Page 40 of Once Upon a Winter
“Concerned?” Laura echoed, feeling her heart sink. So much for a lovely day of holiday shopping with her mother.
“Your father and I just want the best for you,” her mother continued, her gaze fixed on the ornament. “Cooper seems nice enough, but we don’t think he’s right for you.”
“Really?” Laura sighed. “Well, I do.”
Her mother’s look made her cringe. “I know, honey, but we’ve always imagined you with… someone more ambitious.”
Laura squinted as she tried to discern what that meant. With her mother, there was always an unspoken meaning. “I’m not sure what you mean. He’s a very hard worker.”
“I’m sure he is, but can he support you?”
Laura glanced at her watch. “Oh, look. It’s the twenty-first century. I’ve been supporting myself since I got out of college.” Laura held back her frustration. Her parents meant well, but their disapproval weighed on her. “Mom, it’s okay. We just met. We’ve spent some time together. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Her mother placed the ornament on the shelf and sighed. “I’m not one to judge, but your father will take some convincing.”
“Convincing of what? That it’s okay for me to go out on a date? It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think?”
Her mother stared straight ahead with her mouth open as if poised to speak, but she exhaled as if giving up.
Laura glanced around then exclaimed, “Oh, look! Hot chocolate! Let’s get some!”
As the day went on,Laura couldn’t shake the doubts her mother had planted. Things weren’t exactly looking up like she’d hoped. She didn’t know where she stood with Cooper. Her mother and father both disapproved of the relationship. And she was falling in love.
“Look at these handmade ornaments,” her mother said. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
Laura nodded and forced a smile. The delicate glass bauble shimmered as its intricate designs caught the light. It was beautiful. So were the dozens of others her mother had gushed over. The woman had an obsession with glass ornaments. Then a thought struck Laura.Is this how Cooper felt when I brought up the snow globe?She followed numbly along to the next ornament kiosk. A whiff of cinnamon and cloves brought her back to her senses. Hooking an arm about her mother’s elbow, Laura led the way to a stand overflowing with gingerbread cookies in all shapes and sizes.
Her mother’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Oh, we’ve got to get some of these for your father. He’ll love them, don’t you think?”
“How could he not?”
They selected an assortment of cookies and exchanged pleasantries with the vendor before continuing on their way.
Her mother reorganized her shopping bags and asked, “Why don’t you bring some of these gingerbread cookies on Christmas Eve?”
Christmas Eve was a difficult topic that Laura had been avoiding. “Um, Mom, I’ve made plans.”
Her mother cast sharp eyes at Laura. “Plans? For Christmas Eve?”
“Well, yes. I didn’t think you’d want me to make the drive back and forth two days in a row.”
Despite looking like the two trips weren’t a problem, her mother showed some restraint. But over the course of a lifetime, Laura had learned to see past her mother’s neutral expression to the dismay underneath.
“We assumed you’d stay over.”
Laura said gently, “I’ve just moved in, and I’d like to enjoy Christmas Eve in my home. But I’ll be there on Christmas Day.”
Her mother nodded halfheartedly with a long-suffering expression that made the moment unbearable.
Laura added, “And I’ve got Christmas Eve plans.”
Her mother frowned. “Hmm.”
Laura tried to explain. “I’m building a life here.”
“I can see that. It just won’t be the same Christmas Eve without you.”
“I’ll still be there for Christmas,” Laura said softly, reaching out to squeeze her mother’s hand. Her mother’s acquiescent nod wasn’t exactly a win, but it was as much as Laura could hope for.
