26. Bennett

Bennett

Pulling up to my childhood home, I felt a familiar rush of nostalgia. The place was modest – nothing fancy – but it was home. Mom, or Lisa as everyone else knew her, stood waiting on the porch, her face lighting up like a Christmas tree when she saw Xander and me.

"Ry!" She enveloped me in a hug that could rival a bear"s. "And Xander, welcome," she said, turning her attention to my boyfriend with an equally warm embrace.

Inside the house, Dad – James – was reclining in his favorite armchair while Connor and Chloe were engaged in some sort of sibling rivalry over who got control of the remote. The sight of them made my heart swell; this was family.

I"d never imagined this moment – introducing a male partner to my parents. Not out of any prejudice; it was just that all my life I believed I was straight. If someone had quizzed me three months ago about my ideal partner, I would have sketched a woman – hair color irrelevant, body shape inconsequential, equipped with a sharp wit, a heart for others, and an emotional intelligence that could temper my innate grumpiness.

Yet there he was: Xander. A tall, muscular, sexy man with a radiant personality as bright as the sun, that lit up any room he entered. The warmth spreading through my chest wasn"t only because of the way my family accepted Xander but because of the recognition that love didn"t adhere to predetermined blueprints or societal norms. Love wasn"t in the playbook, but then again, neither was he. Watching Xander effortlessly charm my family, I realized how beautifully unpredictable life could be.

But as we settled into the evening, I thought of the predictability of life. No matter what was happening around us, the clock continued to tick away. I couldn"t help but notice how much older my parents seemed since my last visit. It wasn"t drastic but subtle changes – a few more lines etched onto their faces, their movements slightly slower than before... It hit me like a punch to the gut: time wasn"t standing still for any of us. But still, their faces were lit up by the joy of having their children around them.

I glanced around at the place where I was raised – the worn-out couches, the chipped coffee table – and felt a pang of regret. Growing up in the Bennett household meant stability and unconditional love – qualities money couldn"t buy – but it didn"t mean financial comfort. And now? Now it was my turn to provide that for them. My hockey career had to take off soon so I could give them more than this. They deserved all the finer things in life after all they"d done for us kids.

Laughter filled our small living room once again when Chloe playfully shoved Connor off the couch amidst cheers from Xander. I smiled. This was home, and it was perfect in its own way.

"Any single guys on the team, Ry?" Chloe"s eyes twinkled mischievously as she pointed to a photo of our team on Xander's phone.

"They're way too old for you, LoLo," I shot back, unable to hide my grin. She's kidding, isn't she? "Plus, they spend more time in front of the mirror than on the ice."

"It's not that serious, Ry. Dad's like seven years older than Mom."

Before I had a comeback, Mom popped her head from the kitchen. "I was twenty-two when I met your dad, young lady," she said with mock sternness. "I was an adult."

"Mom!" My sister's cheeks flushed pink. "You're embarrassing me in front of our guest."

Xander raised his hands in mock protest. "Hey, I'm just here for the entertainment."

Chloe threw a pillow at him, laughing. "Alright, alright, I'll back off. But seriously, Ry, if there's ever an opening for a team mascot, let me know."

"Only if you promise to wear a giant foam grizzly costume," I shot back, chuckling. "And how"s indoor track treating you?" I asked, shifting focus. "Still outrunning everyone?"

She rolled her eyes at me, but her shining eyes gave away her pride. "Like you wouldn"t believe."

I turned to Connor who was still sprawled on the floor from Chloe"s shove. "And our resident basketball star? Still missing three-pointers?"

"Only when I"m aiming for your head." He grabbed a cushion and tossed it at me.

Chloe and Connor – inseparable twins always ready with a comeback. And there I was – their elder brother and favorite target – always stirring the pot just for fun.

Xander's lips curved into an amused smile. "Hey, Ry," he chimed in, picking up a cushion "maybe you should focus on your assists here at home too." And then he tossed the cushion my way. It landed on my head with a soft thud.

The living room erupted in laughter once more, and what ensued was a pillow – cushion – fight for the ages. The perfect blend of family chaos and camaraderie.

Later that evening, the twins and I huddled around our Christmas tree, armed with garlands and ornaments, ready to decorate the bare branches in true Bennett tradition.

"Ry," Chloe called out from behind me. "Pass me that star ornament."

I handed her the glittering piece without looking away from Connor"s attempt to drape tinsel over his head like a wig. "You look like an alien who crash-landed into a craft store," I commented dryly.

Connor stuck his tongue out at me while Chloe snorted with laughter beside him.

Meanwhile, Xander had been roped into kitchen duty alongside Mom. Their heads were bent over a steaming pot on the stove. The rich scent of Mom"s famous Christmas Eve stew wafted over to us – a hearty concoction of beef chunks slow-cooked in red wine with carrots and potatoes. My stomach growled loudly at the promise of it.

I watched Dad set out plates of freshly baked gingerbread cookies next to mugs of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows.

And when we sat at the table to eat our simple, yet delicious meal, Dad regaled us with colorful tales of his construction days. His deep chuckle filled the room as he recounted mishaps involving misplaced bricks and stubborn cement mixers.

Hours later, for the second time that day, a pang of guilt twisted my gut. The first time was when we arrived and Mom said that Xander and I would stay in Connor's room during our short stay there. And now, as I watched Connor haul his pillow and blanket to the living room couch, I felt just as guilty. His room, which used to be mine before I left for college, was now serving as a makeshift guest room for Xander and me.

"Hey, it"s no biggie." Connor shrugged it off with a nonchalant air. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards in an reassuring smile.

