Page 21 of Christmas Rings

“Pâté, dear.” Mrs. Marsh took several from the tray. “Imported from Europe.”

“Right. Pâté,” Alissa said, before popping it into her mouth. It tasted like it smelled. Terrible. She swallowed quickly, not bothering to chew. A sharp corner of the cracker broke off and lodged in her throat. She started to cough, gripping the arm of the love seat. Coughing turned to hacking, then tears streamed down her throat. She was vaguely aware of Amy backing away, as if Alissa was contagious.

She thumped her chest and finally seemed to dislodge the sliver from her throat. Jed handed her another napkin. She wiped under her eyes.

“Sweetie, are you all right?” Jed placed a warm hand on her knee. “Do you want some water?”

She nodded. “Yes, please, I’m sorry. I think it went down the wrong tube or something.” Alissa stole a glance at Mrs. Marsh. It was only an instant, but she thought she detected a glint of triumph in Jed’s mother’s eyes before she hid behind a mask of concern.She’s like a cat playing with a mouse,Alissa thought.

Jed jumped up to pour her a glass of water from a pitcher sitting on the counter of the outdoor kitchen. She drank greedily, hoping to soothe what she felt sure was an actual cut on the back of her throat.

“I hate pâté, just so you know,” Jed said, close to her ear.

“What’s that, Jed?” Mrs. Marsh asked.

“I said I hate pâté. And you know that.”

“I thought you loved pâté,” Mrs. Marsh said in a grieved tone.

“Tell us, son, how did you two meet?” Mr. Marsh asked.

Alissa wondered if he often broke up tension between mother and son. Amy had disappeared by then, leaving the tray behind on the outdoor coffee table. The scent of grilled steak took the edge off the horrible taste in her mouth.

“At a bar,” Jed said. They’d decided to share the same story that she’d told her family.

“I’m surprised it wasn’t one of those dating apps,” Mrs. Marsh said. “All the kids seem to be on them these days. Did you ever try one?” she asked Alissa.

“Me?” Her voice was still hoarse from all the coughing. “No, not really. I haven’t had a lot of time to date, really.”

“Until now?” Mr. Marsh asked.

“Jed’s different,” Alissa said, flushing. “He’s not like dating.”

Jed squeezed her knee.

“I don’t understand,” Mrs. Marsh said.

“She means because it’s so easy between us,” Jed said. “It’s not work.”

“That’s great, son,” Mr. Marsh said, finishing the last of his champagne. “Alissa, Jed tells us you’re from a big family.”

“That’s correct.” She explained about her parents passing away, and how Maddie took her in, as well as her sisters. “We were a family that didn’t start out together, but we’ll stay together until the end.”

“What a stellar person she must be,” Mrs. Marsh said.

“She is. But also, she lost her husband and daughter in a car accident. She needed us as much as we needed her.”

“How tragic,” Mrs. Marsh said.

“Yes, it was. She knew my parents because her husband was a professor at the same university where my dad taught. When she heard what happened, she asked if she could foster me.” Alissa stopped before she teared up. The last thing she wanted was to get emotional. All she needed after almost choking to death was to start crying.

“A professor?” Mrs. Marsh asked. “In what?”

“English literature,” Alissa said. “My mother worked part-time at the college as an adjunct professor so she could spend time with me.”

“And you’re a kindergarten teacher. I suppose it makes sense,” Mrs. Marsh said.

Alissa had no idea what that meant but wasn’t about to ask for clarification.

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