Home for the Holidays

Tuesday

Dominick

“Do we have to do this now?”

“When else?”

Thank God for Bluetooth or I would never get this done. Rolling my eyes even though my sister can’t see it, I shift the box in my arms as I start up the steps and continue my conversation, “Steph, I’m literally in the middle of moving here. Can we talk later?”

“I won’t be home until late, then I have to deal with the kids and Bill. This is all the time I have.”

Reaching the third floor, I continue down the hall and pass a mover. He nods to me as I carry the box into my new apartment, “Steph, Christmas is over a month away.”

“And our Thanksgiving get-together is on Friday. Mom is expecting you and your girlfriend to show up.”

“Well, she isn’t my girlfriend anymore. Hence the moving.”

“Have you told Mom?”

Hell no. Didn’t want to deal with my mother questioning every possible thing I could have done to screw up my life with Jamie while trying to move and figure out what I’m going to do next. Setting the box down in my bedroom, I look over the mess of boxes. My gaze stops on my mattress and box spring up against the wall. I hear my cat, Oscar, meowing in the attached bathroom. Poor thing is scared being locked in there, but I didn’t want him running out with everyone coming and going. Coming back to the conversation, I reply, “I haven’t had the time.”

“Make the time. Mom keeps asking me about it, and I’m tired of coming up with excuses.”

“Why do you have to tell her anything at all?”

“Because you haven’t been answering your phone when she calls. Really, Dom? You’ve been ghosting your own mother.”

I would have ghosted my sister too if I looked at my screen before answering the phone. Damn the distraction of moving. Sighing, I shake my head. “Fine. I’ll call her later tonight after I get the boxes up here. Can I go now? I’d like to be able to sleep in my bed tonight and not on the floor.”

“Fine. Don’t hurt your back.”

She ends the call before I can come up with a snarky reply. I take the earbud out of my ear. Enough with the distractions, or I will sleep on the floor tonight. Sticking it in my pocket, I pause for the movers bringing in my couch. Slipping out the door, I spot my new neighbor, at least I think she is my neighbor. All I can see is the back of her. Chestnut hair piled up in a messy bun on top of her head, slim waist, long legs, and a phone pressed against her ear.

“Ian, I told you about this last week. Mom is expecting us.”

The door to her apartment opens, and she glances back at me before going in and closing the door. So much for neighborly kindness. Whatever. I can worry about that later. I race down the stairs. Time to carry up more boxes.

Alison

Dropping my bag on the kitchen counter, I try to rein in my irritation. Sometimes Ian can be such an airhead. Over-committing is a huge problem for him. I’m going to get him a daily planner for Christmas. “I know you told your mother you would be there. But you also agreed to go to my mother’s dinner with me last week.”

“Ally, I can’t be in two places at once.”

“I know. Can you come with me to my mother’s for Thanksgiving and for Christmas we go to your side?”

“I don’t know. Look, I have to go. I have a meeting in a couple of minutes.”

“Fine, we can discuss it over dinner.”

“I have to work late.”

“Again?”

“Seriously, Ally. I have to go. Talk to you later.”

My phone beeps as the call ends. Swearing under my breath, I pull off my scarf and return to the entryway to hang it on the coat hook, along with my coat. I listen to the noise of men moving in the halls. My new neighbor. Hopefully, he isn’t as bad as the last one. That dude was psycho.

I use the peek hole to look out in the hall and catch sight of the new guy walking by with a box in his arms. Might be good looking. Hard to tell with this view. The sound of my cell phone ringing causes me to jump. Feeling like a child caught peeping, I grab my phone and answer, “Hello?”

“Alison, sweetie.”

“Hi Mom.”

“Just confirming you and Ian are still coming Thursday and to assign your dish.”

“Well, I’ll be there. Not sure about Ian.”

“Oh.”

I hate it when Mom uses that tone. Especially when she adds, “Problems?”

“Only that he promised his mother he would be at her house.”

“You told me last week he confirmed he would come here.”

“And he forgot about it when he spoke to his mother.” I move back into the kitchen and open the fridge without seeing the contents, “It’s not a big deal, Mom. So, what if he doesn’t come?”

“It would be nice to see him once in a while.”

The same thing I’ve heard for the last few months. I'm getting tired of making up excuses for him. “He knows, Mom. Sometimes things don’t work out.”

“Your aunt, Sophie, will be here with Connor. She was looking forward to meeting him.”

“Oh, sweet Jesus, Mother. I don’t need Sophie’s predictions.”

“She has been right so far.”

“No, she hasn’t. Judy is still married to Doug.”

“They’re already seeing a marriage counselor. Time will tell.”

Something I didn't know. My poor cousin. Hopefully, they work it out, to spite Sophie if for no other reason.

She lets out a deep sigh. “This means I will have to change the seating assignments.”

“Mom, why don’t you just let people sit where they want to sit?”

“Alison Marie, you know better. A proper party hostess ensures the comfort of her guests, including who they are stuck talking to during the meal.”

