27. Smother
27
Smother
The next day, Chestnut raised his eyebrows, then stuck his phone in a cubby as I skipped into our cove.
“What?” I smoothed the back of my skirt, hoping I hadn’t flashed anybody with my enthusiastic flouncing.
“Someone seems awfully jolly,” he said.
“I have every reason to be.”
“True. You’ve got a hot guy, and I have a feeling you’ll sweep the Nice Bonus categories.” He ticked off his fingers. “Most Cheerful. Most Punctual.”
“You could win too if you weren’t sneaking in here all the time.” I bopped his nose with a candy cane.
Scrunching his face, he backed up and knocked his hat into a tree branch. “I need my sanctuary.”
“You need some caroling. Come on.” I led him out by the wrist and waved at some kids.
Frosty Santa nodded at us. “Thank you for retrieving him. We need to make sure our guests get their candy.”
“Absolutely. What do you want?” I dropped Chestnut’s wrist and dug into my pockets for two fistfuls of candy canes, then jokingly moved my hands around. “I can mix them up if you like variety.”
Frosty Santa shook his head, but he had a twinkle in his eye that I think meant a Nice bonus for me. In some ways, his reserved charm reminded me of Harvey. My mind wandered back to my beautiful barista at every opportunity. Coffee cups, fussy kids, caps and hats…they all had a happy memory tied to my almost-boyfriend.
The patter of fast-approaching feet pulled my attention. A little boy called out, “Shelby.”
I braced myself. No, no, no. I was Sugarplum right now.
Joon slammed into my leg and grunted.
Another kid stepped out from his parents’ side. “Hey, no cutting.”
“More like crash landing,” I joked, patting my little cousin’s head. “Hi, buddy. Did you come to see Santa today?”
He nodded and scratched the inside of his nose. “Mom wants a photo. She said you could get us in quickly.”
“I do know Santa. But he’d put us on the naughty list if we didn’t wait our turn, don’t you think?”
He huffed and pressed into my leg. “I hate waiting.”
“Look how well all these other people are doing. They’re on the nice list.” I gestured to the line, but he seemed unimpressed. Another kid gave him the evil eye. “You don’t want to wake up with coal in your stocking, right?”
“Santa wouldn’t do that.” Joon took one look at Frosty Santa’s furrowed brow and clutched my skirt, shimmying behind me.
A few Christmas carols kinda implied Santa was the morality police. “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake…” It was all in good fun, of course. For most, it was a fun song celebrating the spirit of generosity and a subtle way to get kids to behave around the holidays.
I patted the side of Joon's head. “If you wait nicely, I’ll make extra Christmas cookies.”
His eyes widened. “The green ones?”
I nodded.
“Okay.” Joon cackled and ran to the back of the line, his mother peeling off from the family crew to join him.
Aunt Coral adjusted her bag. “Hello, Shelby.”
“Sugarplum.” I winked and put my hands on my hips, but darted a glance at the restless people in line who glared at my family for trying to cut ahead. “Hello, everybody. Doing some shopping today?”
“You and Zack took care of most of that," Aunt Coral said. "There are just a few last-minute things. Your mother should be joining us shortly.”
I smoothed my uniform. “Oh, where is she?”
My aunt smiled smugly. “Getting coffee.”
No. She had to be kidding. Mom wouldn’t ambush my date. What was she doing?
“I’m taking my ten.” I didn’t even know who I was telling. Hoynes and Santa? Aunt Coral? Chestnut? The rest of the line didn’t care. I bolted for the break room, snatched my jacket, and sprinted to the coffee shop. Harvey never kept his phone on him when he was working. I had to warn him in person or drag Mom away before she could embarrass me.
If Harvey met the rest of my family, he’d go running faster than I was right now.
The mall was so busy I had to dodge huge clusters of families and suffer the slow walkers blocking my way. Finally, I got to The Bern. Their line almost rivaled ours today. People spilled out into the main section of the mall. Instead of waiting to order, Mom was doing a full inspection: swiping a finger on the counter to test the dust/crumb ratio, sniffing the air, etc. She eyed Harvey’s facial rings with distaste, then tapped the pickup counter. “Excuse me, young man, are you dating Shelby?”
He furrowed his brows. “Yes?”
“I’m her mother. Come here and talk to me, please.”
Mortified, I stumbled through the crowd, squeezing between people to get to them. “I’m so sorry,” I tried to tell him, approaching the counter.
“No cutting,” someone in line snapped at me.
“I’m not.” Was everyone hangry and desperate today?
Harvey sighed, wiped off his hands, and shook Mom’s. “Hey, nice to meet you.”
“Indeed.” She clasped his hand and pulled him closer to examine his forearm. “Oh, you have tattoos.”
“Just the one.” He yanked his hand back and glanced at me–probably because I was close enough he could hear my shoes jingling in alarm.
“I see.” Mom tilted her head and straightened her jacket. “Are you spending the holidays with your family? Because you’re welcome to our service. Though you may want to remove your piercings–”
“Mom.” Stop pushing things.
She started, then eyed my ensemble. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?”
I flapped my coat, fanning myself between heaving breaths. “I am. I took a break. Don't bother Harvey, okay? He’s also working.”
“They can spare you both for a few minutes.” She glanced at the glass case. “I didn’t know he baked. He should join us for Christmas cookies.”
I held the stitch in my side and gave him an apologetic look. “We make care packages for our neighbors and family. The church people sort clothes and toy donations while the kids bake cookies.”
He slipped a sleeve over a cup and smirked. “We’d both be in the ‘kid’ category?”
I giggled, but Mom gave me a stern, confused look at the inside joke, so I pretended to cough. “Yeah. Most of the time is spent preventing my cousins from eating raw dough. But the decorating part is fun. You could take a box home as payment for all the treats you’ve given me. However, I’d also understand if you’re busy.” Especially if it meant doing anything other than entertaining my family.
He blasted foam into a cup. “When is it?”
“Tomorrow,” Mom said.
“I’ll see what I can do.” He lined an order up at the takeaway window.
“Thank you.” I beamed at Harvey and dragged my mom out by the crook of her arm. “Did you even get any coffee?”
Mom raised her chin. “No, I had no need.”
“You must have some need to embarrass me, then," I said.
She frowned. “What are you talking about? You said we could meet.”
“Yes, meet. After I talked to him and planned something brief with just us three. I didn’t want you to barge into his workplace and insist he take out his piercings to make cookies with the whole family." It'd be a miracle if he still wanted to talk to me, let alone date me.
Mom huffed. “I’m sorry we’re so embarrassing. Would you like us to leave?”
I .raised my brows. “Please."
She blinked and clutched the strap of her purse.
“You obviously don’t take either of us seriously,” I snapped. “Just because someone looks different or works at the mall doesn’t mean you can walk all over them. I’d rather you leave than keep harassing people like me and Harvey.”
“Don’t take that tone with me,” she hissed, glancing around. “We were only talking. You’re the one who dragged me out and caused a scene.”
I thrust my hands between us. “Because you’ve been smothering me."
She flinched. “Fine, have all the space you need.” She marched away, tightening her purse and jacket across her chest as if to bind herself with it. My mother was completely oblivious to boundaries.
I growled and spun on my foot.
How was I supposed to promote goodwill towards mankind and peace on earth when I was ready to start a rage-induced snowball fight with my family?