Chapter 11

Ana stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail and she’d put on makeup for a change. She wore a cream sweater with black leggings and a pair of black flats. The twinkle lights that lined the ceiling of her room cast a soft glow. Trees cast dark shadows outside her window. Holiday music drifted up from downstairs.

Everything will be okay, she said to herself. We’re getting married if Mom likes it or not.

Chance’s family, Melissa’s boyfriend, Michael, Aunt Tera and Uncle Jace were coming over for Christmas dinner. Ana’s stomach was tied up in knots just thinking about sharing her news. Things went better over the last few days when Chance visited. Melissa was treating him like she used to, like a part of the family. Ana pulled her ring out of the dresser and put it on her finger. She’d made an effort to hide it from view until tonight.

Ana took one last deep breath and left her room. She hurried downstairs to help her sister and mother in the kitchen. The turkey’s delicious aroma filled the house. When Eva saw her, she thrust a bowl into Ana’s arms and said, “The salad needs to be made.”

She gave her little sister a sideways hug. “I’ve got it. Don’t worry, D—Aunt Tera is bringing the other sides and Aiyana’s got dessert. It’ll be perfect.”

Eva rolled her eyes. “Of course it’ll be perfect. I have it all planned out.”

“I never doubted you, you just looked a little stressed,” Ana answered.

Before her sister could respond, Ana poured her a cup of egg nog and pointed her toward the living room to join their mother on the couch. It only took her ten minutes to rinse the lettuce, chop some veggies and finish the salad. At that point, headlights shone through the windows.

“Michael’s here,” Melissa said in a singsong voice.

A minute later, she let him in and gave him a hug. Ana watched from the kitchen doorway and couldn’t help but smile. She never thought she’d see her mom with someone besides her dad. You never think of your parents as people with their own, independent lives. If anyone deserved a little happiness, it was her mom.

“Hey Eva! Hello, Ana.” Michael gave their mom a kiss on the cheek and pulled off his knit hat. He leaned down to pet Daisy, who was jumping around at his feet.

“Hi, Michael,” Eva said from the couch.

Within ten minutes, everyone else arrived at the house and Daisy was beside herself with excitement. Chance held Ana’s hand and kissed her ring. Ana nuzzled her face into his neck and observed their parents talking beside the fireplace. The small house barely contained them all. Voices and laughter filled the space. It truly felt like home.

After everyone ate, Chance gave her a look and she knew it was time. They’d be leaving to go back to Lifen’s soon. She needed to break the news to her mother. Melissa sat on the couch beside Michael with her third or fourth glass of wine, something Ana hoped would cushion the blow.

Ana turned to Chance. “Maybe doing it in front of everyone isn’t such a good idea.”

He kissed her cheek and said, “I’ve got this. Let me do this the way it should be done.”

She watched Chance go into the living room, lean down and say something to Melissa. He helped her mom up and they walked past Ana as they went into the kitchen. They stood near the backdoor, away from anyone else and had a conversation in undertones. Anxious and unable to look away, Ana tried not to stare, but couldn’t help herself.

Her mother was facing away from her so she couldn’t see her expressions. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to even if she could. What if she was frowning or crinkling up her forehead in that disapproving way? Ana took a deep breath and let it seep out slowly.

After about ten minutes, Chance left her mom’s side and walked over to Ana. He kissed her cheek and said, “Your mom wants to talk to you.”

“But, what did you say to her?”

“Don’t worry about it, just go.” He winked at her and went into the living room. Daisy rushed up to meet him, her tongue showering him with wet kisses.

Ana approached her mom, whose back was to her. She took Chance’s place at the back door to face her. When she looked into her face, an unreadable array of emotion met her gaze. She could, at least, recognize the dam before the swell. Melissa’s eyes were misted over and that didn’t happen without tears following.

“Chance just asked my permission to marry you,” Melissa said in an obvious daze.

Ana asked, “And what did you say?”

Her mother ignored the question. “He said that he knew how precious you are to me and how hard it must have been raising you, having to face your mortality, that when we nearly lost you, he saw a world without you in it and didn’t like it. He said that you mean everything to him and that he would do anything for you. He wants to be by your side as long as he’s alive.” Melissa looked her in the eyes and said matter-of-factly, “He’s quite the romantic.”

Ana tilted her head to see into the other room and found him giving Daisy belly rubs. She answered, “Yeah, he is. He’s done more for me than you could ever know. I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for him. And I love him.”

“He said the same thing about you.” Her mother reached for her hand. Finding the ring on Ana’s finger, Melissa’s brow wrinkled. “Love can change into something else. It can turn into resentment and anger.”

After taking a deep breath, Ana said, “Maybe. But do you really want me living my life that way? Avoiding the good things because something bad could happen? I’ll get hurt—I have. I can’t know what will happen with Chance and myself, but what I do know is that we love each other. We love each other beyond proof.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to let you go, baby.” A tear dropped from the corner of her mother’s eye and Ana knew more would follow.

“I’ve already left though. But I’ll always be your baby and you’ll always be here for me. You don’t need to worry about me anymore, Mom. I can look after myself now.”

Melissa laughed and said, “The day I stop worrying about you I’ll be dead. If you ever become a mother you’ll know.” She wiped more tears from her eyes. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“No, Mom. I’m not pregnant.”

Had the worst passed? Had they skipped the drama and guilt trips and moved on to acceptance? Ana held her mother’s hands in hers and Melissa gave her a squeeze.

“Love you,” Ana said.

In response, her mother gave her a hug and muttered through her tears, “And I love you.”

They pulled away so that Melissa could wipe her eyes and fix her makeup, which was a messy smear.

Ana asked again, “So, what did you tell Chance?”

Melissa crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “I told him that if he ever hurts you, an angry mama bear will have nothing on me. He found that very funny, but I don’t think he took me seriously.” Her mother reached out to touch Ana’s cheek and with tenderness, she continued, “I also told him that I can see your love for each other and that I hope it only grows and deepens.”

A squeal of delight came from the living room. Then Eva’s voice rose above the holiday music, “Mom! Aunt Tera gave me tickets to the taping of my favorite cooking show! Can I take school off in January to go with her to Seattle?”

Melissa grinned and called back, “It’s already arranged!”

Ana’s heart swelled with happiness as she thought about her future with Chance. Grateful for her mom’s support, this was turning into her favorite holiday to date. She was surrounded by the people she loved and in that moment, nothing was wrong.

She hoped it would last.