Connected: Part 4 of the On The Edge Series

Chapter 27

"Yes, the top too, Viv. Do you like it?" Jackson's voice was clouding with confusion.

"I love it. I feel like an ass for getting you a box of picks with my face on them, but I love this," Viv murmured.

"Don't. I don't want to see what you'd come up with if you tried to make a jewelry box," Jackson teased.

"Well, now I feel less like an ass," Viv griped.

"Do you want to go, or do you want me to go next?" I asked Billy.

"You," Billy smiled.

I opened my box to find wooden bookends; an intricately carved Lily was on the bottom L of each. "Jackson, these are beautiful," I said as I pulled them out of the box. "I love them."

"Really? The lilies are a little obvious?"

"No, they're perfect." I leaned in and hugged him. "Thank you so much, Jackson."

"Wow, I feel like you may like them a little more than my mouse pad, but whatever," Viv teased.

"I love them both," I offered, but held off on adding 'equally.'

"My turn," Billy said as he popped the top off his box. "It's a reel to reel?" He said as he pulled it out of the box.

"It's not just a reel to reel, Dad. It's a broken reel to reel," Jackson explained.

Billy pulled it out of the box and examined it. "Broken," he whispered to himself as his eyes gleamed at the project.

"I figured we could fix it together," Jackson added.

"Together," Billy murmured.

"Wow, I think we know who has won Christmas. That's a perfect present," I noted.

"It is," Billy agreed. "Jackson, you're my favorite son," he noted.

"Oh, come on. His face isn't even on it," Viv teased.

"Don't worry, Viv; you're still my favorite daughter," Billy added.

"Okay, well, I won't be able to top that, but I'll go next." I pulled my presents from under the coffee table and handed them out.

Viv shook hers and announced, "sounds like clothes." She then ripped open the package and held up the shirt.

"Where on earth did you find that?" Billy laughed as he looked at the black t-shirt with a broken record digging into a hand.

"I've had it. I thought I'd pass it along." Billy and I leaned into each other as Viv looked at the t-shirt.

"That was from my first band. I drew that for one of our last albums," Billy explained.

"Really? But it's so cool." Viv didn't lift her eyes from the shirt as she spoke.

"I'll try not to be too offended by that," Billy groaned.

"I love it. Thanks, Lily!"

To my surprise, Viv jumped up and hugged me before nestling herself between Billy and me on the couch.

"My turn," Jackson ripped into his present. "It's a used notebook," he laughed. "I guess you have some Viv in you."

"Hey!" Viv shot.

"That's a notebook your dad left at my place when I was in college," I explained.

"No shit," Billy said as he reached for the notebook and thumbed through his scribbles.

"Ah, Dad, language," Viv nudged.

"Wow, what a blast from the past," he murmured as he continued to flip through it.