Tessa and I walk hand in hand out of our bedroom after an emotional moment together. I cannot believe Carol has cancer. I feel terrible for Tessa, considering Carol is the only biological family she has left. Even though they have a rocky relationship to say the least, Tessa loves her mum, and I cannot imagine how she must be feeling right now to find this out, especially on fucking Christmas. Her favorite day of the year.
"Noah, Shannon! I didn't know you two were coming." Tessa notices two guests that she forgot to inform me she invited. She greets them like the warm host that she is, and you can't even tell that she was crying just a couple minutes ago. Tessa puts on an act that she's okay way too easily, and it honestly worries the shit out of me.
"We tried to call you, but you weren't answering your phone. I hope you still don't mind." Shannon says.
"Of course not, I'm glad you're both here."
I wonder if Tessa will tell Noah about her mother's diagnosis. I wouldn't be surprised, but I'm glad I was the first one she told. I remember when Tessa told me way back when about how she will have pregnancy issues, but she told Kim before she told me. I was fucking fuming over the idea of Kim knowing weeks before I did.
"Here, I'll introduce you all." Tessa leads Noah and Shannon around the room, introducing them to my parents. The doorbell rings once again. Tessa is in conversation, so I guess I'll answer the door. It's the Vance's.
"Sorry we're late!" Kim immediately shouts as I open the door. "Gracie was giving us such a hard time, but we're here. We made it." She sounds tired and out of breath already. "And we brought wine."
"Oh, finally!" Nora walks over, kisses Kim on the cheek, and takes the wine from her. "I need a glass. Who else wants wine?"
Landon, Mike, Noah and Shannon are the only ones to raise their hands.
"Hey bud." I lightly smack Smith's back as he takes off his heavy jacket that I just know Vance forced him to wear.
"Hi." He greets me plainly.
"My two boys under one roof." Christian walks over, and puts his hand on both of our shoulders. I'm immediately uncomfortable. Especially with the whole DNA test thing, I don't want to be thinking about fathers right now. I shrug out of his grip.
"Smith! Hi!" Heather comes running up, and his face is already turning red by just looking at her.
"Heather, hi. You look... you look lovely."
"Thanks." She smiles. "I like your tie."
"Thanks. I like your necklace."
"Thanks."
This conversation is so awkward, but cute at the same time. They keep complimenting each other, but it's weirding me out. Young love is a strange thing. Never got to experience it, and looking at Smith and Heather practically drooling over each other makes me glad that I didn't.
"Okay, why don't you two go catch up on the couch." I shove Smith towards the couch, and Heather follows. I like seeing him have a friend, and the fact that his friend is a girl is even better.
"I think he has a crush on her." Vance whispers in my ear as I watch Heather and Smith on the couch.
"Yeah, no shit." I turn back to him. "Look how red his face is."
"Don't tease him. This might be the first girl he's ever liked." Vance condemns me.
"He's thirteen."
"So? First love is a big deal to some people." He says, but I just roll my eyes. His first love was my fucking mother, and we all know where that went.
"They don't know what love is at that age."
"Who are you to fucking judge? You're marrying the first girl you ever loved!" Vance has a point, but I don't respond.
"How are you feeling?" He asks when I'm silent.
"Fine." I keep my answer vague. The guilt of having the answer to the paternity test is fucking eating me alive. I don't know why it is, but whenever I look at Vance all I can think about is that fucking paper in my bedside table.
"Well that's good. I'm sorry for how... awkward it was... with all three of us in that room."
"Yeah, it was. But it's over, so let's just move on. I think your wife is pouring everyone drinks." I emphasize the word 'wife.' I walk into the kitchen, which is crowded with everyone in it. Tessa is rushing around, taking things out of the oven and making sure everyone is comfortable. I let her do this because I know she likes to keep herself busy to take her mind off of things.
"I'll take a glass." I walk up to Kimberly who pours me some. I take a sip, and it's pretty damn good. If the Vance's are good for anything, it's expensive ass wine.
"Should you be drinking? You just had surgery." Nora walks up to me.
"I'm not taking any pills or anything. It's fine." I take an even larger sip. This is going to be a long day.
"How are you feeling?" I swear to God, if one more person asks how I'm fucking feeling, I'm gonna lose my mind.
"Attention everyone!" I raise my voice. "I am feeling fine! Surgery went well, and I am okay. Let's move on, please!" I say with a little more attitude then I intended. Everyone just shrugs and continues on with their conversations, but Tessa gives me a dirty look from the other side of the room.
"People kept asking, I'm sorry." I walk over to her, apologizing for being so abrupt.
