“I know,” Teddy says solemnly. “But Dad’s been sad.”
“Has he now?”
Teddy nods. “Very. He cried watchingFinding Dory.”
“I did not,” Sebastian grumbles. “He’s lying.”
He’s absolutelynot lying. I smirk despite myself. “Sure he is.”
“I’ve been thinking. I know you said you didn’t want an apology,” he says, “so… think of this as me showing up instead.” He reaches behind him and hands me a wrapped parcel. “I know it’s Christmas Eve, but Teddy wanted you to open this now.”
I glance at the paper. Gold foil. A lopsided bow. I swear, my heart is already thudding. I start to unwrap it, then pause, guilt nudging me. “Should you… Did you guys want to come in? God, I’m the worst host ever, making you stand out here—”
“We’re fine,” he cuts in gently. “Open it here.”
My fingers tremble slightly as I peel back the paper. Inside is a folded card with a drawing tucked neatly within it. Crayon colours spill everywhere in that familiar, earnest chaos only Teddy can create. Stick-figure Daddy. Stick-figure Teddy. An oversized Diesel. And then me, a little stick version, labelled clearly, but with spelling errors beneath, just like the others. But it’s the bottom line—written in chunky, careful and surprisingly correct letters—that steals every bit of breath from my lungs.
Olivia, can you be my mummy?
Teddy tugs at my sleeve. “I made it for you.”
I look at him, the words stuck in my throat.
“Daddy says not everyone’s meant to be a mummy,” he says, gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder. “But it takes… uh… a special person. And Daddy says that you’re special.”
Oh.
Oh.The tears hit so fast I don’t stand a chance. “You want me to be your mummy?”
He nods solemnly, still not quite meeting my eyes. I drop to my knees, wrapping my arms around him.
“Why are you crying? Did my drawing make you sad, again?” he asks softly.
“No, love. It made me very happy.” I sniff. “Youmake me very happy.”
He beams. “So, can you come to my house? Every day?”
“Would you like that?”
He nods enthusiastically.
Sebastian clears his throat again. “Teddy, why don’t you give her the other present?”
Teddy grins, pulling a sprig from his pocket. “Mistletoe!”
I raise a brow, watching as Sebastian bends down to whisper in his son’s ear. “What do wedowhen we see mistletoe?”
“You kiss someone.” His face turns a shade of pink.
Sebastian smirks. “What do you say, champ? Shall we give Olivia a kiss?”
Teddy blushes, then leans in and plants one on my cheek. I giggle through the tears. I stand, facing Sebastian. He’s watching me, like I’m the only thing on his damn orbit. “You scared the hell out of me, Liv,” he says, voice low. “You made me feel things I’d buried years ago, and instead of holding on, I ran. Told myself I was protecting Teddy. Truth is, I was protecting myself.”
My heart stutters.
“We’re not that different, you and me,” he continues. “You hide behind wildness, wanting to make something of yourself. I hide behind quiet, hoping that others would make me feel enough. You move through the world like a storm, trying to leave your mark, whereas I’ve spent years trying to disappear, hoping someone might still find me.” He pauses, voice rough but strong. “It’s like we’re opposite ends of the same thread… pulled tight in different directions, but somehow meant to meet in the middle.”
Tears slip again, blurring his face. Because how the hell did he just say exactly what I’ve never been able to?
