This Christmas

 

The wild winter wind storm took Jay by surprise. Actually, he'd worried about Amanda since she didn't make it home before the storm hit.  And when she finally got home, before he could stop himself about her Christmas question with her family...he said yes. After all, she was his anchor.

Of course, he was stuck with old farts, people he didn't know. Thank God he didn't have to spend the night, but he was certain he might come down with COVID. So many happy people wanting to hug him and talk too close. Why did her family have to have so many people?

But it wasn't much better when they got to Jared and Angel's. At least the food was good. His brother Jamie who never showed up for anything was there with his husband (of course, they had the biggest house of all but never invited anyone over. They were always busy going somewhere or inviting their own friends over.) And Jody came with a dog!

"What the hell?" He asked Jared while they were around the cheeseball. "Where's her man?"

"Oh, he got called away to Kansas City so he gave her, her Christmas gift early." The dog's name was Charlie and evidently a therapy dog.

"Does she really need something like that?" Jay winced, but in his heart, he knew he could take better care of that dog than his little sister ever could.

"I think it's to keep her at home," Jared nodded as he bit into a chip.

Sal showed up with Aaron and Donna. Jay and Jared both shook their heads. Were they a family? Of course, Sal brought more food and drink to Jared and Angel's place. 

Finally, Jared went to Angel and they told everyone the news that everyone practically knew. They were having a baby.

Jay went to Amanda and put his arm around her. Really, he thought their life was perfect. Or as perfect as they could let it, but he noticed Amanda crying. She said they were tears of joy, but he didn't think so. He didn't even really want to know what it was actually about. Yet he knew. He very well knew.

He gave her a hug. Wishing he could be that husband she needed. Maybe he would be this year. Of course, he wouldn't dare say anything. 

And then, his mother showed up. She was alone. She didn't seem that concerned with any of them. But he knew that look in her eye. Jay knew who she'd come for, and he was in the corner with their mother's best friend, Donna.