Page 3 of Under the Mistletoe
“She did?” I brave his stare once more, but only because I’msurprised.
“Yeah. A whole apple pie, too.”
Thank you, Mom!“I’d love some. Thank you.”
He leaves me once more, and I turn to the fireplace, gazinginto the flames. Only hours back, and I get caught in a storm, then end up onJake’s doorstep. Some people would call that fate, but I choose to see it as asimple coincidence. My time with Jake has passed. I moved on and so did he. Wecouldn’t work ten years ago, and there’s no way we’d work now. I have to admit,the time we did spend together is probably the highlight of my life. We starteddating our senior year of high school and were joined at the hip. Everyonethought we’d end up getting married… even Jake. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
“Here you go.” He re-enters the room, pulling me from mythoughts.
The scent of my mom’s stew beckons me like the steam fromthose old cartoons. Jake places a tray by my folded legs, then drops back down inhis recliner.
“Figured you wouldn’t want to move from the fire.”
“Thanks.” I rub my hands together, licking my lips beforetearing off a piece of buttered bread and dipping it in the stew. “Mmm….” I can’thelp the moan as I chew.
Jake doesn’t speak, only watches me while I eat. It’s alittle discomfiting, but I’m too hungry to care. I clean my plate, wash it downwith coffee, and then let out a satisfied sigh.
“Have room for pie?” he asks as he picks up the tray.
“There’s always room for pie, Jake.”
For the first time tonight, he cracks a small smile and I’mreminded of the happy, carefree boy I used to know.
“Good to know you still have a healthy appetite.”
“Food is life. I don’t eat to live, I live to eat,” Iannounce, rubbing my stomach in circles.
This time he chuckles but tries to hide it by coughing andwalking away. He returns with two slices of pie and two mugs of coffee.
“Oh, my God, I may not want to leave if Mom cooks like thisthe entire time I’m here.”
“How long you staying?”
“A week.”
“Have to get back to your big New York job, huh?”
Whatever reprieve we shared is over. He’s back to being TheGrinch and back to hating me. I set aside my empty plate, taking a deep breath.
“Jake….”
“Don’t bother.” He walks to the window, peering out beforecontinuing, “Still pretty bad out there. Looks like you’ll have to stay thenight. I’ll get you some blankets. The couch is a pull-out.”
He marches off before I can object, returning with a pillow,sheets, and a blanket.
“Jake, you don’t—”
“I know.”
I watch him make my bed, a scowl on his lips the entiretime.God, why did I come back to Cody?What was I expecting? A welcomewagon? Maybe I thought I wouldn’t have to see Jake, but that was a long shot.Maybe I thought he’d forgiven me for what I did. Maybe…. Well, I guess it’s toolate now.
“Thank you.”
He grunts in response, once again the man I found when Iknocked on his door.
He clears our plates, throwing over his shoulder as he walksaway, “Bathroom’s the first door on the left. See you in the morning… if you’restill here.”
Ouch.
