“How did you two meet?”
Vivianne and I both looked at one another and smiled. “I saw her with a group of her friends, and I’m pretty sure I fell in love with her right then and there.”
“The one thing I told you not to do,” my father sighed, but he also winked at the same time.
“We had a mutual friend who introduced us, kind of,” Vivianne laughed. “He tried to, but Ladd beat him with the introduction. He asked me out to dinner that night, and we came here.”
Surprised, my mother replied, “Here? Did Ladd tell you this was my favorite place to eat?”
“He did!” Vivianne confirmed. “We come here a lot; although, I think I have their alfredo sauce mastered.”
“Her sauce is better,” I added.
“Do you enjoy cooking?” Mom asked.
Vivianne nodded as she took a drink of her water, then placed it back on the table. “I love to cook. I don’t get to cook nearly as much as I’d like with working and school.”
“What’s your degree in?” my father asked.
Smiling, Vivianne replied, “English. I’m hoping to be an English teacher.”
Mom beamed at Vivianne. I could already tell she adored her. “Any certain grade you’re thinking?”
“I’m torn right now. Either middle school or maybe late elementary.”
“I had such a crush on my seventh-grade English teacher,” David said with a dreamy smile. “I wonder what she’s up to now?”
Dad cleared his throat. “Okay, away from that disturbing train of thought. Do you plan on teaching in Colorado?”
Vivianne nodded. “Yes. I can’t ever imagine myself leaving Colorado. I love it here too much.”
That seemed to please my father.
Our dinner came, and we fell into an easy conversation. My mother and father had listened to my request and didn’t ask Vivianne anything too personal, sticking to topics like school and hobbies she enjoyed.
Once the dinner plates were cleared and we were eating dessert, Mom brought up Christmas.
“You boys will both be able to come home for the whole break, I hope? Will you be heading back home for Christmas break, Vivianne?”
It was the first mention of home, and Vivianne flinched, but it was so small that I was positive only I had noticed.
“No, I’ll be staying here in town.”
Before Mom could reply, Dad cut in.
“I hope you boys will be home at least for a good few days. I’ve got some repairs I need help with in the main barn.”
David spoke first. “I’ll be there for sure the whole break, so I can help you, Dad.”
I was instantly torn. I wanted to go home and see the rest of my family; my younger brothers, Michael and Jason, were still in high school, and I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible…but I also wanted to be with Vivianne.
Clearing my throat, I set my napkin down. “I’ll be home the week of Christmas, and I can help with the repairs as well. But I’ll most likely come back here to spend some time with Vivianne.”
My parents looked at each other, then at Vivianne.
“I know you said you work two jobs, Vivianne, and couldn’t take time off,” Mom started. “But I’m organizing an event on Christmas Day for some local kids. This will be my second year doing it, and let me tell you, it’s a lot more work than I thought. It’s for kids from a local orphanage who otherwise wouldn’t have a Christmas like most. They always try to do a little something for the kids, but it’s not much.”
“What do you do for the kids, if you don’t mind me asking?”
