Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Well, that was unexpected.
Felicity continued to hold Sunny as she watched Justin walk away. When he disappeared from sight, she thought about the morning’s events. Talking to their former teacher certainly hadn’t been on her bingo card for Christmas. Although, it was good to see Mrs. Wilson again.
She remembered the color that had flooded Justin’s face when Mrs. Wilson had assumed they were back together. She’d stopped him from correcting her because it would have just led to a lecture of why they belonged together and a reminder of how good they’d been all of those years ago.
Felicity knew this because she’d been lectured in the past by Mrs. Wilson. After their breakup, when she would come home on break from college her senior year, she would periodically run into the woman. There were a lot of frowns and tsks. It was best to avoid all of that this visit.
Felicity sighed as she stepped back and closed the door.
She was disappointed that Justin had left so quickly, but she understood about him being late for work.
Still, she was hoping they would have time to smooth things over after Sunny’s great escape.
Felicity knew she didn’t deserve his friendship, but it didn’t stop her from hoping she could somehow earn it back.
Of course, it didn’t help that she’d fallen asleep without setting her alarm. The prior evening, she’d been so intent on creating a plan to salvage the costumes that she’d lost track of time. After seeing the costumes on the children, she could understand why the parents were upset.
And poor Mrs. Geller, she had tried her best. Felicity was certain of it. But there comes a time when the torch needs to be passed to someone else. For this year, the torch bearer would be her. She didn’t know who would do it next year. She supposed it was Merry’s problem to figure out.
“I thought I heard someone at the door.” Her mother’s voice drew her from her thoughts. “But then I came out, and there was no one here. But the door was hanging wide open. Felicity, what’s going on?”
“Arf! Arf! Arf!”
“Shh…” Felicity hadn’t had a chance to ask her mother if it would be all right if she watched Sunny. With Felicity working at the bookshop during the day and her mother working evenings at the hospital, their paths rarely crossed.
Her mother stepped into the living room. She was wearing her old pink robe. For just a second, Felicity could imagine being back home with her mother and her father.
Her mother’s eyes widened upon seeing Sunny in her arms. “Felicity, why is there a dog in your arms?”
“Uh…” Where did she even begin to explain this? Her mind raced. “Well, um… Merry Kringle needed someone to foster Sunny.”
“And you volunteered?” Her mother crossed her arms and frowned.
“No.”
Her mother arched a brow. “Then why are you holding the dog?”
“Well, um, that’s because I volunteered to babysit her during the day.”
Confusion shone in her mother’s eyes. “But you’re working at the bookshop. Don’t tell me you’re going to leave her here alone.” She shook her head. “You can’t do that.” With each word, her mother’s voice was rising in octaves. “I don’t even know if dogs are allowed in the building.”
“They are.”
“You’re sure?”
Felicity nodded. “Merry told me. Besides, I’m taking the pup to work with me.”
Her mother’s mouth gaped. It took her a moment to speak. “Does Connie know about this?” When Felicity nodded, her mother said, “I’m surprised she’d go along with this plan. Wait. If you’re only babysitting, who else is taking care of the puppy?”
“Uh…” She was hoping to avoid this subject. Under her breath she said, “Justin.”
Her mother’s brow scrunched up. “Who?”
Felicity sighed and spoke louder. “Justin.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “Well, it’s about time.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That I never understood what happened to the two of you. One day you were inseparable, and the next, you weren’t speaking to each other.”
“It wasn’t like that.” Then again, she supposed from the outside it might have looked that way. “And it doesn’t matter now. That’s all in the past.”
Her mother studied her. “Was Justin here this morning with the dog? Is that why the door was hanging open?”
Felicity told her mother the whole story about Sunny running off, the elevator ride, and then running into Mrs. Wilson. She watched her mother’s face for her reaction to the most unusual morning. But her mother’s expression was neutral. Felicity wasn’t sure what to make of it.
Once Felicity finished her story, her mother finally laughed. “You two were always getting into some sort of trouble.”
“We were not.” Then again, maybe they were. But it was never anything serious. It was more like they got into predicaments.
