There. That was smart. And true. If I had actually been in a brand-new relationship, I’m sure I would be mature enough to not want to hash out every little thing, especially with Chloe. She’d be so excited that she’d make too big a deal out of everything. That’s the kind of stuff that gets into your head.
“How about just some details, then? And look me in the eye.”
I spent the next couple of hours being a human jungle gym with the twins on the floor and giving Chloe just enough information about Miles to keep her satisfied, though I wasn’t sure she was totally convinced. Ben had gotten a few new responsibilities at work, which explained the phone attached to his ear most of the afternoon, but he did join us for brief intervals.
“What’s the schedule for this place? Do you know?” I asked, reluctantly curious to know my fate for the night.
“There’s a big welcome dinner at the lodge tonight,” Chloe said. “That’s all I know.”
Ben joined us again a few minutes later, pulling out a chair next to the couch. We spent the next while laughing and talking, and I managed to relax for the first time since I’d arrived. It felt normal, just the three of us. We were just siblings meeting up for a fun winter getaway. No parents allowed. It almost felt like our bubble hadn’t burst. The dam hadn’t broken. As if Dad hadn’t passed away, and Mom hadn’t gotten remarried to the first guy she met.
SIX
“I see a woman may be made a fool,
If she had not a spirit to resist.”
William Shakespeare - The Taming of the Shrew
The lodge was lit up like a beacon with glowing white Christmas lights as we set out on Main Street. We passed the general store and the other rustic buildings that were even cuter upon closer inspection, as we headed toward the lodge. Somewhere above us, Mannheim Steamroller’s “Carol of the Bells” played softly. The sidewalk across the road was also lit up, and guests from the other cabins bustled along, headed toward the lodge for dinner. I kept a sharp eye out for the Fosters but thankfully didn’t see anybody familiar as we walked.
Mom and Russ had apparently gotten lost on their excursion and had to rush back to their cabin to change. Mom texted Chloe that they would just meet us at dinner. I trailed behind our group, holding Ivy’s little hand because she insisted on walking.
By the time we reached the lodge, everybody else had already gone inside. Ivy walked over to a large lit-up statue of Santa Claus just outside the building, and I let her look at it as long as she wanted. Every time she seemed ready to move on, I’d point out something else about the statue to attract her attention once more.
“Oh, look, Ivy! Is that a reindeer behind Santa?”
“Look! Is Santa holding a bag of presents?”
“Do you like presents, Ivy?”
“What did you ask Santa for?”
So on and so on. It was mostly for distraction purposes, but I could squeeze the cute stuffing out of her earnest chubby baby face while she mispronounced words and L’s for the rest of my life.
“Olive.”
I turned to see Chloe peeking out of the doorway.
“You coming?”
“Yeah, sorry. She just wanted a closer look at Santa.” Which was TRUE.
Chloe eyed me suspiciously. “It almost seems like you don’t want to be here.”
“It’s not my fault your kid is so curious.”
She held the door open for me while I picked up Ivy in my arms and breezed past her into the foyer of the lodge. Jett stood to greet us in front of the door leading into the main room.
“Well, look who it is. Rescue any more stranded motorists today?” I asked, smiling at him.
He blushed, a hint of pink creeping across his cheeks. “Not in the last couple of hours anyway.”
We stepped inside to find a sprawling room lit with cozy yellow lights. I had just been here hours earlier, but now the place shimmered with Christmas. Rows of wooden beams held up the high ceiling. Long tables and chairs were lined up and decorated near the stage. Wreaths covered every window, greenery was draped across anything it could possibly be attached to, and white twinkle lights were strung above the tables. A hay bale display in the corner was obviously intended as a backdrop for pictures. It felt like I had just stepped into a Christmas book.
Except for the Fosters, we were the last in our group to arrive. Even my mom and Russ had somehow beaten us there. Crowds of families gathered around the room with a handful of children running wild under everybody’s feet. We were directed toward a picnic-style table, while the buffets behind us were being filled by staff members with bowls and platters, heaping with food. The smell of smoked meats and cinnamon had me salivating.
“Ohh, he’s cute!” Chloe pointed toward a tall blond, with muscles bursting out of his long-sleeved shirt, sitting on the edge of a table.
My eyes couldn’t help but follow her rude finger point, and I settled my gaze on a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties.
“He has a ring on.”
“What?” She squinted closer at him. “Dang it.”
“Stop showing me guys. I’m dating somebody,” I lied, feeling incredibly grateful to have the Miles card in my back pocket, so to speak. Lie or not, it really was genius. Although it was becoming quite evident that, despite my amazing acting skills, a part of Chloe still didn’t seem to believe me.
“I’m just showing you the scenery,” she said, all innocence. “Just in case you might need somebody here physically to fend off Glenn and his mother.”
Chloe motioned toward a long table on the right side of the room. “We’re all sitting over here.”
I glanced over and saw my mom smiling expectantly at me as she stood from her seat and began making her way over to us. I vaguely registered a blurry blob next to her that was probably Russ, but I didn’t let myself look at him yet.
It was go time. Smile on.
Mom came toward me with her arms out and a warm smile. She looked the same as always and yet somehow not. Her brown hair had streaks of gray running throughout and reached just to her shoulders. She seemed younger, but it was probably the cute snow boots, jeans, and flowing floral top she was wearing. She also seemed softer somehow as she pulled me close. I wrapped my arms around her and shut my eyes briefly, soaking in how good it felt to be hugged by her. My mom had always been a great hugger, tight and all-consuming, and she never pulled away first.
Okay, I stand corrected.
She never used to pull away first. But since I didn’t pull away, she finally had to. I probably would have stayed there all night if it got me out of talking to Russ.
“I’m glad you’re here. How was the drive?” she asked me.
“It was slow. You look great, Mom.”
Russ stepped forward, one arm around my mom’s shoulders and his hand outstretched toward me. “Hey there, kiddo! You ready for the party?”
Party.