Everyone let the conversation drop with Mia’s argument. It turned to babies, always babies. Each of her sisters, except Kipling, had at least one. Her mom was a grandma twelve times over, the same number as her sister. Mia wanted to point out that Dotty had two more kids than Dolly. And if her cousin Kit didn’t have five children of her own, Dolly would never have gotten to the lofty number she had. But instead, she stayed silent.
When the meal was over, and dessert had been served, so Mia felt she could head out. As with every holiday, she was the only one able to leave her parents’ house. The rest stayed for a few days, but Mia lived in town and could leave, so she did. With leftovers in hand, she said goodbye to everyone, stopping herself from running to her Jeep to get away from these people. A few hours were all she could take with them.
Sure, she loved her family, but four hours was more than enough time with them. Way more. Apparently, her sister Kelsey was going to have a baby by summer, putting her mom in ahead in the grand baby race again. She would have to tell Mandy when she saw her. Maybe she could get Kit to have a few more, even without a husband. Before today, the number had at been dead even with Math’s new baby, but her mom was pulling ahead again. And Mia was sure that Dolly’s run was over.
Parking in front of her apartment, she saw Mandy’s car in the street but decided her information could wait. Mia needed a nap more than a gossip session right now. Heading up to her apartment, she was happy to be home early enough to get some movies and a nap in before she had to work in the morning. She could maybe even get some online shopping in.
Changing into orange lounge pants and a Landstad Tiger’s T-shirt, she sat down to look through the movie offerings on the TV. Christmas movies started today, so she was thinking about watching one of those. Get the season started right.
Before the TV couple had even met, there was a knock on her door. It was probably Mandy coming to spend the evening discussing their family’s holidays and remembering holidays past when they spent them together. Mia could tell her about the new development in the baby race.
But instead of her cousin on the other side of the door, it was her husband. Today, he was wearing gray sweatpants and his fall jacket—black with his name in white stitching.
“Rafferty.” She hated how her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
“Beautiful wife.” His eyes ran up and down her body with a sexy grin as if she wasn’t in the most unsexy clothing known to man.
Her eyes darted to her neighbor’s door. “Shut up. Someone will hear you.”
“Who? The school teacher who lives across the hall is probably gone for the weekend. She doesn’t know you anyway.”
“She does too.” Not much, but they’ve talked… once maybe.
“We need to talk.” Rafferty let it drop.
Mia agreed with the house stealer. “Yes, we do.”
“Can I come in, in case your neighbor is still here?” He looked at the neighbor’s door again.
She opened the door wider and let him in. Once inside, she closed the door and watched him slide off his jacket to reveal a white Landstad Tigers shirt stretched tight over his muscles. Muscles she wished she could remember feeling.
Turning to her as he kicked off his shoes, he said, “We’ve been married so long we’re starting to dress the same.”
“Which is why I’m still divorcing you the first chance I get.” She shut the door and leaned against it.
“Admit it, Mia, you’re madly in love with me,” he teased her.
“You have me figured out.” Still leaning against the door, she wondered why his words made her stomach drop a little. Love wasn’t a part of their relationship. It never was, and it was never going to be. “Now what do you want?”
“What are you watching?” He changed the subject as he walked towards the TV.
“A movie. You wouldn’t be interested.” She followed.
“A Christmas movie, Mrs. Brooks?” he asked as he sat down on the couch.
“Don’t call me that,” she hissed.
He ignored what she said and kept talking. “Isn’t it a little early to be watching these?”
Still standing, she folded her arms. “Once turkey has been eaten, Christmas season is here.”
“Good thing I didn’t eat turkey. The season won’t be able to start for me yet,” Rafferty said, looking at the screen.
Mia’s eyes followed his to the TV and saw that the couple had met, and she had missed it. Now she had missed the best part. “If you missed turkey, that’s on you. The season starts anyway.”
He leaned back into the cushions.
“So, the season comes no matter what?”