“Okay, boys,” Mom announces. “Five minutes and then dinner is done, and I want you at that table. Come help me grab the food, Lizzy.”
The counter is full of delicious food when I step into the kitchen. Freshly baked dinner rolls, a large ham with pineapple slices surrounding it, candied yams, and even a fresh apple crumble pie that she loves to make for every holiday.
As we strategically set the table for the feast, Jon walks up behind me. “Whoa, Mrs. Morgan. This is the most delicious looking display I’ve ever seen.” Mom giggles and blushes.
“Well, thank you, Jon. You can call me Mary. Alright, fellas, it’s time to eat. Lizzy, grab that bottle of champagne off the counter.”
Jon takes the seat next to me, but across from Karl, and we start loading our plates and filling our flutes with champagne. Before anyone digs in, my mother raises her glass, and the rest of us follow her.
“To family, to good health, and Lizzy’s new friend, Jon,” my mother toasts, and then we begin digging into our plates. Jon thanks her and takes a few bites. There’s a slight shift in his facial features as he chews. Almost a bit of sadness, but when he sees me watching, he smiles half-heartedly, switching his mood.
“So, Jon,” my dad starts in. “How did you two meet, since this is the first I’m hearing about you, and now you are here?”
“Dad,” I scold and shake my head. “Don’t mind him, Jon. He’s not as much of a hard ass as he likes to put on for people.”
Jon laughs. “No, it’s okay. We actually met at work.”
“Oh, so you two work together, then?” Mom cuts in, trying to lighten the mood. “That’s nice.”
I clear my throat and set my fork down. “Actually, Dad,” I say. “He’s…my boss.”
Their eyes widen, and they exchange glances. “To be honest,” I continue. “I didn’t even know he was my boss until he promoted me. But we’ve been working closely for a little while, and it kind of just happened.”
“Oh, so you got the promotion before. Well, that’s good, at least.” Karl’s voice breaks the awkwardness, and everyone, including Jon, laughs.
The topic finally changes back to football and then to Dad and Karl’s jobs. I grow increasingly more nervous because I know something will be brought up, and I’m not ready to ruin Christmas.
“So, Jon. What exactly do you do at your big company?” Dad asks, and my stomach drops.
“Oh, come on, Dad. Enough of the work talk. Let’s keep things light.” I have no other choice but to steer the conversation elsewhere. This lovely dinner will quickly go south if they find out anything yet.
Mom cuts in and begins telling us funny stories from our childhood, and the mood is picked back up rather quickly.
Deciding to invite him for Christmas may not have been such a bad idea after all.
Jon fit right in the second he arrived, and other than the strict father persona Dad is putting on, everyone really likes him.
Once dinner is wrapped up, Jon and I help my mother clear the table before I offer him a tour of the rest of the house. I figured if he is going to be around, he might as well know how I grew up.
First, I show him the back deck that was just built a few years prior and the spacious backyard. Since he’s seen most of the first floor, I drag him up the light orange carpeted staircase leading to the second floor.
“I apologize for the seventies shag carpet,” I laugh as I open my childhood bedroom door. “Also, for my dad being…well, a dad.”
“Oh, stop. I had a blast. Your family is great, and this room is gaudy,” he changes pace as he steps inside my old room. The walls are half pink and half purple.
Posters of boy bands line the wall behind my polka-dot comforter-covered twin bed. My white vanity is still plastered with stickers and holds a few trophies from high school sports.
“Wow…” he exclaims again.
“I know. I was a very expressive teenager, I guess.” I sit down on the edge of the bed and watch him pick up each trophy and read the plaques.
“How many sports did you play?” he asks, setting one of the trophies back down.
“I think about five. I was never one to sit at home and be bored out of my mind. When one season ended, another began, so it was perfect.”
Laughing, he walks over and sits next to me. “Thank you again for the invite.”
“Not a problem.” I rest my head on his shoulder. “I’m really glad you decided to make it after all.” He kisses the top of my head, and I look up, giving him a real kiss on the lips.
