The
ride home was awkward. Sophie had jumped out of the car and climbed into the
backseat to allow Branson and him to talk on the way home. He was grateful that
she understood how important his son was to him.
Branson didn’t acknowledge Sophie at all,
which irked him, but he said nothing about it. Yet.
When Darron pulled the car into Sophie’s
drive, Branson looked at him questioningly.
“Why are we here?” he snapped.
Darron rolled his eyes.
“I live here,” Sophie said in a clear voice,
leaning toward Branson. “Thanks for the ride and dinner.” She opened the door
and slammed it behind her.
“Cool place. It’s on the water? It would look
so cool with Christmas lights. Don’t you think, Dad?”
Darron could hear Sophie groan.
“I put the lights on, they just don’t work.
Just leave it. You’ve done enough to cause problems tonight,” Darron mumbled as
he climbed out of the car and followed Sophie to the door.
“Don’t make this more awkward,” she told him.
“I had no idea that he was going to be like
that,” Darron said catching up to her on the front porch.
She crossed her arms. “Did you think he was
going to run up to me and yell ‘mama’? He’s a teenage boy, and I’m just a third
wheel. Thank you for dinner.”
“Can I see you again?” He reached out to rest
his hand on her sleeve.
She looked down, then back up to his face. He
felt his heart shudder, she was going to give him the brush off. “Maybe you
should concentrate on your son.”
He saw the pain in her eyes and wanted to make
her understand he was torn. He wanted to be with her, and his son. He hadn’t
known her long, but he felt a connection. Branson would grow to like her too.
He knew it. He just needed her to realize it.
“I’m not giving up on us,” he said softer
leaning in.
“There is no us,” she answered, shaking her
head.
At the same time the Christmas lights lit up
all around them turning the dark bright. On the porch, bushes, around the
windows, it looked like the gingerbread houses from her youth.
“Oh my…”
Darron stepped back to admire his handy work.
“Dad, I found the problem with these. There
was a missing lightbulb. It was easy to fix,” Branson said, coming around the
corner. “You did a good job on these.”
“Yes. I decorated it. But, Sophie doesn’t want
them lit.”
“What? Why the heck not? They look awesome.
You should see the house reflect off the water.”
Sophie started to speak, but the two of them
talked over her. She let them for a minute or two and then cleared her throat
loudly.
“I don’t mind the lights tonight. As much.”
“You’re just being nice,” Darron said. “You
hate Christmas.”
“I don’t hate it. It just get tired of it
after all the preparations I have to make at the shop. I never said I hated
it.”
Branson joined them on the porch. “I like
Christmas,” he told Sophie.
“Of course you do. You’re a kid.”
“I’m old enough to fight for my country,” he
said defensive. “I’m not a kid.”
Sophie reached for the door. “Good night.
Enjoy your time together.”
“Wait.”
Sophie turned at the same time Darron did.
Branson?
“Maybe we could come in. I was a jerk in the
car and I’m sorry. I didn’t expect my dad to have a girlfriend.”
“Oh, we’re not,” Sophie stammered. “I’m just.
There was bribery.”
“Okay. We’ll this is a story I have to hear.”
Branson reached around Sophie and opened the door.
Sophie stood on the stoop, her head cocked
sideways, wondering what the heck just happened. The kid did a 180. One minute
he was sullen and ignoring her and the next he was inviting himself in.
Darron slid his arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t even try to figure out the 18-year-old brain. It’s impossible.”
“Did you say anything to him?”
Darron shook his head and gave her a little
push in the direction of the open door.
Branson was already sitting on her couch with
his shoes off and his feet up. She was surprised he hadn’t raided the fridge
and opened himself a soda, if she had any.
“Make yourself at home,” she said under her
breath.
“Did I mention I was a jerk? Do you know how
long it takes to get here from college? A long time. And I left early to get
here earlier. I didn’t know dad was going to be on a date. I’m over tired and
excited to be home.”
“Son, have you been storing up all of your
talking? I don’t remember you ever saying this much.”
“Oh Dad, sit down. Let’s talk to your new
friend.”
Sophie didn’t like the sound of that, yet it
was better than having them leave and her house being empty and no one to share
the Christmas lights with. At that moment she realized why she didn’t like to
have lights at home. At work, she could share the holiday decorations with
everyone who came in the shop. At home, it was only her and she didn’t want to
decorate just for herself.
Having Darron and Branson here made her house
more like a home. Not that ever thought she wanted to have a teenager around, but
his dad was nice. And it was kind of a package deal.
She had found the father and son interaction
in the car interesting and enlightening as they spoke about the military and
Branson’s upbringing. She’d learned that Branson’s mother died in a jet skiing
accident in Belize after she left them when he was not even one. It explained
more about both of them.
“Sophie?”
“Sophie?”
She shook her head. They were talking to her.
Oops.
“Where’s your tree?” Branson asked. “You’re
supposed to have a tree, especially this close to Christmas.”
She shrugged. “Don’t have one. I sold all the
ones at the shop.”
“I’ll cut you down a tree tomorrow,” Branson
delclared.
Sophie shot Darron a worried look. It was his
turn to shrug. “It’s okay with me if it’s okay with you.”
“I’d like that. I can’t say I’ve ever been to
cut down a tree.”
“Whoo whoo!” Branson yelled, pumping his fist
in the air.
Sophie let her gaze slide back over to Darron.
He smiled at her and nodded. It was going to be a Merry Christmas after all.
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