His smile stretches to his ears. “For me?”
“Consider it a ‘get well’ present. It’s from me and Oliver.”
“YouandOliver, eh?” He raises his brows before plucking out the small ornament. “Oh my goodness. Look at that. It’s June Bug.”
“We saw it when we got together the other day and knew you had to have it.”
“I love it, Doc. Thank you. I can’t wait to show June Bug and put it on my tree at home.”
“How is the little rascal?”
He chuckles. “If I could bottle up her energy and sell it, I would be a very rich man.”
“That’s for sure.”
“She really took up with your mom,” he says. “After having dinner with her last night, I can see why.”
Excuse me,what? “Dinner?”
He hesitates. “I took MJ to Lovebird Brews last night as a thank-you.”
My face must reflect how shocked I am because Ron winces.
“Oh dear. I hope that was okay for me to say. I just assumed you knew since you’re staying with her.”
“Of course,” I lie with a wave of my hand, trying to pretend this wasn’t news to me. “It just slipped my mind.”
Relief burrows into the lines of Ron’s forehead. “Whew. Good. Had me worried I’d told you something you didn’t already know.”
“I’m so glad you two had a good time,” I say, hoping he’ll divulge a little more. I talked to my mother before I left for work this morning, and though she was a little more high-strung than usual, she didn’t once mention their dinner.
“I can’t think of another time in recent history when I smiled that much.” He drops his gaze to his brown loafers.
I blink. Am I losing it, or does helikeher?
“Your mom is a special lady,” he goes on, and the reason my mother failed to mention her outing with Ron becomes crystal clear.
Ron might not be the only one with a crush.
“Yeah, she is.” I swallow hard, the realization washing over me like a splash of cold water. It’s hard to imagine my mother with anyone but my dad. Sure, I hoped she’d get back out there one day, but I guess I didn’t think that day would betoday.
As soon as the thought forms in my mind, I’m kicking myself. I’ve been hell-bent on Mom moving forward, and the second she might actually be doing it, I freak out? My mother has a whole life left to live. It hurts to think of her living it with anyone but Dad, but it’s more painful to imagine her spending the rest of her life alone.
“I’m looking forward to seeing her again next week,” Ron says, tucking his free hand in the pocket of his slacks, a bashful expression on his face. He clearly likes her. As he should. My mother is a catch.
“Ron, are you busy this weekend?” The words leap from my mouth before I can question voicing them.
He tilts his head, his brow furrowed. “I don’t think so. Why?”
“Mistletoe Fest is tomorrow. My siblings and their families are going, and Oliver’s coming. And my mom will be there too. You should come.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Mom would be thrilled if you joined us.” I have no idea if that’s true or not, but I’m going with it.
He nods and smiles, and the look on his face is so sincere I could cry.
“In that case, I’d love to,” he says. “When should I be there?”
