Page 88 of When in December

Aaron shook his head quickly. “No. Sorry.” He coughed.

“All right there, Aaron?” my well-meaning yet socially awkward stepfather asked, reaching out a hand as if he was more than willing to pat him straight on the back.

Aaron put out a hand to stop him before he could manage it. He turned back to me. “You look great. I was telling your parents what an ass I’d been, but they’d already heard all about that.”

Heat rose to my cheeks.

“Honestly, for a while there, messing with Poppy was a highlight of my day. Though, I admit, I could’ve been a bit moreprofessionalabout it,” Aaron said, using my word.

At this rate, the word would have no meaning. There was less and less intention behind it every time one of us said it, broken down into letters and sounds, as if we were tramping all over it.

“And not ruined most of my orders,” I added, as if a joke, though it came out much more serious than intended.

“Not my best choice,” he agreed.

“Are you doing better now?” Mom cut in. “My daughter hasn’t come home with nearly as many complaints as of late. Then again, she hasn’t been coming back home most nights it seems with your cabin keeping her busy.”

“Mom,” I whispered, though was certain she heard me.

“That’s good to hear,” Aaron said, unconcerned at the subtle insinuation.

“Family is so important. It’s nice that you were able to come back to the area,” my mother went on.

“Ah, yeah. My sister has been making sure to check in,” Aaron said. “It’s been good to have the company at the house, whether or not I thought so before. Poppy’s been a real … great friend. I’ll be sure to repay her for the kindness that she has shown me, even when I haven’t been the most gracious host to her.”

“That’s very nice of her,” said my mother, albeit a little stiff, not expecting such an answer.

“The holidays can certainly be lonely. This was around the time Marylin and I met.” Simon smiled, reaching to take Mom’s hand.

She rubbed the back of his hand with a smile at him.

“It’s game night, you know,” said Simon. “If you don’t have to leave for your party, I could break out the Scrabble for a round.”

My mouth dropped open before I could stop it.

Aaron somehow beat me to find words. “We could?—”

Reaching for the edge of his jacket, I attempted to pull Aaron back to the front door for a hasty exit. “We’re going so we aren’t late to Aaron’s friend’s party that he planned specifically for tonight. Aaron can’t miss it.”

“Too bad,” said Simon. “Thought I’d offer. Maybe another time.”

Aaron paused before he nodded, though I had a feeling we both knew that wasn’t true. Soon, I’d be done with my project, and we’d go our separate ways.

Since when wasn’t that the expectation?

Then again, when had the professional expectation included accompanying the client to a holiday party on your night off?

“I appreciate the invite,” Aaron replied.

I slipped on my long wool coat that I never got to wear on the job, for fear that I would get it dirty.

Mom hugged me tight. “Have a wonderful holiday party, sweetheart,” she said before letting her voice drop lower. “You call if you need anything.”

“I’ll be good. Love you, Mom,” I said into her shoulder before she finally released me. I turned to Aaron with a nod toward the door. “Let’s go.”

He looked at me once and then again, doing a double take at the look I gave him by the time we got to the truck. He opened the door and waited for me to get in. I was still looking at him with a combination of suspicion and concern when he buckled himself in and started the car. Warm air immediately started to blow out of the vents.

“What?” he asked me, glancing up at the rearview as if he thought he had something on his face.

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