“As I said, I’m fine. Put the iPad down so I can see both of you while I tell you what I did tonight.”
Mirna shoots a dirty look off camera and then sets the iPad on Barb’s kitchen table, propping it up on something. Both women sit in chairs, side by side.
“We’re waiting,” Mirna says primly, both hands on the table, one on top of the other.
“Give the girl a moment to catch her breath,” Barb says, lightly smacking Mirna’s arm.
I expect the older woman to retaliate in some way, but she’s giving me an expectant look.
A big smile spreads across my face. “I went Christmas caroling!” I can barely contain my excitement as I tell them about my evening, leaving out the cranky historical society members and Alex trying to coerce me into leaving.
Barb’s face is beaming, but Mirna still looks skeptical.
“You look positively radiant,” Barb says as she elbows Mirna. “Doesn’t she?”
Mirna’s mouth puckers. “I suppose she does look happy,” she says grudgingly.
“And tomorrow,” I say, “I’m baking with Alex’s mom and sister, and then Alex is taking me to the Christmas market!”
Barb clasps her hands together, obviously happy for me, while Mirna still looks concerned. “And his family? How are they treating you?”
“They’re lovely,” I say, my chest warming with gratitude. “They’ve welcomed me with open arms.”
Barb sighs contentedly. “It’s just like Christmas in the Woods. A woman runs off the road in a snowstorm and gets taken in by four mountain men brothers. They spend a week snowed in their cabin and think of all kinds of creative ways to keep her warm.”
Mirna gasps, looking truly scandalized. “That is nothing like Finley’s situation!”
I laugh, my cheeks flushed. “I have to agree with Mirna on that one.”
Barb looks nonplused. “But it could be like that. Alex does have a couple of brothers, right?”
My stomach revolts as I physically recoil. “Eww, Barb. Please don’t ruin this for me. The last thing I want to picture when I look at his brothers is your book.”
She shrugs. “You could do worse.”
I shudder. “No. Just no. I’m a one-man kind of woman.”
“Ha!” Barb scoffs. “You’ve been a no man woman for so long I suspect you don’t know what you are anymore.”
“Trust me on this,” I say, leaning closer to my phone screen and taking a firm tone. “There will be no more talk about your books where the woman sleeps with multiple men.”
“They’re called why choose books,” Barb says in a know-it-all tone.
“They should call them floozy books,” Mirna says in a huff.
I realize why Mallory and Alex’s bickering feels so familiar. It’s just another version of listening to Mirna and Barb. “Mirna, we don’t call women floozies anymore.”
Her upper lip curls. “I can’t bring myself to call them hoes.”
Leaning my head back, I fight a laugh then level my gaze with the screen. “We don’t call them hoes either. Women have a right to choose who and how many men they sleep with. Y’all fought for women’s rights, and their sexual partners are included in that.”
A grudging contrition covers Mirna’s face, but she crosses her arms over her chest and says petulantly. “Well, cheating is wrong, and I’m never going to condone that.”
“You’re right,” I concede. “I should have said we can’t judge what consenting adults of all parties involved agree to.”
She gives a sharp nod, and I wonder how I got into a lecture about slut shaming at ten o’clock at night on a video call.
“Listen, I have to go. Alex’s mom is currently making us hot cocoa to help us warm up after caroling and I don’t want to miss out.”
