Storm: Can you call me?
Me: No. I have to get back to work
Storm: How was lunch?
Me: Good. We had a nice talk. She’s looking forward to your show. She wants you to sign her boob
Storm: LMAO I wouldn’t do that
Me: I hope not!
Storm: I wouldn’t mind signing yours tho ;)
Me: I think I can pass on that.
Storm: Can you call me tonight? On your way home maybe?
Me: I’ll try
Storm: Try hard. I miss your voice.
Smiling, I stash my phone back in my purse and head back to the office. Today is my last day, and then I have five days off for Christmas. We usually go to Michael’s mom and dad’s house for Christmas dinner, and I can’t say that I ever enjoy it. They just watch television and eat, argue with each other, exchange a gift or two, and then we leave. I try to get along with his mom and sister, but they are not overly friendly so I usually occupy myself at their house by doing the dishes or reading his mom’s gossip magazines. Growing up, my family had wonderful Christmas dinners. My mom loved the holidays. She would decorate the house while my dad would string lights all over the house and yard. He would put up those plastic lit reindeer and snowmen. As a little girl, I loved it, and I couldn’t wait to grow up and have my own house to decorate.
On my way home from work, I stop at the grocery store so I can pick up some things to cook for the next week. I’m going to bake cookies, an apple pie, and make a ham for Michael because that’s his favorite. He promised he would be home for a few days, and I want to use this time to see if we can reconnect. It takes two to tango, so if something is wrong in our relationship, half of it is my fault, too. Hopefully, if I show him more attention, he’ll come around.
My phone beeps as I’m driving home so I check it when I stop at a red-light.
Storm: Hey, I was hoping to talk to you. I’m at the studio, but I can talk for a few
Frowning, I throw my phone back into my bag. I’m not going to reply or call him. I have a car full of groceries I just bought to make all of Michael’s favorite meals over the holiday. I need to stay focused.
I beat Michael home and have almost all the groceries put away when he walks in.
“Hey.” He throws his coat over the kitchen table. “What’s all this stuff?”
I turn and smile at him as I put the last of the canned goods into the cabinet. “I stopped at the grocery store on the way home, which was a total zoo, but I got everything so I can make our favorite dinners since we’re going to be home for a few days for the holiday. I got ham, and I’m going to make an apple pie and a pot roast—”
“Evelyn, I told you I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to take time off work.”