Page 101 of The Christmas Fix
Cat wandered down to the kitchen where Sara was plating up the food.
“What happened? Any hints about what’s going on?” Noah whispered without moving his lips.
Cat shook her head. “Huh-uh. Not yet,” she whispered back.
“Come on, guys. Dinner’s ready,” Sara announced.
They sat cozily around the dining table. There was a small fake Christmas tree in the corner casting a soft glow. Candles in pine and cookie scents flickered on the mantel over yet another fireplace. Sara had switched the playlist to an instrumental Christmas station and dimmed the lights.
It was cozy, romantic. And Cat was starting to get an inkling of exactly what Sara was up to.
Cat had just speared her salmon filet when Sara leaned back in her chair.
“So, I’m sure you’re wondering why we’re here tonight,” she began as if she’d been addressing boards of directors since she was a toddler.
“I think that’s a safe assumption,” Noah said, sampling a bite of the asparagus.
“I know what you guys are doing,” Sara announced.
Noah choked on his asparagus and reached blindly for his water glass. Sara waited until his coughing fit eased.
“What exactly do you think we’re doing?” Noah asked, clearing his throat looking wild-eyed at Cat across the table.
“I know you’re dating. I know you think you’re hiding it, but honestly Dad, you’re terrible at hiding things. And I don’t see the point in you pretending you’re not really into Cat. She’s pretty awesome.”
“Thank you?” Cat said, picking up her wine glass, desperate for an alcoholic buoy.
“You’re welcome,” Sara nodded primly. “Mom’s getting remarried. It would be nice to see you move on, too, Dad.”
“Sara, Cat and I… we… a relationship isn’t really…” Noah gave up his stumbling and looked beseechingly at Cat.
“Your dad and I are in very different places in our lives, and while we’re enjoying spending time together, the potential for a future relationship just isn’t there,” Cat said.
Sara nodded as if the information wasn’t new to her. She looked down at her napkin. “I get that. But I think you’re both doing yourself a disservice by automatically discounting the idea of a relationship.”
Noah frowned at Sara. “Are you reading from notes?” he demanded.
Sara snatched the scrap of paper away out of his reach. “April helped. So, sue me.”
“April knows?” Noah asked.
“Dad, everyone knows. You two make goo-goo eyes at each other constantly. I’m surprised you thought you were being sneaky.”
“Everyone knows?” Cat repeated.
Sara shrugged. “Merry is small. People talka lot. Especially when someone sees you getting out of a truck with steamed up windows. What I’m trying to say is don’t think you have to hide your ‘whatever you want to call it’ from me. I like you, Cat. And I think you two could make each other very happyifyou give yourselves the opportunity to do so.”
Cat looked down at her lap. “That’s very sweet, Sara, but my life doesn’t exactly allow me to settle down in one place for longer than a week at a time. I have a place in Brooklyn that I see three months out of the year. I’ve got projects that require extensive travel, and I’ll probably end up moving wherever my school is built. You and your dad, your lives are here. It wouldn’t be fair of me to ask either one of you to pack up and follow me around.”
She felt Noah’s gaze heavy on her. Maybe they hadn’t pushed this discussion this far before, but it was something they were both aware of. They both knew there was no future here. Just fun. And disappointing a twelve-year-old made Cat feel like a monster. She didn’t want to feel guilty for choosing herself over Noah. But damn it, that’s what she wanted in life. She shouldn’t have to feel guilty for choosing what was best for her. That’swhyshe was single.
“What I’m hearing are a lot of problems and no solutions,” Sara said as she steepled her fingers. Now the kid sounded like Mini Noah.
“Sara, this is something that is really between Cat and me,” Noah reminded her.
Sara rolled her eyes. “Dad, you make it everyone’s business when you’re mooning over each other and then sneaking into alleys to make out.”
Cat covered her eyes with a hand. “Ah, crap.”
