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We follow them outside after putting on our coats and shoes. Maryann squeals like a teenager and jumps into Perry’s arms, hugging and kissing him, while Brayden grabs my hand and nearly breaks it. Perry bought her a Corvette. It’s black with a giant red bow
on it. Pretty, but Brayden doesn’t seem happy. Perry leads her over to the car, so she can get a closer look.
“He can get her one, but I was forbidden?” Brayden mutters.
“You can buy a car for me,” I tease, hoping he rolls his eyes or something. He doesn’t react at all. He’s too busy glaring at the car. “Just be happy for her.”
“I am,” he insists as he finally looks down at me. “I’m just not happy she didn’t let me do it.”
“Brayden, look!” Maryann shouts. She closes the door to the car and points at it as if it’s not an obvious addition to the driveway.
“Yeah, Mom,” he says with a laugh. “I see it. It’s nice. Congrats.”
She beams up a smile at Perry. We’re too far away to hear what she says, but that may be a good thing with the look on Perry’s face. They walk back to the house. I smile because Maryann keeps glancing back at the car. That is one happy woman.
The day is spent eating and watching Maryann and Perry together. They are so affectionate with one another. I’m not sure my parents were ever quite as affectionate as they are. At least, if they were, I never saw it. Maybe it depends on the couple. It’s around noon when my phone rings with a call from my father. I excuse myself to Brayden’s room to answer it.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey. I’m going to your uncle’s house today for dinner.”
“Oh, that’s good, Dad.” I’ve been worried that he would spend it alone. Any time I have talked to him and casually mentioned Christmas, he ignored me. Like the thought of spending a Christmas without my mom was too hard to think about, so he wasn’t acknowledging any mention of it.
“I would like for you to come with me.”
My shoulders fall. He didn’t listen the last time I talked to him. I told him I was coming with Brayden to Michigan. “Dad,” I start with a soft voice. “I’m in Michigan, remember?”
“Michigan? Why? What would you be doing there?”
Does he not listen to me at all when I check in on him? “I’m here with Brayden, my boyfriend. You remember him, right? He asked me to come here to visit his mom, so I came. I told you this.”
The line is awfully quiet for a long time before he says, “I really wish you were here.”
“I’m sorry, Dad. We’re coming home tonight; I can come see you tomorrow.”
“No, it’s okay. I just miss your mother and would’ve liked to see you today. Enjoy your trip.” He hangs up without saying another word.
I sit on the bed, hunch over, and cover my face with my hands. I should’ve checked in with him more, made sure he knew I was leaving, or I should’ve stayed home. Obviously, I should’ve stayed home. It’s the first Christmas without her. It’s the most difficult. Why did I think it would be okay to leave just because he would most likely go to my uncle’s? Why does he want me there anyway? He didn’t want to see me at Thanksgiving. I feel bad for feeling guilty and for wishing I didn’t feel guilty.
“Deanna, what’s wrong?”
I lift my head just in time to see Brayden kneel before me. “Dad didn’t listen, so he didn’t know I was here and he wanted me to go to my uncle’s with him.”
He doesn’t say a word; he only wraps his arms around my shoulders and hugs me, which turns out to be exactly what I need.
“Thank you. I’m fine now. It’s just, you know, anything with my parents is complicated and emotional. I tried to tell him I would see him tomorrow, but he acted as if he didn’t want me to because I wasn’t there today.” I huff. “It’s not my fault he didn’t listen to me on the multiple occasions that I told him I was coming here. Right?”
“Right, darlin’.”
“Okay, I can’t tell if you’re saying that to please me or if you actually agree.”
He gives me a small smile. “I agree with you. Why don’t you stop thinking about it altogether and come enjoy some more time with Mom and Coach? We don’t have long before they have to take us to the airport.” Brayden gives me a kiss. With it, I let go of everything in my head and forget all about Dad’s phone call.
***
“Otis! Where is my big fella?” Deanna laughs as he runs full speed at her. Before I can open my mouth to tell him to stop, he jumps up to put his paws on her chest. If I wasn’t standing behind her, he would’ve knocked her down because she did not brace herself at all. “Aw, hey! I missed you so much! Did they take good care of you?” She rubs behind his ears while he sniffs her incessantly as if he’s trying to determine by smell alone where she’s been and what she’s done.
The twins appear. “We fed him and walked him and took good care of him,” they say simultaneously. “He’s a good dog.”