"Just play nice, pleaaaase." She begs, like literally begs.
"Yes, yes. I am." I assure her with a kiss on the cheek. "This is everyone right?"
"Yeah." Tessa clinks her glass of water. "The kitchen is getting stuffy, let's head out to the main room!" She announces to everyone, and we all make our way out.
We spend the next hour talking. I look over at Tessa every two minutes, and she seems to be doing okay, or at least doing a really good job of acting okay. I have spoken to everyone here a million times, and Smith is the only company who hasn't pissed me off yet.
"Hardin, Heather has asked if we could go to the movies when we get back home." He comes sprinting over.
"Congratulations. What did you say?"
"I said yes, but I don't know... I'm not good at this stuff."
"Here." I pat the couch next to me for him to sit down. "You should maybe play a little hard to get."
"Hard to get?" Smith asks confusingly.
"Yes. Like act like you don't want her, even though you do. That's what I did with Tessa, and it worked." Well, I actually didn't want her when I first met her, but I'm not telling him that.
"Why would I act like I don't like her if I do?"
"Girls like what they can't have. If you act like you don't want her, then that will only make her want you more."
Smith looks like he's gonna pass out from all this advice I'm giving him. "I don't understand."
"Forget it. Just go to the damn movies with her."
"Okay. Do I... get her anything?"
"You can, well, buy her movie ticket and popcorn and shit."
"And shit?" He laughs.
"What did I tell you about swearing!" I nudge his shoulder. This poor kid is gonna be cursing like a sailor in no time.
"I know. I was joking."
"Hey, Smith. Want to see the painting I made of Hardin and Tessa?" Heather comes back over, and Smith stiffens up.
"Um... sure." He looks at me with weary eyes, and I wink. They walk over to the Christmas tree, sit down, and I see Smith smile at Heather as she explains to him how she painted the picture.
This has been nice so far, surprisingly. Besides the terrible news of Carol's diagnosis, everyone is getting along. I haven't wanted to throw Noah out of the house yet, I haven't wanted to punch Ken or Vance, so that's good too. Tessa was so worried that this Christmas would be ruined, but there was only a tiny little bump, so I think everything is gonna be-.
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door. I'm the only one who seems to hear it, so I decide I'll just get up and answer it. Maybe it's the DNA test guy coming back to make sure I read the results, or maybe it's Trevor or Robert coming here. When I open the door, my eyes almost fall out of my head.
"Hi, Hardin. I brought some pie and wine." Josie says as she smiles at me. I look behind me, and thankfully no one is looking in my direction.
"What are you doing here?" I walk outside, shutting the door behind me.
"You invited me to Christmas, remember? When you were in the hospital? I'm sorry, was that not a serious invitation?"
Shit! I did invite her, but that was when Tessa and I were in an argument, and she was threatening not to marry me. "Oh yeah, I did."
"I don't have to be here. Did you tell her?"
"Y-" I start to say yes, but then realize that I didn't tell Tessa about Josie! I fucking forgot!
"Shit. No I didn't."
"Hardin! What the hell! You said you were going to over the phone."
"I was going to, but then our kitchen caught on fire, so I forgot."
"Your kitchen caught on fire? Are you kidding me?" She laughs in my face.
"You think I'm lying?"
"I don't know, Hardin. Wouldn't be the first time."
"Hey, watch it." My voice gets lower. I am not in the mood for Josie to be pulling this shit today. "Listen, I'll tell her, just not today, not on Christmas."
"Why not? You want me to look her in the eyes and pretend like you and I don't have a history together?"
"It was one fucking time, Josie. Honestly, you're blowing it way out of proportion."
"Tell her Hardin, or I will."
"Look, Tessa just got some extremely upsetting news, so I don't want to spring this on her." Imagine if I told Tessa about my past experience with Josie when she literally just found out her mum has cancer. She would break, I know it. "I'm serious, Josie."
She looks at me with a hard stare. "Fine. You will tell her before you get married tomorrow though."
"Fine." I agree. I need to tell her, but I just can't do it right now.
"I should go." Josie frowns as she walks back down my steps.
"Wait!" I yell after her. I hate being a decent human being sometimes, but she can't spend Christmas alone. "You don't have to go. Don't spend Christmas by yourself."
"Are you sure?"
No. "Yes."
She walks back up the stairs, seeming relieved that I didn't let her walk away. "Thanks. I really didn't want to spend Christmas by myself, and I wanted to see Tessa. It's been... about eight years."
I take a deep breath before opening the door and letting Josie in.