Page 33 of Under the Christmas Tree

Katie winced. “Mom, we’ve had this conversation a million times. It’s not that. It’s that I have a job and a life. I feel like I can’t breathe at the minute. I work long hours, I come home, and you want to be with me every second.”

“Christmas is a time for families, Katie,” she said, her voice stern, much like she was scolding a child.

“For some people, sure. But I have work. I had plans when you burst in. I had plans for the last few days.”

“Plans that are more important than your own mother?”

Katie’s insides boiled. She didn’t want to do this. She hated when people played that card. “I’m not saying you’re not important. I’m saying I’m not a child. I’m saying I’m an adult with obligations. I’m saying I’m too old to be sharing a bed with my mom and not getting enough rest before long shifts where people’s lives depend on me being alert.”

“You could have slept on the couch if it was bothering you that much,” she replied petulantly.

Katie sighed. “It’smybed, Mom. I shouldn’t have to sleep on the couch.”

“Well, look at me being a terrible person just because I want to see my own child for the holidays.”

Katie pursed her lips, considering. She didn’t have the time or the inclination for this. She knew her mom was hurting. They’d get past this at some point, but this wasn’t the time. “I have to get back to work.”

“You’re always working, Katie. When am I supposed to see you if I don’t come here myself?”

“Mom, I visit all the time.”

“No, you don’t. All the time would be moving back and—”

“I’m not moving back. My life is here and I love it.”

“More than—”

“I’m not having this conversation right now,” Katie said clearly, knowing exactly what the end of that sentence was. “I should have done this better, and that’s on me. I apologize for springing it on you, but I’m not going to be guilted into giving up my whole life, Mom. I love you, but you have to let me live the life I built myself, not the one you wish I would live.”

She shot her mom a look before turning to head back to the hospital. She called Adam as she went.

“What’s up?” he asked when he answered.

Katie huffed, putting all of her emotions away as best she could before she made it back to the ward. “I think I just broke Mom’s heart.”

“Ah. You had the conversation.” He sounded knowing and sympathetic.

“Yeah. I didn’t do a great job. She caught me and Maggie on my break and… interrupted again. I was worried I messed it up with Maggie, frustrated at how she even knew I was there, frustrated at not having slept properly in days, and having no time to myself, and I… just told her to go home.”

“She needed to hear it, Specks.”

“I could have been gentler with it.”

He laughed. “Look—enjoy this because I’m not going to say it again—you’re gentle with her all the time. She’s spent your entire adult life trying to persuade you out of the decisions you’ve made for yourself, trying to lure you back home with people on sticks like carrots. And you’ve just let her do it. I’m not saying it’s your fault, at all, but you’ve put up with enough. Everyone has a breaking point, Specks. Guess we finally found yours.” He laughed again. “Should have known it would be a woman.”

“I don’t even want to know what that means.” Katie bypassed the elevator, heading for the stairs—something she only did when things were really weighing her down. “I thought I was taking a cute girl for a hot cocoa and, instead, I wrecked thatandmy relationship with Mom. Hell of a lunch break.”

“Did you even eat?”

“Nope.”

He snorted. “Of course not. Don’t worry, though. I saw the way Maggie was looking at you the other night. She’s not going anywhere.”

“I really hope so.” An intense fear clenched at Katie’s heart. She’d been such a fool for not realizing how she felt sooner, but, now that she did know, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing Maggie.

“And Mom’s going to be fine too,” he added. “I’ll go meet her and book her into the hotel with us.”

“I don’t think that’s going to work…”

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