she’d turned the corner with the pizza in her hands and her mouth open to yell at Rick, Brian had said, defending her brother, “Don’t even think of it. I’ve been in his shoes before. It’s what we do. Even your dog knows it.”
There was nothing she could say after that, so the three of them ate their pizza, then talked, and then Brian left.
“No, but he and I were close when I was growing up. I spent a lot of time with them because my grandfather worked nights and he’d watch me after school for years. And because he lived by the high school, even when I was old enough to be home alone, it was easier to just walk there and my mother would come get me after work until I got my license.”
“So I’ve got one more man to win over?” he asked.
She reached her hand over and ran it up and down his thigh, then between his legs. “You don’t need to win anyone over but me and you already did.”
“Stop that,” he said. “We are almost there. I don’t need to walk in the door looking like I’m ready to jump you.”
“But maybe I want that.”
“Tonight,” he said. “I promise.”
“You better keep that promise.”
“I always keep my promises,” he said seriously. She smiled at him and her eyes started to fill. “What? What did I say? Jesus, don’t walk in the door like you’ve been crying.”
Then she burst out laughing. “It was just so sweet what you said. I’m sorry. I’m emotional for some reason. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and the last one I had was tense. Until I met you I didn’t even want to think of this holiday. I was dreading it and thought I’d go on vacation alone.”
“You never said that,” he said.
“There was no reason to. I’m with you and I want to spend the holidays with you.”
When she was closing on her house in October, the holidays were right in her mind and how she’d get through them alone. She’d never really been alone for a holiday but knew this year might be the first.
Then there came Brian and she was hoping she was never alone again.
“Are you sure you’re good with spending it with my family tomorrow?” he asked.
“I am. As I said, Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. How many times have you laughed when you walked in the house and found more things I’ve bought and decorated?”
“I just thought you had an inner child.”
“I do. I can’t wait to see how crazy my house will be when I’ve got kids someday.”
He parked in her parents’ driveway. “You want kids, right?”
“I do,” she said. “You know that.” They talked about it after Meena’s pregnancy announcement a few weeks ago.
“Just checking.”
“You said you did too,” she said. “Did you change your mind?”
“Of course not,” he said.
“But you’re thinking of my marriage to Alex?” she asked.
“Not really.”
“We weren’t meant to stay together. A child between us would have made things so much worse. I would have been tied to him forever. This is a horrible time to talk about this, but I wanted children right away and Alex didn’t. I thought it was odd since he was older and so family oriented. The subject of children always seemed to cause a riff with us too.”
“Well, now you know why.”
“That didn’t mean he wouldn’t want kids,” she said. “I just think he doesn’t know what he wants or who he is. He’s trying to be someone his parents want and it’s not working out so well for anyone.”
“Are you defending him?” he asked.
“Absolutely not. I’ll never defend him or anyone else that cheats. What I had with Alex wasn’t real. I know that now.” She reached for his hand and threaded their fingers together. “What you and I have. That’s as real as it gets.”
“Yes, it is,” he said.
They got out of the car and went to the porch. She didn’t even get to the front door before it was thrown open and her grandmother was standing there with her arms wide. “Robin, sweetie. Oh, I’m so happy to see you. Let me look at you,” she said, pushing her back like she always did, then yanking her in. “You are almost glowing you look so well.”
“I feel great,” she said. “I’m happy.”
“You look it.” She pushed Robin out of her hands and almost sent her tumbling. It was funny since her grandmother wasn’t that much bigger