A Holiday Proposal (10 page)

Chapter 12

H
olly dismissed Matthew from her mind and started her car. She would stop by her parents’ on her way home from the train station since she still needed to talk with her mom. Good thing they were night owls and wouldn’t mind an unexpected visit. She didn’t expect a miracle, but it would be nice to have the tension alleviated between them.

She pulled up in front of their house...and saw Jessica’s car sitting in the driveway. Why hadn’t anyone told her Jessica was in town?
Guess Mom convinced Jessica to come this direction instead of taking the bus to Wenatchee.
She rested her hands on the wheel. Maybe now wasn’t the best time to stop. Then again, Jessica was reasonable and might make a good ally.

Holly squared her shoulders, grabbed her purse and got out. Taking a bracing breath, she strode across the shoveled walkway and knocked on the door.

The door swung wide, and her dad grinned. “Holly, this is a surprise. Come in.”

She stepped into the too-warm house and closed the door. “I saw Jessica’s car. Is everything okay?”

His look didn’t give anything away. “Fine. She’s in the kitchen with your mom.” He motioned toward the television. “Want to watch with me?”

Her dad was the consummate TV junkie, but she supposed that was better than some things he could be doing. “Maybe later, thanks. I was hoping to talk with Mom.” Holly planted a kiss on his cheek and sauntered toward the laughter. She pushed through the swinging kitchen door, and the laughter ceased. “Hi.” She looked from her mom to her sister. “Don’t let me stop the fun. What’s so amusing?”

Her mother frowned. “You had to be here.”

Holly stifled a sigh. She refused to fall into the pit she so often did where her mother was concerned.

Jessica wore a grin. “I didn’t know you were coming over. Join us.”

Holly shot a grateful look at her sister. “Thanks.” She noted that they each held a cup of hot chocolate. “Mmm, smells delicious. Is there any left?”

“On the stove.” Jessica stood. “I’ll get it. Have a seat.”

“Sit. I can serve myself.”

Their mother pushed from the table. “Holly is more than capable, Jessica. I’ll leave you two to visit. I have laundry to fold.”

Holly frowned. “I was hoping to talk with you, Mom.”

“Oh. I guess you can help fold.” The frown deepened as she spun and scuttled from the kitchen.

Jessica’s eyes urged Holly to follow their mother. Had Mom been complaining about her? She wouldn’t be surprised.

“Come join me when you’re finished.” Jessica thumbed through a magazine.

Holly pursed her lips and followed their mother to the laundry room, where a stack of towels was piled. She stopped at the folding table. Mom’s silence unnerved her. She certainly wasn’t making this easy, but Holly wasn’t going to let this drop. “I’m sorry I upset you this morning. Are you still angry that I wouldn’t drive you into Wenatchee?”

Silence.

She stopped herself just in time from rolling her eyes. Why is it, Mom brought out the juvenile in her? She reached for a solid white towel and folded it corner to corner. “You know I love you and Dad, right?”

Her mother shrugged.

Great. Playing the victim again. Holly pushed down her growing frustration and set the towel aside. “Because I love you, I think it’s important that we clear things up between us. I was on my way in to work when you called this morning. I couldn’t take you to Wenatchee. I’d get fired if I blew off my shift like that. Even if you can’t understand why my job is important to me, surely you can see why I need to work. I can’t afford to get fired.”

“I hear your point.” Her mother folded a washcloth and set it on a stack of several others. “I guess when you put it like that, I understand.” She pursed her lips and reached for a large bath towel.

A concession! Holly wanted to smile, but knew her mother would take it as gloating, so she schooled her face. “Also, I’m sorry I neglected to return your calls when Jessica miscarried.”

“You ought to be. That was inexcusable.”

Holly winced inwardly at the edge in her tone. “I want to be there for you when you need me.”

Her mother raised a brow, as if to question the validity of Holly’s words. Would Mom ever cut her some slack?

“There is a way you can help me be there for you.”

Mom’s hands stilled and she faced her with curious eyes.

“In the future, if you would leave a message when it’s something important, I’d know to get back to you right away.”

Her mother shook her head and resumed folding. “That’s not the kind of thing you leave in a voice mail.”

