She stood. “I’m glad my sister didn’t live to see her house filled with homosexuals and illegals and colored people. She worked so hard to keep it clean and tidy for her family, and now—” Another bitter snort escaped Kelly’s lips. “It’s literally gone to the dogs, hasn’t it?”
Brody stood as well, towering over Kelly by almost a foot. He could handle being called names, but hearing those words aimed at Diego, Aaron, and Audra had his blood boiling. His temples pulsed, and he touched his head to steady himself. “I can’t believe I thought we might come to some understanding. Just know this—there is no way I will ever let you near Jonah and Jace. Never,” he repeated louder as she walked off and exited the store.
“—and then Mrs Bridges said that she knew Santa and was gonna tell him that Bruno was telling everyone that he wasn’t real, and that he might not get any presents if he kept it up.” Jonah had not stopped chatting about third grade drama since Brody picked them up from school, where they’d apparently had Christmas parties and treats all day.
“I reckon Santa’s not gonna look kindly on people saying he doesn’t exist.” Brody had been quiet during dinner, still unsettled by his conversation with his aunt. But now he felt eyes boring into him and he glanced up to see both the boys staring at him. “What?”
They looked at each other, worried. Jonah turned his head and caught Brody’s eye before speaking. “I asked, um, if you knew Santa, Uncle Brody.”
Their innocence was such a contrast to that earlier ugly conversation. It warmed Brody’s insides and reinforced his commitment to raising them until their mother’s release and return.
Brody also guessed that they might have their own doubts about Santa. “It’s been a while, but yeah, I ran into him once, back while I was in the military. He always visits all the soldiers stationed overseas, especially if they’re missing their families.”
The relief on the boys’ faces made him smile, and most of the day’s stress slid off his shoulders. “C’mon, guys, I know you had a lot of junk earlier, but try to get some chicken in there, ‘kay?”
Jonah nodded and took a bite. But Jace picked up a nugget, then turned toward Brody. “Is Diego coming to visit us for Christmas?”
You’re dating that boy again. Brody’s heart warmed knowing that the boys looked forward to seeing Diego, but his smile wasn’t as genuine as before. “I’m not sure, fellas. Diego’s got kin in Houston, and all his friends. He might want to stay there for the holiday.”
“I hope he can come,” Jonah added, chewing as he spoke.
Brody sighed. “Me too.”
But later that night, Kelly’s spiteful words lingered in Brody’s thoughts, and it was a long time before he fell asleep.
Chapter Twenty-two
Itwasn’tliketheytalked on the phone every night before bed, but in retrospect, not hearing from Brody for a couple of days should have been a sign.
They still texted a few times during the day, but it was informational. Casual, with little warmth or affection. But the boys were out of school for their winter holiday break and Brody’s hands were no doubt full keeping up with them as well as the dogs. Diego had missed their nightly chats but hadn’t worried much about it.
It was a busy time of year, that’s all.
Yet his heart lifted when, as he was watching some true crime drama on the television, his phone rang, and it was Brody. “Hola muchacho,” he said, answering the phone with a sigh of relief.
But that feeling didn’t last. “Hey. Sorry I didn’t call last night. Or the night before. I’ve just—” The wary tone in Brody’s voice immediately unsettled Diego. “It’s been busy around here.”
“Yeah, I understand.” Diego kept his voice neutral despite the conflicting emotions rolling through him. Normally, that low rumble sent shivers down Diego’s spine, but tonight he heard darker emotions in Brody’s voice. He reached over and muted the television and settled back into the sofa. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate right now. But it’s good to talk to you.” He batted an orange kitten off his lap. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good.” Brody was quiet for a long moment, long enough that Diego wondered if they’d been cut off. Then, “I saw Kelly.”
Oh damn. “I guess it didn’t go well?” But Diego knew the answer without Brody’s confirmation. “Did she call you?”
“I called her. Wanted to see if there was some… compromise that we could find and end this ugly court case.”
Diego sighed. For all the shit that Brody had gone through in his life, he remained the eternal optimist. “I guess she wasn’t up for that?” he asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.
Brody snorted. “Not one bit. It was downright one of the worst conversations I’ve ever had. I’ve been shot at, punched, kicked, and damn near bombed into oblivion. But I think hearing all that bullshit from her today hurt worse than all that put together, and I wish it didn’t.” There was another long pause. “She makes it sound like being around me is bad for the kids. That they’re gonna suffer being around me, or I’m gonna hurt ‘em.”
Diego closed his eyes and wished there weren’t a couple hundred miles between them, so he could hold Brody tight as he spoke. “You know that’s not true.” But knowing the truth wasn’t the same when people hurled ugly words at you. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not really,” Brody answered, but then continued. “Holly, my lawyer, she told me not to see her or make any contact, but I went anyway. I don’t think it hurt the case, but it sure didn’t help. What happens if I lose custody of them? From what Kelly says, she doesn’t want me anywhere near them if she wins the case. Fuck, I think she might try to take them from Nichole, trying to prove she’s an unfit mother. And—she brought up you, Diego. I guess someone saw us around town and recognized you with us at the restaurant the last time you were here.”
Boom. Diego swallowed hard, his stomach tied up in a knot. “Is that bad?”
“It’s not good. I mean—” Brody quickly interrupted himself. “I don’t mean you’re not good. You’re great. Amazing—for me, for the boys, for everyone. We all lo—like having you around, you know that.”
Yes, Diego knew that. At least, he’d hoped for that. “But—”
