Page 77 of Single Dad's Christmas Cookie

“Do you think she’ll ever come around?” Nova asked.

Mother had been less than receptive to the news that Nova and I were getting married. Her complaints were everything from ‘she’s so young’ to ‘you just met’. The entire time, she managed to insult Nova and not say one word to her.

“Mother, either you stop commenting on how you feel regarding my engagement or you need to leave,” I said.

“I haven’t exchanged gifts with my granddaughter.”

By that point, I was on my feet, and Amelia had taken my space on the couch, where she was clutching Nova.

“You’ve upset Amelia. You are upsetting me. I don’t think exchanging presents right now would be the best idea. I’m done listening to your critical opinion over everything.” I gestured for my mother to start moving. I stepped closer and she started walking away. I followed her all the way to the front, ensuring she was in fact leaving.

“You’re never going to get that ring back from her. She’s going to sell it.”

“I doubt that.” I chuckled. Nova was too enamored of her ring. She might even be intimidated by it. It was a sizable stone and an old ring. But she would never sell it.

Mother continued to let me know exactly how disappointed she was in me before she walked out the door.

“Then you won’t be upset when you aren’t invited to the wedding,” I said as I closed the door behind her. The last thing I saw was her shocked expression as she turned. I was certain she had more to say, but the door was closed by then. I turned the lock, making sure that Mother wouldn’t be able to walk in on us again.

Fortunately, she took the hint. The rest of our afternoon was pleasant as we spent a lazy day eating too many cinnamon rolls and cookies. The dinner Nova had prepared ahead of time was perfect. It was the best Christmas I could remember having.

I shrugged. “I don’t know what to do about Mother. I’d rather not cut her off completely and go no-contact. But she has got to stop being so mean. I get it, she thinks I make bad choices, but I’m a grown man with my own money. I can make my owndecisions. She wasn’t much of a fan of Natalie, either. At least not until Amelia came along.”

“Natalie?” Nova’s voice was very quiet. “Your first wife?”

I nodded. “Yes, Amelia’s mother.”

Nova let out a heavy sigh. “I’d like to know what happened between you, but I don’t think I could handle the full story after the day I’ve had.”

I cupped the back of Nova’s head and pulled her toward me as I leaned in and placed a kiss on her brow. “When you’re ready, ask. I’ll be ready to talk about her. In short, she ruined Christmas, but you fixed that. You made Christmas magical and special for Amelia, and for me, again. I will love you forever for that.”

“And your mother? I have to get pregnant for her to like me? I don’t think I’m ready to have kids yet.”

“But you want kids?”

“Someday. It was always the life plan. You know, fall in love, get married, have kids.”

“You already have one. Are you interested in more?” I cocked my head to the side, indicating Amelia, who was fortunately already tucked up sound asleep in her bed after a very long, emotionally exhausting day.

“You’re right! I do. Amelia will make the best older sister ever. But not for a bit. I’m not ready for babies, but a family is good. If I marry you, instant family. My mom is going to freak out.”

“You still haven’t told her?”

Nova shook her head. “I couldn’t. I couldn’t figure out how to tell her about Veronica and David, either. And that’s going to break her heart. Mom liked Veronica. I’ve been trying to separate all the different arguments from this morning. What do I tell her directly, what do I gently ease into conversation? She doesn’t even know there was something between us. I’ll tell her, but I’m going to have to figure out the best way to go about this.”

“Is she not going to like me?”

Nova bit her lip. “I think my mom will accept you much faster than your mother will ever accept me. You only have to deal with the whole older man with a kid thing with my mom. I have a full gold-digger uphill battle with yours.”

“So, having a kid is a red flag for your mother?”

Nova shook her head. “No, she will love Amelia. I mean, Amelia is quite the character.”

“She’s a handful,” I admitted.

“She is. She will make a very interesting adult,” Nova said.

“Are you only marrying me because you fell in love with my kid?”

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