Page 63 of Welcome Home for Christmas
Chapter 15
Aunt Darla was snoring in the back cab of Troy’s truck ten minutes later. Allison glanced over and felt the weight of the world lift off her shoulders in tiny, little buoyant bubbles that floated high into the air.
“Tonight wasn’t so bad, was it?” Troy asked.
Allison sighed, leaning her head back against the headrest. “Not bad at all,” she agreed. She was afraid to say that it had gone off without a hitch, but that was the way she felt. “You got along wonderfully with my stepdad,” she said.
“He’s a really awesome guy.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, looking out the passenger window. “I really never even thought of him as anything other than my father. He’s more than just a stepdad and always has been. My real father sends cards on my birthday and on the holidays, but he was never one to take me to a princess movie that he had no interest in. Jerry would go so far as to watch a movie with me two weekends in a row if I wanted, and then reenact all the scenes with my Barbie collection.” She laughed. “I really can’t complain about my childhood. It was idyllic, in a way.”
“Every child deserves memories like that.”
Allison thought of the kids they’d seen earlier at Mercy’s Place and her heart ached. “You’re right.”
“I don’t want to jinx it,” Troy said then, “but I think your mom kind of likes me, too.”
Aunt Darla snored louder in the backseat, grabbing their attention.
Allison covered a laugh.
“Has your aunt always drunk too much on the holidays?” he asked.
“Oh, this isn’t just a holiday thing,” she told him. “Aunt Darla is usually toasted for family get-togethers. Or even if you were to randomly drop by her house, there’s a good chance she’ll be a little bit tipsy. She’s my mother’s sister, so you’re earning points by taking Aunt Darla home tonight.”
Troy shot a fist into the air. “Score!” he said, making Alison laugh harder. “In all honesty though, I only care about scoring points with you.”
The skin along her chest heated. “You’re scoring all kinds of points with me, Sergeant Matthews.”
Allison pointed to a side road. “Turn there,” she said.
Troy turned down the dimly lit road and followed it all the way to the cul-de-sac where Allison’s aunt lived alone. “I guess she’s probably lonely out here all by herself.”
Allison nodded. “I should visit Aunt Darla more.”
“It’s not always all on you, Allison,” he said, parking.
Darla snored behind them.
“What do you mean?”
“You seem to be always trying to make sure everyone around you is okay. And making sure that everyone thinks you’re okay, too.”
She swallowed.
“The only reason you wanted someone to bring home for Christmas is so that your parents wouldn’t worry about you. It wasn’t for you at all. I wonder, when was the last time you did something that was purely selfish? Just for you?”
Her mouth opened to speak. She closed it as she thought about her answer. She opened it again, closed it again. She couldn’t answer that question.
“That’s what I thought,” he said. “It’s like when you’re in an airplane during an emergency situation. The airline stewardess tells you to take the oxygen mask and give yourself air first. Then help your neighbor. But you’re doing things the opposite way. You’re helping everyone around you first and forgetting to take a breath and think about yourself.”
“Not entirely true. I’ve been selfish when I’ve been with you lately,” she told him.
He shook his head. “I seem to remember you being very giving.”
Allison cast a glance back at her aunt, who snorted in her sleep. “Shh. You never know if she’s hearing you.”
“See. Always thinking of someone else.” He laughed as she punched his shoulder. “This is why you need someone to concern themselves with your needs.”
