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23
SUMMER
“Pass me the parsnips?”
“Summer?”
“Sweetie?”
It wasn’t until that soft name and warmth touched my forearm that I realized I had zoned out for the past ten minutes and was simply staring out the window at the gently falling snow, a knife in one hand and half a chopped parsnip in the other. I blinked, crashing back to reality, and glanced to my right. Tabitha’s concerned face hovered there, and she gave me a small smile when I looked at her.
“I’m so sorry,” I gasped. “I was miles away.”
“It’s alright dear, but I really need those parsnips.”
“Of course!” I resumed chopping the vegetable into thin strips, shaking my head slightly. “Sorry, my mind just drifted.”
“Too much nooky will do that to you,” Tabitha replied. I whipped around to face her, heat flushing over my cheeks as her words sank in.
“Excuse me?”
“Nooky? Is that not what the kids call it these days?” Her smile was warm yet mischievous. “I’m not judging you, dear. In fact, you being here, it’s the first time I’ve seen any of those boys smile for longer than five minutes so you will hear no complaints from me.”
“You—I—” I couldn’t think; my mind short-circuited at the realization that Tabitha knew exactly what had happened between me and Theo, and the other two. “I’m sorry,” I gasped, the only word I could think of as the reflexive urge to apologize rose.
“Don’t you dare.” Tabitha brandished a wooden spoon at me. “Those guys aresmartenough to know what they are doing, and they seem happy. So do my grandkids and that’s all I care about.” She returned to stirring her pot and I stared at her for a few long moments, then she lifted her head once more.
“Summer?”
“Yes?”
“Parsnips.”
“Oh!” I set the knife down, lifted the board, and darted over to her with the chopped vegetables. Shock still tingled high over my skin, but I grew more stunned that she was accepting of what was happening. Each night I had told myself that it was fine, we’re all consenting adults and it was nothing serious—despite how my heart was yearning otherwise—but to hear Tabitha talk so casually about it when she had been so cold to me in the beginning was a shock.
“I’m sorry I just…” I paused and returned to my workstation. “I didn’t think you knew. And I… I’m being careful and having fun. I just haven’t spoken to anyone about it, y’know? I was just surprised.”
“Not even your mother?” Tabitha added the vegetables and sprinkled in some seasoning as she stirred.
“My mother died when I was a teenager.”
Tabitha’s hand paused. “Oh sweetie. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I flashed a small smile. “She found peace at the bottom of a bottle. I almost followed her for a while after my father abandoned me.”
Peppers were next on my list, so I began chopping them quickly, not wanting to focus on that part of my past.
“So what do you normally do for Christmas?” Tabitha asked. “No other family?”
“Nope. I have uh… I don’t really have anyone other than a crazy ex. Frozen dinners and TV for me.”
“Hmm,” Tabitha grunted softly. “Well, it’s Christmas Eve and we’ll show you how it’s supposed to be. Who knows, if you enjoy it maybe you’ll still be here next year.”
I laughed softly. “Maybe. I half feel like I don’t even deserve to be here.”
“Why ever not?” Tabitha busied herself with the oven.
“Just… guess I’m cut from a different cloth.”
