Page 101 of Close to Heaven

Twenty-Nine

Dakota entered Jax’s cabin, loaded down with Christmas presents.

“I would have come out to your car and helped,” Jax said as he took some of the packages.

“You still can.”

“There’s more?”

She laughed. “Yes, in the trunk.”

“Be right back.” While he was outside collecting more gifts, he took a few deep breaths, preparing himself for what lay ahead. After a hearty debate, he and Avery agreed that he would talk to Dakota alone first.

It was Christmas Eve, and later Avery and Cody would be joining them for a pre-Christmas celebration. At least, Jax hoped that was the way things would go.

He went back inside and saw Dakota standing by the Christmas tree, fingering one of the ornaments. He set down the presents and went and stood beside her.

“I miss them every day, but especially at this time of year,” she said softly.

She was looking at a picture of their parents and the Sawyer siblings when they were children. Dakota had made the framed ornament for Jax, Cody, and herself, and each year, Jax hung it in the center of the tree where everyone could see it.

Avery had helped him decorate the tree this year, and she’d gotten teary-eyed when they’d hung it together. Now Dakota was teary too.

He slung his arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “I miss them too, sis.”

“Remember how much Mom loved Christmas? She used to start decorating the day after Halloween.”

“Yeah, and I remember Dad wasn’t too happy about it.”

They both laughed.

“At least we have a lot of good memories,” Dakota said.

He nodded and gave her another squeeze.

Suddenly she turned and looked at him. “Where’s Avery?”

“She’ll be here soon. In the meantime, do you want something to drink?”

“No thanks, but I would like to know what’s going on.”

His sister had the uncanny ability to read him, and Cody too. He and his brother had decided it was a woman’s gift, one they didn’t possess. Jax often found it disconcerting, like right now. He’d planned on slowly easing into this conversation, but he should have known it wouldn’t be that simple.

“Why don’t we sit down?”

“Okay.” She eyed him curiously as they sat down.

“So—”

The door opened, and in walked Cody, an hour earlier than expected.

“Hey, guys. Where’s Avery?”

“She’s not here yet, and you’re early,” Jax grumbled.

“I saw Dakota’s car go by and didn’t want the party to start without me.” Cody strolled into the living room and plopped down in a chair. “So, what are we talking about?”

“Jax was just about to tell me something important, I think,” Dakota said.