“Hello to you too. A little less of the crazy and more of the low-key would be nice right now. I mean, it is almost nine pm at night and I’ve been driving all day.” I laugh at her.
“Don’t you dare tell me to tone down my excitement. Getting to see you in person only a few times a year sucks big balls, so when you are back home, you better believe I’m taking every second I can get with you. Video calls just don’t cut it. Do you know it’s been one hundred and ninety-three days since I visited you in Rochester? I mean, seriously, how am I supposed to live like this? Long-distance is the pits.” Autumn feels the need to remind me how much she misses me, and I totally understand. We have been each other’s best friend and confidants since the seventh grade, ever since she moved to Arlington.
“You make it sound like we are in a relationship.” I’m laughing because I already know what the reply will be before she says it.
“We are! You’re my ride-or-die, bitch, and don’t you forget it. And now I don’t even have to share you with that dickhead Dean. I told you he was an ass, and I was right, wasn’t I?” I can hear noise in the background as she finishes talking.
“Where are you?” The noise is getting louder now.
“Out with the work crew. We signed a new, very wealthy client today who is commissioning us to remodel his home, so we are out for drinks to celebrate.” Now her screaming into the phone when I answered the call makes more sense.
“Listen, I have to go,” she says. “I’ll be over tomorrow morning with coffee, probably more for me than for you, but I’m counting on your mom having those cinnamon rolls she makes that are to die for.” It’s almost like she will cry if there aren’t any.
“Mom’s not here tonight, but the box on the kitchen counter said,‘for Autumn, don’t touch,’so I probably shouldn’t have eaten then. Oops, my bad.” I try to say it in my calmest tone.
“Oh my God, you better not have. Otherwise, I will make you pay, like big time. I’ll take you shopping in the Christmas rush for eight hours, because I know how much you love to shop normally.” Now it’s Autumn’s time to laugh hysterically.
“Look, we both know that’s never going to happen, and that my mom loves you more than me, so as if I would be stupid enough to eat them. Okay, go have fun and I’ll see you in the morning with coffee… strong coffee. Be safe.” It’s the same thing I tell her every time she calls me when she’s out.
“Yes, Mom. Bye.” And then she’s gone and all I can do is sit here and shake my head, thinking about our chaotic friendship. Surprisingly, it’s what keeps me sane, even if there is not one bit of sanity between us.
I love Autumn, but that phone call has woken me up, so I think it’s time to make a hot cocoa and take my book to bed with me.
As I stand at the kitchen window waiting for the milk to heat up, I look out to see a light flutter of snow falling, but it melts before it even hits the ground, and within a minute, it’s just rain.
We don’t always get snow, but I’m praying for a white Christmas this year. There is nothing like waking up on Christmas morning to see the magic of a winter wonderland. Stirring my hot cocoa on the counter, I see Autumn’s cinnamon rolls, and I just can’t help myself. I empty the rolls into another container and hide it in the pantry. I can’t wait for Autumn’s reaction in the morning when she opens an empty box.
My eyes finally start getting heavy as I read the second last page of the chapter, but I’m determined to finish it because the protagonist is finally about to pull his head out of his ass and see what is right in front of him. My Kindle is wobbling in my hand, but I push on, trying to fight my fatigue. “Come on, for goodness’ sake, just kiss her,”is the last thing I remember thinking.
Ring, ring, ring.
“Shit,” I mumble as I jump out of bed, and my Kindle hits the floor. I’m listening for the call from dispatch over the speakers, waiting for the details of the fire we are heading to.
But the ringing doesn’t stop, and when my eyes adjust to the room, I remember I’m not at the station, so now search for my phone.
My favorite photo of Mom appears on the screen, and this sends me into a panic when I see the time is eleven forty-three pm.
“Mom, are you okay, what’s wrong?” My job is to be calm in a crisis, it’s what I do every day. But not when it involves my mom.
“Yes, everything is fine, sorry to scare you. But I need a favor. Well, more importantly, my neighbor, Landon, needs one.” She sounds a bit sleepy but also worried.
“Tell me what’s going on and how I can help.” This is my first visit home since the new neighbors moved in, so I’ve never met them.
“The babysitter’s mom has had a fall, and she needs to get to the hospital, and my little munchkins need someone to take care of them. Landon is stuck at his bar and can’t leave. Even if he could leave, it’s in the city, so it would take him a while. I told him you would go over and sit there until he gets home. I knew you wouldn’t mind.” When I finally meet this guy next door, I need to thank him, because Mom fusses over them so much it stops her from worrying about me.
“Okay, I’m getting dressed right now. Text me his number, and I’ll call him so you can go back to sleep. I’ll sort it out.” I don’t bother taking off my short Christmas PJs and instead just pull track pants and a sweater on over top.
“You are such a good girl. Thank you, and I’ll talk to you in the morning.” I hang up from her, and then a message chimes on my phone. As soon as I open it, I push the number.
“Poppy?” A deep, manly voice booms through my phone as he shouts over the music in his bar, and I can tell he is stressed.
Holy shit, if that’s what he sounds like, all gruff and raspy, I can’t wait to see what he looks like.
Well, this night just took an interesting turn.
LANDON
Seriously! That’s not happening in my bar.
