“Thank you,” Mom states. “At least someone respects the order of things around here.”
I can’t even pretend to be annoyed. Watching them togetherisChristmas magic—two opinionated women bonded by caffeine and making fun of me.
The banter doesn’t stop while Mom wraps up and hands us each a plate with French toast casserole, crispy bacon, and roasted apples. Mom unties her apron, and Robyn’s eyebrows shoot up as soon as her gaze lands on the sweater. First confusion,followed by dawning horror, then a hand flies to her mouth as she chokes out a laugh.
“Oh my God,” she whispers, shoulders shaking. “Rebecca… no.”
Mom beams. “It’s festive!”
Robyn looks at me wide-eyed, delighted, and leans into me as I pull the chair out for her. “Nate, how could you not warn me?” she mutters.
I shrug, brushing my lips against her ear. “Some things you have to experience raw.”
Mom smiles at us, taking her own chair, and pours nog into three glasses, the good brandy already mixed in.
Robyn and Mom chat with ease. From the outside looking in, they look like longtime friends, nothing like the stale dynamic some girls manage to sustain with their boyfriend’s mom. They justclick. They get each other’s ambition—Mom rarely had career-driven women to talk to in our rural town. Robyn mentions a patient; Mom counters with a struggling student. Then they rant about collapsing funding in both education and medical research. And I’m just… basking at the warmth that spreads in my chest every time their eyes light up in shared passions.
Robyn sets her mug down, fingers brushing mine, a little spark in her eye. “So… there’s this opportunity I’m thinking of applying for. It’s competitive. Really competitive. But it would give me a huge edge going into the attending hiring pool, or even with fellowships.”
Mom perks up immediately. “Oh? Tell us.”
“It’s an optional program to develop specialized diagnostic skills. Twelve months. They take candidates from all specialties for better collaboration. Hands-on time with top attendings.” She tucks hair behind her ear. “It’d be… huge.”
“Would you be working with Julian?” I chew quickly, coughing around a piece of bacon, to get the question out.
My stomach dips—not in jealousy. Julian’s been Robyn’s best friend forever. Once, back in med school, they made out, and it didn’t work for either of them. He isn’t into my girl, but he is annoyingly brilliant. On his way to becoming a groundbreaking neurosurgeon, or so Robyn says. And when they talk doctor or call themselves Team Neuro, the knife and the genius behind it… well, I’m sidelined by expertise and become a fixture.
My stomach clenches at the thought of Robyn applying for yet another year of a grueling schedule that leaves little to no time for us. Tilting my head to Robyn, though, her eyes glow with excitement brighter than the tree topper, the golden ring in her eyes gets larger with every word.She wants this.
“Yeah. He offered to put in a good word. He’s already been selected.” She looks at me then, decision forming in her eyes. “I don’t want a handout, and it’s a lot. Hard to get. I don’t think it’s even worth it for me to?—”
Mom shoots her hand up. “Nonsense. Go after what’s yours.”
I nod. “Apply,” I add, no hesitation in my voice.
Robyn’s cheeks flush with that shy pride she gets when she lets herself want something big. “Nate,” she whispers, “this is big. We should talk about it.”
“If you want it and your career needs it, there’s nothing to talk about. We’ll make it work.”
Wearing a smile, she squeezes my arm. “Okay. I’ll apply.”
“So, Nate,” Mom says around a bite of French toast. “Have you heard from Tessa lately? Her mom mentioned she might be moving back to Chicago.”
She’s got a relaxed smile on her lips as she scoops some apples on her fork. It doesn’t fool me. Mom doesn’t like Tessa.
“Yeah.” I put my utensil down and pour myself more nog. “She’s thinking about it. Not now, maybe next year. I told herto just say the word and I’ll help her find the right apartment by visiting them and video calling.”
Mom scoffs, then faces Robyn. “How do you feel about Tessa?”
She chews and shrugs. “I’ve only met her in passing, so I don’t have much to go on. But she’s Nate’s friend. Why wouldn’t I like her?”
Fuck yeah.That’s how solid Robyn and I are. We both have best friends of the opposite sex and neither of us bats an eye.
We finish eating, and Mom finally grants permission to move to the living room. Robyn and Mom curl up on the couch and watchIs It Cake?while I listen from the kitchen and clean up so Mom doesn’t have to. They’re yelling, “That’s definitely fondant!” and my girlfriend’s going on a rampage about their lighting tricks and pliable sugar sheets. Robyn’s the real show.
Once I’m done, it’s gift time. We all move to the tree, and Mom drags the ottoman next to it. Robyn and I sit cross-legged on the hardwood, surrounded by pine and wrapped gifts. I’m reaching for one of them when Mom coughs. I scoff.What now?
“You guys look so cute. Let me get a picture real quick.”
