How did he explain? “Heather I—”
“Don’t.”
Being with Heather was surreal. Perhaps that was the issue. Talking to her came as easy as breathing. He didn’t deflate with her as he would with Crystal. Coming from money, his ex-wife always voiced what she wanted.
Some called her spoiled, but Allen at the time was too in love to see red flags. It didn’t matter now. A beautiful and vibrant woman stood before him and he froze.
“Maybe you should go.” Heather wrapped herself in the blanket again.
Allen’s lips parted to reply but… he inhaled. Was something burning? Tinsel barked.
Heather wrinkled her brow at first, but then her mouth fell open. “No, not the lasagna!” She hurried to the kitchen hopping on one foot. Allen rushed after her.
***
Heather's fork scraped her plate as she cut into her mother’s pot roast. She detected the black pepper her mother added as her final ingredient. Her eyes then diverted to the black-handled kettle on her mother's stove. Heather didn’t say much in the car when Sonia picked her up, nor did she mention anything when her mother noticed her frown. She wished she could erase the last few days.
She wouldn’t see Allen until their next appointment—she didn’t want to see him then. His face said it all. He regretted the kiss. Was she not good enough for him? Perhaps he got caught up and didn’t realize what he was doing.
Why did she lean into his touch? It made her good knee wobble. Her breath caught in her throat and all she wanted to do was kiss him. He’d been so sweet, having her mother rally the townspeople to decorate her house for Christmas. While it wasn’t the same as being at the actual ceremony, she smiled a little more about her situation.
Heather lifted her head to see her mother and Sonia staring at her in mid-bite. “Something wrong?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing,” her mother said.
“Are you okay?” Sonia raised her eyebrows.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She hated being on display. All they asked her about was Allen. She would see him tomorrow for their session. Could she cancel? No, it didn’t work the last time, and she didn’t want to explain her reasons to his supervisor.
How would they act around each other now that they’d kissed? She thought of nothing else. It grated her nerves. Though he offered his help to salvage the lasagna Abigail made for her, she asked him to leave. She then curled into bed that night recalling how secure she felt in Allen’s arms only to berate herself afterwards. The way he kissed her stole her breath.
“I think you do,” her mother said.
“Enough about me. What about you, Mom? I have yet to meet your mystery man.”
Her mother tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Was that a frown?
“You okay?” Heather asked.
Her mother put on one of her famous smiles. “Yes, and I’m happy that you’re spending the night.”
It was the least Heather could do after what her mother did to help decorate her home. Thanks to Allen. Would she stop thinking about him or the sensation of his mouth on hers? This would not end well for her. It never did.
“I’m happy to,” Heather said.
Her mother winked at her.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to stay here?” Sonia asked. “We can skip the tree lightning and stay with you.?
?
Heather waved her comment away. “No, are you kidding? I’ll be fine with Tinsel.” Her dog barked at the sound of his name.
“No, we should stay,” her mother said as she cleared the dirty dishes.
Heather swallowed the last bite of her mother’s pot roast. “Mom, it's tradition. Please, don’t worry about me. Besides, I can get around better.”
“Thanks to a handsome physical therapist.” Sonia’s grin spread across her lips.