Chapter 71

CHAPTER 71

SPENCER

I woke up early, knowing my day was going to be absolutely packed. I hopped in the shower, letting the water wake me up. I needed to get some work done this morning and then we were going apartment hunting. Then I had the Christmas party at Sebastian's.

My mother had decided to stay in the Big Apple, and I promised to get her set up with a nice apartment. It was a decision that filled me with pride instead of irritation. I wanted to help her. This was how I wanted to spend my money. She still hadn't spoken to my father, but she'd sent him messages letting him know she was here when he was ready to talk. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was a start.

I was proud of her for standing up to my father. And for taking steps to work through some issues that had been causing problems in her life. Those problems spilled over into her parenting, which directly impacted me. We couldn't go back and erase the things that had happened over the last thirty-something years, but we could move forward. I wanted that with her. I hoped my dad would get on board, but if he didn't, that was on him.

I wasn't going to dwell on the shit that happened or didn't happen. I had let it impact my life too much already. Marlow had shown me the light and that was where I was going to stay. There was no way I was going to get dragged back into the muck.

Mom suggested I go to therapy with her, but I wasn't interested. Not yet. I was good with letting all that shit sit somewhere in the back of my mind. In the end, my experiences throughout my childhood and time as a young adult had shaped me. They made me who I was today. The only reason I would go to therapy now was if I ever thought about pushing Marlow away again.

Then I would have my fucking head examined.

I stepped out of the shower and dressed casually, slacks, a nice sweater, and my waterproof shoes. The snow had followed us to the city. The season of soggy feet was upon us. When I walked into the kitchen, my mother was already there making coffee. She was wrapped in her bathrobe, wearing her fuzzy slippers.

"Good morning," she greeted.

"You're up early," I said.

"I couldn't sleep," she sighed. "I'm anxious to see the apartments you've lined up."

I looked at the time. "We have a couple of hours."

"I know. I know you have to work. I won't bother you. I'm just going to do a little browsing."

I filled my cup with coffee. "I just need to do a little work and then we'll go."

"I'll be here." She smiled.

I took my cup to my home office and settled in my chair, my laptop in front of me. The glow of the screen illuminated the dark room. It was still early morning, and the world outside the window behind me was barely awake. The city was blanketed in snow, always making everything look so clean and quiet.

I quickly made my way through emails, updating client files, and setting my email to away for the next two weeks. I would still be checking in, but I didn't want to feel like I had to roll out of bed ready to work. Marlow and I were going to spend some time together, not working. Just me and her.

I finished up and joined my mother in the living room. "Ready?" I asked.

"I am."

We pulled up to the first place on our list to see. It was a small but cheerful older unit with lots of charm. The moment we walked in, I saw the light in my mother's eyes. She took in the high ceilings, the big windows, and the quirky layout. The place had character, a sense of warmth that instantly drew her in.

"This is it, Spencer," she said, her voice full of wonder. "I love it."

"Mom, we still have three other places to see," I reminded her. We had looked at several apartments over the last couple of days and none of them had interested her. This was the first time she looked excited.

She shook her head. "This is it. I know it."

I smiled, feeling a surge of happiness at seeing her so excited. "Then let's make it happen."

We met with the landlord, an affable middle-aged woman named Linda. She was pleased to see how much my mother liked the apartment and was willing to work out a deal that suited us both. When my mother started to fuss about me paying for her, it struck a deep chord in me. The mother I knew a month ago would demand a penthouse. This was a huge change.

"Mom, please," I said gently. "I want to do this for you. I've always wanted to. But the way I've been used by others for my money soured my generosity. This? This is the least I can do for you. I want you happy and comfortable. If this apartment makes you happy, let's do it."

Her eyes softened, and she pulled me into a tight hug. "Thank you, Spencer. I'm proud of you, you know that? And who knows? There's even space for me to babysit grandkids should that time come soon."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

She giggled, clearly giddy over the idea of getting a new place. "I can't believe I'm giving up the Florida sun to come back here."

"Are you having second thoughts?" I asked as we made our way back to my car.

"Not at all," she said.

"Are you worried about Dad?"

"Of course," she sighed. "Always. But I know this is right. I need this. And I'm ready to be closer to you. And, unless you plan on selling the house in Florida, I can still visit, right?"

