“They were your cupcakes, Cherry. I just did the finish art. Next year I’m making fancy Jell-O; I promised your nephew... What are you smiling at?”
“Nothing.”
“You should be smiling at the road.”
“My mom said you’re invited to Christmas, too—but I told her you’d probably want to spend it with your own family.”
“My family doesn’t do holidays.”
“What do you mean—what do you guys do?”
“Nothing. My dad doesn’t think they’re worth the effort.”
“What about your sister?”
“She spends them with her girlfriend’s family, in Des Moines.”
“You and your dad could come to Christmas with us?”
“That’s sweet of you. Am I invited to come without him?”
“Tom. Of course.”
“Does your family go all-out for Christmas, too?”
“What counts as ‘all-out’?”
“Turkey. A tree.”
“A tree isn’t all-out. That’s the bare minimum. Your family doesn’t have a Christmas tree?”
“I told you, my dad doesn’t do holidays.”
“Not even when you were a kid?”
“Sometimes when I was a kid. But nothing like today. Thank you for inviting me.”
“You’re invited next year, too.”
“I’ll be there.”
“You’re invited all the years, Tom.”
“Eyes on the road, baby.”
Chapter 36
“You’re being quiet.”
“Am I? I’m just tired. And cold. Get under the blankets with me.”
“Thank you for coming tonight.”
“Thank you for inviting me. Thank your sister Honny for me.”
“You already thanked her. It was nice of you to bring pumpkin pie.”
“I didn’t know there would be fourhundredpies.”
