Acting On Temptation (Temptations) (16 page)

             
He chuckles, “No young stud will ever be able to please you like me.”

             
We both slip off to sleep wrapped in each other’s arms, with him stroking my hair.

***

             
Waking up today in Russ’s home rather than my parents for Christmas has been hard.  Our family may have been not the most functional family, but it has still always been my family.  I know that today I’ll be missing my Dad’s homemade Christmas cookies.  He’s baked them for Gabby and I on Christmas Eve as far back as I can remember.  It started out as cookies for Santa and then Dad just kept making them as we got older. 

I’
ve been wrapping gifts in the den here for the past few hours.  Russ went with his Dad to pick something up for him Mom, some big part of her Christmas.  I know Amy and Mary decided that we would eat together tonight for Christmas at Linc’s house.  I do have to admit; even though I’ve just met these ladies I love them.  They have done nothing but try to make Gabby and I feel welcome and at home.  It’s sad that I feel that I’ve just met Amy and she already cares more about me unconditionally than my own mother. 

             
I wrap the last gift which happens to be Russ’s.  I can’t wait for him to open it.  I hope he doesn’t think it’s cheesy and middle school like Gab said.  I wish Cade were here with us, it might feel more like home.  Although, I’m hoping this time alone with Daria she will tell him about her real Dad.  For some reason I get a feeling that there is so much more that she didn’t tell me.  I hate the feeling like she’s carrying around all of these secrets by herself.  She has never spoken about that day with Skylar since it happened.  I know that when he told his Dad what she said and about the two guys with us, his dad must’ve flipped.  I haven’t even passed him on campus, which the guys said he was getting kicked out because he wasn’t even eligible to be there.  We’ll see I’m kind of afraid that we’ll run into him here or one of the crazy ex’s in this town.

             
There is a knock on the den door, I open it and Amy hands me a bag.  “Sweetie do you mind wrapping this? I can’t get done with the other stuff before the guys get back and if I don’t have it all wrapped Russ and his Daddy will drive me crazy until they figure it out or try to get it before I have it wrapped.”

             
I laugh, “I can totally see that happening.  Sure it’s not a problem I was just finishing up my stuff anyway.”

             
Amy smiles, “You know I’ve never seen my child so happy.  He thought he was happy with Sabrina, but that was just young love.  I see you as his forever girl.”

             
I smile back, “I can honestly say I hope so.  I’ve never had someone make me feel the way Russ does.  Do you know what I’m saying?”

             
She nods, “Yes honey I do, I love his Daddy with every fiber of my being.”  She steps out the door and looks back, “Thank you.”  I nod and get to wrapping.

Russ

It’s Christmas Eve and I can’t wait to give Anna her gift.  She has been dying to see Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert in concert.  I got us tickets to Bama Jam, she is going to love it.  Getting Linc to keep it a secret from Gabby has been a chore, but after he decided to buy Gabby an engagement ring he’s pretty much kept his mouth shut.

My Dad breaks me from my thoughts, “So, you seem pretty serious about Anna.”

I nod, “I am, I’ve never cared about anyone else this way in my life.  She’s like my air.  I can’t explain it any other way.”

My Dad nods and smiles, “No I get it, remember I was your age when I met your Momma.  I never for one minute looked back.  Sure I made some dumbass decisions every now and then, but I came to my senses and realized that love does actually outlast everything else.  That it’s not a matter of how much money you have, it’s about how happy you are in your life.  Most people always thought I was jealous of
Marshall, but I wasn’t.  He was happy and he loves Mary with all of his heart, but he could always have his judgment clouded by money.  When everything happened with Sabrina and you went to him for advice, I was so angry with the things he said that I thought about going to kick his ass.  When Linc came over devastated at what he did last Christmas to Gabby, I really almost did.  So while Mary had him kicked out and he was staying at the club I went to visit him.  We had a heart to heart.  He finally remembered the day he fell in love with Mary at that very club.  Then I reminded him that her parents didn’t take to him to start with, but they allowed Mary to choose who she loved.”

