Page 25 of UnLucky Christmas
“Which reminds me—would you still be able to have Christmas Eve dinner here with me? It will be the last year we’ll celebrate in this house. Your father is okay with you spending the next day with him.”
I can feel my blood pressure rising.
“Hmm…”
“I know it’s not ideal,” she adds.
“Nope. It’s definitely not ideal,” I snap. “Poor Dad can’t even have Christmas Eve in his home with his family.”
“Whitney…”
Ugh. I guess we are having this discussion. Why didn’t I keep my mouth shut?
“Mom, just be straight with me,” I insist. “Have you met someone else?”
“I told you I didn’t have an affair,” she says adamantly. “That’s the truth.”
She’s stalling. Maybe she hasn’t had an affair, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t meet another man.
“I know you’re going through a lot since Pete broke up with you,” she says. “It’s the holiday season, and you should be enjoying your favorite time of year.”
“You’re avoiding the question, Mom.”
I envision my mother nervously wiping down the kitchen counters like she always does when she gets anxious.
“I have a friend,” she says softly. “He’s only a friend, and it’s never escalated beyond that.”
I knew it. A wave of nausea flows through my body, and I feel I’m going to be sick. It could be the wine and not eating, or it could be the image of my mother’s friend—who’s a man, and not my father.
“I need to go, Mom. We can continue this conversation later.”
I’d rather not, but it’s inevitable. I don’t give her a chance to say good-bye before I get off the phone.
I take slow, cleansing breaths as I contemplate how different my family is going to look moving forward, and I need to be okay with it.
CHAPTER NINE
Iarrive at my office before eight am and mentally pat myself on the back. Callie stops in her tracks when she sees me sitting at my desk.
“I know. I’m here on time,” I say, holding up my hand.
She smiles. “I didn’t say anything. How was your weekend?”
“It was good.”
She raises her eyebrows. “So, you’re doing okay with everything? The breakup?”
“Pete moved on, so I’m moving on,” I say emphatically. “I promised myself I wouldn’t let it consume me, and I’m keeping that promise.”
“I love it. Good for you.” She holds up her coffee mug to give an imaginary toast before heading to her office.
I don’t waste any time diving back into work, only stopping to answer a few texts from Chad. He invited me to go ice-skating with him, Macy, Austin, and a few of their friends. I love ice-skating, so I’m one hundred percent on board, and going with a group will be even more fun. Not to mention it will give me a chance to hang out with Chad along with my other friends. Probably a good idea for a girl on the rebound.
I send Macy a text telling her about Chad’s invitation.
Yay. I’m so excited you’re coming. Chad wanted to be the one who invited you. Wink.
I smile to myself and reply to her text.
