A Daddy for Christmas

The Guys Meet

JARED’S sleek, black SUV pulled up to the entrance of La Prestige, a chic, high-class restaurant that oozed wealth and exclusivity. A valet rushed forward to open the car door as Jared stepped out, exuding effortless confidence. Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, he adjusted his cuffs and gave a slight nod to his guards, who flanked him like silent sentinels. Heads turned as the billionaire strode through the grand entrance, his cold, commanding presence filling the room.

At a private table in the corner, Kelvin, Damian, and Eric waited, already engaged in lighthearted banter. They had all been friends since high school and college, all rich, dashingly handsome, and inseparable through the years. Though they had all amassed wealth, Jared stood out as the alpha, the man who had turned ambition into an empire.

As Jared approached, Kelvin stood and grinned, his charisma as vibrant as ever.

“There he is, the man who can’t take a break!” he joked, pulling Jared into a quick, brotherly hug.

Damian and Eric followed suit, exchanging pleasantries with Jared, though his tone remained distant, his icy demeanor unshaken by the warmth of the gathering.

The four men settled into their seats, the table laden with premium wine and gourmet appetizers. They began reminiscing about their wild high school and college days, the adventures, the escapades, and the unbreakable bond that had carried them through life’s challenges. Of all of them, Jared and Kelvin shared a deeper connection, their friendship rooted in childhood memories of shared dreams and mutual loyalty.

“So,” Eric leaned back, swirling his wine. “What is the plan for Christmas? Heading back home to the good ol’ days?”

Damian chuckled.

“Definitely! I have already got everything packed. Gotta remind the folks that their favorite son is still alive.”

Kelvin smirked, turning to Jared.

“What about you? Going home for Christmas, or are you too busy being *Jared Baltimore, Business Tycoon*?”

Jared’s gaze was steady, his voice calm.

“I have a job to attend to. I’m not traveling anywhere.”

The group erupted in mock protests.

“Oh, come on!” Damian exclaimed. “Even *you* need a break.”

Eric shook his head in exaggerated disappointment.

“Same old Jared, married to his work.”

Kelvin, ever the closest to Jared, leaned forward with a knowing look.

“And where is this all-important job of yours?”

Jared glanced at him, unbothered by their teasing.

“Aspen, Colorado.”

***

Jasmine froze in her seat, her mother’s question hanging in the air like an unwelcome guest.

“How is your husband?” She repeated the question.

The cheerful warmth in the room dimmed, and an awkward silence settled. Salma shifted uncomfortably, sensing the sudden tension. Her father lowered the magazine he had been trying to focus on, his brows furrowing in concern. Even the usually lively Christmas lights seemed to flicker in hesitation.

Jasmine’s gaze dropped to her lap, her hands clasping and unclasping nervously. She didn’t respond immediately. She couldn’t. Her mother’s question had hit a raw nerve, unearthing emotions she wasn’t ready to face, let alone discuss.

Karissa, who was playing away with a snow globe at the coffee table, dropped it and crawled up to her, tugged gently at Jasmine’s sleeve. “Mommy?” she whispered, her innocent voice slicing through the heavy silence.

The tug brought Jasmine back to the present. She swallowed hard, plastered a neutral expression on her face, and finally spoke, her tone casual to the point of being unsettling.

“He is fine,” she said flatly, without looking up. The response was so abrupt and devoid of detail that it left everyone staring at her, searching for more.

Her mother opened her mouth to ask another question but seemed to think better of it. Jasmine rose from the couch before anyone could press further, smoothing her dress with deliberate precision.

“I need to check on something in the car,” she said, her voice clipped and final.

Without waiting for a reply, she walked out of the living room, leaving behind the weight of her unspoken truth. Karissa watched her mother leave, a small frown creasing her tiny face, while the rest of the family exchanged uncertain glances.

Outside in the car, Jasmine lowered herself in and closed the door, leaning her back against the car seat. Her heart raced, and the doors seemed to close in on her. She had escaped the conversation, but the question lingered, loud and intrusive in her mind.

“How is your husband?”

Her breath hitched as she fought back tears, clutching her arms around herself. The reality of her divorce, the pain of her broken marriage, and the courage it had taken to return home all collided within her, threatening to unravel the calm facade she had worked so hard to maintain.

For now, though, she pushed it all down. Christmas wasn’t the time for confrontation, and she wasn’t ready for the questions that would surely follow. She would deal with it later, just not now.