Page 41 of Forever Christmas
Chapter 15: Corabelle
By the time Gavin and June are back, I’m feeling well enough to fake it. Dad has ordered pizza.
The four of us sit in the sunroom looking out on the backyard. Mom’s planted more flowers there and coaxed them into blooming even in the desert. That’s what she does.
June is animated and lively, talking about her hike. I’m glad Gavin did thiswith her. It’s clearly a very special memory for her already.
The sun starts to set. Dad stacks the plates.
“Coming up on seven,” he says. “Seems like we should be hearing about your dad waking up soon.”
Gavin and June get all still. I don’t know what that means for either of them. Probably Gavin cares more than he wants to admit. June must be terrified.
“You want to go up there?” Gavin askshis sister.
“Maybe,” she says. “Mom probably wants us.”
“Let’s go.” He stands up and pulls the keys to our car out of his pocket.
“Take mine,” Dad says. “Keys are in the kitchen.”
“You coming?” Gavin asks me.
“You can puke on Grandma K again,” June says with a giggle. “I totally want to see that.”
“I’m not sure I want to see her again just yet,” I say. Which is true. I also don’t want tohave my stomach vibrate in a car for an hour after eating pizza, not that I ate much. Just enough to escape notice.
Gavin leans over and kisses my hair. “We’ll be back tonight.” To my dad he says, “We’ll bring Mrs. Rotheford back.”
“Sounds good,” Dad says. “Let us know how your father is doing.”
“Will do.”
The two of them head out the front door. In the quiet of the early evening, I can hearthe car start up.
I take a stack of cups and follow Dad to the kitchen. It’s bright and colorful, like only happy things can happen here. Mom has changed out the curtains since I lived here, but the orange and white stripes have the same sunshiny feel as the yellow ones she had before.
Dad opens the dishwasher and starts loading plates in. “I’m thinking of trading cars with you,” he says. “Thatbattle-ax of yours isn’t safe.”
I hand him a cup. “You don’t have to do that, Dad. We’re getting by.”
“Grad school is tough enough,” he says. “I’ll trade your old one in. Your mom’s been angling for a new one anyway.”
“I’ll talk to Gavin about it.” He can be proud, even though an SUV would be a lot more convenient with the baby.
If the baby comes.
“So when do you plan to tell your mom andme about the baby?” he asks, sticking a plate on the bottom rack as if this is any old question.
My breath sucks in. “What?”
“Your mom won’t ask about it. She thinks if you’re not telling us, you have your reasons. But she’s not here. So I’m asking.”
I should have known they would figure it out.
“When did you know?”
“The minute Gavin walked you in like you were made of glass. He acted justthe same with Finn.”
