The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew #5) - Piper Rayne Page 0,64

that Jax is trying to be nice and, in his own special way, make me feel better, but I’m not one hundred percent sure Leilani is out of Knox’s mind. Ugh, I hate admitting that even to myself.

“Kamea!”

I look up to find Peggy, Knox’s mom, and his dad walking in with a big bag full of gifts.

I step aside so we don’t interrupt the guests from their Thanksgiving meal. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Whelan.”

She playfully slaps me on the shoulder. “Nonsense. Peggy and Tim, remember?”

I nod, but I don’t feel comfortable calling them by their first names.

“These are the gifts. Each one marked with an age and gender.” Tim holds the bag out to Jax.

“I’ll take them back,” Jax says.

“That was kind of you,” I say.

Peggy shrugs. “I don’t come to a shelter without gifts. I figure…” She stops when she spots Jolie between us. “You’re a cutie.”

“Jolie.” She holds out her hand. “Why are you bringing gifts?”

“For the children in a few weeks…” Her words trail off when she realizes Jolie probably still believes in Santa.

Between this and at Ink Envy the other day, Santa’s secret is gonna be blown.

“Santa brings the gifts,” Jolie says.

“Yes, but sometimes he asks me to bring extras,” Peggy says.

Jolie’s eyes widen. “You know Santa?”

“Well, me and the missus were friends back in high school.”

How on Earth Peggy keeps up this show, I have no idea. She was probably an amazing mom because she can really think on her feet.

“I gotta go tell my mom! Can you get a letter up to Santa?” Jolie asks, practically vibrating.

Peggy nods. “Sure thing.”

Jolie runs away and into the back, where Knox is getting dressed.

“You just made her day,” I say.

“I’ll give the letter to her mom. Come on, I’ll help you.”

Peggy takes the candy canes and passes them out while Tim does the coloring books and crayons. Jolie returns, and Peggy puts the letter in her purse while Jolie goes back to dishing out crayons to the young kids. Tim is so great with her, I can’t help but think what great grandparents they’ll be someday. Which only pulls me back into my thoughts of my own parents. The odd time I do call home they either don’t answer or they do and it’s just a stilted one-sided conversation on my part. All because I chose to leave, they’re never going to meet their grandchildren. How stubborn can they be?

Once everything is passed out and almost all of our friends have arrived, Knox comes out in the Santa suit.

I take a seat next to Peggy.

“Look at him,” she says. “Smile, Santa!”

Knox looks up and fakes a smile, but as soon as a kid hops up on his lap, he does in fact smile. He talks with each child for a few minutes, then Frankie, who’s dressed as an elf, helps them back to their parents and gives them a letter and crayon to write their letter since Santa’s memory fails him sometimes.

“Where are your parents?” Peggy asks me when about half the kids have had their visit with Santa.

My throat dries up. Surely a woman who takes in her son’s friends won’t understand why I no longer speak to my parents. “They’re in North Carolina.”

“Oh, and you didn’t want to go home to celebrate the holiday? I guess it’s a short one. Will you be with them for Christmas?”

Just rip off the damn Band-Aid, Kamea. “I don’t really talk to my parents.”

“Oh.” She’s silent for a moment. “Reminds me of Leilani. She didn’t either.”

So she’s been in this situation with Leilani before. Great. That’s really helping the pit in my stomach.

“Yeah, we were friends,” I say.

“I know. Knox told me.”

I look at her with shock. “He did?”

“Yeah. We don’t have a lot of secrets.” She shrugs. “Why don’t you talk to your parents?”

I pick at the edge of a leftover coloring book. “I left after high school. They didn’t want me to go, so we don’t talk.”

“That’s sad.” Her hand falls to my back and she rubs it up and down. “Such a silly reason to not have your kid in your life.”

Preach, Peggy. Preach.

“It’s them missing out. Maybe they’ll come around. Sometimes a wedding will bring a family together.” She winks.

I laugh. “You aren’t suggesting…”

She giggles and points at Knox, who is staring at us. “Well, I’ve never seen my son more in love with someone than he is with you. A mother knows.”

I smile and Knox’s grows wider. Who would’ve guessed it’d be Knox’s mom