Free A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods Page B

need to watch who you’re calling a hypocrite,” Mick said grimly.
    “Dad, I’m going to hang up before we both say things we’re going to regret. I do wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. I’ve called Abby, Bree, Jess and Kevin.”
    “And what did they have to say when you announced you were boycotting the family celebration?”
    “Pretty much what you said,” he admitted. “That I’m being a selfish jerk.”
    “If you won’t listen to me, maybe you should listen to them.”
    “I’m not coming, Dad. Sorry.”
    “I notice you didn’t mention a call to your mother. I assume you have no intention of apologizing to her. You’ll just let her feel guilty for keeping you away.”
    “Dad, you’re the one who ordered me to stay away. You can do any explaining that’s necessary.”
    He hung up before Mick could counter with another argument. Not that he had any. To his regret, Connor was proving he was more stubborn than all the rest of them combined, and that was saying something.

    Late that night after Nell had gone to bed and the rest of the family had left, Megan turned to Mick.
    “I’ve been thinking about this all day,” she began quietly.
    Mick knew what was coming and tried to forestall her. “Don’t, Meggie.”
    “No, I have to say this, Mick. I think we need to postpone the wedding. I know I’ve mentioned the possibility before, but my mind’s made up this time. How can we have a wedding when we’ve made Connor so miserable that he won’t even celebrate Thanksgiving with the family? It would be wrong.”
    Mick winced. Whatever his mother had said to Megan earlier, she’d left the truth to him. He drew in a deep breath, then admitted, “Connor’s upset about the wedding, yes, but there’s more. It isn’t all about us.”
    She regarded him blankly. “More?”
    “You know he and I had a disagreement,” Mick began, feeling a flush climb into his cheeks. There was no way around an admission of his part in this now. Avoiding her gaze, he said, “What you don’t know is that I told him to stay away.”
    Megan stared at him, clearly aghast. “You told your own son to stay away on Thanksgiving?”
    “No, I told him to stay away, period.”
    “Oh, Mick, how could you? This is his home.”
    “Okay, I know it’s bad. I was wrong, but I was angry,” Mick said.
    “That’s no excuse.”
    “Look, I called him today and apologized, okay? I even pleaded with him to come tomorrow, but he turned me down flat.” He gave her a defiant look. “That’s the last time I grovel for anything with that boy.”
    “Somehow I doubt you did much groveling,” Megan said wryly. “It’s not in your nature. You probably just ordered him to come tomorrow the same way you’d told him to stay away.”
    “The point is, I made an effort. He refuses to do the same. He’s just dug in his heels and is refusing to listen to reason.”
    Megan gave him a sad smile. “Does that sound like anyone else we know?”
    “Me, I’m sorry to say.” He touched a hand to her cheek. “Meggie, you know I’m right about not postponing the wedding because of this. We’ll always be able to find an excuse for not moving forward, but all that really matters is whether we know in our hearts it’s the right thing for us.”
    She shook her head. “It’s not that simple, Mick. It was when we were barely out of our teens and first met, but now there are too many other people to consider.”
    “When Kevin was going through all of his heartache after Georgia died and you wanted to wait before telling anyone we were thinking of marrying again, I agreed,” Mick reminded her. “This is different. Connor’s just choosing to be impossible.”
    “No, he’s still angry with me for leaving and with you for taking me back, to say nothing of how hurt he must have been when you banished him.”
    “That’s his problem,” Mick said stubbornly. “If he won’t even come home to spend a holiday with his family, how are we supposed to