I chuckle,
“So is that when Aunt Mary let him back in the house?”

My Dad chuckles, “Yeah
, that and after he did a lot of begging and pleading.  Then she made him apologize to Gabby and Linc.  But the point is he came to me a few months later and apologized to me for casting me to the side for all those years when his wife never did.  He also was very sorry for the things he said to you.”

“Well that’s good to know.  I’m glad he’s trying to hang out with you more.  I like fact that everyone is getting together tonight.  I really think it will help
Anna and Gabby.”

“I do too, I feel so sorry for those girls…To find out how they did about their mother’s affair.  Well, I just – never in my life would dream of treating your Momma that way much less, you.”

“I know Dad.  You’re a good man; I hope one day I’m that kinda man.”

“Son you already are.  Now we better get this gift home and hidden before your Momma goes crazy.”

A little later we are pulling around behind our house to put the new wooden vanity and chair Dad had made for Mom in his tool shed.  She’s always wanted a vanity in her bedroom, but she never could justify paying the money for one like she wanted.  So Dad listened to what she wanted and had one of his friends from work make it.  It is solid wood and one heavy son of a bitch.

“Dad, can’t we just take this in the house?  Otherwise we are going to have to move it twice and this damn thing is heavy.”

Dad chuckles, “No, I want it to be a surprise and I got us some help lined up to move it in the bedroom.  Linc is going to come over.”

I laugh, “Good he can help you, I’ll supervise.”

Dad play pushes me, “We better get inside and get cleaned up to go to Marshall and Mary’s house.”

I nod and we head in the house.

***

We stand on my aunt and uncle’s porch as Dad knocks.  My Aunt Mary swings the door open, “Oh it’s so good to see y’all.  Come on in, the boys are out back finishing up the turkey.  I was going to go old fashioned and bake it, but I got a unanimous veto on not having fried turkey.”

I laugh, “I have to agree Aunt Mary, I loved fried turkey.  I’m gonna head out back with them, Dad you coming.”

“Yeah son.”

We hug my Aunt and she smiles, “The boys have some beer in the cooler out there.  Come on ladies, I have some wine with our name on it.”

I hear my Mom and Anna give a little cheer.  I shake my head walking out the door to the patio.  My Uncle looks up from his beer, “Hey!  How are you guys doing?”

Dad nods and gives my uncle a back slapping hug, “Good brother, how about y’all?”

My uncle nods, “Good, we’re almost finished with this bird.  The girls have some awesome stuff fixed to go with it.”

Dad nods, “Well Amy brought a couple of pies.”

Linc looks over, “PLEASE, tell me she brought Lemon Meringue?”

I laugh, “Yeah she made two so that you and I won’t fight over it.  But you just keep your dick skinners off of mine.”

Linc grabs at his heart, “God I love that woman
. Whatever you just better try and get to it first otherwise you keep your dick skinners off of it.  Can one of y’all bring that tray over here?  This bird is ready to dump.”

My Da
d chuckles and grabs the tray, “Here Linc, I‘ll help you get this inside.”  My Dad and Linc head inside with the turkey while my uncle and I turn off the cooker and clean up around the fryer. 

My Uncle Marshall looks at me, “Russ, you look happy.
” I nod and he smiles, “I’m glad to see it son, I want to apologize for the way I talked to you before about Sabrina.  But, I still want to tell you that I’m glad I said those things to you.  Where your Aunt Mary’s family accepted me for who I was, her family would’ve never done that for you.”

I nod, “I know you’re right.  It hurt at the time, but now I can’t imagine my life without Anna.”

He smirks, “Those Lewis girls have you and my son happy as ever.  I’m glad to see it.  But, I do know how much of an asshole I’ve been over the past few years and I’m sorry.  I’m sorry I said those things for the reasons I did at the time, but not for what I said.  Do you understand what I’m getting at?  You definitely got the better end of the deal here son.”