"I'm not going to sell it," I told her. "Dad still lives there."

She nodded, getting a sad look in her eyes. "Yes, he does."

"Mom, I wouldn't blame you if you split your time between New York and Florida. You would not be the first retiree to do that. I don't expect you to stick by me. I'm fine."

"I know, but I want this. I think I need this."

"I believe you, Mom," I said sincerely. "I want you to do what makes you happy."

She let out a deep sigh and looked away. "Spencer, when you love someone, sometimes it means choosing what's best for them over what's best for you. And that's okay."

The car was quiet as I processed her words. Emotions welled up in me, but I swallowed hard and nodded. "Thank you."

Later that evening, we swung by Marlow's place to pick her up and take her to Sebastian's place for the Christmas party. Sebastian and Melody were hosting a holiday dinner for all our friends to get together before Christmas, when we all went our separate ways until after the new year.

It was the perfect opportunity for my mother to meet my colleagues and closest friends. As we walked into Sebastian's beautifully decorated home, thanks to Melody's feminine touch, I felt a surge of gratitude. My life had changed so much and having all my favorite people in one place felt like a full-circle moment.

The room was filled with laughter and chatter, the scent of holiday spices mingling with the sounds of clinking glasses and cheerful music. I sipped on a cranberry cocktail with Marlow and my mom on either side of me. My mother was shy at first, but Marlow stayed by her side, introducing her to everyone. I drifted into the den with the guys, leaving my mother with Marlow and the other women. I knew the intimidating personalities of my partners could be a lot to handle. Marlow had gone through the same thing, but now she fit right in. Seeing Marlow support my mother like that made my heart swell with love and appreciation.

In the den, the other guys and I settled into comfortable chairs, cigars in hand. I found myself cornered by Graham. For once, it wasn't a "be better" conversation. Instead, he sat down and grinned at me.

"So," Graham started, his eyes sparking with mischief. "Have you bought the ring yet?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "The ring?"

He nodded, leaning in. "Yeah, the ring. You know, for Marlow."

I felt a rush of emotions—excitement, nervousness, and a deep sense of certainty. "I've thought about it," I admitted. "A lot, actually."

Graham's grin widened. "Good. Because she's the one, isn't she?"

I nodded, feeling warmth spread through me. "Yeah, she is."

Graham clapped me on the shoulder, his expression softening. "You've come a long way, Spencer. I'm proud of you. We all are. Now, go get that ring and make it official. It's time to celebrate your departure."

"My departure? Are you guys planning to send me somewhere?"

"Your departure from bachelorhood," Max said with a laugh. "We knew you would get here eventually."

"I wouldn't say that," Sebastian said. " I wasn't sure."

"Me either," I said, laughing.

As the evening wore on, I watched my mother having a good time with Marlow and the rest of my friends. Seeing her happy, truly happy, filled me with a sense of peace. My life had been a whirlwind, but in this moment, everything felt right. I would have never guessed my mother would be here with me.

Later as we all sat around the table enjoying the delicious holiday feast, I couldn't help but reflect on how far we had all come. Looking around at my friends—each one of them a pillar of strength and support—I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. We had all struggled together. We kicked ass together. And celebrated as one by one we all found the women we would spend the rest of our lives with. Seb had been the first to fall. I still remembered the shock it sent through our group. He'd been a player. I supposed we all had been at one point. But Seb was one of the biggest players. When he fell in love and focused his attention on one woman, it was a strange transformation. He was a happy guy. I got it now. I understood why all of them had given themselves over to this little thing called love. Why the company took a backseat as they focused on growing their families. I was in the same boat with them.

Sebastian raised his glass for a toast. "To family, both the ones we're born with and the ones we choose. May we continue to grow, to support each other, and to cherish these moments together. Merry Christmas, everyone!"

"Merry Christmas!" we all echoed, clinking our glasses and taking a moment to appreciate the bond we shared.

After dinner, as the party continued, I found a quiet moment with my mother.

"Thank you for tonight, Spencer," she said, her voice soft. "It's been wonderful."

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, feeling the cool breeze against my skin. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Mom. You deserve to be happy."

She smiled, resting her head against my shoulder. "So do you, Spencer. So do you."