“If she tells me that she’s around for at least part of the holiday, I’ll say something along the lines of, ‘If you have time, maybe you and I can go to...”
“To?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Well, I’d avoid asking her to something on New Year’s Eve. It’s likely she already has plans with friends or family.” She snapped her fingers. “What about the Winter Market and carnival that the Friends of the Hospital puts on? They have booths, sledding, rides, food. It’s a lot of fun.”
“Perfect,” he said, amused. She hadn’t been able to sit back and simply give him feedback on his ideas. It was in her nature to offer suggestions.
“Is that it?” she asked. “Anything else you have in mind?”
“No, that’s all I’ve got. I’m sort of counting on the setting to help me out. Farm, nature, stars.” He frowned. “Should I have something else in mind? Is that too simple?”
She considered the question. “I’m a fan of grand gestures in rom coms and in real-life situations when you’re sure where the other person stands. But since you’re unsure about Molly, I don’t think it’s a good idea for a horse-drawn carriage to come jangling up. Or for you to tell her you’ve hidden a note for her in baby Jesus’s swaddling.”
Baby Jesus’s swaddling?
“Simple is the way to go,” she said.
“That’s a relief.”
“Your plan’s solid.” She sang, “‘Follow every rainbow, until you find your dream,’” fromThe Sound of Music.
“Okay.”
“I hope she says yes.”
“I hope so too.” Their eyes held.
She cleared her throat and put a few more inches of space between them. “I don’t think you need any more of my help, Connor. Not as a dating consultant, anyway. I will, of course, be available at all times to name paintings and give your mom an excuse to eat whatever food she’s craving.”
“Thank you, for everything,” he said, meaning it.
“As I told you at the start, you were already a diamond.” The air between them thickened. “It’s been fun, but I really didn’t do very much. Turns out it’s easy to shine a diamond.”
Were her eyes wet? “I...” He didn’t know what to say, other than maybe,Shay, you’re the diamond.
“Movie?” she asked.
“Movie,” he said, and she hit Play.
•••
Two nights later, Connor returned to the house from his studio and overheard his mom on the phone.
“I have so much to be thankful for, Patsy,” she was saying to the sister just a year and a half behind her in age. “So much.”
He paused in the hallway. By the direction of the sound, he could tell Mom was sitting in her favorite living room chair.
“The only thing that would further ease my mind before I go is to see Connor... settled.”
He winced.
Quiet. No doubt, she was listening to Patsy’s reply.
“Yes,” Mom said, “but she’s as independent as they come. Her job’s the most important thing to her and she’ll likely be very happy going through life without a significant other.” She had to be referring to his younger sister. “I’m fine with that. For her. Not for Connor.”
Another stretch of silence.
