I glanced toward the front window. Most of the cats were still there, looking out through the glass. Why, I had no idea. Outside it was still dark, and Drake was long gone.
I should have been relieved.
And I was.Mostly.
But relief wasn'tallI felt.To Lexie, I replied, "Okay, you know, I'm not the most spontaneous person, right?"
"Yeah, but that's agoodthing. I mean,someone'sgotta keep us sane."
"See? That's just it," I said. "Sometimes,Iwanna get crazy, too."
Lexie gave me a funny look, as if she couldn't quite imagine. "So, is that where Drake comes in?"
With a bitter laugh, I replied, "Actually,he'sthe crazy one."
"And he made you curious?"
"Yeah,toocurious." I looked heavenward. "Obviously. And you know, he brings out the worst in me."
"He does?"
"Totally." I glanced down at my robe. "Just think about it. I was outside in my bathrobe.Yelling.Who does that?"
Lexie reached for my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You'renotyour mom. You know that, right?"
Oh, my God.Soshe'dseen the resemblance, too?
What, exactly, was I turning into?"IknowI'm not." I yanked my hand from her grip. "That's the whole point."
Lexie looked thunderstruck. "I know. I just said that."
"Yeah, becauseyourmom is perfectly normal." I sank lower on the sofa. "I bet she bakes Christmas cookies, too."
Our moms were sisters. But whereLexie'smom was the type to decorate the house for Christmas,mymom was the type to ride the reindeer display at Hartwick's Department store. Even now, I was pretty sure she was banned for life.
Growing up, the only time I'd ever baked Christmas cookies was at Lexie's house.Hermom didn't justbakecookies. She decorated them, too.
On the sofa next to me, Lexie stammered, "Uh, yeah. Youknowshe does."
"I know," I snapped. "That's the whole point."
She hesitated. "It is?"
"Yes." In a million years, she would never understand. "It wasn't a question."
Abruptly, Lexie asked, "You know what you need?"
I knew what Ididn'tneed. It was to have all of these mental sores prodded and poked until I felt ready to scream. Tonight, I'd yelled far too much already. With a sigh, I asked, "What?"
"Hot chocolate." Lexie smiled."Can I make you some?"
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized that she was only trying to help. But I was so far beyond help, I didn’t know what to say.
Into my silence, she mentioned something about whipped cream and marshmallows.
Only half-listening, I recalled the sight of Lexie standing on the porch across the street. She'd been wearing Drake's coat and getting cozy with the neighbor guy.
Now she was happy.
