Page 50 of The Wish List
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
BETHLOOKEDAROUNDShauna’s living room on Monday night and smiled. “This makes me almost regret not having Christmas decorations of my own.”
“What do you mean you don’t have decorations of your own?” Shauna asked, turning on her crutches to study Beth. “Is it because you don’t celebrate Christmas? Is there another holiday you—”
“I celebrate, just not with lots of decorations. Or much of any decorations. Even when Greg and I were married, the holidays weren’t my thing.”
She picked at a strand of ribbon stuck to her leggings and wished she’d worn something nicer. Despite being in a plain white T-shirt and jeans that had been cut off at the knee to accommodate the boot, Shauna looked effortlessly beautiful. Her dark hair fell in soft waves down her back, and she had no need for makeup to enhance her delicate features. Beth figured her under-eye circles had bags at this point.
“Was it because of the fertility issues?” Shauna’s voice was achingly gentle. “I can imagine how hard it must be at this time of year.”
Beth shook her head. “No. It had more to do with how I grew up. The work to make Christmas special mostly fell on me, and I already had enough to do.”
“Really?” Shauna sounded genuinely surprised. “Your mother seems to love Christmas. She had the boys and Michaela the past two years to bake cookies.”
Beth blinked. “My mom bakes?”
“How do you not know your mom bakes? She told us the recipes were handed down from her mom and grandmother.”
“Add it to the list of recent May revelations. We never talked about baking. I think Greg appreciated that I didn’t like Christmas. It got him off the hook for buying thoughtful or extravagant gifts.”
“Your ex-husband sounds like a real tool,” Shauna said. “I hope it’s okay that Declan told me about dropping Greg at your house.”
Beth froze. Had Declan told his friend about the kiss he and Beth had shared? Based on Shauna’s relaxed expression, Beth didn’t think so.
“He’s not a bad guy, but we weren’t right for each other. It’s a blessing that we didn’t end up with children. We probably would have ended in divorce either way. But I still don’t understand how I missed so much about the ways my mom has changed. She was so different when we were growing up.”
“She was a single mom trying to raise three girls.”
“No. I’m not letting her off the hook. You’re a single mom, you’re injured, and you’re still making an effort.”
“With help. Maybe your mom didn’t feel like she could ask for help. Maybe that’s where you get it.”
Beth felt her hackles rise but didn’t let anger push through to take over the moment. Shauna was right. She was terrible at accepting help. “I’m working on that,” she said.
“How is your mom doing?”
“She’s good, although none of us want to broach any difficult topics with her. We’re enjoying her new affectionate nature. It’s better than the doctors had expected at this point. She’ll be home for Christmas if things keep going in this direction.”
“That’s great. Maybe we can do some holiday baking over here or if you want to check her out for another afternoon?”
Beth laughed. “You should be resting, not trying to host cookie-baking parties.”
Shauna winked. “Yeah, but I have Declan to do the work. He makes a pretty good slave.”
Beth could just imagine Declan as her slave. “You should get him a costume. Really milk it.”
“Oh, he’d look good as a French maid.” Shauna and Beth laughed, then laughed even harder as Declan and the boys came through the front door.
“You guys are talking about me,” Dec said in his deep voice.
“Wow, don’t you have the ego,” Shauna teased. “What makes you think you’ve factored at all in our conversation?”
“Because you look guilty,” Declan said then pointed toward Beth, “and she’s blushing.”
Beth lifted an automatic hand to her cheek. “I’m not blushing.”
“We were talking about that hot ER doctor who was on duty when I had my accident.”
