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I was fuming and Trey knew it. He found my jealousy somewhat amusing and I was finding the waitress’s audacity unacceptable. Trey sipped his coffee, watching me thoughtfully.
“So what time do you think we'll get to Bristol?” I asked, trying to divert my own attention away from Rowena.
Trey checked his Rolex. “We’ve got another three hours. We’ll be there by noon.”
“Good,” I replied, “I want to get some shopping in today. You need to help me pick out stuff for your mom and dad. Are we exchanging with your brothers and Caroline?”
“I suppose so, we usually do. Perhaps we can find some sort of a jeweled muzzle for Caroline,” he said, frowning.
“She can’t be all that bad, Trey.”
With an arched eyebrow, he gave me a “wanna-bet” look.
“Did you get along with her when you were with Tess?”
“Not really. Caroline took advantage of the fact that Tess was younger and impressionable. She liked having someone look up to her. In exchange, many of Caroline’s shallow values were impressed upon Tess. I’m sure that they still stay in touch. Caroline is an only child and Tess never had a sister, so they feel some sort of faux sibling connection.”
“How did your mother feel about Tess?”
“Mom loved Tess. I mean, we were together for several years starting back in high school. Mom never had a daughter so Tess filled that void in some ways. Mom never bonded with Caroline. Tess was someone who shared confidences with my mother; they traveled together to visit me when I was at Oxford.”
I was somehow disappointed that Susan had been so close to Tess. I wanted to fill that daughter-less void she had. Perhaps that was one of the reasons Trey had not come clean about Tess’s pregnancy with his parents. He wanted to protect the relationship Tess had with his mother for his mother’s sake. I got it.
“Tylar, Mom will love you more than Tess, if that's what’s bothering you.” He could read me so well. I hoped he was right. I had a void to fill too.
Rowena came bustling over with a tray. She placed the plate with my waffle and sausage down in front of me, turning her full attention back to Trey. She put his plates in front of him, asking if him if his toast was too dark. He said it was fine. She patted his shoulder, telling him she would be back to fill up his mug.
“It might be nice if she’d bring the milk I ordered.”
Rowena returned with her coffee carafe and rubbed Trey’s shoulder as she filled his mug.
“Excuse me, Rowena,” I snapped, getting her attention. “Do don't touch him again and please bring me the milk I ordered now.”
Rowena’s mouth dropped open then clamped shut when she saw my flashing eyes. She twirled on her heel and went off to the kitchen. I caught Trey’s startled reaction. Had I gone too far? I looked down, cutting my waffle into small pieces, afraid to meet his gaze. Rowena returned, setting my glass of milk and straw on the table, along with the check. I picked up the straw, peeling the paper off, placing it in the glass of milk.
“Okay,” I said, looking up at Trey, “I shouldn’t have snapped at her.”
Trey looked at me, so adorable with his fuzzy red Santa hat. He broke into a grin, his sexy dimple appearing. “Tylar, you amaze me,” he laughed, “I’ve no problem whatsoever with you claiming what’s yours. I do have a problem with you stopping me from doing it.”
“When did I ever stop you?”
“What about the incident with Littleton?”
“That was different,” I said, “that was inyourworkplace. Believe it or not, I was trying to protect you from yourself.”
I raised the glass of milk, putting the straw up to my lips.
“You realize that she probably spit in that, don’t you?”
I slammed the glass down, looking wide-eyed at Trey.
“Just saying,” he took a sip of his coffee and winked.
Back in the car, I selected a new Christmas CD and played “White Christmas.”
“I wish it snowed in Bristol. Wouldn’t a white Christmas be awesome?”
“Is that how it was when you grew up?” Trey asked.
