Chapter 110

"I hope you don't mind," Greer said as she passed the potatoes. "Since you were here and Brett has to leave again in a few days, we thought that we'd celebrate some Christmas with one another. Of course, Santa Claus won't come until Christmas morning " She looked at Gray as he smiled. " but we thought that we could have a celebration, anyway. Kind of like Christmas before Christmas."
"Sounds wonderful!" I agreed as I slipped a chicken leg onto my plate, along with some mashed potatoes. "You know, we could do that every year. We could get together before the holidays to celebrate together, and then go home to celebrate at our homes."
"What a wonderful idea!" Mom added. "But you can always spend Christmas with us if you like."
I forced a smile. "Thanks, Mom." Every time I saw her, she dropped hints about me not being married yet or having a family. She understood why, but it didn't keep her from hinting, anyway. I let the comment slide and turned to Greer. "So, when would you like to do this 'Christmas before Christmas'?"
"Well, today's Tuesday. How about Thursday or Friday?" Greer asked, suddenly excited. She loved Christmas. In fact, her house already looked like Santa threw up. After Thanksgiving, it was open season in Greer's house for decorating and everything Christmas.
"Let's make it Friday," I said. "I brought gifts with me for the kids, but I'd like to get a few more. Also, we can do things like sing Christmas carols, drink hot chocolate the works!"
"Okay. This is getting a bit too much for me," Brett said, getting up to get himself another glass of iced tea. "Gifts? Yes. Caroling? No."
I smiled. "What's the matter, Brett?" I teased. "Too much music for you?"
He laughed as he took a bite of his chicken leg. "Talk about music, we're long overdue for one of our face-offs. It's been too long."
Greer smacked him on the arm and gave him a dirty look, knowing that I didn't play anymore.
I looked around, and everyone was staring at me. "You know? You're right! I'll be here until Sunday, so we should be able to find some time in there somewhere."
Everyone stared at me as if I had suddenly grown four heads. As far as they knew, I hadn't picked up a guitar since Logan died or at least, since I thought he was dead. "I played at Thanksgiving at Frank and Roxanne's house."
"Really?" Greer asked, amazed. "Okay. Who are you and what have you done with my sister?"
"Ha, ha," I said, smiling.
Mom set down her glass of tea. "Well, I think it's wonderful that you're playing again! I'm so glad to hear it!" Mom gripped Dad's arm and shook it. "Isn't that wonderful, James?"
"Okay," I said, holding up my hands in surrender. "Before you start booking my next tour, I've only started doing it for fun."
"Well, that's a start," Dad said as he raised his glass.
I raised my glass, too, and clanked it with his. "Thanks, Dad."
We spent the next hour eating and laughing-something that I hadn't done in a very long time. It made me realize just how much I had missed out on over the years.
"Mom, why don't you go sit down? I'll do the dishes," I said as I patted her on the back after dinner, taking her place at the sink.
She smiled as she slid another plate onto the stack beside the sink. Then, she leaned her head against my shoulder. "Why don't we do them together?"
"Well, if you don't mind," Greer said with Jasmine on her hip. "If you have things under control, then I'm going to give the kids a bath and get them ready for bed."
I smiled. "Hey. You cooked, so the least I can do is clean up."
She laughed as she patted my shoulder. "I was hoping you'd say that!" Then, she gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Come on, young 'uns! Let's get you ready for bed!"
Gray pulled on my shirt tail. "Auntie Alyssa, can you read us a story?"
I smiled as I gave him a big hug. "Sure! Let me know when you're ready."
Brett came around the corner, scooped him up in his arms, and then planted kisses all over his face as Gray giggled. "Come on, baby. Let's get you ready for bed." Then, he looked over at me. "Or else Auntie Alyssa won't come up and read you a story."
I laughed as Brett tucked him under his arm like a football and raced up the stairs behind Greer and Jasmine.
"So, how have you been?" Mom asked as I handed her a dish to rinse.
I shrugged. "I've been better," I said as I washed a plate.
"Honey, what's going on?" Mom asked in a way that could bring me to tears and make me spill all when I was feeling down. "Greer told me about Logan. That he's alive."
I burst out into tears as I gripped the side of the sink. "Mom, he came to see me yesterday." I looked at her as tears flowed down my cheeks. "He was so hurt. Evidentially, his parents told him that I was dead, too. He accused me of not wanting to be with an invalid."
She rinsed a dish, and then asked in a gentle voice, "Was he hurt badly?"
I nodded as I picked up another plate but then put it back down and raised the back of my hand to my forehead. "He broke his back, Mom, and I wasn't there for him!"
"Shush," Mom cooed as she pulled me into her arms and let me cry. Soon, she pulled back to look in my eyes. "Honey, don't blame yourself. After all, you were in a coma for a month. And when you came to, you thought he was dead. If you would have known, you would have been there for him."
I nodded. "Of course I would have." I let out a deep breath. "Come to find out, Craig knew all this time and never told me."
"Your old manager?" she asked, her voice raising several octaves.
I nodded.
"That bastard!"
"Mom!"
She looked at me, and then a smile broke out across her face. "Well, he is!" She rinsed the cup I handed her. "You need to talk to Logan."
I shook my head. "Mom, he never wants to see me again and now I've started dating someone and I might be moving to New York "
"You what?" Mom asked as she dried a plate and slid it into the cabinet. "I thought you'd never leave Nashville!"
I smiled as I wiped the tears away from my face. "And that's what you're worried about?"
"Oh. I already knew you started dating someone." She waved a hand in front of her face dismissively, as if it was old news.
I stopped and looked over at her and placed my soapy hands on the sink in front of me. "Mom, what am I going to do?"
She shrugged as she dried another plate and looked into my eyes. "What do you want to do?"
I shook my head as I turned around and resumed doing the dishes. "I don't know."
"Well, honey, before you make any decisions about your future, you need to talk to Logan first. I mean really talk to him," she said, the voice of reason. "Then, no matter what you decide, you can go forward with a clear conscious."
I nodded, and then wrapped my soapy hand around her shoulder. "Mom, how did you get to be so smart?"
She laughed. "I need to remind you of that later."
"Mom, you'll never have to remind me," I said as I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Over the next week, I had a wonderful time with my family. But as we celebrated what we called our Christmas Before Christmas, I kept thinking about what my mother had said and made up my mind to speak with Logan. Then no matter what happened, I could live with it.