The Boy Who Has No Redemption (Soulless 8)

“So…” I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to say goodbye. I loved his parents. “I’ve really—”

“Can we come over?” Deacon asked. “Cleo and I have presents for you and Lizzie, and we would love to spend some time with you. We’re leaving for the cabin tomorrow. I asked if you and Lizzie were coming, and Derek said you had plans… Now I realize that was a lie.”

“I…I would love to see you. But I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I’m just…” I closed my eyes and felt the tears run down my cheeks. “I’m going through a really hard time, and I just don’t think—”

“You’re still family to us, Emerson. I don’t know what happened, but I think I have an idea. And if my son has chosen to be an idiot, that doesn’t mean we can’t choose to see you. Please.”

I was touched he wanted to come over here and spend time with us, to comfort us instead of running to his son. He knew his son had abandoned us both, and he chose to step in and be there for us…because his son had failed. “Okay.”

“Great. We’ll be there soon.”

I opened the door and looked at Deacon and Cleo, who both stood there with presents in their arms, bundled up in their coats because it was freezing tonight. Seeing their faces made me feel better, but also made me feel worse in other ways. “Come in.”

They stepped inside my small apartment. We had a little tree in the corner that was lit up with lights and ornaments, and the TV showed a classic Christmas movie.

Lizzie came into the living room and looked at them both, but she also looked past them, like she expected Derek to appear. It was obvious that she was sad about Derek’s departure, that she missed him even though she was angry with him for hurting me. It was exactly what I didn’t want to happen, for my daughter to get attached to someone who wouldn’t be around forever.

I would never forgive Derek for that.

“Hey, Lizzie.” Deacon placed the presents under the tree then bent to embrace Lizzie. “Merry Christmas.” He opened his arms and held her close, giving her a long hug.

Lizzie closed her eyes as she held him.

Cleo set down the presents then turned to me, heartbreak in her eyes, like she hurt for me, hurt for herself, and hurt for her son.

Deacon pulled away and rubbed her arms. “Happy to be out of school?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I love Christmastime.” She continued to talk to him.

Cleo opened her arms then came closer to me. “Honey…”

I moved into her embrace and closed my eyes, doing my best not to cry, to accept her warmth as a gift rather than a painful goodbye. I squeezed her tightly and felt the loss, felt what else I was losing besides Derek.

“I’m so sorry about all this.” She squeezed me before she let me go.

I couldn’t bring myself to talk, so I gave a nod.

“I got you guys something.” She opened her purse and pulled out hot cocoa mix and the same marshmallows she’d had at the cabin. “I know how much Lizzie loves them.”

I took them from her hand and nodded. “Thank you.”

Deacon finished talking to Lizzie then came to me.

Cleo switched and moved to greet Lizzie. “Hey, honey. You look even prettier than the last time I saw you.”

Deacon dropped his smile and gave me a painful look, like he could feel what I felt, like he was so kind that he could feel the pain of others. He gave me more compassion than his own son did. He moved into me and gave me a warm embrace, holding me the way my father held me, giving me love without saying it. He rubbed my back before he pulled away. “I’ll talk to him.”

I shook my head. “It’s okay… It’s over.”

His eyes narrowed. “We’ll talk about it later. For now, let’s open some presents and make some hot cocoa.”

I nodded. “That sounds so nice.” My eyes started to well up.

His eyes softened in a brand-new way, and he moved his hand to my shoulder and gave me a comforting squeeze. “It’ll be alright, sweetheart. I love my son very much, but he’s not worth your pain.”

Lizzie drank three cups of hot cocoa, opened all her gifts, and had a great night. Even without Derek there, she perked up and smiled, so happy to spend time with Deacon and Cleo because she had her own relationship with them.

When the night deepened and she got sleepy, she said goodbye to both of them with a hug then went to bed.

Deacon and Cleo stayed at the dining table with their mugs, like they intended to have a conversation about Derek before they left, even though it was almost ten in the evening and tomorrow was Christmas Eve.