Chapter 29 – Grant
TWENTY-NINE
GRANT
He didn’t want anything. There was nothing she could get him that would make him happy.
Wednesday before Christmas
To say I was curious was a slight understatement.
I could imagine any number of presents that Flowers might think would charm me.
Not that I thought she had any ulterior motives other than thanking me for the car I gave her.
Still, a car was a big deal. She would want some kind of reaction from me.
Something that indicated I thought her gift was a big deal too.
Maybe I could pretend to be moved. I’d seen other people react to opening gifts in movies and such, maybe I could just put on an act.
I thought back to my years with Allison. Before the money, her gifts were always practical. She was never one for unnecessary extravagances. Even after the money, my Christmas stocking always contained a three pack of socks and underwear.
I’d loved her, so I’d loved whatever she’d given me. I never had to act in any sort of way, but I’d never been overly exuberant either. Allison didn’t need that from me.
She knew me. There were times when I used to think she was the only one who ever truly knew me.
That I was putting as much thought into this gift, was also slightly disturbing. I’d basically been counting down the days to this moment, as opposed to looking forward to spending the holiday with my family.
Which of course, I was.
Thanksgiving, for all its faults, had at least been a reminder that I missed my family. I liked my family. It was okay to spend time with them and not feel bad, lonely or guilty.
For years feeling bad had been my level state of existence, which was why I’d preferred numbness.
Only, numbness was no longer an option. And feeling bad forever seemed a bit morose.
Perhaps contentment was within reach.
I could jog with my dad. Enjoy my mother’s fussing. Stay up with Rebecca watching movies and drinking too much.
Instantly, I flashed back to the memory of Flowers sitting on my couch, her bare feet on the cushions, her green dress hiked over her knees, while she held the gaming console in her hand, and her tongue darted out to the corner of her mouth.
That would be missing from this next holiday event.
She would be missing.
But I certainly couldn’t blame her for not coming, and in fact, I was relieved she was as adamant about it as she was. I didn’t want a repeat of my behavior, and I really had no sense if I had any control over that.
What if I…horrifying to even think it…made a pass at her?
Nothing premeditated of course. Something entirely unplanned.
Here we were, away from the office, away from Houston. Just two lonely people trying to give each other some comfort on Christmas.
Was Flowers a virgin?
Of course, I had no idea. And certainly, it wasn’t my business. She’d mentioned that the state home where she’d grown up had been co-ed, and she’d gone to public school. Surely there had been boyfriends. Sex.
Although she had mentioned she hadn’t actually dated. When she’d gone on that date with what’s-his-name.
Why was I thinking about this?
Because I was thinking about sex. With Flowers.
No, I wasn’t.
She stepped into the office and placed the box down in front of me. A red box, with a white bow afixed to the top of it.
It was here. The moment was now. Was I going to fake it? For her?
“Merry Christmas!” she announced, with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
The glint in her eye immediately had the hair on the back of my neck rising. That feeling only increased when the box, which she’d placed in the center of my desk, moved. I stood up and looked down at it, waiting to see if it happened again.
It did.
“Flowers,” I said, even as I reached for the top. “What did I tell you?”
“It’s not a puppy,” she said.
I lifted the small ginger kitten out of the box and held it with one hand while it mewled pathetically.
“What is this?”
“A kitten!” she said, jumping up and down. “Not anywhere close to the work of a puppy. He’ll use a litter box, all you have to do is leave some food out. I’ve already notified your housekeeping team…”
“No.”
“Fine. I thought this might be the case.” She reached for the kitten, took it from me, and cuddled it against her chest. “I’ll take care of him for you.”
“You will?”
“Yes. He’s still your gift, but I’ll keep him at my apartment and make sure he’s properly cared for. Then if you ever want to see him, I can just bring him to you for visitation privileges.”
Things were starting to click. “You bought me a cat as a gift, so you could keep it.”
“I did no such thing!” she said, in mock outrage. “He came free from the shelter with only a small donation. Oh, and he’s blind in one eye, so when he’s a little older you’ll need to spring for the surgery to remove it, so it doesn’t become infected.”
“Surgery?”
“You don’t want to be seen as both an absent father, as well as a cruel one, do you?”
“I am not its father!”
She smiled, lifted the kitten to her face and gave it sweet little butterfly kisses. “The adoption papers on file at the Houston Animal Shelter say otherwise.”
“You got a cat for yourself. That is not a Christmas present!”
“I’m giving you the gift of life without any of the responsibility. Some might say that’s the greatest gift of all time.”
I was annoyed. I recognized the feeling, but couldn’t identify the source. It wasn’t the kitten. It was Flowers and her non-gift, I was pretty sure.
I sat back down behind the desk. “What’s its name?”
“Uh, I believe that’s your call, Dad, but I have narrowed it down to two choices for you.”
“Do tell,” I said.
“Rocco or Bambi.”
Rocco or Bambi. “Really?”
“Think about it. You call me Flowers…”
Right. Bambi. The movie. That sounded right. She’d be playing the lead in some Disney spin off with her and the cat.
“I’m not naming an animal Bambi,” I grumbled.
“Rocco it is,” she beamed. Then she picked up his little paw and made it wave to me. “Thanks, Dad. Merry Christmas. Have a nice time with your family, and when you’re back, you can come see me whenever you want to.”
“I’ll make a note,” I drawled.
“Come on, Rocco, time to take you home,” she said, as she turned to leave. I could hear the continued conversation even as she made her way to her office. “Good thing I sprung for the extra food, kitten bed and litter box at my place just in case we couldn’t thaw his cold, dark heart, huh?”
I’d been played. If I didn’t understand anything else about what just happened, I at least knew that.
Flowers was going to have to learn I was not someone to be trifled with. Perhaps she had given me the best gift I could ask for after all.
A reason to plan revenge.