“Okay, honey,” Molly said, reaching out to rub Reb’s back. “Give everyone else a chance to say hello!”
“Fine,” Rebel replied, taking a step back.
“Hey,” I complained, winking at Reb. “Don’t I get a say in this?”
“I’ll find you in a little bit,” she replied, still smiling. “I have to help with the presents.”
“It’s good to see you, Draco,” Molly said, the sincerity in her voice making it wobble a little. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Thanks,” I replied. As they moved away, I walked further into the room. There were a lot of people waiting to see me, but I knew who I had to find first. Smiling and nodding at the back claps and words of welcome, I moved toward the couches on the far edge of the room. There, like a king and queen on their thrones, sat my great gramps and nan, waiting impatiently.
“Don’t get up,” I said as Gramps struggled to his feet.
“The day I greet my great grandson on my ass is the day they’ll put me in the ground,” he huffed, reaching out to grab both my hands. His eyes seemed cloudier than the last time I’d seen him, but his gaze was still sharp and his hands just as strong as they’d ever been. “Damn good to see ya, boyo.”
“Damn good to see you, too,” I replied, letting him pull me into a backslapping hug. I ignored how small he felt and focused on the familiar smell of him instead. “You’re so white you look like Santa.”
“Father Christmas, eh?” he said, letting me go with a grin. “I’ll take it.”
“Nan,” I said, turning to my face my great grandmother. “How you doin’, sweetheart?”
“Better now that my boy’s home,” she said, sniffling a little. She reached for my hand and I helped her to her feet. As she raised both hands to my face, I froze. “You’re still my boy?” she whispered.
“Always,” I whispered back.
“That’s what I thought,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “And still handsome as the devil.”
“You’re biased,” I said with a laugh.
“Biased, maybe,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “But I’m not blind yet.”
“How’re your eyes doing?” I asked, looking her over.
She waved me off. “Good as new,” she said. “Doctors can do cataract surgery in their sleep these days.”
“Shoulda heard her complainin’,” my gramps scoffed teasingly. “Patrick, I need more tea. Patrick, it’s too warm in here, did you turn the furnace up again? Patrick, it’s too cold in here, did you turn the furnace off?”
“He’s full of shit,” Nan said with a scoff as I helped her sit back down. “Your mother came over and helped. Patrick sat on his ass the whole time.”
“Woman, that’s an outright lie,” Gramps argued.
“And when your mother wasn’t there, Nix was,” she continued, ignoring him.
“How is Uncle Nix?” I asked, crouching down to eye level.
“He’s doin’ well. I’m sure he’ll be comin’ down to check on ya soon. He couldn’t get away for Christmas.”
“Work?” I asked. My uncle was affectionately known as a workaholic, but that was the polite way of saying it.
“He’s workin’ a suicide hotline,” Gramps said, reaching over to hold Nan’s hand. “Holidays can be hard for some.”
“Then I won’t give him shit for not being here to greet me,” I joked, even though we all knew that was the last thing I’d ever do. Honestly, I would’ve been a lot more comfortable greeting almost everyone by phone and forgoing the whole welcome home party. It was just my luck that I’d gotten out right before the annual Christmas Eve gathering.
“You guys need anything to drink?” I asked, rising.
“Oh, we’re fine,” Nan replied. “Go say hello.”
“Do I have to?” I asked.
Nan just raised her eyebrows and made a shooing motion with her hand. “Come over for dinner this week, sweetheart.”
“Will do,” I agreed.
I moved back through the room, saying hello to the adults and stepping around the kids that were running wild, but part of me was poised, looking for the one person I’d missed more than all the others. The only adult I knew that hadn’t visited me in more than three years.
“You clearly had time to work out,” Tommy said with a huff as he stepped in front of me. “Jesus. You’re built like a house.”
“Good to see you, too,” I replied, laughing.
“See, this is just bullshit.” he joked. “You’ve seen my pop. You’ve seen my brother. I should be built like a house, too.”
“Poor thing,” I joked back. “I’m sure you make up for it with attitude.”
Tommy burst out laughing. “Come here, fucker.” He slapped the side of my head then pulled me in for a hug. “Good as fuck to see you on this side, brother.”
“Good to be on this side,” I replied. “Where’s your better half?”
“Probably pukin’,” he said with a shrug.
“Shit, Tommy,” I said, shaking my head. “Again?”