Inwardly, I winced. "ConMan, you sure?" My voice wavered slightly, betraying my concern.

Connor gave my shoulder a playful punch. "Absolutely, Ry. Think of it as me doing my brotherly duty, sacrificing my comfort for the greater good of our honored guests." He dramatically gestured towards the couch, as if presenting it to us like royalty.

I chuckled, grateful for his light-hearted nature. "You"re a true hero, ConAir. But seriously, I still feel bad about this. You should be the one in your bed, not us."

He waved off my concern with a dismissive gesture. "Nonsense, big bro. Besides, I heard the couch is great for your back," he added with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Who needs a fancy mattress when you have state-of-the-art couch technology?"

I had to laugh at his attempt to lighten the mood. "You"re a real comedian, you know that?" We bumped each other's closed fist. "Thanks, ConDuit. I owe you one."

"Hey, what are little brothers for, huh?" His grin widened. "Now, go get some rest. I"ll be out here catching up on my beauty sleep. Don"t worry about me."

With a final nod of gratitude, I headed back to join Xander in the room. It sucked that I couldn't do better for my family yet. At least Connor was a good sport, and I tried to remind myself, like my brother implied, that it wasn't a monumental sacrifice on his part.

Nestled together in the bed, Xander radiated a kind of warmth that made me feel comfortable. We flipped through old photo albums. Each page held a snapshot of my past, some more cringy than others.

"Would you look at this," Xander chuckled, pointing to an old picture of me sporting a bowl cut. "Quite the fashion statement, Ry."

I rolled my eyes playfully at him. "Oh, like you were any better with those comically oversized glasses you used to flaunt on social media?"

Our banter continued until Xander"s attention was drawn to a particular photo, his voice trailing off in surprise.

"Ry... is this..." His finger hovered over a picture of my mother"s mastectomy tattoo – an intricate design of red and blue begonias intertwined with a clock and July 27th etched beneath it – the day of her cancer diagnosis, forever etched in my mind.

"Yeah," I acknowledged softly, feeling a lump form in my throat.

The tattoo was one of the first things I"d paid for when I started getting professional hockey paychecks, a decision made after Mom opted against breast reconstruction surgery following her mastectomy. Instead, she wanted to do something to reclaim her body... to turn her scars into something beautiful. Begonias were her favorite flowers, symbolizing growth, strength, and resilience, she"d often said.

Xander's gaze shifted from the photo to where similar artwork adorned my chest, which was presently hidden beneath my t-shirt. "Ry... your tattoo..."

"Yeah." The design of my tattoo mirrored Mom"s but bore a different date – five years after her diagnosis, when she was declared cancer-free.

"When Mom had cancer, the fear that gripped me was like nothing else I'd experienced before – wondering if she would die; watching her grow weak with treatments while Dad juggled construction work and caring for her. But she fought and she survived, and now her strength was etched into our skin and our family's history."

Xander slipped his hand under my t-shirt and his fingers traced the tattoo with a tenderness that made my heart flutter. I saw understanding in his eyes – a silent acknowledgment of its significance.

"Ry, I had no idea..." His words trailed off, both surprise and empathy in his voice. "I mean, I knew about your mom"s cancer but..."

I leaned in to kiss him softly, preempting his next sentence. "It"s okay, Sunshine. I knew you were curious about it." I pressed his hand, which was still tracing the tattoo, against my chest.

His curiosity was one of the things that endeared him to me. Mom's cancer journey wasn"t something I talked about often but he deserved to know.

"Thank you for sharing this with me, Ry," he murmured.

"You"re part of my life now," I replied with a gentle smile. "I want you to know everything about me... the good and the bad."

We shared a quiet moment of understanding before we returned to flipping through the photo album.

On Christmas morning, I woke up to the smell of cinnamon and pine. The Bennett household was alive with the hum of holiday cheer as we all shuffled out of our rooms, rubbing sleep from our eyes. Mom and Dad exchanged sleepy smiles.

We all chipped in to prepare breakfast and then gathered around the table. Pancakes stacked high, bacon crisped to perfection, and scrambled eggs so light, they melted in my mouth. We laughed over cups of hot cocoa topped with marshmallows melting into sweet oblivion.

Afterwards, we moved to the tree twinkling with lights and tinsel. The presents piled underneath were nothing fancy – just simple tokens of love wrapped in festive paper. We had a tradition in our family: instead of expensive gifts, we opted for fun novelty items that would bring laughter rather than empty wallets.

Xander"s gifts were thoughtful. For Mom, he found this hilarious apron printed with "World"s Okayest Cook." Dad received a mug proclaiming "Bald is the new Sexy," which sent him into fits of laughter while he rubbed his hairless head gleefully.

Chloe squealed when she unwrapped her gift – a sparkly unicorn shower cap – and immediately put it on her head. Connor's face turned beet red at his present: a t-shirt emblazoned with "World"s Best Brother... Sometimes."

The rest of the day passed in a blur as we played board games and card games that made us laugh till our sides hurt. And, of course, Chloe and Connor started a mock snowball fight with balled-up wrapping paper.

My heart was light as I looked around at my family enjoying each other"s company.

Inside me stirred an emotion stronger than joy – contentment maybe? It wasn"t about the presents or even the delicious food (though that certainly helped). It was about us, the Bennetts and the newest member of the family, my boyfriend Xander. It was about this moment, cozy and warm, filled with love and laughter.

And as I sat there, sipping on my eggnog and watching my family in their Christmas sweaters, I couldn"t help but think: This is what Christmas is all about.