“What? I’m not allowed to invite a friend for dinner?”
“I thought you invited a date.”
“I couldn’t really think of anyone special I wanted to bring. And Nick was going to spend the holidays alone. His mom’s in Colorado and his sister’s in California. Between the crutches and the brace, the guy couldn’t even cook himself dinner. It was the least I could do.” She rummaged in a drawer for a bottle opener and wrestled the cork from the wine.
“You’re a horrible liar.”
“Fine. I invited him because he’s a nice guy and I want you to be happy.”
“What is everyone’s obsession with finding me a husband?” I whisper-shouted. “I don’t need someone to swoop into my life and rescue me!”
“I know that!” she said, slapping the corkscrew on the counter. “I’ve known that ever since the day Steven walked out on you and the kids! You’ve been holding the three of you above water ever since. But just because you can survive alone doesn’t mean you should have to.” She took me by the shoulders with a gentle shake. “I love you, you idiot. No one’s saying you have to find a husband. But sometimes it’s nice to have a decent partner riding shotgun.” She dragged me under her arm by my neck, kissing the top of my head. Then she grabbed the wine and carried it to the table.
When I came out of the kitchen, the children were sitting on the floor, tearing into their presents. Delia jumped up and down, holding a shiny box of checkers to her chest. Zach abandoned his gift, distracted by the sparkly red ribbon it had been wrapped in.
My father sat down at the head of the table. My mother took the chair at the opposite end, pulling out a chair beside her for Delia. I sat at my mother’s left beside Vero and snapped Zach in his high chair between us. Georgia helped Nick into the chair across from me, setting his crutch against the wall and claiming the seat beside him. My sister made funny faces at Delia behind Nick’s back as my mother led us through a quick grace. She crossed herself, darting sharp looks at Georgia as she reached for the open bottle of wine. She poured herself a generous helping, grimacing as she knocked back a deep swallow while the rest of us began to pass plates and serve. Georgia and I locked eyes across the table. Our mother rarely ever drank, and when she did, it was never more than a sip or two from our father’s glass.
“Go easy there, Ma,” Georgia teased. “You won’t last through dinner. And I already bragged to Nick about your pecan pie.”
“Don’t mind your mother. She’s just upset,” my father grumbled.
“Why’s Ma upset?” Georgia asked.
“It’s nothing,” our mother said curtly.
Our father dropped a mountain of potatoes on his plate. “She’s been in a mood for weeks. She got tangled up in some online scam, and now she’s got people sending her photos and harassing her for money.”
“No one’s harassing me,” she said, stabbing her ham. “Not anymore. It’s over.”
“See?” my father said. “I’m not the only one who fell for something I saw on the internet.”
“They’re asking for money?” Nick asked.
“It was probably one of those online pyramid schemes I’ve been hearing so much about. They prey on people like us.”
“You mean old people,” Georgia said.
“Watch it,” Dad warned her.
“It wasn’t a pyramid scheme,” my mother argued. “It was just someone’s idea of a practical joke.”
Nick set down his fork and dotted his mouth with his napkin. “Online harassment is actually a crime. If someone’s bothering you, I can ask the cyber guys at work to look into it.”
“It’s fine,” my mother insisted. “It was only one picture. No one has bothered me since.”
“Since when?” I heard myself ask. A sick, dark feeling was settling in my stomach as my mother tossed back another gulp of her wine.
“Two weeks ago,” my father answered.
“What kind of picture?” Georgia asked.
Our father shrugged. “She won’t tell me.”
“Because it’s nobody’s business,” my mother snapped, ending the discussion. Her jaw was tight as she cut into her ham.
“So, Nick,” my dad said. “How’d you injure yourself?”
Nick’s attention swung to my father. “Took a couple of slugs on the job.”
My father’s eyebrows shot up. “No kidding. I bet that’s quite a story.”