“No, you’re good. Susan would want you there. So would everyone else. I’m just trying to make it as easy for them and as pleasant for your mother as possible. A drunk or high Jill wouldn’t add anything to the party.”

“So you’re taking one for the team,” he joked.

“I guess so.”

“That sucks. This is your first Christmas out of the joint. I feel bad that you’re not going to be around your brother’s family because of my mother.”

“I don’t mind. It’s the least I can do.”

“What about tomorrow? What are your plans for Christmas Day?”

“I’m playing it by ear. I’ll stop by Maddox and Jada’s at some point and exchange gifts.” Since Uriah was planning to spend Christmas with Carl, Tobias hadn’t made any plans with him. But he didn’t mind being alone. He was too optimistic about Harper to let anything else bother him. Besides, he’d spent much worse holidays in prison. “Have a great Christmas.”

“You, too. I’m excited about what we’ve got planned for my birthday. It’s really cool of you, man.”

“No problem.”

After Tobias hit the end button, he hauled in a deep breath of fresh air and angled his face up to the sun—enjoying being present in the moment. Then he started back. He couldn’t waste a lot of time. He had to drive to LA to take his mother to dinner and, on the way, he planned to buy a few Christmas gifts, including one for Harper.

“Who is it?”

Setting his phone on the table, Tobias looked up at his mother. He’d been trying not to allow himself to be distracted. He hated how these days everyone was constantly checking one electronic device or another. That had been quite a culture shock for him when he was released from prison—how much everyone relied on smartphones. But as time went by, he felt himself getting swept away by the appeal of the new electronics, too.

“Sorry,” he said, even though she’d checked her phone and responded to a few texts herself since they’d sat down. “That was Maddox.”

“What’d he say?”

“Hopes I made it safely. Says to be careful driving home tonight—there’ll be a lot of drunk drivers on the road. And he wishes we were both there.”

Jill wrinkled her nose in distaste. “With that monster Susan?”

“It’s not fair to call her a monster, Mom,” he said. “Not after what she’s been through.”

“She needs to let it go already.” She frowned. “That was thirteen years ago.”