Page 9 of Imperfections Forbidden
“That’s why I love this time of year.”
“I know you do, but I haven’t heard you talk about the holidays or your birthday.Why is that?”
“I don’t know.”
“You used to get ready for Christmas before Thanksgiving, with your arsenal of decorations.It was like Christmas threw up in your house.”
“My mother wasn’t too happy about all my decorations taking over her house.My dad would tell her to leave me alone because it was only once a year.He would say, ‘tis the season to be festive.’My dad.”
“What happened this year?I would think you would go all out, being home again.”
“My mother and Sophie can handle it.They did fine without me.I’m sure the house will be nicely decorated under my mother’s instructions.Too many cooks in the kitchen is never good.”
I kiss the top of her head, and we go inside the café to get a cup of hot chocolate and a table.
“One year when I was a little girl, my father came to my school to pick me up early.I asked him where we were going, and he said anywhere I wanted, that it was my special day.”
“Why was it special?”
“As you know, my birthday is on Christmas Day, and he never got to spend much time with me because it was a busy day, with my mother’s Christmas dinner and the parties they went to after we all had dinner together.We went ice skating right here.It’s amazing how big things seem when you’re a little kid.I loved everything about it.The Christmas tree was my favorite part, of course.”
“Of course.”I put my cup on the table and watch her move the hot cup in her hands.
“We skated for hours.I was freezing, but I didn’t care; I was having so much fun with my daddy.He held my hand the whole time.He told me he had a special surprise for me when we were finished.He took me to Radio City to seeDisney on Ice.I loved every minute of it.That was one of the best birthday memories I have.Me and my daddy.Sometimes I wish I could be a little girl again.Christmas through the eyes of a kid is wonderful.I guess soon you’ll know what that’s like?”
I look down at the table and run my fingers over hers.“Maybe.”I look back up at her, and she pulls her hand away from me to take a sip of her chocolate.
Putting her cup down she asks, “Ready to go?”
“I’m going to go to the bathroom before we leave,” I tell her.I end up staying in the bathroom longer than I thought—on the phone.When I get back, I see her talking to some guy.She’s laughing at whatever he said and he’s smiling like an idiot.I walk up and look at her, ignoring the dude sitting in my spot.“Are you ready?”
“Nick, this is Ryan.”
I barely look at him when he gets up out of my seat, smiling.I nod my head toward him.“Hey.”
“Hey, it’s nice to meet you.Nick, is it?”He extends his hand, and I ignore it.His smile falters and he puts his hand down.
Cat sees the look on my face and the whatever-look on his.She knows that’s the only word I’m going to say to this guy.
“It was nice to meet you, Ryan, see you later.”She gets up, standing next to me.
“Maybe I’ll see you again?”Douche says, looking at her.
This guy is pissing me off.I turn my head and look at him.“Trust me, you won’t,” I say in my calmest voice, grabbing Cat’s hand and leading her out the door, leaving him to look at our backs.
“What the hell, Nick?”
“What the hell were you doing, talking to that guy?What was with all the smiling and laughing?I go to the bathroom and you decide to entertain a random stranger like you’re at a private dinner party for two.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“I was sitting there by myself for almost twenty minutes.I told him I was waiting for my friend to come back.He wasn’t trying to pick me up.”
“Yet.He was waiting to see what I looked like.He changed his mind after he saw me.”
“Oh my God, your ego.Where are we going?”
