“Mom Debbie?” Matt called.
He tried the door.
It was unlocked.
He eased it open, poked his head inside. “Mom Debbie?”
“Hi Mustang.” Debbie’s voice was flat.
Matt stepped inside, set her boxed belongings on the floor, and sat on the couch beside her. The TV was on, muted, playingIt’s a Wonderful Life.
Matt reached over and petted Cleopatra, Debbie’s Calico cat with one good eye.
Cleopatra stirred, weighed her options, then moved to Matt’s lap. She made biscuits with her paws for a minute, then settled in for a nap, purring softly while Matt stroked her fur.
The other two cats, Butch and Sundance, had not warmed to Matt, despite his many attempts to win them over. They eyed Cleopatra disapprovingly.
Debbie stared at the muted TV, clutching Butch and Sundance to her. Her face was a mess. Mascara streaks traced the course of dried tears.
“I love this movie,” Debbie said. “When I was growing up, we had a family tradition to watch it every year. Mama would make popcorn and other snacks. Daddy would always discreetly wipe away a tear at the end. Mama and I would pretend not to notice.”
Matt smiled. He was a tinge jealous. The closest thing his family had to a Christmas tradition was the annual blowup when his mom asked his dad one time too many to set up the tree. It was the only thing she found the courage to push the man about. He’d get stubborn and put it off just to spite her. She’d gently remind him until he lost his shit and then set it up in a huff—usually just a few days before Christmas.
Debbie’s voice was soft, almost a whisper. “I always thought I’d carry on the tradition with my own kids, you know.”
She sighed and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. Tried to sound upbeat.
“Instead, I have a new tradition. I get the cats some treats, and they watch it with me. Well, Butch and Sundance watch. They like the scenes with Uncle Billy’s pet squirrel and crow. It’s hard for Cleopatra to watch TV, on account of her e-y-e.”
Matt was confused. Instead of mourning the loss of her job, Debbie was mourning the family she’d never had. Was that triggered by thisWonderful Lifemovie? Or were the two subjects somehow connected?
He had never considered whether Debbie’s single life had been an active choice on her part or one that circumstance had thrust upon her. Now he knew that she had wanted to be a mother.
He wasn’t sure what to do with that information. He felt wholly inadequate for the moment. He wanted to comfort his friend, dreaded saying or doing the wrong thing and adding to her pain. He felt almost paralyzed with uncertainty, like he was trapped in the middle of a minefield. One wrong step and KABLOOEY!
The silence was abrasive, made his skin itch, like a rough, woolen sweater. He wanted to scratch at the silence with noise of his own making—as all adults seemed to do at such moments. Serve up empty platitudes: “Things always turn out for the best.” “The Lord has a plan.” Shit like that. Quote scripture (his dad). Change the subject (his mom). None of that seemed right, though.
The moment demanded emotional truth.
“You would have made a great mom,” he said. She absolutely would have.
“Thank you.” Debbie managed a weak smile.
More itchy silence ensued.
“You boys have become my family.”
Matt nodded. At least there was that.
Debbie sniffed. Fresh tears seeped from her eyes. “Now that’s gone, too. If I go to any of your home games, I’ll be arrested for trespassing.”
Matt seethed with fury. Colton Langley and Dean Smith would suffer for this. William would not be able to stop him.
“Surely you can fight this,” Matt said. “I know a lawyer—”
Debbie shook her head. “That’s not how it works in the real world, hon. This is an employment at-will state. Besides, I’m technically guilty…”
Matt gave her a questioning look.
