“She sounds like a special woman,” Valerie says.
“Yeah.” My voice catches. “In any case, we lived in the suburbs until she got sick. Our car died not long after that, so we moved into the city and used public transportation.”
“Is your mother better now?” his mother asks gently.
I’m furious with myself for bringing this up so early, but they’re going to wonder why I’m not spending Christmas with my own family. Still, I hate that Alex made me look like a pity case.
Valerie’s eyes widen as it dawns on her. “Oh,” she says softly. “I just realized what Alex meant when he said you didn’t have anywhere else to go.”
“My mother passed away,” I admit, giving her a reassuring smile. “But it was six years ago, so water under the bridge.”
When I tell people it’s been years, they seem to think the pain is gone. While it’s not as fresh as it was after she first died, grief still sometimes catches me randomly by surprise.
But the empathy in Valerie’s eyes tells me she understands grief. “My own mother died a few years ago, and while I had her much longer than you had your own mother, even with the passage of time, you’re never over it.”
I nod, unable to push words past the lump in my throat.
She tilts her head, still holding my gaze. “So, Alex wasn’t being dramatic when he said you were spending Christmas alone?”
“No, but it’s fine. I’m used to it,” I say dismissively. “Still, Alex felt guilty leaving me, and insisted I come. He had to convince me. I didn’t want to be an imposition.”
“An imposition?” his mother asks in disbelief. “Of course not! You have no idea how excited we are that you’re here.” The look on her face persuades me that she means it. “We want you to feel at home.”
Tears sting my eyes. “Thank you.” I already feel that way, but I have to remind myself this isn’t real. I don’t actually belong here. I have a part to play, and in return, I get the Christmas I always wanted.
Still, on the rare occasions I’ve daydreamed about having a decent boyfriend and what that might entail, I’d be lying if I said the picture didn’t include a warm, welcoming family like this.
We’re all silent for several seconds, before Valerie says, “Is there anything specific you’d like for meals, Finley? Any dietary concerns?” She nods to my bowl. “I’m guessing you’re not vegan since you’re eating chili with beef topped with cheese and sour cream.”
I chuckle. “No, no concerns and I’m definitely an omnivore. I’m just grateful to be here and experience Christmas with your family, especially here in Hollybrook. My mother always dreamed of spending Christmas somewhere like this.” I glance over at Dr. Bob. “You have no idea how much it means to me that y’all are so welcoming.” I turn back to Valerie. “Not many families would be.”
I’m thinking about Barb’s and Mirna’s families and how both women had tried for several years to get their families to agree to let me come, but even if they’d said yes, I wouldn’t go. I never want to be where I’m not wanted, but my worries that Alex’s family might have resented my presence have fled.
“Don’t be silly,” Valerie says, waving her spoon. “We have an open-door policy in this house. Anyone is welcome.” She gives me a broad smile. “Especially a friend of Alex’s.”
I’m glad she’s only called me his friend, it makes me feel less like a fraud, even though Alex and I aren’t even friends.
I thought we could be, but now I’m not so sure.
Chapter Nine
Alex
While I’m relieved Mom and Mallory like Finley so much, I’m irritated that Mom had several tests for her. Like clutter on the kitchen counters. She wouldn’t dream of having a cluttered kitchen with company. And the chili. Mom knows that Shawna hated chili, and my girlfriend before her had turned her nose up at meatloaf. Mom made chili on purpose to see if Finley was a food snob.
I scoop another bite out of my bowl and glance up to see Tyler watching Finley with suspicion. I’m not surprised given she’s the polar opposite of my previous girlfriends, but hopefully, Mom and my sister can help keep him in line.
Mom’s pleased when Finley gets a second bowl, and when she finishes that, Mom brings out a half-eaten peppermint chocolate cake on a cake stand.
Another test to see if Finley is offended. The only pleasure I’m getting out of this is knowing my mother is probably dying inside having to serve a half-eaten cake to a first-time guest.
“Sorry it’s already been cut into,” Mom says as she sets it on the table. “But I hate to see it go to waste.”
“Are you kidding?” Finley says in awe. “It looks delicious!”
The smile on my mother’s face makes it obvious Finley has not only passed but gotten extra credit.
“I suppose you get lots of baked goods working at a coffee shop,” Mallory says.
