Page 183 of Faking the Goal

I close my eyes.

For most of my life, Christmas has been nothing more than another day reminding me of everything I didn't have. No home waiting for me. No family traditions. No place at a table that would still be mine the following year.

But sitting here between Harumi's warm embrace and Kentaro's steady gaze, I finally understand what people mean when they call something a Christmas miracle.

It isn't wrapped beneath the tree.

It isn't something money can buy or something that can be taken back once the holiday is over.

It's a place at their table.

A seat on their couch.

A door I no longer have to knock on before entering.

It's knowing that when they picture their family, there is now a space in it shaped like me.

"Merry Christmas," I whisper through my tears.

And for the first time in my life, I truly mean it.

Because tonight, I finally receive the one gift I've spent my entire life pretending I didn't need.

A family.

A place to belong.

A home.

After a while, the evening begins to wind down. Dinner has long since been cleared away, the bottle of wine sits half-empty on the coffee table, and Harumi is starting to look tired.

Kentaro notices it too.

"You should get some rest, Mom."

Harumi nods, surprisingly without protest, before turning to me. "Goodnight, sweetheart. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." I smile as she leans down to hug me. "And thank you. For tonight."

She gives me one last squeeze before pulling away.

Kentaro gets to his feet and gently ushers his mother toward her bedroom.

Once they disappear down the hall, I settle back against the couch and take another sip of wine. The photo album is still sitting beside me, and it takes approximately three seconds before curiosity wins and I pull it back onto my lap.

By the time Kentaro returns, I'm several pages deep again.

He pauses when he sees the album open across my thighs, an amused smile tugging at his mouth. "Still looking at those?"

I glance up at him with a grin. "Can you blame me? I can't get enough of baby Ken-chan."

He groans as he takes the seat across from me.

"Actually, I'm thinking about taking one or two of these home."

His eyes narrow. "Why?"

"Safekeeping." I take another innocent sip of wine. "You never know when I might need something to blackmail you with."