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“I’m going all out. Thanksgiving will be at my mother’s, as usual. The rest will be over the top. The giant nativity scene on the beach, Christmas carols. If I went to church, I’d even go to Midnight Mass.”
“You’re on a different plane than I am spiritually, that’s for sure.”
“I have to find some meaning in it all somewhere, or it will just be noise without Ryan. He’s the one who loved Christmas.”
They said goodbye, and Alison crossed the street, pushing the stroller as the first snowflakes fell.
“Did you ask for this?” she called over her shoulder, making Lisa laugh.
By the time the school day was over, nearly a foot of snow had fallen. Since she’d sent the kids off to school without boots, Lisa got into the Sprinter Van to pick them up. Alison was at the coffee shop, so Lisa told nanny Fredericka that she’d bring Diana home. She also called Hazel and told her Brent would come home with the crowd.
The children were so excited to see Lisa at the curb.
“Mom! I knew you wouldn’t make us walk,” Marcus cried.
“Can we go to McDonalds?” Dan Junior asked.
“Sure. One less meal to cook,” she said, laughing.
“Did Dad come back?”
“No, sweetheart, not today. He’s at his apartment now. You can call him and ask him to play in the snow if you’d like.”
Seeing Ryan was the last thing Lisa wanted to do, but it might be good for everyone to take advantage of the snow. She threw her phone to Dan Junior, and he went right to the contacts and found Ryan’s number.
[SH2]“Dad, it’s Junior. Mom said to see if you wanted to come play in the snow,” he said into the phone. “We’re on our way to McDonalds after school. I will. Bye, Dad.” He ended the call and turned to Lisa. “Dad wants a double quarter pounder with cheese and a milkshake and fries.”
“He’s not supposed to eat like that,” she said, flaring her nostrils. “He can have a grilled chicken salad.”
Marcus and Megan laughed. “Oh, yeah, Dad’s gonna love that.”
They went through the drive-through and headed back to Sea View. Pulling up in front of the cottage, Lisa had to smile. Everyone was out with snow shovels, even the littlest kids in snowsuits.
“All of you have to get inside, and after we eat, get bundled up.”
The next half hour was chaotic but in the best way as all the winter gear came out again for the first time since the last brief snow they’d had.
Ryan arrived soon after and laughed when he saw the food. “You’re right, as usual,” he said, taking the salad from Lisa.
“Are you mad at Mommy for making you eat lettuce?” Dan Junior asked, watching the interplay between the two adults.
“Not at all. She’s right.”
“Get your snow boots on, sweetie,” Lisa told Dan Junior.
“You’re looking hot,” Ryan whispered to her. Then, eyeing her up and down, he said, “Maybe a little thin. You okay?”
“Right. I hope you know where your boots are. You won't last long in those things.” She pointed to his shoes, an expensive pair of lace-up Ferragamos she hadn’t seen since he’d worked in Manhattan. “Trying to change your MO, I see.”
“Yeah, since I’m uncomfortable about everything, I figured my feet might as well hurt, too.”
“I didn’t notice that you took your good stuff.”
“I’m going to talk to Peter about coming back to work.”
Peter Romney was Lisa’s father’s partner and the senior partner at Lang, Smith and Romney, Jack’s business.
“Wow.” Lisa leaned against the counter. “I guess the road to health included more than just leaving home.”
