Rebel Without A Claus

I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Can you stay there?”

“Hello?”

I jolted at my mom’s voice and looked toward the back door. “Mom? What are you doing here?”

She held out her hands. “Your dad told me to go and breathe, so I met Debbie for dinner, then thought I’d check in here since you’re closed.”

“Oh, my God, hi.” I hugged her. “Is Dad feeling better?”

“He is, honey.” She squeezed me. “He’ll be fine for Christmas, so we can start easing some of your stress here.” She slid her hands down to mine before releasing me. “And, Nick! You’re doing such an amazing job. Thank you so much for all your help. I wish I could tell you how much we appreciate it.”

Nicholas smiled. “It’s really my pleasure, Mrs. Langley.”

Mom cackled. “Mrs. Langley? Oh, sweetie, no. That’s Christine. You call me Christine.”

Oh, no.

My mom was falling in love with him.

This was the worst.

Nicholas’s smile broadened. “Christine, thank you.”

“Of course. Did you get your boiler issue sorted?”

“I’m waiting for Denny to let me know, but it’ll need replacing long-term.”

“I understand you’re coming for Christmas,” Mom said. “Is that still true?”

Help.

Help.

Nicholas glanced at me. “Quinn invited me. If you’re happy for me to crash your Christmas, I’d be honored.”

Mom smiled at him. “Of course. And if your boiler issue is a huge problem, you can stay with us.”

He can do what?

Oh, no.

Mom.

Go home.

No, Mom.

No!

Nicholas glanced at me. “Thank you, but I’m sure it can be fixed temporarily.”

“Well, if it can’t, you let me know. I’ll make sure the spare room is ready for you.”

“Thank you, but I doubt that will be necessary. I’m sure Denny can fix it.”

I wasn’t so sure, and that made this a whole lot worse.

What was my mother thinking?

I suspected that she wasn’t thinking.

Not thinking was something that ran in our family.

I’d barely been able to look him in the eye since I’d kind of tried to kiss him and he’d turned me away.

Rightfully. It’d been the right decision for him to make, but it didn’t mean it didn’t smart.

The knowledge that I had feelings for him was a tough pill to swallow. It wasn’t anything I’d had to confront, personally, until now.

Now that my mother was inviting him to stay with us if his boiler couldn’t be fixed.

It was a smart thing to do. I knew that. He couldn’t stay in a place where he was going to freeze. I didn’t want him to stay there.

I didn’t want him in my house either, though.

There were enough people in our house right now.

“Well, at least come over and eat. There are plenty of leftovers, and Michael and Verity have taken Jazzy to the movies tonight. My father is with some friends and I’m meeting Debbie for a drink,” Mom went on. “And your dad is at the tree farm getting some fresh air.”

Wow.

My sister was really embracing this whole personality change. And Dad really was feeling better.

That, or he was tired of being strapped into his bed and needed to feel useful.

“I made a chili with cornbread, and I overcooked.”

Sure you did, Mom.

I bet it was totally on accident, too.

Nicholas’s lips twitched. “I would love to.”

“Excellent. I left it all warm for you in the crockpot.” She rubbed her hands together and looked around. “You’ve done amazing here. I’m not even sure you need my help.”

My lips twisted to one side. “We don’t. Go enjoy your Christmas for once, Mom.”

She clasped my face and kissed my cheek. “You’re the best daughter ever.”

“Don’t let Verity hear you say that.”

She tapped the side of her nose and winked, then waved goodbye to us as she headed out of the grotto with a spring in her step.

I smiled.

A week ago, she was a stressed mess.

Now she was skipping.

“She’s…” Nicholas paused. “Perky.”

“That’s one word for it,” I agreed. “At least she’s not stressed anymore.”

“I guess she doesn’t often get to enjoy Christmas, right?”

I shook my head as we shut off the lights and closed up. “No. Her and Dad are usually working to the bone, so maybe him getting the flu was somewhat of a blessing. Maybe now they’ll ease up a little and share the load. They’re not old, but they’re not getting any younger, either.”

“Well, if he needs a Santa next year, I’ll happily do it.”

“I don’t think you’ll be that lucky.” I smiled wryly and locked the door. “Besides, you won’t be here, will you?”

He sighed. “I don’t know. All right?”

“Why don’t you know?”

“I just don’t. Can we leave it? I don’t want to argue with you tonight. Not when we’re actually getting along, and you haven’t threatened to murder me yet today.”

“I’m not promising anything. The night is still young.” I shuddered in the cold.

Nicholas reached out and put his arm around me. “Cold?”

“In this weather? Impossible.”

He laughed and guided me toward the parking lot. “Come on. Let’s go and get that food in your empty house that your mom did not set up at all.”