“Okay, but at least tell me you need to talk to me, and I’ll call you back as soon as possible. When you don’t leave a message, I figure you didn’t really want anything.”

“I would think my calling you would be enough to tell you I need to talk to you.”

Holly ground her teeth. There was no getting through to Mom. “Fine. I will assume that every time you call me from now on it is super important and will drop everything to return your call.” Frustration seeped into her tone.

“That is no way to speak to me. I’m your mother.”

Holly tossed up her hands. “I don’t know how to talk with you, Mom. Everything I say or do lately is wrong.”

“That’s not true.” Her mother picked up the stack of folded washcloths. “By the way, I invited Thomas from church to our Thanksgiving meal. Be sure to wear that stunning green dress. I heard from his mother that he really likes it on you.”

“I can’t believe you’re setting me up with a guy on Thanksgiving. Holidays are for family and friends.” She barely knew Thomas and had no desire to get to know him, at least not in the way her mother wanted.

“Thomas is a friend, at least his mother is. I’ve invited his parents, also. Wear the dress or don’t. I was only trying to help.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you included all of them. About Thanksgiving.” She’d hoped to clear the air between them before dropping this, but that may never happen at this rate. “I know this is sort of last minute, but I have to work.”

Her mother’s head whipped around. Her face held shock. “All day? We could have our meal at six if that works better for you.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Although, I’m not sure Thomas will be able to come then.”

Guilt pressed down on Holly. She really wanted to please her mom. If being there for the meal would do that, she’d do anything she could, regardless of Thomas. “I will do my best to be here by six, but it will depend on how busy the hospital is. Sometimes I have to stay late if there’s an emergency and they need extra hands. I’ll do everything I can to be here, though.”

Mom tossed a rag onto the table. “Don’t bother. If you can’t commit then we’ll have dinner without you at our normal time.”

“But—”

“I know your job is important to you. Apparently it’s more important than your family or finding a husband.”

“I never—”

“No—don’t worry about us. We will get along just fine without you.” Her mother reached for several more towels and whipped one end to the other.

“You’re not being fair. I want to be here. I’ll do my best to come as close to six as possible. I just wanted you to understand that if the hospital requires me to stay later, I will have to.”

Her mother stopped her frenetic motions and stared at her. “Are you
sure
you want to come?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Fine. I’ll tell everyone dinner has been moved.”

“Thanks.” She gave her mom a quick hug. “I’m going to visit with Jessica before I leave.”

“Good idea. I’ll just put these away.” She hoisted a stack of folded towels and walked from the room.

Holly blew out her breath and let her shoulders sag. That hadn’t gone the way she’d hoped, but at least they were talking. She found Jessica in the kitchen sitting at the table nibbling on a snickerdoodle cookie.

“How’d it go?”

Holly shrugged, took the pan from the stove, poured the steaming chocolate drink into a tall skinny mug and flipped the burner off. She joined Jessica at the table. “Have you noticed that Mom is more unreasonable than usual?”

“Not really, although she has been short-tempered with Dad. I wouldn’t worry, Holly. You know how she gets around the holidays.”

True. Their mother always had been irritable and high-strung this time of year. Neither of them could ever figure out why, but that had to be the reason she was being so difficult these past few weeks. Normally she wasn’t quite this unreasonable. Holly reached for a cookie. “Who made these?”

“Mom bought them at Matthew’s bakery. Ever since she tried his rolls, she’s been singing his praises.”

Holly was half surprised Mom hadn’t invited Matthew to Thanksgiving dinner. She took a bite. “Mmm. How are you doing?”

“Fine. I’m looking forward to Thursday and then shopping on Friday. Mom and I are taking the train to Seattle on Friday morning and spending the weekend.”

Why hadn’t they included her? “That sounds like fun.”

The kitchen door swung open and their mom hustled in. “Oh, good, you saved me a cookie.”

“I reserved you a ticket to join us, in case you’re free.” Jessica reached for another cookie.

“You ruined the surprise.” Their mom wagged a finger at Jessica.

“I had to. This isn’t the kind of thing you spring on a person.”

A smile tugged at her mom’s lips. “I suppose you’re right. It should be a good time. We will Christmas shop and visit some of the sights.”

