CHAPTER 23
Madeline
Thanksgiving was full of laughter and love. Mom and Shelly invited friends that didn’t have anybody to spend it with over and the already small place was packed with people. The equally little kitchen had everything set up buffet style, so everyone could help themselves.
It was perfect. I watched as Mom mingled with her friends, sipping wine, and laughing with every person that she interacted with. She was so loving, and I missed her, making me smile across the room as I felt someone beside me against the wall where I was standing. I looked at Shelly, who was smiling widely at me. “She misses you as well.”
“I don’t know how I left sometimes. She’s so great. So are you.” We hugged each other, careful not to spill the wine in our glasses.
“Well, maybe after some experience there, you can come back here and get a job at your mom’s place. It’s good that you’re there living your life for now. Every woman needs to live alone sometime. It makes us stronger.” Shelly pulled me against her and I grinned. The two of them had always encouraged me to seek my independence. I could remember being little and having them tell me that. “You’ll be back to visit around Christmas.”
“I don’t have the actual holiday off, but I am going to visit a few days before,” I mused as I scowled. I didn’t have too much time to take off and I was leaving tomorrow night.
“We always make the best of it.” Shelly pulled me by the hand to go into the kitchen, where Mom was surrounded by some of her artist friends. I always saw her as a nurse in my memory, but she was a big supporter of the arts. I found it a relief to listen to them talk about creativity and their media for it. Even if everyone chose to do something different, they were still amazing to me. I was always something of a nerd and preferred studying over socializing, but I couldn’t help it tonight.
The eccentric guests started to file out well past ten and I yawned as I took my last sip of wine. Shelly surveyed the empty platters and smiled. “We’ll get that cleaned up tomorrow. I’m beat.”
“Are you sure? You spent all day cooking…” my voice dragged off as Mom led me to the couch.
“We’ll eat some more pie and watch a movie, like we always have. I need some time with you before you go home tomorrow.” Mom pulled me against her and hugged me as I squeaked. “Never enough time, my love.”
We watched a traditional Christmas movie before heading to bed, all tired and far too full of food. I groaned as I curled up against the pillow and closed my eyes. “I am never eating again.”
“You’ll want leftovers tomorrow,” Mom assured me as I looked at her in the dim light from the living room.
“You don’t have any.” I laughed as I remembered the plates of food that she handed out to everyone.
“There’s always that diner that you love.” Mom laughed in the dark as she settled against her pile of pillows. Damn it. I did love that place.
The morning came all too quickly, and we went to breakfast and talked for hours. I reluctantly went back to the apartment and checked to make sure that everything was packed for my flight home.
They drove me to the airport and we hugged goodbye tearfully before I made my way to the gate. I hated leaving but at the same time I was looking forward to being back in Chicago. I missed Declan. I didn’t know what was going to happen with us when I got back but I knew that I wanted to see him again.
I closed my eyes for the short flight, still tired from the busyness of the visit. Mom was always active, and this time was no different. I knew that I was going back to long shifts again and thanked her silently for the food again. She fed me well, being a nurse and knowing how sporadic meals could be.
I landed and took a cab back to my small house. I got out and looked around the quiet neighborhood before walking to my door to unlock it. Walking in, I looked around and felt like I was home as I smiled. Shelly was right about living on your own before you settled down with someone. My house was small but oozed with charm and I was happy here.
I unpacked and got to washing clothes in the small garage as I bit my lip. I barely looked at my phone the entire trip apart from taking pictures of the people and the places there. I closed the lid to the washer and walked back inside to my purse on the couch. I powered my phone down in the airplane since I was planning to doze anyway and now I powered it on. I watched as the various things flashed across the screen, smiling as a photo from my going away lunch finally settled on the phone.
There were a couple voice mails that I checked. Work. Mom sent me a text telling me to call her when I was in, so I did. I considered calling Declan, but I wasn’t sure if he still had company. Were his parents still there?
I decided to leave the decision to him as I relaxed on the couch to finish talking to Mom. I wasn’t a needy woman that got back into town and called her friend with benefits, or whatever Declan was. We didn’t even go out in public, so it was safe to assume that it was still casual. I was going back to work tomorrow night and we’d see what happened then.
I ended the call and took a hot shower before bed, intentionally leaving my phone in the living room. The hot water felt great against my skin and I lingered before drying off and dressing in my usual pants and huge shirt to sleep in. I was pleased that I could sleep in a bit tomorrow and closed my eyes, remembering that my phone was still out on the table.
I got up and hit the gym to make up for all the food that I’d eaten while I was gone, searching the room for Declan. He wasn’t there, making me wonder if he was working or still with his parents. I went home and showered again, washing my hair this time for work before braiding it into two plaits down my back. I dressed in cute scrubs and slipped on comfortable shoes before driving to the hospital, parking in the familiar lot as I accepted that I was back to reality.
I walked in, pleased by the greetings as I got my things put away in my locker. I went to the nurse’s station to find out what was happening tonight, surprised when Kelly hugged me. “How was your time with your family?” She smiled as she pulled away and asked me that, making me feel even better to be home.
I glanced around a few times to see if I could catch a glimpse of Declan. I never saw him, and I was not going to ask if he was here. We were under the radar and I wouldn’t ruin that.
We discussed what we all did for the holiday during our breaks. It wasn’t too insane tonight, so we had enough breaks to socialize. I even got a lunch and went to the cafe for a burger, since I needed to go grocery shopping to bring leftovers. I got in line to pay, still looking for Declan as irritation filled me.
I didn’t want to be this girl and I took a seat in the corner to eat and try to force him out of my thoughts.