Worth It (43 page)

When I follow Jed through the front door of his aunt’s house, my senses are assaulted. Delicious smells of ham, potatoes, and asparagus waft throughout the house and make my mouth water.
Is that seafood I smell?
The decibel level borders on uncomfortable once we’re spotted. God, there must be fifty people here, and they’re all talking loudly and gesturing with their hands. People greet me with hugs, smiles, and kisses on the cheek. It’s completely overwhelming because I’m used to just being with my immediate family for holiday gatherings, and I’m definitely not used to the affection.

“Anna, it’s so great to finally meet you!” a woman in her mid to late thirties with light brown hair and a bright smile exclaims. “I’m Aunt Marie.”

She squeezes me so tight that I think she cracked one of my ribs.

“Hi,” I wheeze out.

When she pulls back, she looks me over, grinning. “I like you.” She pops her finger on my nose before she turns and yells, “Kat! Your son and his wife are here!”

Wife?

I look at Jed and raise an eyebrow, but he just shrugs as if to tell me,
I warned you they were a little rambunctious
.

I won’t lie and say I don’t love the idea of becoming his wife someday, but I just met these people.

“Um, Marie, I’m not his—”

She cuts me off with a wave of her hand. “Not yet, dear, but you will be. You’re a keeper.”

Okay
. Again, I don’t mind, but I don’t know these people. Although, I won’t correct her because for some unexplained reason, she seems to like me, and I don’t want that to change.

“Mind not scaring off my girlfriend, Auntie? I’m rather fond of her,” Jed says, dragging his aunt into a hug.

Jed’s eyes meet mine over her shoulder, and he gives me a wink. I smile, but inside, my belly flutters.

Donnie and Rose greet me with hugs.

Donnie says, “See, I knew you two would be perfect for each other.”

I grin back at him until I’m dragged into another hug by an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and a matching mustache.

“Hey, sexy, I’m Uncle Sal.”

I’m a little uneasy when I realize who has his arms around me, but I don’t want to be impolite, so I hug him back lightly. “Um…I’m Anna. Nice to meet you, too.”

“That’s it, baby. Wrap yourself around me.”

I jerk away, and he laughs.

“Just messing with you, sweetheart.”

He pats my head, but my return smile is tight. Jed wasn’t joking about his uncle’s behavior.

“Jed, my boy, how ya been?” he says and gives Jed a welcoming back slap.

“Awesome, Uncle Sal,” Jed replies, throwing me a wink.

“Yeah, I bet. Having those legs wrapped around me every night would make my life awesome, too,” he says, chuckling.

I blanch, and Jed’s mouth twists in a scowl.

“Uncle Sal, can you lay off Anna, please?”

He laughs and holds up his hands. “Just kidding, boy. You know that.”

Jed rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “Yeah, okay. Just be nice to her, all right?”

“All right, all right. Just being friendly. Let’s go eat some food.”

Oh, damn, am I stuffed.
I’ve never had so much delicious food in my life. Quahogs, calamari in red sauce, ham, scalloped potatoes, asparagus, and homemade rolls are all so finger-licking good. This family seriously needs to open a restaurant. I look around the open kitchen and living room to see his family interacting. I also love seeing Donnie and Rose in this type of environment. The flow of lively conversation and laughter is entertaining and endearing. Mothers tending to children, sisters hugging, grandmothers reminiscing—the love in this room is overwhelmingly satisfying. I’ve always longed to have a family like this, and to have them all wholeheartedly embrace me fills me with a sense of hopeful peace.

“Hey there, luscious lips.”

I turn to see Sal sit down in the seat next to me, and my stomach churns when he throws his arm over my chair.

I give him a tight-lipped smile. “Hi, Sal.”

“Ah, beautiful, you can call me Uncle Sal. My nephew is quite smitten with you, and I look forward to seeing those legs at all the family holidays.”

He winks and then moves closer, so I shift backward.

Good thing he’s not extremely creepy or anything.

“Um, thanks?” I reply, unsure.

“You want to sit on my lap?”

“Um…” I glance around for a means of escape, but everyone is engaged in conversation.

“Relax. I’m joking. Unless—”

My cell phone ringing cuts him off, and I launch from the table, grateful for the interruption.

For the love of God! Who says shit like that? And at a family Christmas dinner?

Once I’m in the secluded foyer, I answer my phone, “Hello?”

“Merry Christmas!” Sam’s tentative voice seeps through the phone.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

I lower my voice, so I can’t be overheard, but my tone is cold. “Seriously? You’re seriously calling me again? Tell me this is some fucking joke because—”

“I’m sorry. Listen—”

“Sorry? Are you fucking kidding me? Sorry!”

“I need to apologize to you—” he says quickly.

I’m fuming. “No, you don’t. Don’t ever fucking call me again.”

I’m about to pull away the phone and hang up when his soft voice stops me.

“You were right.”

A beat or two of silence passes before I reply, “What?”

He sighs, and I can almost see him running his hand through his blond hair.

“After the last time I saw you, I started thinking, really thinking.” He pauses for a minute and blows out a breath. “I started seeing someone, a therapist, and I’ve come to realize that I’m angry at the world. I was in an abusive home and then a failed marriage. I just thought life had it out for me, so I lashed out at you. I know this means nothing, but I really am sorry. I did love you, and I think a part of me always will, but I was too fucked-up to show it. I just…God, I’m sorry. I just wanted to make amends with the people I hurt. You’re the first call I’m making because I think I hurt you the worst.”

