Page 20 of Havoc's Fox
“Where y’all coming from this early? Nobody without little ones should be up this early, not even on Christmas,” Maverik said.
“Just getting the day started. Dropping ‘Lise off on my way home for breakfast with the family,” Christian answered. “Merry Christmas, y’all. I’ll see you for Christmas dinner.” Christian and Analise waved again, he rolled up the window and took his foot off the brake.
As Christian’s car slowly made the turn toward Bam’s and Everly’s house, Valerie and Maverik shared a knowing look.
“Don’t say anything to Havoc. No reason to upset him today,” Valerie said.
“He knows,” Havoc said from the porch behind where they stood.
Valerie and Maverik turned quickly, surprised by his comment. “How long you been standing there?” Maverik asked.
“Long enough,” Havoc answered.
“Well, I don’t know what to say about all this,” Maverik said.
“Nothing happened. They’re just friends. She wandered over and what was he supposed to do? Turn her away?” Havoc asked.
“They were awful close before,” Valerie said.
“Yes, and they’re awful close now. They’re best friends. That’s it,” Havoc insisted, sipping from the steaming cup of coffee he was holding.
“If you’re sure…” Valerie said.
Maverik watched his son, sizing him up. “He’s sure. He went over there. Didn’t you?” Maverik asked, starting out speaking to Valerie, and ending up speaking to Havoc.
Havoc just looked at him, not bothering to answer.
“Daddy! Look what I can do!” Harley called out, waiting until Hellen got out of the way so she could do the flip she’d already perfected.
“Whoa! I can’t even do that!” Havoc exclaimed. “How’d you learn that so fast?”
“Aunt Hellen showed me,” she said proudly, perfectly executing the flip again.
“You playing with fire, Havoc. You know how ‘Lise feels,” Maverik said. “Just gonna hurt all over again if you don’t leave it alone.”
“Analise, not ‘Lise… I’ve been reminded to use her full name. And Analise doesn’t even know how Analise feels.”
“And you do?” Maverik asked.
“No, I don’t. But I do know how I feel. And I know that Christian told me that she’s proud of me, that she was actually speaking kindly of me. That’s a huge change.”
“It is. I’ll give you that. I just don’t want to see you fall into that chasm again,” Maverik said.
Havoc took another sip of coffee. He turned his head and looked directly into Maverik’s eyes. “Daddy, I never climbed out of it.”
“Daddy! Come jump with us!” Harley shouted.
“Yeah, Havoc, come jump with us!” Hellen added.
Havoc smiled and finished off his coffee, then headed down the steps of the porch, pausing to hand the empty cup to his father. “But I’m planning to start trying to live again.”
“Merry Christmas to me,” Valerie said, kissing Havoc’s cheek.
“Maybe. We’ll see,” Havoc answered.
“What do you need to help you get to that point?” Valerie asked.
“Nothing anybody can help with but me,” Havoc answered.