“So you’re still with him—the football player?” Her tone was derision free. Anothersurprise.
“Hockey, Mum. Josh plays icehockey.”
“Right. Is that ayes?”
“Yes, that’s ayes.”
“Are you two getting married?” Again her tone wasneutral.
Since I knew his opinion on the topic of marriage, I simply said, “No.”
Truth? I would’ve had a better answer if my head wasn’t about to explode fromcongestion.
Never a pleasant way togo.
Mom was silent for a moment before saying, “You know, if things don’t work out between you two, you can always move back here. Then you’ll have someone around to help you. Lots of someones. Me. Your brothers. Yourfather.”
The surprising part? She actually sounded like she meantit.
“Thanks, but I really do love it here and I have a great job.” And somehow, I would make everythingwork.
Feeling a sneeze steamrolling toward me, I grabbed a tissue just in time. “Achoo!”
And for a millisecond, my brain didn’t feel soclogged.
Too bad the joyful sensation didn’t lastlong.
“I’ve got to go now, Mum,” I said, although I was positive I didn’t have to tell her I was dying and wished to do so sooner rather than later. Preferably while watchingThe Sound ofMusic.
We said our good-byes, and I promised to keep her updated about Noah andme.
Disappointed? Were you expecting some grand gesture from my mum to mend the fractured bridges betweenus?
Fortunately, I knew her better than that. For her, everything she had said and the fact she had shown Simon the ultrasound was a grandgesture.
While I went to the loo again, Josh made dinner for us. What was on themenu?
More chicken noodle soup (because that was all I wanted to eat) and spaghetti and meatballs (mostly forJosh).
And fordessert?
You guessed it—brownies and whippedcream.
But not just any brownies. These came from Maggie’s Bakery, which was well-known for their super-chocolaty brownies. They were easily the best brownies in the entireuniverse.
Boyfriend brownie points earned so far? Well, the dessert alone was worth at least two thousand. Between that, the soup, the Julie Andrews movie marathon, Josh staying in San Francisco instead of flying out east for Christmas, and what he did for Noah’s room, he had enough points to last him a few years short of aneternity.
Not that I was about to tellhim.
We ate dinner while watchingMary Poppins—because there was no better movie around to teach you about hiring ananny.
By the time we were finished, I was surprised Josh hadn’t left the apartment screaming from OD’ing on Miss Andrews. To make it up to him, I let him pick whatever he wanted to watch onNetflix.
At some point I fell asleep, my head on his shoulder—positive life couldn’t get much better thanthis.
Eventually, my super-comfy pillow moved and I stirredawake.
“Hey, Merry Christmas,” Josh saidsoftly.
