I wanted to stuff it back in the box and pretend I’d never seen it.
I wanted to pretend it didn’t exist.
I wanted to.
But I didn’t.
I couldn't.
Instead, I perched myself on the edge of the couch and carefully unpacked the mystery box. There were a few ornaments, all dated and with their names. Every year there was one right up until they stopped. I wanted to know who she was. Where she was. Why did he still have these? But I guess that wasChris’s story to tell, and I knew better than anyone what it was like to have a story you weren’t ready to share.
“Mom, can you help me draw an elf?” Noelle asked like I was some kind of artist. I had no artistic ability. Stick figures were about the extent of my artistic prowess, but Noelle didn’t care. So, I packed everything away, sealed it back up, and tucked it away in the corner, pretending I’d never snooped
On my knees, I crawled over to Noelle who had every marker in the pack with the lid off, scattered on the floor.
We finished up the card when Noelle complained she was hungry. I checked my phone and wondered where Chris was. He said he was running to the store and would be back, but he’d been gone for a few hours. Guilt smashed into me. What if we’d driven him out of his own home? Was he avoiding us? I mean, I knew we were a lot, but all he had to do was say so and we’d be out of his hair in a heartbeat. I don’t know where we’d go or what we’d do, but I’d figure something out. I always did.
With very few dinner options, I found a frozen pizza and popped it in the oven. Noelle was over the moon at the idea of having pizza for dinner.
The timer on my phone beeped at the same time the front door was shoved open and a blast of frigid air came through.
Chris looked adorably rumpled. His hands were full of shopping bags, almost like he’d tried to carry them all in one go so he didn’t have to do another trip. And from the rapidly dropping temperature sneaking through the open door, I couldn’t blame him.
“Let me help,” I said, rushing over to him and trying to take some.
“I got it,” he replied as he shuffled across to the kitchen and set them all on the counter.
“Is there anything else?” I asked, stuffing my feet into my shoes. If there was more, I was going downto get it.
“Nah, I got it,” he replied, walking across the room and shutting the door. “Damn, it’s cold out there,” he offered as he tugged off his beanie, his hair standing on end. Next came his scarf, coat, and boots. He reached up and hung them on the hook, his sweatshirt rising, showing off a very flat stomach, and suddenly I felt myself sucking mine in.
“Mom, the pizza!” Noelle called out.
I’d completely forgotten.
Chris had distracted me, not that I was complaining, but I’d forgotten about dinner in the oven.
“Hope you don’t mind. I put a pizza in the oven.”
“As long as there’s a slice for me, we’re all good,” he confirmed with a wink.
“Chris?” Noelle asked, and we both froze.
“Yeah?” he replied, turning around and giving her his full attention.
“Do you like pineapple on your pizza?”
Okay. Not what I was expecting, but with Noelle, you never could be sure what was going to come out of her mouth next.
Chris screwed his face up. His nose crinkled and brow furrowed. “Nope. I like cheese pizza the best.”
Noelle squealed. She’d found her soul mate. “Cheese pizza is the best!”
I felt guilty interrupting their moment. “Well then, you’re both in luck. Guess what’s for dinner?”
Chris looked at Noelle.
Noelle looked at Chris.
