Page 19 of It Never Happened
He could sleep on the couch.
But then I’d see him shirtless in the morning by the coffee pot.
If he still does that.
Healwaysdid that. He knows I loved him that way. Just starting the morning in shorts or sweats, bare chested, abs and strong biceps on display.
How bad could it be?
Bad, Courtney, really, really bad.
I pull Joey back from me. “Would it make you feel better knowing Dad was in our house?”
He sniffles and nods his head frantically.
“Okay, honey. I’ll call him when we’re done with errands, alright?”
He throws his little arms around my neck, almost knocking me down. “Thank you! Thank you, Mom, thank you!”
I want to try again.Jack’s words linger in my mind, and I wonder what the right thing to do is. Is he different? Have we both grown? Is getting back together for the sake of our son worth the risk? Would that even be enough, or do I want more? Would we be causing more damage by trying again? Do I evenwantto try?
We drove all over town gathering all the last minute items for Christmas dinner. The streets got worse and worse, but thank goodness for my four-wheel drive. You need a truck like this in the winter here in Bluemoon. We head into Sweets n’ Spice to grab the holiday pies I ordered.
“Hey, Court, how are you?” Ashley, one of the girls whoworks here at Sweets n’ Spice, greets me. She’s a few years younger than me but she was a big help when I first moved back, babysitting Joey when I needed it.
“Hey, Ash! I’m good.” Joey runs by me and around the counter to give her a hug.
“Hey, Joey! Wow, you get more handsome every time I see you. Are you excited for Christmas?”
“Yes!” He bounces on his feet. “And my dad’s here! And he’s going to stay at our house!”
“Oh, wow, that's really great.” Her eyes are big when she looks at me, and I shake my head.
“Joey is afraid he won't make it to our house for Christmas with the weather we have coming in. I tried to reassure him that Bluemoon is built for snow days, but to make him feel better, we’ll ask Jack to stay with us.”
“Well then, I think that sounds like a great Christmas gift for you.” She runs her hands through his hair, and he scurries back around the counter to my side.
“I’m picking up three pies. Pumpkin, Apple, and a Fruits of the Forest.” I wave my hand dismissively. “Whatever that is. January wanted it, so I ordered it.”
Ashley laughs. “I don't understand the Fruits of the Forest either, except that it's just a mishmash of everything!” She heads to the refrigerator in the corner and checks for my name. “Got ‘em right here!” She comes to the counter.
“What do I owe you?”
“They've been paid for already.” She pushes them closer to me.
I furrow my brows. “What do you mean? By who?”
She shrugs. “I don't know, but the ticket says paid.”
“Well, thank you for that.” I can guess who paid for them. “Come on, Joey, let’s get home before we get stuck.”
We wave goodbye and walk to my truck. I secure the pies and get Joey strapped in before I sit and take a breath.
“Mom, I’m hungry. Can we go to the drive-through?”
“Yes, let me just get the centerpiece from the florist, and we’ll hit it on our way home, okay?”
“Yay!”
