Page 15 of Under the Mistletoe

“Hmmm. So, you had her your junior year.”

“Yeah, that’s about right.”

“And her dad?”

“I already told you.” I shrugged. “He’s not in the picture.”

“But why? The guy fall off the planet or what?”

“He didn’t want to be tied down to a kid and chose to walk away.”

“So, you’ve been raising her all on your own?”

“I’ve had some help, but yeah. Pretty much.”

“I don’t get it.” His eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you just come home?”

“I still had school.”

“And?”

Realizing that the conversation was going to a place I wasn’t ready to go, I nodded and said, “It’s getting cold. I should get her inside.”

“It’s been cold, and she doesn’t seem to mind.”

“I wanna swing, Momma.”

“I know you do, sweetie, but it’s getting late, and we need to get ready for dinner.”

“But Momma...”

“Best mind your momma. I wouldn’t want her to get mad at us.” Disappointment washed over Ava’s face when Torch stopped the swing and helped her down. He leaned over to me as he whispered, “Or she might not speak to us for the next six or seven years.”

“Torch.”

“I’ll leave you ladies to it.”

He turned and started for the back gate, but he didn’t get far before Ava shouted, “Bye, Torch!”

“Bye, kiddo.”

My heart felt heavy as I watched him disappear from our backyard and head over to his. I took hold of Ava’s hand and led her back into the house. I’d hoped that she would get to swing again later, but the weather turned, and it started to snow. Andthen, it snowed some more. As much as I hated it for Ava, it gave me an opportunity to get some unpacking done.

I’d been at it for hours when I heard a knock at the door. When I glanced out the window, I was surprised to find my mother standing on the front porch. Over the years, I’d had friends from school and the occasional neighbor drop by unannounced, but never my mother. Ava was napping upstairs, so I cracked the door quietly.

“Hey, Mom.” I forced a smile and stepped aside to let her in. “I didn’t know you were coming by.”

“I wasn’t really planning on it, but I thought I’d swing by and see how my girls were doing.” She took a quick glance around the living room and smiled. “Wow. You’ve been busy.”

“I’ve still got a lot to do.” I motioned my hand over at the boxes I still hadn’t gotten around to unpacking. “But I have a week or so before I start my new job, so I should be able to get it all done.”

She nodded, but the small talk faded fast. “So, you know Thanksgiving is in a couple of days.”

“I’m aware.”

I felt the old nerves rise—the ones that came whenever conversations turned back to the club, back to what I’d left behind. “Well, your father and I are hoping that you and Ava will join us for lunch over at the clubhouse.”

“I don’t know, Mom. I’m not sure I’m ready for all that.”

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