Another rule I’ve heard for years. But it doesn’t seem to apply to me. I always get stuck between people I don’t want to talk to. My gaze falls on the beer I keep around for Ian. Pulling one out, I pop the top, “Mom, I have to go. I’ll see you on Thursday.”

“Fine. Bring some appetizers.”

The same thing I am assigned every year. Nobody trusts my cooking skills. Sighing, I reply, “You want the meat and cheese platter?”

“Sounds good. See you Thursday.”

She means, sounds safe. I set the phone down and down a third of the beer. Ian better show up for Thursday. Otherwise, I will be stuck between my aunt’s boyfriend and my great uncle Martin for the entire night.

The beer settles like a rock in my stomach. I look at the contents of the fridge again. Nothing looks even remotely appetizing. On my own for dinner, again. My phone chirps with a text. Checking it, I smile as I read the message.

“Free for dinner?”

My friend Stacey seems to have the third eye. Not sure how she always seems to know when I need a pick-me-up. I text back, “Yup, Ian has to work late.”

“Again?”

Shaking my head, I text, “Where and when?”

“Mack’s, 30 minutes.”

It might take me that long to get there if I miss my bus. I text back in the affirmative, then close the fridge and set the beer in the sink. Grabbing my purse off the counter, I head for the door. I wrap my scarf around my neck and pull on my coat. Opening the door, I step out into the hallway without looking and run right into a hard body. His arms wrap around me to keep both of us on our feet as he says, “Careful!”

I look up into the bluest eyes I have ever seen and say, “Sorry!”

He releases me and steps back, “No problem. My fault. I should watch where I’m going.”

I smile up at him, and I mean up. Up close, my new, and very tall neighbor is a fine specimen. Muscular with dark hair, short on the sides, long on top. Square chin with a dimple in the middle. I could get used to having a good-looking neighbor. “My fault too, I know you’re moving in but was rushing without thinking.”

“Guess we both need to watch what we’re doing, then.” He holds out his hand, “Dominick, friends call me Dom.”

I take his hand and shake it, “Alison, friends call me Ally.”

We both take a step sideways to make room for the movers carrying more boxes to pass. He smiles again, “Well, Ally, it’s nice to meet you. While I’d love to get to know you better, I better get back at it.”

“I have to go anyway, welcome to the building.”

“Thanks. See you around.”

For certainty. I smile again, then turn and hurry down the steps. Wait until Stacey hears about this.

Dominick

So that is my neighbor. Good-looking lady. I give myself a mental thump on the head. Someone I should definitely avoid. Haven’t I learned anything in the last couple of months? How many times do I need to get kicked in the ass?

Shaking my head, I follow her down the stairs, my gaze anywhere but on her ass. Man, I’m an idiot. My phone rings as I follow her out the door. Distracted, I pull the earbud out of my pocket, stick it in my ear, and press the answer button, “Hello.”

“Dominick. About time you answered the phone.”

Oh, shit…Mom.

“Hi Mom. Listen, can I call you back? I’m a bit busy right now.”

“Too busy to talk to your mother, whom you’ve been avoiding?”

Cringing, I try to placate her, “I wasn’t avoiding you, Mom. Just busy moving.”

“Why are you moving? Did something happen between you and Jamie?”

Oh man, have I stepped into it now.

“Mom, I’ll have to explain later. I need to finish getting everything into the apartment before I lose the movers.”

“Don’t think you’re going to avoid this conversation.”

Tell me about it. “I know, Mom. Look, we can talk on Friday.”

“You better believe we will.”

Alison

Stepping off the bus, I hustle down the block and reach Mack’s about five minutes late. Walking in the door, I spot Stacey waving at me from a booth by the windows. I point to her and bypass the hostess. Sliding into the booth, I exclaim, “Man, what a day.”

“Right? I so needed a margarita.”

I eye her almost empty glass, “I see you started without me.”

“You snooze, you lose.”

A waitress appears and sets a plate of nachos on our table along with another margarita for Stacey. She smiles down at me, “Can I get you something?”

“Strawberry margarita please, slushed.”

“No problem.”

I pick a chip off the nacho pile, “These look fabulous.”

“We may need to order another one. I’m hungry enough to eat this whole thing.”

I shake my head at her, “How about you share, and I order some wings or something to go along with?”

“Sounds like a plan. So, what happened to Ian? He always seems to work late these days.”

I wave her off, “Some big project at work. It has him all stressed out.” I change the subject, “Oh, you need to stop by and check out my new neighbor.”

She arches an eyebrow at me, “Good looking?”

“Tall, dark, and handsome. You would die.”

“Oh, I definitely need to come ov…er.”

I finish fishing out another chip and look up. Stacey has a strange look on her face. “What is it?”

She lifts her hand and points. I turn around and look out the window. Ian stands on the corner with a woman. Dressed in heeled boots, and a coat that looked more stylish than warm, with her hair perfectly coiffed on her head, she is what every woman hopes to be. Wanting to hate her just based on her appearance, I turn back and shrug at Stacey, “Probably just one of his co-workers.”

“I don’t think so.”

I turn around again to find Ian kissing her.