As the door rose, Mom, twisted in her seat, said, “Hello, boys. It’s so good to see you.” A broad smile lit her face.
“Here, let me.” Eli tossed my suitcase into the trunk as if it were light as a feather and then repeated the action with his. “Come on.” Setting his hand on the small of my back, he led me to the passenger side door and opened it.
“My, such a gentleman.” Mom beamed at us. “Eli, you’ve gotten so big. I mean, you were big before, but look at you.”
“He’s a linebacker, Mom. He has to be big.” With a quick laugh, I hopped into the front while Eli climbed into the back seat. Shit, maybe I should have let him sit in front. “How’s the legroom?” Pressing a button on the side of my seat, I inched forward.
“Fine. I’m good.” Eli extended his hand between the seats. “It’s nice to see you in person again, Vicky.”
“Likewise.” She gave his hand a brief shake and drove into the traffic. “How were your flights?”
“Fine. We were on time, and that’s all I cared about.” Iwatched the airport pass by, a modern structure in creams with metal awnings over the arrival and departure areas. In the distance, Mt. McLoughlin rose, its pointed peak covered in snow. This terrain, with Douglas fir and forest, contrasted strongly with that near Phoenix. Though Flagstaff was pretty similar. Would I return here once I graduated, or would I stay with Eli? We’d have to be committed to each other for me to follow his NFL contract, and for that, there had to be confessions.
“I’m dropping you off at your house, right, Eli?” Mom glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
“Yes.” Eli touched my shoulder. “We’re meeting Ethan at the Gypsy Blues Bar tonight, right?”
“Yes, around eight.” I’d planned our outing with Ethan through text while we waited for our flight. I hadn’t mentioned to Eli that it was where I’d ended my night with a hookup while Ethan had gone home alone. When would Mom mention?—
“You brought the paperwork, right, Wren?” Mom peeked at me and merged onto the freeway, lined with thick trees on either side.
“Yes, I did.” I knew it. As my gut twisted, I pressed my lips together. I still didn’t want to think about it, but it was inevitable.
“I want you to let me read through it when we get home.” With a pointed look at me, she touched my arm.
“Sure.” It figured. I sighed.
Eli squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty. My dad will probably let me use his truck.”
He was changing the subject. Good. “That works.” I might have a frank discussion with Mom about how little I wanted to discuss this trust issue. I preferred waiting until the lawyer reviewed it.
After a dinnerof Mom’s pork chops and mashed potatoes, I brought my plate to the sink. She’d cooked, and I was an adult now, so it was only fitting I did the dishes. “Bring your plate when you’re done, Mom.”
“Sure.” She sifted through the trust paperwork, seeming to read through every word. “I see no restrictions on when or how the trust will pay Karen when the time comes. I’m pretty sure there was for your father.” She flipped another page.
My gut tied in a knot. “Mom, I don’t want to talk about it right now. I’d like to forget it until after your lawyer friend reviews it.” It was time to set some boundaries, like my therapist had taught me. I rinsed my plate and set it in the dishwasher.
“Oh? Are you sure?” She peered at me from under her brow. “I suppose my analysis of the document might not be accurate, anyway.” She leaned back in her chair and sighed, rubbing her hands on her jean-covered thighs. “I can see it’s really bothering you.”
“It is. I want to enjoy Christmas with you and not have this weighing on us the whole time.” I tossed her a glance. Would she give it up?
“Okay. I’m curious though, so I’ll keep reading it.” Her gaze landed on the document. “I won’t say another word about it. Promise.”
“Thanks, Mom.” For now, she understood. I left the sink and stood over her. “Are you going to eat any more?”
“Oh, yeah.” With a soft snort, she picked up her knife and fork and cut into her pork chop.
At the entranceof the house, I watched for Eli through the picture window. I couldn’t wait to hang out with two of my favorite people, Ethan and Eli.
As a newer, large pickup truck parked in our driveway, I popped the door open and shouted, “Eli’s here, Mom.”Slamming the door behind me, I raced down the stairs on the front porch.
“Wren.” Eli stepped from the truck, looking more like he had in high school in a thick flannel jacket and jeans.
As I fell into his arms, he wrapped me in one of his bear hugs and kissed the side of my head. “I know it hasn’t been very long, but damn, I missed you.” I hooked my arms around his waist.
He freed me and offered a charismatic smile. “I missed you too. But we have the entire night together, and we’re home for Christmas.” He wrapped a hand around my nape. “First Christmas together in four years.”
“This will be our best Christmas.” If I could push the trust to the back of my mind. I planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Come on, if I know Ethan, he’ll be there early.”
