Page 45 of Follow My Heart

I cleared my throat. “We were invited to a friend’s house.”

“Oh? Who’s this friend?”

“It’s actually Grandpa’s neighbor, Ryder. His family owns a Christmas tree farm.”

“Oh, Violet. You’re not dating again, are you?”

Something about her tone rubbed me the wrong way. “What’s wrong with me dating?”

“It’s just that— You know how you are. I thought you were taking a break from all of that.”

“From what? Dating? Relationships? Love?”

“Yes.”

“Ryder is Grandpa’s neighbor. He’s getting divorced and he has a daughter.”

Mom groaned.

“I’m not dating him.” I hadn’t even kissed the guy. The fantasies that came to mind when I was home alone in bed did not equate to dating

Mom sighed. “I’m worried about you. You moved so far away.”

“I live close to Grandpa. I’m not alone.”

“I wish you’d move back home where we can keep an eye on you.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need my mother keeping an eye on me. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“You don’t always make the best decisions.”

Her words were cutting me to the core tonight. “Did you have a good holiday?”

“Your sister brought her boyfriend to dinner. He’s a doctor. An anesthesiologist.”

“That’s great.” Mom never talked about my boyfriends with the same reverence. But then again, I never brought guys home. They’d never measure up to what she expected from my sister. I was a letdown in every way that mattered.

Then Mom launched into Creighton’s list of accomplishments; I tuned her out. I wasn’t a doctor and wouldn’t be marrying one any time soon. I’d never measure up in my family. It was best that I’d moved away where I could be satisfied with being my ordinary self.

These conversations usually turned into some rendition of Why can’t you be more like your sister? In other words, smart, disciplined, and determined.

“I’m glad you had a good time. But I’d better get off. I’m tired.” I feigned a yawn.

“It is late. I’ll let you go.”

And just when I thought I’d gotten off easily, she added, “If the shop goes under, you can always come home.”

My heart pounded, but I refused to take the bait.

“You’re coming home for Christmas? Since you missed Thanksgiving.”

“I don’t know if I can leave the shop for that long.”

“It’s closed on Christmas, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but not the days around it.”

“Close the shop and come home. It’s only for a few days.”

---