I had no idea he had been in an abusive home, but I guess that explains why I never met his parents.
But is this just another ploy?
“Sam, I—”

“You’re a beautiful woman, Anna, inside and out, and I wish I’d told you that a long time ago. I’m sorry I treated you so badly. Please believe me. I’m not trying to get you back. I blew it, and I know that. I could tell that you’re happy with that guy. I think that’s why I lashed out like I did because you never looked at me that way.” He pauses and blows out another breath. “I’m sorry, Anna. Can you forgive me?”

I’m reeling from his words, and I don’t know what to say. He was a fucking asshole, and as I’m beginning to see my own worth, I can look back to see that he treated me much worse than I thought. But if I believe him, he had a shitty bag of rocks to carry, too. It doesn’t make his behavior okay, by any means, but I think I can offer him something.

“I don’t think I can offer you forgiveness right this second, Sam. You were a total dickhead, but I think I can someday,” I say honestly.

He sighs and says, “Thank you, Anna. That was more than I could have hoped for. I don’t want to keep you on Christmas, but thank you for hearing me out.”

“You’re welcome, Sam. I hope you get better.”

“Thanks, Anna. That means a lot. Merry Christmas.”

“You, too.”

I end the call to see Jed striding toward me. When he sees my shocked face, his eyebrows draw together.

“Who was on the phone?” he asks, worried, once he stops in front of me.

“Sam. He—”

“Are you kidding me?” He’s pissed.

“No, listen, he called to apologize—”

“Yeah, right,” he says sarcastically.

“No, seriously. He said he was sorry, and in not so many words, he said I deserved better than what he gave me. I guess he’s seeing a therapist, and he wanted to right some wrongs,” I say, still a little shocked.

Jed still looks suspicious with pursed lips and a raised eyebrow, but then he shrugs. “Well, that’s good, I think. How do you feel about it?”

I look at the floor. “I don’t know. I guess it’s nice that I can kind of lay all that to rest. I have an apology and I guess closure, not that I really needed it, but I feel better about ending that chapter on a good note.” I look back at Jed to see him nodding. “I’m glad I answered the phone. I probably wouldn’t have, but I didn’t check the caller ID.”

His eyebrows pull together, and he cocks his head to the side. “Why not?”

I chew on my thumbnail. “Um, your uncle was getting to be a bit much.”

“What happened with Uncle Sal?” he asks, his lips thinning.

“Um…it doesn’t matter. Let’s just head back. I’m probably gonna stick to you like glue though.”

I start to walk toward the party, but he grabs my arm, stopping me.

His face is serious when he asks, “What did he say, Anna?”

I gnaw on my bottom lip before I say slowly, “He wanted me to sit on his lap.”

His eyes grow wide, and his jaw clenches. Then, he stalks out of the room and toward the kitchen.

Shit.
I don’t want to be the cause of family drama on Christmas, so I rush to keep up with him.

I pull on his arm. “Jed, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” I try and calm him, but my pleas fall on deaf ears.

“I’m just going to have a word with him, so he understands that what he said was inappropriate, and I’ll make sure it will not happen again,” he grits out without looking at me as he approaches the kitchen table where Sal and Jed’s dad are having a conversation.

“A word, Uncle Sal,” Jed snaps.

Both Sal and Jed’s dad snap their heads in our direction, obviously surprised at Jed’s tone of voice.

“What’s wrong?” Sal asks, concerned.

“I’d appreciate it if you left my girlfriend alone and stopped making disgusting remarks,” Jed grinds out.

“I was just joking—”

“I don’t care. Don’t do it again.”

I glance around the room to see that most everyone has stopped talking, and they are now witnessing the exchange. My face heats, and I duck my head.

This was so not the impression I wanted to make.

“Sorry,” Sal says sincerely as he stands. “I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable, Anna. I promise it won’t happen again.” He focuses his attention back on Jed and says, “No hard feelings?”

Jed’s lips thin, and he gives a jerky nod. Then, he turns to me. “We should head out.”

I chew on my lip nervously and nod my head. Most of his family apologizes for Sal, which makes me feel better because they didn’t blame me for the family drama. After we say good-bye to everyone, we leave.

As we make the drive to my parents’ house, I cross my fingers and send up a prayer that what happened with Sal will be the worst drama we’ll have to deal with tonight.

I can’t fucking believe my uncle. I never expected something like that. He’s been flirty with chicks that my brother or cousins or I have brought in the past, but fuck, that was way beyond anything he’s ever done.

“Jed, I’m fine, really. Please don’t stew over it,” Anna says calmly.

I shake my head. “It’s not fine. I just…fuck. I want to keep you safe, and one of my own family members says something like…”

My voice is rising the more I go on, but Anna’s soft hand on my thigh stops me.

“Look at me.”

I glance over.

“I love you, baby, so much, but I need you to let this go. What he said was shitty, I know, but he’s family. Family like yours is hard to come by, so don’t let something stupid like this cause a rift. He said he was sorry, and he seemed sincere about it, so please just let it go. I did.”

My eyes rake over her pleading face, and I feel my anger melt away. I breathe in and out slowly. She’s right. He said an asshole thing, but if she’s okay, then I guess I can be okay.

I interlace our fingers and kiss the back of her hand. “Thank you, baby.”

“For what?” She scrunches her face.

Adorable.

“For being you.” I kiss her hand again. “You calm me, and you’re right. My tight-knit family is important to me, and I don’t want to hold a grudge. I should let it go,” I say as I pull into her parents’ driveway.