by Natalie Ann
Dinner had been fabulous that night and the next three times that Isabel cooked for him. They’d even gone shopping together the last time and she showed him how to properly pick out fruit and vegetables. Guess throwing things in the cart at random wasn’t the way to get it done.
He’d met her for breakfast two other times too, and they were starting to get closer than he ever thought they’d get. It was hard for him to believe that weeks ago he’d watched her from across the bar, admired her beauty, and brushed her off as someone who wouldn’t give him the time of day.
She was nothing like the person he’d thought she’d be on his first impression. At least not fully. And he was glad he’d been so wrong.
He knew where she lived, but she’d yet to invite him back to her place and he was wondering if she was uneasy about introducing him to any of her friends. “Do you and your roommate have a deal about bringing men to the apartment?” he’d asked one night.
“No. Why?”
“I just thought maybe that’s why I haven’t seen your place.”
“It’s not that. And no, I’m not embarrassed that I’m dating you, either,” she said, looking at him sternly. He’d thought he was doing a good job of keeping that little fear in the back of his mind, but guessed not.
“Then what is it?”
“My roommate is looking for a husband. She brings home men all the time. I can’t stand it. And she is always asking about you. I don’t trust her if I introduce you to her.”
He laughed. “So you’d be jealous?’
She wrinkled her nose adorably. “I wouldn’t call it that. But she’d flirt with you, probably rub against you a little, bat her eyelashes some.”
“Definitely jealousy.”
“Fine. Call it what you will. But if she’s home, then I won’t be bringing you there. And so far we are only together after work and she is normally there. The only time she’s gone is on the weekends, and you’re working.”
“Does it bother you that I work so much?” he asked.
“Not really. I understand it.”
“It won’t be much longer. I promise.” He liked that she’d never complained about it once.
“Really? I don’t want you quitting because of me.”
“It isn’t that. I’ve lined up a few more clients. Things are really picking up at work. My name is getting out there pretty fast and some of my clients want to meet after hours to finalize things now and again. Even though it will take a few more months before I’ll start seeing the results of that, I’ve found it’s harder to work both places. After the first of the year, I’ll be done.”
He didn’t want to tell her that he was staying an extra week so he could save up to take her somewhere for a nice Christmas dinner and get her something pretty as a gift.
“Then we can spend more time together,” she said, smiling brightly and hugging him tight. She was a hugger and he was finding that he enjoyed it, having come from a family that didn’t often express their feelings.
“We can. Just another week. You’re probably spending Christmas with your family, right?” he asked.
Christmas was just two days away. “I am. School is out tomorrow at noon. I’ll go to my parents’ house on Christmas morning sometime. What about you?”
“I’ll go visit my grandparents in the nursing home, but not much more.”
“What about your father and brothers?”
“I don’t see them much. My brothers have their own families. My father will probably end up at one of their houses.”
“They don’t invite you over?”
“Sometimes they do.”
He didn’t like spending time with his family. He was sick of the digs. Comments about thinking he was better than them. That he had a college degree and a fancy job. They didn’t think about the fact that he’d worked to get where he was. He didn’t have much more than them right now, probably less if he factored in his student loans, but he hoped to have a lot more someday. And he was working his butt off to make that happen.
“Maybe we could spend some time together later Christmas day?” she asked.
“I’d really love that a lot,” he said.
***
Isabel was finishing up the last of her plans when the phone rang in her classroom. The girls had been dismissed for a half day to get ready for the holiday, but she wanted to tie up any loose ends so she could enjoy the week off and not think about grading papers or lesson plans.
“Hello,” she said when she answered the phone.
“Ms. Carmichael, Mr. Carmichael would like you to stop into the administration building to see him before you leave for the day.”
She said, “Thanks,” and hung up the phone. The secretary might as well have just said “your father” with the tone of voice she used. She hated that she still got disapproving looks all the time. Looks that said she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her father getting her the job. That’s why she worked twice as hard and long as her coworkers to prove she deserved to be here. That she could do this regardless of her last name.
Isabel finished up quickly and grabbed her things, then made her way across campus to find out what her father wanted. She hadn’t talked to him in over a week and couldn’t imagine what he had to discuss that required her to be paged from her classroom. Why not just tell her tomorrow at Christmas?
She knocked on his door when she noticed his secretary wasn’t at her desk. “Come in,” she heard, and pushed it open.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Yes. Close the door.” First sign she wasn’t going to like what he had to say. “What’s this I hear—you’re dating someone?”
She shouldn’t be surprised he knew or that he was questioning her, but she kind of was. “How did you find out?”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
And he’d keep asking until she did. “Yes, I am. Now tell me how you found out.” She could be just as stubborn as him if she wanted.
“That doesn’t really matter, does it? I thought we agreed that you wouldn’t date anyone without clearing it with me first.”
