Page 9 of Coming Home for Fall 3
Sasha blushed. “We’ll see about that. I’m still working on winning over Mallory. So far, I wouldn’t say that’s going too well... We were talking about that job at the bookstore the other day, and for some reason, I think I upset her by bringing it up. Do you think she wanted to work there or something?”
“Not that I know of. She’s never mentioned anything about it to me. But even if that were the case, it’s not like you took anything from her. If she wants to work at the bookstore, she can apply too, just like you are. Kate needs a couple people for the holiday season anyway.”
“Oh.” Sasha made a face. “Well, I’m not sure if working together is a good idea.” She winced. “I’ve already taken her room. I don’t need to give her another reason to hate me.”
Callie shook her head and let out a soft laugh. “You worry too much.”
“I’m a mom,” Sasha said with a playful side-eye. “Isn’t it our job to worry?”
“About our own kids, yes.” Callie chuckled. “Which is why you worry about Dot and letmeworry about Mallory.”
I’m going to worry about her anyway,she thought to herself.
“Yeah, okay.” Sasha nodded. “That sounds like a good plan to me.” She held her glass up to Callie. “Should we toast to it?”
“Sure.” Callie clinked her glass against Sasha’s. “Cheers to only worrying about the people we’re biologically wired to worry about!”
Chapter 5
After their movie was over, Mallory and David made hot chocolate and spiked it with a few healthy pours of whisky and caramel liqueur. When they brought Callie and Sasha their own mugs, the two women had already moved on from their previous discussion and were now talking about Dot and the ups and downs of raising a baby. However, they paused their discussion when the sliding door opened.
“Sheesh, it’s freezing,” Mallory noted. “How can you just sit out here?”
“It’s not so bad,” Callie said, even though her arms were starting to feel cold. “And this hot chocolate is definitely going to help.” She grabbed the mug from her daughter and took a sip, her face scrunching at the sharp taste of alcohol. “Oh, wow! That’s strong.”
“Yeah, sorry,” Mallory said with a wince. “I wasn’t really paying attention when I poured the whisky... I might’ve overdone it a little.” She shrugged. “But it’s still good, in my opinion.”
“I’m a fan,” Sasha said, grinning after taking her first sip. The wine she’d had earlier was already strong, so Callie was worried that the spiked hot chocolate might push her over the edge. “Stronger is better on a cold night like this.”
“Hold on a second,” Callie said, taking Sasha’s cup from her and pouring some of the liquid into her mug. “You shouldprobably slow down a little. We can’t forget, you’re not even twenty-one yet.” Bywe, she mostly meant her and her family members, who’d made a habit of offering Sasha a drink every time they got themselves one. Callie didn’t really care about the young woman having a bit of alcohol every now and then, but she didn’t want to be a bad influence.
Sasha laughed. “Thatis where you’re wrong, actually.” She reached over and took Callie’s mug instead—the one with a lot more hot chocolate in it.
Callie frowned but didn’t try to hold onto her mug, afraid to make a scene or spill any onto her lap. “I’m wrong? About what?”
“About my age. My birthday was actually last week. I’m officially twenty-one now.”
“Wait, what?!” Callie shot David a look, but he appeared just as shocked. “It was your birthday? Why didn’t you say anything?”
Mallory was also quite taken aback, but she kept her eyes trained suspiciously on Sasha.
“I don’t like to make a big fuss about birthdays,” Sasha said with a shrug. “And on that day, you guys had a lot going on with your jobs and stuff. Next thing I knew, the day was over, and it seemed kinda weird to bring it upafterthe fact.” She gave a nervous smile. “And apparently, I was right. This is a little weird.”
“It’s not weird,” Callie said, still struggling to wrap her head around this revelation. “We just would’ve liked to have celebrated with you!”
“That’s okay.” She waved her hands. “I didn’t want anyone to feel like they had to do anything special.”
“But it would’ve been nice to dosomething,” David insisted. “At least let us get you a cake! What day was it?”
As she was taking a large sip from her mug, Sasha furrowed her brow and waved her hand again. “It’s really not a big deal,” she said when she finished drinking. “It’s already come and gone so let’s just forget about it.” She held up the mug and smiled at Mallory. “This is delicious, by the way. In fact, if it makes you feel better, we can considerthismy birthday celebration. It’s better than any cake, and since it was my twenty-first birthday, an alcoholic drink is fitting, don’t you think?”
Mallory smiled back, but there was a tense crease in her brow that Callie couldn’t help but notice. “I’m glad you like it. If I’d known it was going to be your only birthday present though, I would’ve at least added some whipped cream. Make it a little more festive.” Mallory looked at Callie. “Mom, do you know if we have any?”
Callie shook her head. “Uh, I’m not—”
“Why don’t you come in and help me look?” Mallory asked, her tone just strained enough to get her mother’s full attention. “You need to come inside anyway to get a sweater or something, don’t you think? The wind’s really picking up.”
Callie knew better than to think her daughter was actually on the hunt for whipped cream, but things would become even more awkward if she insisted to stay outside. “Yeah, okay. I’m coming.” She stood up and followed Mallory inside. David took Callie’s spot when she left, and she heard him ask Sasha what her favorite flavor of frosting was before shutting the door. Mallory bit her tongue all the way into the kitchen, but once they were a safe distance away from the glass windows of the deck, she let loose.
