Page 58 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

“Yeah, he’s loaded, Mom. I mean, who else can afford to hire a full-time cook, right?”

“You do have a point there, dear. So, he’s lending you one of his cars. Is it fancy, a sports car, or did he give you one of those luxury sedans?”

“It’s an old, beat up pickup truck,” I said.

“Oh, okay.” I could hear the tone in her voice change completely. She was less than impressed.

“I don’t blame them for lending me the pickup, as opposed to his little red sports car. After all, I drove my Toyota off the side of the road.”

“He has a little red sports car?”

“Several. They aren’t all red, though. But yeah, it’s low and flat to the road, looks futuristic and expensive. I think the red one might be a Ferrari?”

“A Ferrari?”

“But he normally drives around in a big SUV. You know, a family car.”

“And what is this rich boss of yours doing tonight?” she asked.

Living his life without me.

“I made dinner for him and his family. His mother was there.”

“That sounds nice. You’ve met his mother? Did you have a good time?” She asked the question as if I wasn’t completely givingher the whole story. Yes, I had met his mother, but not in the way she was asking. I wasn’t dating him, and this wasn’t him introducing me to his mother for that reason.

“I cooked for them, Mom. I didn’t eat dinner with them.” I had called her to make me feel good, not to remind me that I wasn’t part of Bryan’s world.

“What did you make? Tell me everything.”

I described the dinner and the desserts. She oohed and ahhed appropriately. It reminded me that I hadn’t made anything for myself to eat. My stomach rumbled.

And while I knew they had leftovers at the house—I packed them and put them in the refrigerator.

I didn’t know what I had to eat here. I continued to talk to Mom as I got up and began rummaging through my kitchen. I had a couple of packets of ramen noodles and a box of mac and cheese. I had to have a can of tuna fish around here somewhere. Not exactly holiday food, but there was nothing wrong with a little tuna casserole.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Mom asked.

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I’ve got the day off. I guess I’ll see if there’s a good movie playing in the next town over. I’ll sleep in, take it easy for the day. I haven’t had a day off in a long time.”

“Nonsense. You haven’t had to teach since break started. You’ve had plenty of time off. The life of a teacher.”

“Mom, I might not be teaching, but I am working.” I was always working. I needed to change the topic of conversation immediately, or I would start crying on the phone. “Are you and Dad having a good Christmas Eve?”

“We are. He’s already fallen asleep in his recliner. We were watching one of those Christmas romance movies when you called.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your movie.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m glad you called. I should get your father up and into bed. He always complains about his back when he falls asleep in that old recliner. I thought about getting a new one for Christmas. Maybe I will with all the after Christmas shopping sales.”

“Love you, Mom. I’ll call in the morning. But not until after I wake up. I swear I’m going to sleep in.”

I managed to not cry out of self pity until she told me she loved me too and ended the call.

26

BRYAN

Istarted awake with a gasp. I lifted my head and glared blearily into the dark. In my sleep deprived mind, Amelia stood in front of me in her coat. I closed my eyes and let my head fall back down to the pillow.

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