The sound of the passing traffic filled the taxi, but in the back seat there was only a heavy silence. Freddie tried to ignore it, watching the city blocks dissolve into one another, but it felt unnatural. He and Anne had never sat in silence like this before. From the first moment they met, it was like they had known each other over a lifetime. Stories and jokes and observations were shared easily and nothing felt forced.
Of course, that was before. Now he just had to get used to the after.
The sound of his phone’s ringtone cut through the silence. He pulled it from his jacket pocket and saw his mother’s picture on the screen.
Shit.
He discreetly sent the call to voicemail.
Just as he was putting it back in his pocket, it began ringing again, his mother’s face still on the screen.
He let out a long breath and answered. “Hi, Mom.”
“Did you just send me to your voicemail?” His mother’s voicewas loud, and he had absolutely no doubt Anne could hear every word from the next seat.
“Mom—”
“I know you did. Sophie told me you can tell when there’s a click at the end of the ring.”
He squeezed his eyes closed, hoping for some patience. “I’m sorry I sent you to voicemail. I was busy.”
“Are you on a date?”
“No, Mom,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Who are you with?”
“It doesn’t—”
“Is it Anne?”
Shit.
His eyes snapped open and darted to where she was seated next to him, eyes wide. Oh, yeah, she could definitely hear everything.
“If it’s Anne, tell her we said hello!” his mother continued, then her voice became a yell. “The Wentworths say hello!”
He was going to kill her. Or at least, never help with Christmas decorations again. “Okay. Will do. Now, why are you calling?”
“To wish you luck on your job interview tomorrow! Don’t be nervous, you’ll do great.”
He sighed. “It’s just a meeting, Mom.”
“What are you going to wear?”
“Sweatpants. Flip-flops. Maybe Sophie’s Eras Tour T-shirt.”
Anne turned back to the window. He could just make out the slight shake of her shoulders, like she was laughing.
“I don’t know why I bother.” His mother let out an exasperated sigh before moving on. “All right, what time are you coming out on Thanksgiving?”
“It’s almost two weeks away. I haven’t thought about it.”
“Well, I need to know because if it’s before noon, I need youto pick up the antipasti from Aunt Susan’s. She can’t carry that thing herself.”
“Then I’ll be there before noon.”
“Okay, I’ll let her know. I’m going to bed now,” his mother said, as if he had been the one to call her. “Remember to tell Anne we said hello when you see her.”
