***
Luke finished putting all the prepped dinners into plastic containers and storing them in his client’s fridge. Lois sat across from him, ten minutes into a story about her favorite Christmas memories. She was a dear old lady, and he was fully aware that half his job was to be there and chat with her for as long as she liked. Lois had been one of his first clients, and he would keep her until she didn’t need him anymore. Her son paid for him to shop and cook for her once a week. Luke usually came on Thursday evenings, but she’d had a doctor’s appointment yesterday that ran long, and he had time today before going to make appetizers for a Christmas party.
“John is coming for Christmas, you know,” she said with a contented sigh.
“Good. He told me he was.”
“I wish he’d marry his girlfriend. She’s coming too. Maybe I’ll tell them to get on with it.”
Luke laughed. “I’m sure they’d love that.”
“I’m sure they won’t. But mothers sometimes need to give that little nudge. When are you going to settle down, young man?”
“Oh, when I find the right person.” Tara’s face popped into his head, but he pushed her out. He had no business thinking about her at all. Wanting what you couldn’t have had never taken on truer meaning to him.
Lois got up and slowly made her way around the island counter to look in her fridge.
Luke pointed everything out for her. “I put the snacks on the left. The guacamole is sealed well, but I’d eat that tomorrow while it’s freshest. Hummus and veggies, spiced almonds, that lemon pudding you wanted to try, and yogurt with berries. The lunches and dinners are over here, and the heating instructions are on top.”
“They always are.” She patted his back. “You did well. Now, I know you have another client after me. Give me a kiss on the cheek and go on. I’ll see you next week, darling boy.”
He kissed her cheek, made sure he’d cleaned up everything, and took the shopping bags from the bottom of her fridge that he needed for his next stop.
He was just about to pull away from the curb when his phone rang. Derek.
Luke sighed. He’d already ignored one phone call from his friend. Ignoring two might tip off Derek that something was wrong, and technically, nothing was. Just an unpleasant feeling when he thought about Tara.
“Hey, Derek. What’s up?”
“Not much. Just lots of wedding planning. You’re going to be my best man, and don’t tell me you’re too busy this time. I don’t even need you to do anything except stand next to me at the ceremony. We’re keeping it really low-key.”
“That’s good. Low-key is good.”
“Are you coming to Amelia’s party tonight?”
“I’m making appetizers for it. So, yeah.”
“Awesome. Jody and I will see you there.”
Before Derek could hang up, Luke blurted out, “Will your ex be there? Tara?” It felt weird to say her name, but he had to know.
“I’m not sure. Amelia said she invited her, but honestly, I hope not. I wish I could cut ties completely, but she was Amelia’s friend before we got together, and I guess Tara plans to stick around for a while.”
“She and Amelia were college roommates, right?”
“Yeah. She came to see Amelia one weekend, and that’s when we started dating.” Derek let out a long sigh. “Anyway, I made the mess, so I guess I deserve whatever happens. Jody and I have been really open and honest about it. Jody knows we’re eventually going to run into Tara. She’s prepared.”
“Right. Okay, see you tonight.” Luke put his phone down and rubbed his forehead. It seemed myopic that Derek was only concerned about Jody’s preparation, and not how Tara might feel about seeing Derek and Jody together. But he couldn’t dwell on all that right now. He needed to get to Amelia’s house as quickly as possible, make the food for the party, and get out of there before Tara showed up and saw him.
His loyalty to Derek had never wavered before, but hearing him wish Tara right out of town filled him with anger. At himself, at Derek and Jody and their on-again-off-again relationship, at and at the unfairness of once again being stuck in the middle of it.
***
The warm air coming from Tara’s car heater gave off a slight cinnamon and vanilla scent thanks to the air freshener clipped to the vent. With her seat warmer on, too, Tara was toasty and slightly sleepy, and couldn’t bring herself to shut off her car and go inside just yet. On the radio, good ol’ Andy Williams was serenading her with “Silent Night.” She’d just take another minute to prepare herself, and then she’d go into Amelia’s house for the Christmas party.
She had intentionally arrived early, but maybe this was too early. There was only one other car at the curb, and it wasn’t Derek’s. He had always been late to everything, which was what she was counting on. She’d be in and out before he even left his house.
Tara unwrapped a butterscotch candy and popped the gold-colored disc into her mouth. Now she’d reached perfect bliss. She turned her head slightly as something in her periphery moved, and about jumped out of her seat at the sight of Luke coming down the walk from Amelia’s door. Concert Luke. Parade Luke. The Luke she wasn’t supposed to be seeing or thinking about ever again.
