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I ignore her question and keep giving my speech. “I can start packing you up while I’m here and set up a moving company for when I leave. I already bought you a new bed and set it up in my spare room. It sits up like a hospital bed but is ten times more comfortable. It even has a massage feature.”
“I don’t need a hospital bed, Rock. And I like my independence here. Now tell me when you and Brie started seeing each other again. How did you two keep such a big secret from me?”
I rub my hand over my jaw. I really thought the bed was a selling point. I needed to stay patient and focused and treat this like a business deal. A little calm persuasion and logic will win out in the end. “It’s a win-win deal for both of us. I won’t worry as much having you close, and you won’t have to fly to see me. It’s what we both want.”
My whole last sentence is drowned out by my mom’s waving and shouting excitedly, “Hey, there!”
The gorgeous ghost of my Christmas past is haunting my thoughts. Either that or the glare from the string of lights Bob has up around the perimeter of the room are playing tricks on me. It’s Brie again. It’s been a few days since our lasagna dinner, and I’m still not used to seeing her. She’s with two of our high school friends, Gabby and Jocelyn. My eyes though are only on her. She has her hair down long over her flowy white sweater, and her jeans hug her athletic dancer legs. She looks over and I swear her eyes sparkle when she sees me. Her smile makes me feel like I’m worth something. She always did see the best in people.
I’ve been in this exact scenario before a dozen times, only years ago. For one crazy moment, I wonder how I had the inner strength to walk away.
“What a coincidence seeing you ladies out tonight,” Mom says, waving them over.
The three of them stop at our table.
“I heard you were back in town.” Jocelyn lightly punches my shoulder. From what Mom told me, she’s a beautician here in town. She fits the stereotype with perfect makeup and hair and a bubbly personality. It’s oddly nice to see she hasn’t changed.
“It took you long enough,” Gabby mutters under her breath, though her smile is friendly. Same old Gabby too—sure-footed and not about to be taken advantage of by anyone.
“Good to see you again, ladies.”
Mom snags Brie’s arm. “Rock didn’t tell me you were joining us tonight.”
“Actually, nothing was planned.” Brie sends me a helpless look.
Mom bats her hand. “I’ll take a happy coincidence then. I hope you and your friends will join us. We need to catch Rock up on all the Bearwood news.”
Brie glances at me, her eyes asking for permission.
I’m tempted to turn them away because this dinner was supposed to be an opportunity to lay all my groundwork for moving Mom. Instead, I exercise the manners she taught me. “Please, join us.”
“Why not?” Jocelyn says to the others. They drag over a few more chairs. Jocelyn places one next to me. She doesn’t sit but motions to Brie with her head.
An almost imperceptible blush steals over Brie’s cheeks and she slips into the seat, tucking a thread of silky brown hair behind her ear. I can almost feel it between my fingers. Some memories are powerful.
As soon as Gabby and Jocelyn are seated, I signal a waiter who brings over a tray of ice waters, and everyone orders. Brie gets Bob’s Toast too, and Mom gives me a knowing look. So what if we like the same sandwich? It’s the best thing on the menu. I’m surprised we’re the only two who order it.
“Tell us what you ladies have been up to,” Mom says, leaning her good arm over the table.
“The usual for me,” Jocelyn answers first. “Christmas is another wedding season, so I’m seeing more brides than Santa Clauses these days.”
“The brides would rather see you than Santa too,” Brie says. “You have a gift for making people feel beautiful.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet.” Jocelyn puts her arm around Brie and squeezes her shoulders.
“What about you, Gabby?” Mom asks.
Gabby shrugs. “We had our school Christmas concert last week, so I’m ready for school to let out tomorrow.”
I forgot Gabby took a job at the elementary school Brie works at. Mom mentioned it at some point to me. She feels obligated to tell me all the Bearwood news, even though I tune out ninety percent of it.
They chat for a moment about the concert and the funny things a few students did—including the typical kid who sang loud and off-key and the kid who did his own dance moves during the entire concert in the front row. My job sounds boring in comparison, but I’m pretty sure I was the off-key kid when I was in grade school, so I’m in the right profession.
“Now, Brie,” Mom says, “you’re the one I’ve been dying to talk to. I’ll have you know, seeing you and Rock together again is the best Christmas present anyone could have given me.”
Brie’s eyes widen, but they can’t be as big as my own. Gabby chokes on her water, and Jocelyn, nonplused, slaps Gabby on the back. Someone has to rein in my mom, and fast. I open my mouth, but Mom plows on, “When did you and Rock start dating again, and how did you convince him to come back to Bearwood? I’m not complaining about you keeping secrets from me because I’m too happy. You’ve managed to do what I’ve failed to do for years.”
“Mom, we aren’t—”
