Violet smiled. “He’s really smart.”
Yara bustled out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. “Hello, you two.” She moved forward and held out a hand for Violet. “Hi. I’m Yara.”
Violet shook her hand, looking shy again.
Yara grinned. “Your eyes match your name. That is so cool.”
My aunt was cool, for sure. While Uncle Buddy was bulky, Yara was petite with light brown hair, deep brown eyes, and a pert nose. It was surprising she’d birthed my six huge cousins. I handed over the pie. “Huckleberry. I made it last week but let it thaw all day. We just need to warm it up.”
Yara drew Violet into the kitchen. “I hope you’re hungry. The boys always drop in, so I make tons of food.”
With that, I let my aunt take over.
It wasafter nine when I left Violet with my aunt and uncle. Within minutes of starting to eat, Yara had gotten Violet relaxed enough to talk about her life, what she wanted to do after school, and her hopes and dreams. Uncle Buddy had pretty much adopted Violet by the end of dinner, promising he’d teach her how to snowmobile next week if she wanted to learn.
Violet really wanted to learn.
My belly was happy and my heart was full when I left them. Yara had already cleaned out the guest room that had an attached bath, saying they could decorate the room that coming week however Violet wanted and that Bowser was more than welcome to sleep with her.
I drove for about five minutes and automatically turned down the driveway of my childhood home, parking outside my parent’s garage. The Christmas lights were still on, as was the patio light. I ran through the storm, not surprised to find the door unlocked. I walked inside. “Mom?”
“Hey, honey.” My mom walked out of her office, which was to the side of the living room. She looked younger than her age with her blondish red hair and green eyes. Tonight she’d dressed in a yoga outfit with pink socks. “Yara texted me when you left, so I figured you’d stop by. Come have some tea with me.” She slipped her arm through mine and took me into the kitchen, where she already had a kettle on. “Yara is so excited to have Violet staying with them.”
I sat on a chair at the wide oak table, more relieved than I’d expected to be. “I think Violet is excited, too. At least she’s safe now.” My aunt would take care of everything in the morning with the county and state. Sometimes it was so helpful to live in a small town. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s at the Elk’s tonight but should be home in about an hour,” she said, pouring two mugs. Then she sat and pushed one toward me, taking hers and blowing on the steam. “What’s up?”
I gingerly took a sip, letting peppermint explode on my tongue. The kitchen was massive with hand-carved maple cabinets, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances fit for a big family gathering. “I can’t figure out what to get Aiden for Christmas.”
“Hmmm.” She sipped quietly, her presence calming me.
I drank my tea, my mind spinning. “I don’t know what we are. What we’re doing.” I frowned. “Where we’re going.”
She sipped some more. “Do you have to know those things right now?”
I blinked. The woman wanted grandchildren almost more than anything, and she was asking me if I wanted to slow down? “You’re confusing me.”
She patted my hand. “Why are you feeling pressured? You’ve only dated for a few months.”
I opened my mouth and then shut it again. Why was I feeling pressured? Aiden hadn’t prodded me, and I wasn’t sure what I was doing, so what was going on? “He seemed reluctant on the phone before he came home. Like he was reconsidering us dating with our current jobs.” I thought we’d taken care of that issue, but apparently it had been rattling around in my head. “I’m afraid he’s going to change his mind and leave for good.” There. I’d said it.
She stood and fetched the kettle, pouring us both another cup. “You know what to do with fears.”
I sighed, cupping the mug. “Confront them.” I guess I needed to talk to Aiden about those fears, but I was afraid of what he’d say. If I gave him the out, would he take it? He’d starred in every fantasy I’d had since I was twelve, and if he walked out of my life again, it was going to hurt. “I don’t know what I want. I mean, I want him, but I’m not ready for marriage or any of that, so…” I couldn’t find the right words.
“You know what you want,” Mom said, taking another drink. “It’s okay. What is it?”
I mulled it over, feeling at home in the family kitchen with my mom so close. “I want…a chance. Just a chance that we could have forever, even if we’re not ready for it now. I guess I need to know that he wants that, too. That there’s a potential for us somehow to have more.” Wow. I hadn’t even realized that’s where my emotions had gone.
My mom nodded. “That makes sense. Now you just need to talk to Aiden about it. He’s been in your heart most of your life, and even if he leaves, a part of him will still be there.”
I wanted more than a part of him. “That’s true.”
She smiled.
That suddenly, I finally figured out what to give him for Christmas. I’d need to visit my childhood room before I left. I grinned. “You’re the best, mom.”
“True,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “So true.”
