Chapter 83 Bronson

Pacing. It’s all I seem to do with myself now. I used to be a man that could handle any situation, any display of an unnatural order and I adjust, arrange, and move forward.

Until Nicole Myers walked into my life.

But for once, Nikki is not the reason for my absent mind, for my consistent pacing of my foyer as my eyes are glued to the elevator doors.

Last night, Nikki told me something that had me grabbing my phone and making calls the moment she went to sleep. She was righting her wrong, making good on her negative past. And if she could confront the man she took advantage of, then I could certainly call my older sister and speak to her.

If Clara was surprised to hear from me, she didn’t show it. We spoke for over an hour while I brushed Nikki’s hair with my palm as she laid her head against my chest. She was exhausted, after we had apologized to each other, we spent the next two hours decorating not only the tree, but the entire penthouse.

“I think that we should all get together for Christmas this year.” She had boldly stated, and I knew my sister enough to know that she had a reason for doing everything she did.

“You want them all here for Christmas? The entire family?” I didn’t know what to make of her idea to invite the whole family, so I played it off that my family would never want to spend their Christmas with me.

But Clara was determined. She had somehow convinced not only my parents, but my brother Anderson as well. They decided Christmas eve would be the best day seeing how Anderson was married with children that I had never met, and he would obviously be needing to spend their holiday together as a family.

Which brings me back to the now. I was pacing, pacing because at any moment, Rand would be bringing up my family and I would be reintroduced to my own blood.

Nikki. I needed Nikki. She knew what was going on, but also knew she needed to go and fix everything that I f*cked up for her yesterday when I spoke to George McCall. I wasn’t sorry for putting her first, but I understood where I went wrong by judging the situation before speaking with her.

The elevator doors open and I stand still and look up at with wondering eyes. When it opens and my sister comes out, followed by my mother, brother and father, I nearly collapse into a hysterical cry and fall at their feet begging for their forgiveness.

I hated being away from them for so long, hated who I became, but this moment, it means so much to me.

My mother is the first one to capture me into her arms. I’ve never felt as small as I do right here and now as her cries create sobs of my own. I’ve missed my family, missed my father’s talks and my sibling’s laughter, but mostly I have missed my mother. I never wanted to let her down, always wanting her to be proud of me.

“My boy, you look so different.” She states as she pulls back and grips my face with her small hands. At five foot two, my mother was far surpassed by her kids the moment we hit adolescence, but we would never know it by the way we depended on her every word to get us through each day.

Anderson and my father hold back while Clara comes up next and leans up to kiss my cheek. Her eyes are watery as well, but it’s blinded by her bright smile of pride. One I have not seen in quite a long time.

“Bronson.” Anderson coughs but his eyes are hard, daring me to come to him first. He’s still standing beside the elevator doors right next to my father. My ego doesn’t want me to move, but I must remember that it was my idea to invite them, so I make my way over and extend my hand.

“Anderson.”

“It’s quite a nice place you have here.” He says looking around, but his eyes stop before the tree. I can see the humor in it as he recognizes some of the old ornaments we hung as children. I had Landen and Jim go out and get them the night Nikki and I made up and looking at his face I’m glad I did. “Nice tree too.”

A chuckle leaves me as I spot my father leaning in closer, taking a look at the tree himself. I know we have a lot to go talk about, but I’m just glad they are all here. My father looks the same as he did years ago. Same dark hair and dark eyes, but soft features. I was always told that I was his junior. I look just like him, but my eyes, my eyes I receive from my mother.

“Father.” I nod my head and he carry my gaze for some time before he finally looks behind me at, I’m assuming my mother, then looks at me once more.

“Bronson. You look well son.” I nearly collapse to my feet as his voice. It’s been so long I had forgotten how deep it is. “So, this is your home?”

“Yes. Please come inside and I’ll show you around.”