“Will do.”
Esther tapped Steve’s name and got back into Tiffany’s car.At least here, she wouldn’t get covered in snow and the wind wouldn’t make it hard to hear.
“Hey,” she said when Steve answered, “I know you said you’d call later, but … um … I just need to tell you something before it happens.”
“Sure, what’s wrong?Let me just duck into the hallway so it’ll be quieter.”
“Oh, nothing’s wrong.It’s just Christmas Eve, and we’re at church.”
“It’s pretty quiet for church,” Steve teased.
Esther laughed.“I’m in Tiffany’s car.I needed to share this before I go in.”
“Okay.Hit me.What’s up?”
“You see, Fred and I have this tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve.We’ve been doing it since grade four, and I always do my Christmas shopping early.So, I had his gift bought before we started dating.”She let the words tumble out of her at the pace of her anxious heart.
“Okay.And?”
He didn’t sound upset.That was good, right?
“And so, I’m going to give it to him tonight and thought you should know.It’s just a tradition we’ve had.”
He made a humming sound that sounded like he was understanding.“Will this continue?”
Esther blew out a shaky breath.“No, not if we’re still dating or whatever.”
“Whatever sounds good,” Steve said softly, “but you sound sad.”
She dashed a tear from her cheek with her mittened hand.“You know how I don’t like change.It’s hard to see something come to an end.That’s all.”
Again, he made a humming sound.“Wish I was there to hold you and tell you that everything will be fine.Change isn’t always bad.I know how it can seem that way for kids of divorced parents.”Here, he sighed.“And you didn’t get to split your time with your dad and your mom like Maddie does, so I guess that might make it harder.”
He was trying so hard to understand her.Oh, he was a dear man.Such a good father and caring human being.Why was giving up Fred to be with someone as good as Steve so painful?It shouldn’t be.It really shouldn’t be.The issue was clearly with her.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” she admitted.“Maybe I should take your advice and that of Tiffany and go see someone to talk through it all.”She shot a sheepish grin at her friend who nodded.
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea.I took Maddie as soon as the divorce proceedings were started for me and my ex.”He paused.“Was there anything else?”
“No, that’s it.I should let you get back to your family, and I should go make sure I get a seat inside.”
“And I’ll still talk to you later?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Me, too.So, after I’ve got Maddie in bed and done my Santa duties, I’ll give you a call.But don’t feel like you have to wait up.Maddie can be a little uncooperative on Christmas Eve.I’ll text if that happens.”
“Thanks.Talk to you then.”
“Yep.Talk to you then.”
She pressed end call and just held the phone against her chest.
“So, was it a big deal?”Tiffany asked as she handed her a tissue.
“It didn’t seem like it.But then, again, he sounded like he appreciated my telling him.”
“You should ask him.I know you just laid out part of your feelings there with him, but if he’s the one, you should make sure you know how he feels about things, too.Maybe what’s a major thing to Mandy is just a Mandy thing and not an everyone in the whole world thing.”Tiffany laughed lightly and Esther joined her.“Don’t get me wrong.I love Mandy, but sometimes, she’s wound a little too tightly.”
