Chapter 20
IVY
Ma was beside herself when I called her this morning to let her know I’d be home for a few days before Christmas. Explaining I’m here on assignment only opened the floodgate of questions, but I told her that contract restraints forbid me to share any details.
Lucky for me, she bought it.
Percy will pick me up in a few minutes and until then, I’m passing the time with Zia since Chase and the rest of the gang have gone on a shopping excursion.
“I still have not gained all of my energy back from the treatment I had. Doctors say it can take months afterward for me to feel like the old me,” Zia says as the two of us sit at the kitchen table, sipping tea and eating freshly baked sugar cookies.
“Ma is an oncology nurse and she tells me stories that almost rip my heart out. I love that she’s so strong for her patients. I look up to her.”
Zia places the back of her hand on mine. “Bless your mom for doing what she does. While I was in the hospital, my nurse became my rock. To this day, she is a new best friend, when all of my other so-called friends disappeared when I was diagnosed. She and her husband will be coming over this year to spend Christmas with us. Cancer may have been the thing that connected us, but life works in mysterious ways.”
“You will gain all of your strength back and be up and running, shopping, and whatever else you want to do.”
“Zumba. I want to take Zumba classes.”
We giggle like a couple of schoolgirls.
Percy arrives and Zia walks with me and BB to the car. She wraps her arms around me in a warm hug and says, “Have a fun time with your parents. Since they live in New York, I can plan a date to meet them. Or please, invite them to come back with you and spend Christmas here. We have plenty of room.” She kisses me on the cheek.
“Thank you, Zia. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
The drive into Brooklyn Heights takes less than an hour. With the holiday quickly approaching and the snow-covered roads, traffic isn’t that bad.
Coming home should be a perfect distraction. I need to keep my distance from Chase, hoping there is no truth to the term ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’.
* * *
“Ma,I’m full already. Please, no more pasta.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. You know I feel like I have to feed you whenever you come home,” Ma says, spooning more pasta onto my plate. I swear she makes me gain like twenty pounds every time I come home.
“Feed BB then, not me.”
BB barks and runs underneath the table for shelter. Even she doesn’t want the extra pounds.
Ma sits down onto the seat beside me, elbow on the table, cheek in palm. Her speculative eyes bore into me. “You look different. Content. Like you’re in love.”
What?“No, Ma.No.” I wipe my forehead. “You know I’m never falling in love. People end up getting hurt. I refuse to allow myself to get hurt.”
Stop rambling.
Her eyebrows lift. “Okay, but I think you’re holding back. I know you far too well and that look in your eyes? Well, I’ve never seen that faraway glow before. That’s the glow your father gave me when we first met.”
“Ma, stop.”
“Alright. If you’re sure you’re not in love, maybe you can finally meet that guy I’ve been trying to set you up with? I think he’s home—”
“Ma, I mean it, just stop. I’m not meeting anyone. And for the last time, you’re not setting me up with anyone. I came here to spend time with you and Dad before I have to return to work on Christmas Eve.”
Ma stands, begins to clean up our plates. “What kind of a job has their employees working on Christmas Eve? Are you heading back to California then?”
“When is Dad coming home?” I ask, clearly changing the subject. I don’t want to keep lying to Ma.
“He’ll be home later tonight. He’s been busy ever since they opened that new hospital wing. You’ll likely be fast asleep when he gets home.”
