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Funny how she never thought of those things before.
But she had to admit she was feeling confident...and pretty today...with her scarf on. Guess Cal knew her better than she knew herself at times.
“So Cal was fine after yesterday?” her mother asked. “It wasn’t too much for him?”
“You’re both asking a lot of questions. Why?”
“Because we know you,” Morgan said. “You always loved going all out when you were a kid.”
“I’m not a kid anymore. And he stayed at my house Christmas Eve because I’ve got a tree and he doesn’t. I wanted gifts under a tree and he had no problem with it. So it’s not as bad as I thought it was.”
“You never used to do that before either,” her mother said.
“Do what?” she asked.
“Make assumptions or let your mind run away with things without all the facts.”
She sighed. “I know. I’d like to think I’m getting better with it all.”
“Seems you are,” Morgan said.
She gave her mother a hug and kiss, then walked over and did the same with her father. Told them to drive safely on the trip home and then went to the office.
She was only an hour later than normal, but it was quiet inside.
“How was your holiday?” Sally asked her.
“It was great,” she said. “How about yours?”
“Wonderful,” Sally said. “It’s quiet in here today. So far just you and me.”
“Oh,” she said. Sally was one of the paralegals and had an office off the main entrance. “I know Brian is off, but didn’t realize everyone else was too.”
“Beth is off, Carol called in sick. Guess the whole family came down with the stomach bug yesterday.”
“Urgh,” she said. “That has to stink. I can’t imagine.”
“I know,” Sally said. “Talk about ruining your holiday. They were all in bed or in the bathroom by the sounds of it. Carol said she felt horrible that they barely got through the kids opening gifts before she was running to the bathroom. Everyone fended for themselves all day.”
“That’s horrible,” she said, shuddering. “I can’t imagine.”
“Did you spend it with Cal?” Sally asked. Mia didn’t talk too much about her personal life, but it was obvious everyone knew she was dating Cal. He was at dinner with them the week before. But she was positive that no one in the office knew too much history of Cal other than professionally.
“Yes, I did. My parents were in town too so we went to Cal’s grandfather’s first in the morning and then my sister’s in the afternoon. It was nice to get home and relax though. I’m glad it’s all over with.”
“Me too,” Sally said. “All this work for one day. It’s worse than a wedding if you ask me. A wedding is once, maybe twice with some people.” She was laughing. “But all this planning for months and running around and in like twenty minutes gifts are opened and the air is out of the balloon and you have to start to pick up. I’m dreading putting all the decorations away.”
She never really thought of it that way before.
“I suppose you’re right. I had that thought last night too. That now I’ve got to find the time to put it away. I used to like to look at it for a week or so after because, like you said, all that work to set it up, and then you want to enjoy it as long as you can.”
“I think it’s better when you’ve got kids,” Sally said. “Mine are older and not into it as much. They open their stuff and then go off and start talking to their friends.”
“You’re right. It was nice this year having Leah and Eli. Though they didn’t know what was going on, it was fun for us. I guess all that matters is if the adults enjoyed it since they did all the work, don’t you think?”
She’d spoiled her niece and nephew just like everyone else did. But the truth was, the kids were clueless. They wouldn’t understand it all for another year easily.
“I think you’re right.” The phone rang and Sally reached for it. “Back to the grind. By the way, that scarf is stunning on you. You should wear more colors like that.”
