Page 21 of His Off-Limits Christmas Gift

I answered the phone before I’d miss this call too. Walking outside, since it wasn’t snowing yet like they'd forecast for this week, I put my earbuds in for a hands-free call. “Hey, Mom.”

“Well. It’s about time you answered,” she teased. “Busy day?”

You could say that.I was busy with thoughts of Rachel. “Yeah, it has been, uh, one thing after another.” She’d first called during that meeting that wentwayover. The meeting that could’ve been a freaking email. I’d texted back, saying that I’d call her as soon as I could, and then that fell from my mind.

“Your dad is doing fine in post-op,” she reported.

“As I expected.” I smiled at the relief in her tone, nonetheless.

“How can you say that? He had a medical procedure done.”

“An outpatient, routine one. That he’s had several times before.” I wasn’t dismissing her. Not at all. I loved my parents and they knew it. Just like we all three knew how much of a worrywart she could be about medical procedures. She watchedoneviral video about a botched surgery at a hospital somewhere, and she was nervous ever since.

“That doesn’t matter.”

I smiled, not offended or bothered enough to placate her. “You’re right. And of course, I’m glad he’s doing fine. When will the biopsy results be in? Two weeks?” I guessed.

“I sure hope so. It would be a lovely Christmas present to know his cancer is still in remission.”

I nodded. “It sure would be.” I was optimistic, since he’s been in the clear for twenty years now.

“Speaking of presents,” she said in that singsong tone, “when will you tell me what you’d like for a gift?”

I chuckled. “You don’t need to get me anything.”

“We do too! You’re our son.”

“Uh-huh, and you’re my mother. And Dad’s my dad.”

“It’s a law that we get you something.”

“It’s not a law.”

“It’s mandated somewhere.”

“In your head?”

“Fine. Yes. Nate, why must you be so difficult?”

I grinned, glad thatthiscould be the source of a headache for her. In hindsight, after hearing about how Mr. and Mrs. Brown were making Rachel’s life challenging, I knew that I was already blessed with the gift of my parents being the two people they were.

“I get it from Dad,” I teased.

“Ooh,” she growled. “Don’t you get me started onhim.”

“He’s infinitely easier than I am.”

“So you say.” She huffed. “Any ideas for him yet?”

“Not a single one.”

“What areyougoing to get him?” she demanded, impatient but not rude. We both tired her like this.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Nate. Christmas will be here in?—”

“Fifteen days,” I finished for her, just having clarified that number with Rachel.

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