“You do know now that Mrs. Wilson has retired, she’s one of the town’s biggest gossips. And you’ve just given her some fresh gossip. She’ll be going on about you and Justin all weekend.” A smile settled on her mother’s lips, and the fine wrinkles showed around her eyes and mouth.
Felicity didn’t remember noticing those the last time she was home. Of course, she hadn’t been home in a long time. Guilt socked her in the gut again.
Felicity pushed aside her thoughts and instead focused on the amusement glinting in her mother’s eyes. “You don’t have to smile about it.”
“Can’t help it. It reminds me of the old days.” Her mother reached out and petted Sunny. “But what about… What’s his name? Gary?”
“Greg. And we broke up.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Her mother sent her a concerned look. “How are you doing?”
“Surprisingly well. I guess I’d been so caught up in my work that I hadn’t realized the relationship wasn’t working any longer.”
Her mother was quiet for a moment as though digesting the news. “So, this dog sitting…does this mean you’ll be spending more time with Justin?”
Was that a spark of hope in her mother’s eyes? Felicity couldn’t let her get her hopes up, because she wasn’t staying. Sooner or later, she was going back to the city. It was where her future was.
She shook her head. “We’re not getting back together if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“But he’s single.”
“Mommmm….” Heat rushed to her cheeks.
“Okay. Okay. I just thought you might want to know.” Her mother walked over to the couch, where some of the costumes were draped over the back. “What’s going on with these?”
“I wanted to ask if I could use your sewing machine.”
“Oh.” Her mother kept her back to her. “I, uh, don’t have it.”
Felicity’s thoughts turned to the house and how her mother had gotten rid of almost everything. Immediately, her mood soured. “Did you get rid of it when you got rid of the house and all of its contents?”
The question came out harsher than she’d intended, but she couldn’t take it back. And quite honestly, she didn’t want to take it back. She still didn’t understand how her mother had just erased their past—erased her father—like none of it mattered. Her heart ached at the thought.
She didn’t understand how her mother could just get rid of everything of her father’s. Didn’t her mother love him any longer? Felicity immediately knew the answer. Of course, her mother did. Growing up, Felicity always knew when she got married that she wanted a marriage like her parents.
The way they looked at each other…
The way they talked to each other…
The way they found ways to compromise…
Their lives were filled with love. Felicity wouldn’t settle for less. Maybe that was why she never stayed in any relationship long enough to consider forever.
“Of course I didn’t get rid of that stuff. It’s in storage.” Her mother turned on her heels and headed for the kitchen where she started making coffee.
She didn’t get rid of everything. Relief slammed into Felicity’s anger and frustration, leaving her struggling to gather her thoughts.
She put Sunny on the floor before following her mother into the kitchen. She washed her hands and then got two mugs out of the cabinet. When she realized that the one mug was a “Best Father” mug that she’d gotten him on Father’s Day, tears stung the backs of her eyes.
She missed him so much. When he was alive and she would have an argument with her mother, he would hear Felicity out, and then he’d tell her that her mother loved her and only wanted the best for her.
He would tell her to calm down and tell her mother her side of it.
He assured her that her mother would listen.
Felicity replaced the dad mug and got another one. With her father’s advice echoing in her head, she said, “I just don’t understand why you would sell the house without talking to me.”
Her mother turned to her. There were unshed tears in her eyes. She blinked them away. “I tried to talk to you. I called, but you were rushing off to some meeting about your promotion.”
It took Felicity a moment to recall the phone call. More guilt slammed into her. She’d been so wrapped up in her life and her career that she’d prioritized it over everything else in her life.
“I…I’m sorry. But with such an important decision, why didn’t you try again?”
“I did.” There was firmness in her mother’s voice. “I left you messages. You never called me back.”
“You did?” Felicity wanted to reach for her phone and check because if her mother called, she would have called her back…wouldn’t she?
She thought back to that intense period leading up to the announcement about the promotion. She’d worked long hours including weekends. She’d been so sure she had the promotion.
It was possible she didn’t check her missed calls. Or she saw it and told herself she’d call later, only to forget when the next wave of new manuscripts landed in her inbox.
She turned to her mother. “I’m sorry. I really am. It was an intense period for me.”
Her mother nodded. “I know. You were just living your life. There’s nothing wrong with that.”