“Do you think I should leave him, Aaron?” she asked quietly.“No.”“But if I really love him, why would I do such a thing?”I shrugged.“If you truly love each other, you forgive shit like that,” I said plainly, and got her to look at me.“Did you and Bree...?”I snorted out a laugh.“That marriage was a league of its own. But if you’re wondering if I cheated on her, then no, I didn’t. My...my issues... They started later.”“But she cheated on you with that...?”“Amoeba?” I chuckled.“Yeah, and it was kind of hard to forgive something that had been going on behind my back for years. She’d already made up her mind, anyway. Even her parents did. I was just the last one to know.”“Damn,” she whispered. Then she grabbed two gingerbread men and gave one to me.“Bite the head off first, please.”“Excuse me?” I blurted out and tried to keep myself from laughing. I could spot an embarrassed smile lurking on the corners of Martina’s lips while she chewed.“So they die immediately. I don’t want

“He’s serious? What even is that?”“A European reality show. And yes, he does,” she said and made a charming facepalm.“I heard that!” he muttered from the living room, followed by the sound of the TV being turned on. Catherine grabbed a mug of lemon water and a plate with macarons, while I grabbed two glasses and another plate with the gingerbread men she made, but I was quick to grab one and stick it into my mouth. Then I stopped myself and made sure to bite off the head first, and gave her a knowing smirk which she returned.“So, what are your plans for the week?” I asked after we’d sat down. I sat in the armchair, while I let them take the couch, and I tried not to notice how natural Rocco’s arm wrapped around Martina’s shoulder when she cuddled up to him.You don’t like cuddling, Aaron.“Because you are staying until past new year’s, right?”“Yeah, if you don’t mind,” Jakesaid with a sheepish grin.“Not at all.”Then Jakedidn’t say anything more because he fell into the beginnin

Every year up until she died, she and her friends arranged a Christmas party for the homeless in New York. They hired an old gym that was closed down years ago and decorated it the best they could. Then they cooked food enough for an entire village and served thousands of Christmas cookies for dessert. The homeless were allowed to use the showers in the facility, and got new clothes from a charity organization they collaborated with. But the icing of the cake was something they worked on all year round.“They made mittens for everyone?” I asked in astonishment.“Yeah. They contacted all people they knew, who knew how to knit, even people in nursing homes, churches and similar institutions. They truly did an amazing job. But then my granny died, and the old gym was demolished to give room for new apartments, so... It stranded, I guess.”“That’s sad,” I said with a frown. I couldn’t quite fathom how people could be so selfless and give so much to others without getting anything in retur

“Good night, Aaron. Sleep well.”“So you’re avoiding me today?”Martina’s question was simple, yet so spot on that I didn’t dare to look at her at first. And when I finally did, I saw her pursing her lips in a way that made her dimples show.“No...” I dragged, but she didn’t buy it.“That’s mature.”“What is? I said I’m not.”I watched her shift her weight to one side, while she rested her hand on her hip. I didn’t miss the eye roll, either.“Yet you’re not talking to me.”I didn’t reply.“See? Point proven. You’ve barely said a word all morning. Even Jakefound it strange.”“I... Uhh. I didn’t have anything to talk about.”A raised eyebrow said it all.“Sometimes answering questions can be enough to keep a conversation going.”“I answered,” I muttered.“One-syllables doesn’t count, Aaron. Now can you please tell me what’s wrong? You’re confusing me with this hot and cold behavior.”I snorted."I’m confusing you?” I said a little too loud. Luckily, after a glance over my shoulder, I fo

“And since you two aren’t especially close, it was a great opportunity to do so.”“Right. I think you two did enough bonding for all three of us,” he murmured sourly.“That’s enough!” I exclaimed.“You’re fucking treating your wife like shit, Rocco. And you dare trying to make her feel guilty for wanting to have fun, when you’re the reason why she doesn’t? That hella cruel.” Catherine looked at me with wide eyes, startled and surprised, but gorgeous nonetheless.“But dad...”“Don’t fucking try to make excuses. That’s not the way to treat your wife.”He scoffed and rolled his eyes, and somehow I knew what he was going to say before he spoke again.“Like you were the husband of the year? All I can remember from my childhood is you and mom fighting and being mean to each other. How do you think that made me feel? I was in the middle of it, yet I couldn’t say anything to make it stop. You were too busy trying to hurt each other than to realize that you hurt everyone around you as well. ”