Page 49 of A Very Merry Matchup
“Yeah,” I hear Jordan say behind me. “Something like that.”
Even if I could, it’s too late. Mom’s already marching toward the nurses’ station at a clipped pace with Dad trailing one step behind.
I intercept her before she can reach the station. “Mom?”
At the sound of my voice, she pivots. “There you are. Where’s Jordan? What happened? Have you talked to any doctors?” Before I can answer, she’s already on to the next set of questions. “Who was the man out in the waiting room? He said you’re together. Why is this the first I’m hearing about him?”
“Jordan broke his elbow.” Let’s start with that since I’m not sure how to explain Beau. “His surgery went okay. He’s going to be fine. How did you two get here so fast? Hi, Dad.”
He steps around Mom to give me a sideways hug. “I’ve got a couple of pilot friends with private planes. Let’s just say they’ll be getting season tickets for a very long time now. Good seeing you, kiddo. So Jordan’s okay? You’ve had a chance to see him?”
“He’s still a little sleepy. You might want to give him a little more time to wake up before seeing him.”And meeting his wife.I keep that bit to myself. It’s really not my information to give.
“Is that guy out in the waiting room the one you were telling me about? Beau?”
Dad actually remembered his name? I’m impressed.
Mom obviously isn’t. “You told your father about him, but you didn’t tell me?”
Of course not. Confiding in my mother is like confiding in a porcupine. Even when she’s in a good mood, her natural instinct always leads to some sort of jab. And since I don’t want to see Beau or me take any jabs today, I do what any loving sister would do. I throw my brother under the bus.
“Actually, now’s a great time to see Jordan. He’s right there behind the curtain in bay four. And hopefully you’ll get a chance to meet Abbey.His wife.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
All is not calm, all is not bright
Beau
Ivy is looking at me like I’m the crazy toymaker inBabes in Toyland. “Are you nuts? That’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” She punches a button on the vending machine and a bottled Coke drops down to the opening slot.
“C’mon, Ivy. It’s Christmas. You can’t throw your family out in the cold on Christmas.”
“My parents flew in on private planes. I think they’ll be okay finding a soft place to land without our help.”
When she can’t twist the cap off her Coke, probably because she just slathered her hands in lotion, she hands the bottle to me.
“My parents’ house isn’t that far away.” I twist off the lid and hand back the Coke. “And my mom already said yes. I just got off the phone with her. Besides, your brother’s in a cast. He’s recovering from surgery. What are you going to do? Kick him to the curb of some hotel on Christmas Day?”
She takes a drink, holding up a finger, then says, “He has a wife now. Pretty sure she’s got the situation under control.”
“What if she doesn’t? I only caught a glimpse of her but she seemed a little frazzled. And aren’t you a little curious about the woman your brother married? Plus this is a chance for all of you to be under the same roof again for Christmas. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”
“Sure.Beforemy parents got divorced. All of us being together under the same roof is only a recipe for disaster at this point.”
“How do you know? It’s just one night. Remember that story about the German and English officers during World WarI who put aside their differences one night for the sake of Christmas? Think of this like that.”
“You’ve got the World War part of it right.” When she sighs, I know she’s going to give in. Because I know whether she wants to admit it or not, she wants this. She’s always wanted this. Having all her family together for Christmas is her dream. “Fine. I’ll put the offer out to them. But no promises they’ll take us up on it.”
I can’t help but smile at the way she saysus.
And I can’t help but grin when her parents do take us up on the offer. Probably stacked the cards in my favor when I hinted to them behind Ivy’s back that the two of us have something special going on. What parents wouldn’t be curious to know more about their daughter’s specialsomething?
And I’m downright giddy when her brother and his apparently new wife take us up on the offer too. Must be the magic of Christmas. Whatever it is, I’m making the most of this opportunity. Not for me. For Ivy and her family. Something tells me this is a group of people who’ve missed out on way too many Christmases together.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Said the hockey player to the travel nurse, do you see what I see?
