“Right. ‘Bear Necessities.’”
“Exactly.”
“What made you think of that movie?” He hadn’t seen that since he was a kid.
“The girls were watching it after dinner. They love the live animation makeover.”
He’d been hiding in his room then, hoping the headache would go away.You missed movie time. Couldn’t you have been in pain some other time?“Wait? What?” Erykah’s comment about live animation caught his attention.
“Do you live under a rock?” Erykah’s mouth dropped. “All the great movies of our childhood are getting remade with real people and everything.”
He vaguely recalled that. “I don’t stream a lot of movies.” He’d rather be outdoors.
“I know. Remember Cheye’s meltdown when she discovered you didn’t have Disney Plus?”
“She’s terrifying.” He rubbed the back of his neck.
They shared a look. “Truly,” Erykah conceded, “but I love her.” A soft smile graced her lips. “I never imagined loving her more than I already did.”
They were silent for a moment. Chris wondered how the dynamic would change when his mom came to town. Would Erykah go into hiding in the basement? Would the girls like his mom? Wouldhe? He couldn’t remember the last time they’d celebrated a holiday together.
“My mom is coming to town in a couple of days.”
“Right. Thanksgiving.” Sadness filled her voice.
Lord, help me help her. I can’t imagine how hard this holiday will be.“Do you want me to take her out for dinner? Give you and the girls some space?”
“No. Please. I don’t really want to spend the holiday alone.” Pleading filled her eyes.
“Then you won’t. However, I do have to apologize in advance for anything my mom says.”
Her eyes gleamed. “Will she embarrass you? Tell stories of you as a kid?”
“More like lament my bachelor ways and try to plan our wedding.”
The smile fell right off Erykah’s face.Ouch.Did she have to look so horrified at the thought? Chris rushed to explain. “I haven’t dated in years. My mom is always asking me about when I’ll find someone new. The fact that you’re staying here with the girls might have her thinking something more is going on than just a friend helping a friend.”
“How long?”
How long for what? “What do you mean?”
“You said you hadn’t dated in years. Quantify that for me.”
Yikes. Why had she narrowed in on that? “Um. Thirteen.”
“Thirteen?” Erykah’s eyes bugged out.
Chris prepared himself for her follow-up questions. He’d hinted at his past to Lamont and Chris, but not even they knew the full scope.
“What happened?” Erykah asked.
“She left me standing at the altar.”
“As in she didn’t show up at all, or she was there, then changed her mind?”
“You want the whole story?”
“If you don’t mind sharing it.”
