“In years past, I haven’t been very happy to participate in this tradition at Thanksgiving,” Julian said when it was his turn. “So buckle up, because tonight I’m making up for lost time.”
Everyone laughed. Well, everyone except Benji, but Julian didn’t think anything or anyone would get a smile out of his brother.
“First, I want to thank you, Dad.” Duncan’s eyes widened at the name Julian used because it wasn’t something Julian had called him in a lot of years. “I was so angry with you for forcing me to go to rehab and for telling me I needed to get married. Neither were something I wanted. But in the end, they turned out to be the best things that could have happened to me.” He turned to look at Angela. “Thank you for forgiving me for what happened. You had every right not to, and yet you did. Thankyou. Even though he’s not currently here, I want to say I’m also thankful for Elijah. Meeting him in rehab was a blessing as he led me to God and has encouraged me to view things in my life through a different lens.”
He shifted in his chair so he could see Kiara more fully. “And I want you to know how thankful I am for you. You have been such an encouragement to me as I’ve navigated some uncharted waters, and I’m beyond thankful that you are TJ’s mom. He might not know it yet, but one day, he’s going to be as thankful that you’re his mom as I am.”
Kiara’s eyes had widened as he’d talked, and he could see the emotion in them. For a moment, he almost continued talking, but he didn’t need an audience for what else he wanted to share.
“This has been incredible,” Duncan said, reaching over to take Elizabeth’s hand in his. “I am so thankful to have my family all together again. And I’m thankful for the spouses who have joined the family, and of course, our Theodore Julian. His birth is the culmination of a wonderful year.”
There were murmurs of agreement from all present.
Once everyone had shared—including Jude, who had been surprisingly emotional in his brief speech—Elizabeth thanked them all for being there.
Benji took that as signaling the end of the evening and got to his feet. “I’m going to my room. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
Elizabeth’s expression was sad as she watched her son leave the room. “First heartbreak is always so hard.”
Julian wouldn’t know, but there was a chance he’d find out soon if Kiara didn’t feel the same way that he did. Which was why he was still a bit uncertain about sharing everything in hisheart, even as he planned to show Kiara that he wanted their marriage to continue.
When TJ started to fuss, Julian turned to Kiara. “Did you want to leave?”
She gently bounced the baby and offered him a pacifier. He took it, but Julian knew from experience that his calmness would only last for a few minutes.
“I think maybe we should go home,” she said.
Julian was happy to agree. He had enjoyed the time with his family, but he also really enjoyed the quiet evening hours with Kiara and TJ.
He got to his feet, then took TJ from Kiara. “I’ll go put him in his car seat.”
There was snow lazily drifting down from the sky as they left the house and got into the UTV. It made Julian even more eager to get home.
~*~
Kiara had no problem going out with TJ, but she was also relieved to get back to the house, especially since TJ was fussing. She would much rather deal with that in the privacy of their home.
Julian carried the car seat from the garage into the house. He put it on the kitchen counter and worked to free the baby from the straps and blanket covering him while Kiara took off her coat and boots.
“Here you go,” Julian said, handing her the baby.
She headed for the bedroom, where she lay TJ on the changing table. When his little face scrunched up, she bent over him to kiss his forehead.
“You’re okay, lovey,” she murmured. “Let’s just change your diaper.”
She’d never thought about how much she’d enjoy being a mother, but she really did. Her love for TJ grew every day, and she couldn’t imagine her life without the little boy.
As she changed TJ’s diaper and put him in a sleeper, Kiara could see bits of her and Julian in him. So far, he favored her in the coloring of his hair and skin. However, his eyes were lighter than hers with a hint of green, and she was pretty sure that he had Julian’s nose. He was beautiful.
His fussing increased to crying by the time she’d finished changing him. She picked him up and went to the chair she used for nursing. He frantically latched on, and she had to force herself to relax.
When Julian came into the room with her water bottle a short time later, he had changed into the pajama pants and T-shirt he usually slept in. He came and set the bottle beside her, then went around to his side of the bed.
This had quickly become her favorite part of the day. TJ nursed longer now, and she was comfortable in her chair. Usually they talked or watched something on TV. That night, the television remained dark, so she assumed they would be talking.
“Have you thought much about the future?” Julian asked from where he was seated on the bed. He was leaning against the headboard, his legs stretched out, ankles crossed.
Kiara’s stomach sank, even though she’d known that this discussion had been coming. Her hope had been that she’d have more than just two weeks following TJ’s birth before the subject of their divorce came up.
