiles, hot chocolate, mini donuts, and a visit with Santa. Amelia was beside herself with happiness, which made Blake even happier than he already was.
Charli stayed close to Blake, and for the first time ever, they were able to interact in the way they’d wanted to twelve years ago. Being open with her family felt right, though he didn’t know if Charli planned to let people know that this was part two of their relationship.
He would be fine if they kept that information to themselves, but that was probably a selfish thing. If they didn’t know about the mistake he’d made in breaking up with Charli the way he had, he wouldn’t have to see their disappointment in him.
Once the kids were worn out, the adults retrieved their trees. The guys put them in the back of Blake’s truck, then everyone head back to the house.
They took the tree Layla had chosen into the house, where Jay showed Blake how to deal with unwrapping and setting it up, since he’d never done it before. That way, he’d know how to set theirs up when he went home later.
Jay also gave Blake a few things that he called the “real Christmas tree starter kit,” which included a stand that he could put water in to keep the tree alive.
Once Jay finished his instructions, Blake pitched in to help get the food set out on the counter, doing whatever Charli asked him to. The time they spent together that day was a clashing of past and present for Blake.
They’d talked to each other about one day making it to this point in their relationship, and now they were there. He just hoped the pain of the breakup was well and truly in the past.
Though Blake wished their time together could last forever, he and Amelia ended up leaving around seven because there was school the next day.
Before they left, Charli hugged him tightly, and as Blake held her, memories assailed him. But then he centered himself in the moment. This was now. He needed to stay in the present, and the relationship they were building together.
As their embrace ended, Charli promised to call him later, then bent to give Amelia a hug after Layla had. Though Blake might have enjoyed a quick kiss as part of their goodbye, he didn’t want the first kiss they shared after so long to be in front of an audience.
Once home, he and Amelia worked together to prepare for school the next day. As she sorted out her backpack, she let him know just how happy she was that he and Charli were dating. It was kind of cute, but Blake cautioned her not to tell anyone at school.
He didn’t know if a teacher dating a student’s parent was an issue, so he didn’t want to draw attention to it unless Charli felt it was okay.
Amelia had just gotten into her bath when Blake’s phone rang. When he saw Jackson’s name on the screen, he almost didn’t answer. However, he wouldn’t be able to return his call after Amelia went to bed because by then he’d be talking to Charli.
“Bro!” Jackson exclaimed. “I’m so relieved that Charli finally told you about Layla. I understood why she didn’t want to tell you when you first got back, but I’m glad she finally did. Layla is a great kid.”
Blake’s heart stopped when what Jackson was saying sank in, but then it began to gallop at a frantic pace. Disbelief, then anger, swirled in behind the moment of shock.
Charli should have told him. Maybe not right away, but definitely before she agreed for them to date.
She should have told him.
“Blake?”
Hearing Jackson’s voice in his ear, Blake muttered, “Gotta go.”
Before his cousin could say anything more, Blake ended the call, then stood there in the hallway, phone clenched in his hand. He tried to process what he’d just learned, as the times he’d interacted with Layla recalibrated in his mind.
How was he supposed to deal with this new information?
What was he supposed to do?
“Daddy?” Amelia called from the tub.
Blake looked at the open doorway to the bathroom. He could be the father Amelia needed because he was a good father. And he could have been a good father to Layla as well.
If he’d only had the chance.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Once everyone had left, Layla headed off to her room to choose her clothes for the next morning and get her backpack ready for school. Charli made their lunches for the next day, then put it all in the fridge so they could just grab it in the morning.
Janessa and Will had gone up to their room once everything was cleaned up. They’d decorate the tree another night that week. It was a multi-day process with letting the tree settle for a day, then putting the lights and the decorations on the next evening.
If they’d gone on Friday, like they’d originally planned, the tree would be already decorated. But Charli wouldn’t trade that day for anything.
