Page 42 of Jam and Jingle Bells
She thought about that quietly for a few moments before she spoke. “You said Ellis would let her into a class? Do you know how much the classes cost?”
“I know he offered to get her into any class she could make it to. He also offered a month free to make sure she liked it before you put any money into it.”
Mel shook her head. “He can’t do that. He has a business to run.”
“He said he wants to thank the community for helping him after the break-in. He figures everyone in this town would prefer to see a child benefit before anyone else.”
She bit her lip and chewed on it a bit. “He’s right there. Guess he knows the town better than I thought.”
I laughed and grabbed my phone, sending him a text. “Let’s see if he has any classes open this weekend, should we?”
“Addie,” she said, but I had already sent the text.
My phone dinged and I read it out loud to her. “He is booked tomorrow with a birthday party, but if you aren’t busy tonight you could bring her over around five. He doesn’t have a class, but he definitely doesn’t mind teaching Holly one-on-one.”
Mel rubbed her forehead. “I can’t tonight. I have to help Mason at the community table. He’s doing his turkey soup dinner he does every year.”
“That’s okay,” I said, shooting him a text at the same time I spoke to her. “I’ll take her. I’ve been wanting to learn some basic positions anyway and I haven’t had time to get to a class. That gives me enough time to go see my mom and then pick Holly up at your house after school. Do you think she’ll go with me?” I looked up from my phone and she sat there with her mouth open.
“Of course, she’d go with you anywhere, Addie, but why do you want to spend your Friday night with an eight-year-old? She isn’t exactly herself right now.”
I took her hand and gripped it tightly. “I know she’s not and that’s why we’re doing this. Let’s get her into the studio, help her relax, and then see if she opens up to you. Besides, I’ll be spending my Friday night with an eight-year-old I love, and a twenty-five-year-old I have a massive crush on, so win-win.”
We both snickered like schoolgirls in the schoolyard before I left the diner to right some wrongs.
The trip to Morningside Drive was quiet and reflective. By the time I knocked on Stan’s door, I had no doubt I was making the right decision. I knocked again, this time hearinghold your horsesfrom inside. When the door opened Stan stood there, his face lined until he saw mine.
He pulled me into a hug and rubbed my back a couple of times. “Mel told you?”
“Yeah, she mentioned Mom was upset and so was I, so I decided we needed to talk.”
He released me and held me out by my shoulders. “She’s extremely upset. I’ll let you talk to her, but only if you promise not to tell her she’s being disrespectful of you or unfair. She’s hurting, Addie.”
I sighed and stared down at the ground, shame filling me. “I know, Stan. I had all my points laid out, but then everything fell apart. I know she’s always tried to protect me.”
“But you don’t need protecting anymore because you’re a grown woman.”
I shrugged and didn’t make eye contact. “Maybe I need a little less protecting and a bit longer leash, but if she can’t handle that then neither can I.”
He stepped back and let me in, pointing down the hallway to his den. Mom sat on the couch staring at daytime television. She hadn’t watched a day of daytime television in her life, and she wasn’t today either. It was on, but she wasn’t there. She wasn’t even in the room. A tear tracked down her cheek and she’d wipe it away, then go back to staring.
“Mom,” I finally said, walking in and lowering my purse to the floor. “Mom, I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking to see her in so much pain. “I didn’t mean to upset you like this.”
She didn’t speak, instead closed her eyes and laid her head back on the couch, taking a deep, shaky breath. I wiped away a tear from her face and waited for her to say something, anything. “You got what you wanted, Addie. I just need a few days now.”
I reached into my purse and pulled out the piece of paper, pressing it into her palm. “I haven’t read it and I’m not going to.”
Her eyes opened and she stared down at the folded paper in her hand. “What?”
I shifted to see her better. “I said, I didn’t read it and I’m not going to. Ivy folded it and put it in my purse and I came straight over here to give it back to you.”
“But you said you wanted to know.” She instinctively crushed it in her fist.
“I did, do, did. I don’t know,” I said blowing out a breath. “I wanted to know, but not at your expense. Not at the expense of your trust and our relationship. I know that even if I’m careful, there’s no guarantee he won’t show back up here unannounced. I don’t want to cause problems for you and Stan nor do I want to lose you.”
“What about the wanting to be whole part?” she asked, her voice unsteady. “You were pretty adamant about that.”
I nodded exaggeratedly until my neck hurt. “I was adamant until I witnessed the toll it would take on you. It dawned on me that I’m the one who has control over what makes me incomplete or complete, not my genetics.”
