Page 77 of No More Hiding

His mother almost got teary eyed, his brother who thought he was busting on him, was speechless. His father said, “Welcome to the family, Vivian.”

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More Aware

Vivian wasn’t sure she’d been part of a real family before. Not even when her parents were alive before her father’s arrest.

He’d always been working or out socializing, her mother right alongside of him.

She’d been in private school and was raised by staff that she ended up being closer to than her parents.

When Brent’s father welcomed her to the family over a month ago at Thanksgiving dinner, she had all she could to not shed a tear over that simple statement.

In that time, she and Brent were still on their own little path in their relationship.

She spent the weekends at his house, but they hung out at hers during the week for some dinners. She worked late and didn’t often have time to cook. She was more comfortable in her kitchen but understood that Brent started work early or worked late during the week. The weekends he seemed more laid back.

He’d fixed her computer for her and it’d never run faster. Guess she’d clicked on a few links she shouldn’t have, most likely in her haste to find out what she could of her father. Thankfully she’d deleted her history on her computer daily so it’s not like he could see what she was looking at.

She sat next to him on the couch while he worked on it and she was watching him, so she would have known if he was checking things out.

He wrote some code, he clicked around, she lost track of what he was doing, but she knew there was nothing popping up that had the name Christian Carmichael on it.

“I love how it looks when I come into work,” Jenna said on Christmas Eve as she walked into the salon. “The snow is lightly falling and it’s so festive in here. Hannah and you outdid yourselves this year with the decorations.”

“Thank you,” Vivian said. “Hannah wanted to try to change a few things from last year but keep some of the same too.”

“The whites and blues are so much classier than red and green,” Hannah said. “I made cinnamon buns this morning too. I was in the baking mood so please, help yourself.”

“Yes, please,” Jenna said, reaching in the box for one.

“I’ll take a half before my client comes in,” Vivian said, glad it was Friday. They were closed tomorrow for the holiday and it would be nice to have the two days off in a row.

“How busy is everyone today?” she asked.

“I’ve got two lone ones,” Hannah said. “Cat said her first person was coming in at ten but then she’d be done by no later than three. She was going home right after for the weekend to be with her parents.”

“I’ve got one,” Jenna said, “but maybe there will be walk-ins or gift cards.”

“And there might be more of that today,” she said. “People tend to wait until the last minute. What are everyone’s plans for the holiday?”

“I’m going to my grandma’s like I always do with my family and cousins,” Jenna said. “It’s a big feast and I can’t wait. Then next week I’ll be whining I ate too much. I know. You can all tell me to be quiet.”

“You’re young and should be able to enjoy what you want,” she said.

“I know. And I do. I’m a glutton and then I regret it. It’s like I’ll never learn. We all gain a few pounds over the holidays, but it seems like I’m doing it after every holiday. I really need more control.”

Vivian smiled. Jenna meant well and she tried. She’d get there. “When you’re ready for that control, you will be. That is your choice though. No one can force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“Are you happy?” Hannah asked Jenna.

“Yeah. I always thought I was a happy person. I’m really happy as I eat these,” Jenna said, putting some of the bun in her mouth. “Out of this world happy.”

“Then take it from someone who tried to be a person they weren’t to make others happy,” Hannah said. “Or chased the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It’s not worth it and all you do is tire yourself out running again and again. If you’re happy, that’s enough.” She turned to look at Vivian. “I’m spending it with my family and Cash’s. What are you doing? Spending time with your sexy boyfriend?”

Jenna always said the three other girls in the shop were so worldly, but that didn’t mean much either. Not if Jenna knew what they’d all gone through.

She was positive every single one of them with the exception of Jenna had secrets that they were embarrassed or ashamed of. Jenna still had that youthful outlook in life where she didn’t always know better.