She burst out laughing, which only made his eyes narrow. “Sorry, but I’m twenty-two. Almost twenty-three. That was our agreement when I was in high school.”
“What does he do for a living?” her father asked.
Figured he’d want to know that over a name. “He’s an investment broker.”
Her father relaxed, and then smiled. “So he’s older than you?”
“No. He’s the same age. He just graduated in May, too.”
There went the smile. “What’s his name?”
“William,” she said.
“Last name?”
“I don’t think it matters at this point. He’s a nice guy. A hard worker. I like him a lot. I don’t live under your roof anymore and you have no say over whom I date.”
She crossed her arms and glared at him. It was probably the first time she’d ever stood up to him before and she knew it wouldn’t be the last. This was the reason she left the house as soon as she could. She wasn’t her mother and she never would be. She wasn’t letting any man control her.
“I forbid you to see him again until I know more about him.”
She clenched her teeth. “If that is all you called me over here to talk about, then we’re done. I’ll see you tomorrow for Christmas. Maybe.” She wouldn’t lose her temper even though she felt like she might.
“What does that mean?” he asked, stopping her with a warning tone in his voice. The same tone that stopped her dead in her tracks as a kid. The one he used to make sure she stayed in line. Not that she ever stepped out of line or rebelled, anyway. Until now.
Now she was sick of being that person that always backed down when she really wanted to fight.
“It means that if you’re thinking about continuing this conversation at dinner tomorrow, then I might as well stay home.”
“You will not break your mother’s heart and stay away on a holiday.”
He was right. She knew it. It would upset her mother, whom she didn’t have an issue with. “Then for Mom’s sake we will not have this discussion tomorrow.”
She turned and walked out the door, slamming it harder than normal, and it felt wonderful.
Boyfriend
“Is it busy there?”
William moved the phone to his other shoulder and filled a pint for the table in the corner. “Not really. Not like I expected, but it is Christmas Eve. It seems right now it’s more about people grabbing a drink after work. I’m guessing it will die down in a few hours. I’ve got the go-ahead to close earlier if that’s the case.”
“Maybe I’ll come down and sit with you while you work,” she said.
He’d like that a lot, but didn’t want her to go out. It was cold and miserable and calling for snow. Besides, he knew she was going to see her parents early in the morning. “We’ll see each other tomorrow night, right?” he asked. They were having a late dinner after she left her parents’ house, since the bar would be closed for the holiday.
“Yes. I’m going to make a nice roast beef. I hope to have time to bake a dessert and bring it over, too. I don’t plan on staying too long with my parents.”
“Don’t rush on my account. Spend the day with your family if you want.”
He heard her sigh over the noise in the bar. He should hang up and get back to work, but couldn’t seem to put the phone down.
“We’re just having a Christmas brunch with some family. Everyone is normally gone by one. I hope to leave when they do. That gives me plenty of time to come home and bake.”
“You don’t need to. Just spending the time with you tomorrow is good enough. And remember, I’m taking you out to eat on Monday night.”
“I remember. Maybe I’ll bake cookies tonight. That’s easier than a cake. I just like bringing them fresh.”
He smiled. He couldn’t remember the last time he had home-baked cookies. “I could care less if they were made tonight. I’d eat them anyway.” Everything she made for him was delicious. “We might need to go shopping soon, though.”
“Why?” she asked.
“My pants are getting a little snug.”
She giggled and he was glad to hear it. She sounded a little off and he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. Maybe it was just his imagination combined with the noise in the bar. “Your pants look just fine on you,” she said.
He smiled, then nodded his head to the waitress when she slid an order in front of him. “I really need to get going. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then, William. Bye.”
He hung up the phone and reached for the order, preparing to fill it. “Only a woman could put that sparkle in a man’s eyes,” the waitress said.
“I’m sure you put that sparkle in plenty of men’s eyes each night when you bring their drinks to them.”
She laughed, the raspy smoker’s laugh that normally got under his skin, but tonight rainbows, puppies, and unicorns seemed to be everywhere. “It doesn’t take much to make a man happy.”
He didn’t want to agree with her, but at the moment he did. This was probably the happiest he’d been in a long time. His career was looking up. He had a beautiful girlfriend that not only wanted to be with him, but also liked to spend as much time as she could with him. And in another week, they would be able to. No more working nights and weekends. He could finally start to take her out and introduce her to friends and coworkers. Proudly show her around on his arm.
***
Isabel had been watching the clock for the last two hours. She’d never had a holiday be this tense before.
Her mother had no clue what was going on, but she knew something was wrong. Her father wasn’t looking at her at all, let alone talking to her. If it wasn’t for her trying to avoid hurting her mother’s feelings, she’d leave right now, but she couldn’t and she wouldn’t.
So when her last aunt and uncle left for the day and her father retired to his den for a cigar and a drink, she took the opportunity to make her excuse and leave. “I’m really tired, Mom, so I think I’ll go home and relax. Brunch was lovely as always.”
