Page 29 of December Wishes
I have a new romance. I have my sonwantingto come visit me.Kevin’s visit at such an opportune time meant piling him with a few presents and enjoying a nice holiday meal. Hesper was driving him back to Portland the next day. Then? Christmas Meadow’s way.
Which meant picking up her mother at the airport on Tuesday. It would be Hesper’s first official meeting with Ms. Hobfield, but they had spoken over the phone before. What Meadow’s mother thought of the new woman, however, was still unknown. Not even Meadow had a good handle on what her mother thought, but she had said,“She’s still coming to stay in your house for Christmas, so that says a lot already.”Right. Hesper really needed to clean up that guest room after Kevin vacated it. There was only one, and God knew how an eight-year-old would trash the place when he was done playing with new toys.
“Are you kidding me?” came a voice from down the hall. “I need those wreathstonight,Dee! That’s when the tree lighting is happening, and the mayor expects to see fresh wreaths on the lamp posts!”
Hesper finished up the dishes and found Kevin in the living room.
“Can I play my new game, Mom?” he asked.
Every time he called her that, Hesper’s heart swelled. “Of course. I wouldn’t let you unwrap your presents if you couldn’t play with them. Make sure you’re ready to go around six. Meadow’s worked really hard. We should go support her.”
“Dee! I swear to God! If I don’t have those wreaths….”
Kevin looked down the hall. “Being a flower lady is really stressful, huh?”
“Apparently. I had no idea how stressful until this year.” Hesper sat next to him on the couch. “Now, tell me about this game you wanted so much. Who knew they were still making Pokémon games. Did you know that your mom was only a little older than you when they…”
Kevin dug through his bag and pulled out his red and blue Switch. “Yeah! It’s been around forever!”
“I don’t know if I would say that…”
By the time the game fired up on the screen, Meadow returned to the living room, phone down by her side. “If I don’t have those wreaths tonight….” she began.
“I’m sure it will be fine.” Hesper looked between her girlfriend’s falling face and the flashing video game graphics on Kevin’s screen. “Has she evernotcome through for you?”
“No. But this is Christmastime. She’s more inundated than I am.”
Hesper got up from the couch and placed both hands on Meadow’s shoulders. “It’s gonna be fine. For God’s sake, we’ve got Betty Crocker in the kitchen! This day is already saved!”
“You’re really weird when you’re happy, you know that?”
“What can I say? Christmastime is here, and I’m full of good, holiday cheer!”
“Now you’re creeping me out.”
Hesper took her girlfriend’s phone. “Would it help if I called her for you and explained how detrimental this would be to both of your guys’ taxes if…”
“For the love of God, Hes! Don’t send her screaming down the street! I need her focusing on those wreaths!”
“Kidding, of course.”
Meadow sighed. “I know. I swear this is the last stressful thing I have to do before my mom gets…” Her eyes widened. “I totally forgot my mom is coming Tuesday.”
Hesper shook her head. “Let’s go eat some cookies, hon. Those wreaths will get to town when they get here.”
“I’ve gotta be down at the city hall in three hours!”
“Which gives you at least two hours to eat cookies!”
Really, somebody should give Hesper an award for her flawless logic and reasoning skills. Now, if only she could convince Meadow that everything really would befine.
Perhaps a kiss would do it? Or would that get an“Ewww!”out of Kevin again?
Well! Only one way to find out!
Chapter 17
SKYLAR
