Black Rose (In the Garden 2)

"Pizza," Josh called out. "Pepperoni and sausage. Extra cheese. "

"My arteries are clogging just hearing that," Mitch called out as he pulled two cans of Coke out of the refrigerator. From experience, he knew his son could steam through most of a pie on his own and still stay lean as a greyhound.

Oh, to be twenty again.

He speed-dialed the local pizza parlor, ordered a large for Josh, and a medium veggie-style for himself.

When he turned, he saw Josh leaning against the jamb, feet crossed at the ankles of his Nike Zooms. "You've got flowers in the john. "

"Poinsettias. Christmas. Deal. "

"You've got a woman. If you haven't bagged one, you've got one in the sights. So spill. "

"No woman. " He tossed one of the cans to Josh. "Just a clean apartment with a few holiday touches. "

"We have ways of making you talk. Where'd you meet her? Is she a babe?"

"Not talking. " Laughing, Mitch popped the can.

"I'll get it out of you. "

"Nothing to get. " Mitch walked by him into the living room. "Yet. "

"Ah-ha!" Josh followed him in, plopped down on the couch, propped his feet on the coffee table.

"I repeat: Not talking. And that's a prematureah-ha . Anyway, I'm just feeling a little celebrational. Book's done, which means a check will be in the mail shortly. I'm starting on a new, interesting project - "

"Already? No decompressing?"

"I've had this one dangling awhile, and I want to get on it full steam. It's better than thinking about Christmas shopping. "

"Why do you have to think about it? It's still a couple weeks away. "

"Now, that's my boy. " Mitch raised his Coke in toast. "So how are your mother and Keith?"

"Good. Fine. " Josh took a long swallow from his can. "She's all jazzed up about the holidays. You know how it is. "

"Yeah, I do. " He gave Josh an easy slap on the knee. "It's not a problem, Josh. Your mom wants you home for the holidays. That's the way it should be. "

"You could come. You know you could come. "

"I know, and I appreciate it. But it'd be better if I just hang out here. We'll have our Christmas deal before you leave. It's important to her to have you there. She's entitled. It's important for you, too. "

"I don't like thinking about you being alone. "

"Just me and my cup of gruel. " It was a sting, it always was. But it was one he'd earned.

"You could go to Grandma's. "

"Please. " Exaggerated pain covered Mitch's face, rang in his voice. "Why would you wish that on me?"

Josh smirked. "You could wear that reindeer sweater she got you a couple years ago. "

"Sorry, but there's a nice homeless person who'll be sporting that this holiday season. When do you head out?"

"Twenty-third. "

"We can do our thing the twenty-second if that works for you. "