“I’m glad you came early and helped me cook. I do miss our time together. Do you really need to leave so early?”
She didn’t want to lie to her mother. She never had before. “I have plans later and would like to relax before I have to get ready.”
“Plans on Christmas day?” her mother asked.
Isabel looked around to make sure her father wasn’t close by. “I’m going out on a date tonight. Actually, making dinner for someone.”
“You’re letting someone into your apartment? Isabel, haven’t we taught you anything? How well do you know this man?”
“I’m going to his apartment.” She barely blinked at her mother’s gasp. “It’s not a date. Not like you’re thinking. It’s my boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” her mother asked. “Why am I just hearing about this now? You never used to keep anything from me.”
“I’m not keeping anything from you.”
“How long has he been your boyfriend?” her mother asked, crossing her arms.
“A few weeks. It’s actually the first time I’ve used that word. But we’ve gone on several dates and I’ve cooked more than a few meals for him at his place. I’m going to have Christmas dinner with him. I’m going to make him a Christmas dinner.”
“He’s not with his family today?” her mother asked. She knew her mother was more curious than judgmental.
“No. His mother passed away when he was a child. He doesn’t have a good relationship with his father, but he did spend some time with his grandparents today.”
“Your father knows you’re seeing someone, doesn’t he? Is that why he isn’t speaking to you?”
“He called me into his office yesterday regarding this, so yes, he knows.”
“Called you into his office,” her mother said, frowning. “Does he think you’re one of his employees?”
Isabel laughed. “Well, I am.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“I’m sure it’s what he meant. He forbade me to see him again until he knew more. I walked out.” She reached for her mother’s hand. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have come today. I don’t like this tension and conflict between us, but I’m not going to give in, either. I’m an adult now. He no longer has the right to tell me what to do or treat me like a child.”
“No, he doesn’t,” her mother said, some heat in her voice. Isabel always knew her mother would stand with her, but she’d never stand against her husband and Isabel wouldn’t make her mother choose sides.
“So now you know.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to have lunch with you one day this week. Just the two of us. You could tell me a little bit more about him.”
“I’d like that. His name is William. William Harper. I’d like to tell someone what a great guy he is. How he makes me feel. How much I really like him.”
“Then I want to be the person you tell it to. Call me on Monday and we’ll set up a time to meet. You can fill me in on your William then.”
She kissed her mother’s cheek and left. On the drive home, she thought of her mother’s words and the cold shoulder from her father. It’d been like that most of her life. She hated it, hated feeling like she was making her father angry, but she wasn’t backing down.
Her William, her mother said. He was that. He was definitely that. And she wasn’t giving him up for anything.
Make It Special
“Merry Christmas,” Isabel said when he opened the door for her.
He took the container out of her hand. “Merry Christmas,” he said back.
“You bought a table,” she said, her eyes lighting up, then walked over and put the bag of food that she was carrying in her other hand on it.
“I did. It’s just secondhand, but I cleaned it up, put a tablecloth on it. I figured it was better t
han sitting on the couch and eating off the coffee table all the time.”
“I don’t mind doing that,” she said. “But it will be nice to set a table for us. I should have brought over some nice plates today.”
“My white plates aren’t good enough?” he said, lifting the lid to peek at the cookies. Chocolate chip and brownies. Two of his favorites.
“They’re just fine,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “But I wanted to make it special.”
“Spending time with you is always special,” he said, then blushed when her eyes filled.
“That’s so sweet. You’re going to be one lucky man tonight,” she said.
He tried not to groan. They’d been dating a few weeks and spending a lot of time at his place…alone. But all they’d done was spend a great deal of time kissing. His hands had wandered around a bit, but he was afraid to push it any further. She’d given no sign or green light for him to proceed, regardless of how much he’d wanted to.
“I’m going to put this roast in the oven and get it started. Then cut up the potatoes so they’ll be ready to go when it’s time.”
“What kind of potatoes are you making?”
“Mashed, of course. I’ll make gravy with the drippings from the roast to go over it and I’ve got some fresh green beans. A simple, but hearty meal.”
Better than he’d had in a long time. Even the meals that Isabel had been cooking for him, however delicious, had been quick simple meals for the short time they’d been able to steal. “While dinner is cooking we could exchange gifts,” he said.
“I’d like that, too.”
He would have liked to be able to get her more. She deserved it in so many ways. He’d make it up to her at some point. It was a promise he was making to himself. That was why he’d been doing the little things lately. The table for them to eat at. A chair for her to sit on in the living area, so there was something other than his couch. A few more cooking and baking utensils that only got used when she was over. Even some new towels in the bathroom.
She never said much when she saw the new items in his house. Never did anything more than smile and kiss his cheek half the time. Acknowledgment enough that she knew she was the reason he bought it. Maybe it was because she never asked or ever complained that he felt like he should.