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“Yes, it did,” he said. “You agreed to have coffee with me seven years later.”
He kissed her hand again and then held it in his lap. Arriving at the Fairchild house depressed Jason. It meant saying goodbye. He looked up at the house with the Christmas tree in the window, the lights placed around the bushes and trees. It had taken a lot of effort.
“My regret is not approaching you that day at school and asking you for a date. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Stop,” she said, laughing. “We’re meeting at the perfect time.”
The unsaid—Herbert would never have allowed her to date Jason Karas in high school, and it would have initiated a battle they’d still be fighting.
“You don’t have to walk me up,” she said. “But I’ll see you tomorrow. Text me when you’re on your way.”
“Are you sure about not going up?” he said, leaning over, reaching for her. “I’m going to miss you.”
They kissed a long, passionate kiss, her hands on the back of his head sending chills across his back and shoulders that were so wonderful he moaned.
“I’m sure,” she answered, sighing. “We’re in peace mode right now. There will be plenty of time for you to see Herbert when I drop the bomb after Christmas.”
They held each other a while longer, until the porch light went on.
“I guess they’re watching,” Lily said, bending down to get her bag. “Call me when you get home.”
“I will,” he said, his hand still on the nape of her neck. “Thank you again for last night.”
One last kiss and she was out the door. He watched her walk in front of his car, wave goodbye, and then wave at the door. Herbert was standing there, daggers flashing at Jason, and then he turned to his daughter, opening the door for her before giving Jason one last sneer and slamming the door.
Chapter 5
Stepping over the threshold of her parents’ house, Lily saw the room lit only by the tree lights, candles and a fire in the fireplace, and heard familiar Christmas music, Nat King Cole singing “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” and smelled cinnamon and apples. The perfect tableau quickly disappeared when her father slammed the door after she entered the room.
“Dad!”
The crash startled Suzette, whose hands flew to her ears as she cried out, “Herbert!”
“Putz,” he growled. “I noticed that greaseball didn’t walk you to the door.”
“Don’t call him that, and he wanted to, but I asked him not to, just to avoid this.”
“Where’d you sleep last night?” he asked.
“You know where. And I’m moving in with him after Christmas.”
Herbert stood at the closed door with his fists clenched, livid. “I forbid it!”
“You can’t,” Lily said. “I’m an adult. I’m sorry you’re upset, but you’ll just have to deal with it. Surely you didn’t think I was going to live at home forever.”
“I have apple pie in the oven,” Suzette said inanely.
“Thanks, Mom,” Lily said, heading to her bedroom. “We met Jason’s parents in Greektown for lunch. I’m stuffed right now.”
“I thought I smelled lamb when you walked by. That’s all those people eat.”
“You missed mass,” Herbert yelled.
“I went to the orthodox church with Jason’s family. If you want us to go to church with you, you have to be nice.”
In her room, she closed the door and put a chair in front of it. Herbert was known to barge into her room without knocking. Letting her bags drop to the floor, she sat down on her bed, defeated. Any confrontation with her father always left her feeling empty, which was probably why he always won. This time, she was standing her ground. The shock on her parents’ faces when she told them she was moving out was proof that standing up for herself was long overdue.
A tap at the door disturbed her reverie. Lily got up and moved the chair, peeking out a slit she opened. It was Suzette.
