Page 44 of Make You Mine This Christmas
“Let’s get those pastries on a plate. Does the coffee need to be warmed up?” My mom moves past me into the kitchen and busies herself getting down plates and grabbing silverware.
“No, it should be okay. Malcolm found a biodegradable type of stopper, so he has those out again. What’s going on? I have never answered less than two questions each from your friends, even when I was sick on the couch in elementary school or trying to sneak in past curfew in high school.”
“Oh, you know, they have Christmas shopping to do. It’s a really busy time of year.” She avoids my eyes, arranging the baked goods in a ring around the edge of the plate like she’s expecting company.
“Okay, you’re freaking me out. Did the doctor call back? Did something show up on your tests?”
My mom sits down and grabs my hand. “Oh, honey, no. I’m sorry. Nothing like that at all. I’m feeling great.”
“Okay, then why the weird vibes?”
She sighs and then pulls a brochure out of her pocket, handing it to me. “I wanted to wait until you were done with the elf gig to tell you about this. I know how busy you’ve been, shacking up with your ex-boyfriend and hiding it from me,” she teases.
Brochure in my hand forgotten, my jaw drops open. “How do you know about Brody staying with me?”
“Oh please, you know I go to book club at Ridge Reads almost every week. I had to listen to the all the ladies talk about hot Santa and his devoted elf. Plus, you know I never forget a face, even when it’s grown a beard and aged very handsomely. When they showed me a picture, I knew it was Brody.”
I cover my eyes with the brochure in my hand before meeting her gaze. She’s smiling at me, and I’m thankful she’s not actually mad. “I wanted to tell you, but I also don’t really know how to explain it. He’s here, but in a couple of weeks he won’t be...”
“It’s okay, honey.” She squeezes my hand. “I know how much you loved him, and you’re getting a second chance. It would be hard for almost anyone to resist. Besides, you’re not the only one keeping things close to the chest.” She nods at the papers in my hand, which she apparently didn’t hand to me so I’d have something to hide behind.
I unfold the glossy brochure and take in bright pictures of a living community, with blue skies, palm trees, and a lot of people my mom’s age looking happy. The words come into focus and I home in on one.
“Florida?” I ask. She always joked about retiring to Florida, escaping these cold New England winters after I was “grown.” But we had to tap into a lot of her savings when she got sick, and she stopped talking about it after a while.
Mom nods. “Florida. This community takes college dorm-style living and sets it up for old biddies like myself. Four single rooms on one level, shared common spaces, and best of all, shared costs.”
The strange behavior all makes sense now. “So all four of you are going together.”
She nods. “It’s our New Year’s resolution to be there before the end of next year.”
“Well, I’m glad you won’t be alone. I know you gals can take care of each other.” And I mean it. I learned about loyalty and friendship from these ladies. The way they stepped up when Mom had to work late and were always chatting late into the night over glasses of wine when I should have been sleeping. The way they stepped up and made sure we always had food and the house was always clean while she was sick. “You’ll be in good hands.” We sit in silence for a moment.
“Well,” I say, clearing the emotion from my throat. “If this is your last New England Christmas, we better make it count. But I draw the line at letting you decorate a palm tree—you’ve gotta take some traditions with you.”
“Sounds like a deal.” She squeezes my hand once more before selecting a chocolate croissant from the plate and leaning back in her chair. “So tell me, what’s life like as an elf to a professional Santa? And when are you bringing Santa by for dinner?”
“Soon, Mom. I hope very soon.”
Epistolary Interlude #2
Austin
Where are you?
Brody
I’ve been gone for twenty minutes.
Austin
It feels like two hours.
Brody
You’re the one who guilted me into making this Peppermint Chocolate dessert for dinner tomorrow night and told me to go to the store when I suggested we just pick up a cake at Jitter’s instead
Austin