Holly winced and took a bracing breath. “I work Fridays.” She willed them to understand. “I wish you would’ve told me sooner. I might have been able to trade shifts or taken a day of vacation.” Of course, being the newbie it was highly unlikely she’d score the day after Thanksgiving off. “I’m so sorry. It sounds like a lot of fun.”

Jessica rested her hand over hers. “It’s okay. We weren’t sure you’d be free, anyway.”

“You don’t know how much I want to go.” She blinked back tears of frustration. One step forward and two steps back seemed to be a constant theme in her life.

Her mom brushed at an imaginary crumb. “Oh, well. I tried. Think I’ll turn in early. You girls lock up when you leave.”

Holly turned to Jessica. “You’re driving home tonight? I know you only live in Wenatchee, but for some reason I expected you to stay over.”

Jessica shook her head. “I have to work in the morning. Speaking of work—don’t you have the early shift this week?”

“How’d you know?”

“You must’ve mentioned it. So you’re off Thanksgiving day?”

“No.”

“How is it you have to work five ten-hour days this week?”

“Oh, my goodness! You’re right. I’m so used to working five eights I spaced out that I’d have Friday off. I can’t wait to tell Mom. She’ll be so surprised.”

Jessica pushed back from the table. “She’ll be surprised, all right.” Her eyes gleamed. “This is going to be a blast.”

Holly flipped off the lights and walked outside with her sister. “See you Thursday.”

“Wait a second. You seemed bothered when you came back from talking with Mom. Did the two of you have another fight, or was it just her attitude dragging you down?”

“We’re fine. There’s nothing to be concerned about.” Holly didn’t want to burden Jessica any further with their mother’s dramatics.

“I know she can be difficult, but I think she just wants to be a part of our lives and gets testy when she feels like we don’t have time for her.”

“Okay, thanks. ’Night, Jessie.” She slid behind the wheel of her car and pondered her sister’s words. Was it true? Did their mother really only want to be included?

* * *

Matthew pulled a plate of warmed dinner from the microwave, poured sparkling cider into three glasses and a sippy cup, set everything on a tray, then joined his family by the fire. “Where’s Ava?”

“Sound asleep. I just carried her to bed.” April flashed him a tired smile.

He held out the tray to John. “The plate is for you.” He eased down and placed the tray on a side table. “This brings back memories.”

“Minus Mom’s famous sugar cookies.” John stretched out his legs and held the plate to his nose, sniffing. “This smells great.” He looked to their sister. “Thanks.”

“Oh, that reminds me.” April jumped up. “Be right back.”

Matthew glanced at John, who shrugged.

April came into the room holding a tin. “This came in today’s mail.” She pried the lid off and exposed two neat rows of sugar cookies.

Matthew raised his brows. “Are those—”

“From Mom.” April grinned wide and handed him a note and John the cookies.

Matthew cleared his throat and read. “‘Hey, kids, Johnny once told me he couldn’t have Thanksgiving without my sugar cookies. When I heard he was going to your place, Matthew, I rewrote the address label. You have your brother to thank. Enjoy! Sorry we couldn’t be there in person to deliver these, but LOL, who am I kidding—we love the Florida sunshine. You kids need to plan to come our direction next year. Love, Mom.’” Matthew laid the note aside and reached for a cookie.

“Cool!” John scooped out several and scarfed them down. “My favorite meal and my favorite dessert. It doesn’t get better than this.”

“I could’ve made these, too, you know.” Matthew frowned at his brother, who devoured three more after inhaling his dinner.

“Not like Mom.”

“I use her recipe!”

John shook his head. “Doesn’t matter.”

Mathew sighed and took a bite. Maybe his brother was right. Mom always had a knack for these. Even several days old they tasted great.

John wiped his hands on his jeans, leaving a trail of white crumbs on the denim. “I’ve been meaning to ask about the woman at the train. She looked familiar, but I can’t place her.”

April laughed. “She’s too old for you.”

“Duh. You both seemed very friendly with her, though, and I thought maybe I knew her, too.”

Matthew shook his head. “It’s doubtful. She was in my class, but you probably saw her around town.” Born five years after him, their parents claimed John was their best surprise ever.

“Oh. Will she be joining us for Thanksgiving?”

“No. She’s working.” Now, why would he assume that? “Holly is a nurse at the hospital.”