“I like fun socks,” I admitted.
James huffed out a laugh. “Like is an understatement. He has drawers full of them,” he revealed.
“We know someone else kind of like that,” Morgan said.
“Chase was our only child who was obsessed with wearing mismatched socks even as a toddler.”
“We had a terrible time trying to get him to wear matching socks to play soccer when he was little,” Charles said.
“Or he’d wear socks to karate,” Morgan spoke up. “Remember that, Hollis?”
“Morgan and I would be ready to start karate class and then Chase would dramatically trudge onto the mats—”
Morgan interrupted Hollis, “In socks!”
Chase held his hands up and shrugged.
“Karate was not my speed. I just wasn’t into it. It cramped my style.”
“We had several attempts at finding activities that didn’t cramp his style,” Charles said.
As everyone laughed, I felt a sense of pride come over me.I was just like my dad.I thought this was a good time for my gifts. I leaned forward and pulled the gift bag closer.
“I have a little something for each of you.” I looked inside the bag and found the slipper socks version of our most recent Socks and Coffee design.
“That is so thoughtful of you, Brandon,” Kristin said.
I handed Kristin the pair of slipper socks and then I began to hand each of the guys a different pair of the men’s Socks and Coffee crew socks.
“You didn’t have to get us anything,” Charles said.
“I was so excited when we arranged a night to meet all of you that I wanted to give you each a little part of me… Well, I guess it’s a big part of me now.”
I knew it was just a pair of socks, but I was very proud of them. I made sure Hollis got the ones that had the most sea-green coloring on them.
After I passed them all out, I sat down and leaned back comfortably against the cushions. I felt James’ thumb rub the top of my shoulder as everyone talked and held up their socks. I could tell they really liked them, and it wasn’t because they were some incredible gift but because it was a part of me.
Chase tapped my knee with the pair of socks I gave him.
“This is really cool, Brandon. Everyone knows how important this merchandise line is to you and what you donate the proceeds to,” Chase said.
If he’d told me that when I’d first met him, I might have freaked out. Things were different now, and I no longer felt like I needed to hide from my past. The past was a huge part of me, and it made me stronger. Now I could sit here and be comfortable with my family, if and when it came up. Was I ready to talk at great length with them about what happened? Probably not just yet. But I was getting there.
EPILOGUE
Brandon
James had parkedin front of Chase’s parents’—my grandparents’—home. He shut the car off, and we sat in silence for a few moments as I glanced at all the houses that were similar in size to what I grew up in.
“What are you thinking about, Brandon?” James asked as he took hold of my hand.
“Nothing bad.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“It’s just… I was thinking about how crazy it is to know they lived this close to me. We were so close but in another world. My house wasn’t very far from here. It sucks to think about all the good times I could have had with them.”
“Try not to dwell on what you could have had. Focus on what you have right now.”