I nod, “Yes sir, I know I did for a fact.”

Chapter 29

Anna

              Hugh and Linc come in the back door with the turkey, Russ and Marshall aren’t too far behind them.   I’m helping Gabby with the pea salad, when Russ comes over and kisses my cheek.   I feel my face flush.  The door bell rings and we all look at each other, I know last years Christmas surprise at this house was monumental, so I hope that’s not the case this year.  Mary yells out from the foyer, “Anna, Gabby can you come here for a minute?  I need your help with this package.”

             
Gabby and I turn the corner into the foyer and there stands our Dad.  We run to him and give him hugs and kisses.  I smile through tears, “Daddy I’m so glad you’re here.”

             
Gabby smiles, “Me too.  Mary did you set this up?”  Gabby is wiping her face.

Mary nods, “Yes, I hope that’s okay.  I
had a feeling you girls would be happy to see your Dad here.”

             
We both nod and smile.  I still have silent tears running down my face, “You know I woke up this morning realizing that I was going to miss Dad’s Christmas Cookies.”

             
My Dad smiles, “No you won’t, because I brought some with me.”

             
Russ walks up behind me and I look at my Dad, “Daddy you haven’t been officially introduced to my boyfriend.  Daddy this is Russ, Russ this is my Dad Richard.”

             
They shake hands and my Dad pats Russ’s shoulder, “It’s nice to finally meet you son. I know we passed ways briefly last year, when y’all came to town, but it’s nice to finally speak to you. Cade and Gabby both have nothing but wonderful things to say about you.  If you pass Gabby and Cade’s test then you’re a good guy in my book.”

             
Russ chuckles, “Yeah they’re pretty tough.”

             
Gabby throws her arm around Russ’ shoulders, “He’s a good guy Dad, a little bit of a knucklehead sometimes, but aren’t all of you guys.”

             
Linc comes up behind her, “Hey, I’m not a knucklehead.”  He reaches out to shake Dad’s hand, “Nice to see you again Richard.”

             
Dad chuckles, “Nice to see you too Linc.”

             
Linc looks at Dad, “Richard this is my Dad Marshall, my Mom whom you’ve talked to on the phone Mary, Russ’s Dad Hugh and his Mom Amy.  Oh and those two brats back there are my sisters, Rand and Vivy.”

             
Vivy pipes up, “Linc, you call me a brat again and we’ll see whose crying.”

             
Everyone chuckles and Mary looks around, “Alright well let’s go dive into this food.”

             
Linc goes marching toward the kitchen and puts his arm around Amy, “You know Aunt Amy; I heard you made a pie just for me.  I just wanted you to know you’re my favorite Aunt.”

             
Amy laughs, “I made two Linc, because you and Russ will fight over one.  I hoping you both use your manners and share one and leave the other one for everyone else.”

             
Mary looks sternly at Linc, “You two boys better use your manners, or I will get my spatula after you both.”

             
We all chuckle I sit down between my Daddy and Russ.  Mary looks over at Marshall, “Honey will you bless the food so we can get started?”

              He nods and after a brief blessing we are all digging into some wonderful food.

Dinner is filled with small conversations; Daddy and Russ really seem to be hitting it off.  Looking around the room I could really get used to this.  Russ and Linc are scar
fing down food like there isn’t going to be any tomorrow.  Then I realize why, they both jump up from the table at the same time rushing to the dessert table and practically knock each other over to get to the pie Amy made.  Not only that but they start loading up on other desserts too.  Mary jumps up from the table and walks in the kitchen, I see Vivy and Rand snickering.  As Mary walks back through the door she has a spatula and starts on both boys.

“Owe Damn Momma.”

“Ouch, Aunt Mary.”

She glares at them, “I told both of you to mind your manners, don’t come to my dessert table and act like cavemen, now both of you can put those plates down and go outback until everyone else finishes eating and gets dessert.”