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I put a large piece of pizza on each of our plates then went around and sat beside her. We ate in silence for a while, each lost in our own thoughts. She finished her glass of wine.
“Are you going to give me any type of hint about tomorrow?”
“It’s a new day?” I asked, pouring her another glass and topping up my own.
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Not nice…”
“It’s Christmas time. It’s a time of surprises.”
“Sure.”
“It is.”
“All right.”
I nudged her as I reached for a second piece of pizza. “Are you tired?”
“Nope. Starving? Yes.” She finished off her piece and reached for a second of her own. “Did you remember to text your mom back?”
I stopped, the pizza halfway to my mouth. “Uh…”
“That’s a no then.” She sighed with a shake of her head. “I should take a pic of you right now and text it to her.”
“I’m sure she’d love to see me like this.”
“Actually, she probably would.” Abbie chuckled, dusting her hands off and slipping off her chair. She headed to the bags, and a moment later came back, her phone in hand. She aimed it my way then started typing away. “Voila, proof of life to your mom, and she’s well aware you’re at least being fed.”
“She’ll be thrilled, I’m sure.”
She giggled, setting her phone down and sitting back in her chair. “She cares.”
“In her own little way, I guess she does.”
We ate half the pizza, and I tucked the box into the fridge for later. I picked up another bottle of wine and headed outside to find Abbie leaning on the railing, looking out at the view. Her hair was down, lifting gently in the breeze. It was good to see her that way, relaxed, carefree. Glowing. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw her without that little worry line on her forehead.
It hadn’t been there once the last few days.
I put the bottle down and picked up her glass, bringing it over to her. “So how did your parents take the news of your little Christmas getaway?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s how Mom would refer to it, my getaway.”
I laughed. “Marnie and Jimmy are happy about it, though.”
She glanced at me, lifting her glass up.
“That, they are.” She took a sip and looked at me for a moment, then back out at the view. “It’s nice to be away from everything.”
“No work…no talk of work…no thinking of work…” I nudged her.
She laughed. “No chance of me thinking about work anyways.”
The Christmas music spilled out of the overhead speakers. Abbie hummed along to it as she scrolled through the phone. She typed away then looked at me. “Where are we headed tomorrow?”
“No hints,” I said holding my hands up.
“No fair.” She giggled looking at me.
She tilted her head to the side, and I wondered what she was thinking. Or guessing it could be.
