A Christmas to Remember(65)

“What?” she asked, her heart thumping.

His phone lit up on the table, and right there on the screen—clear as day—was the name Andy Simpson. Andy Simpson. Andy Simpson. She kept saying the name in her head. Andy Simpson was the name that could pull the rug right out from under her, cut through the happiness she felt like a hot knife through butter. She willed Adam to ignore it, but she knew he wouldn’t. Disappointment at the loss of the moment was eating at her from the inside out. She tried to keep her body neutral, taking a quiet sip from her mug, but she worried that her frustration was showing.

Adam looked at the phone, clearly deliberating. It rang again. “I can call her back,” he said, nodding toward the table where it sat.

“No, it’s fine!” Carrie said, her voice a little too chipper. “Get it. Really.” She was lying. She was telling him to get it, but hoping that he’d refuse. She was wishing with everything she had that he would let the call go to voicemail, because once he spoke to Andy, they could talk for hours. Work colleague or not, she knew that when it came down to it, Andy was more glamorous, wiser about the things in Adam’s world, and more of a friend to him than she was. Given the time they spent together, Andy could possibly be even more than a friend.

Adam reached out and took the phone off the table. “Excuse me just a sec,” he said just before he tapped his phone to accept the call. “Hey,” he answered, setting his mug onto the coffee table and standing up.

Carrie had never heard him say “hey” like that before. It was so casual, so relaxed. That one word made her feel like she was light years away from him. Who had she been kidding? Carrie allowed her gaze to settle on the Christmas tree that she’d decorated with the kids. His kids. They were his family, not hers. Suddenly, her admission to him that she liked being with him came flooding back to her, and she felt the throb of mortification in her temples. Adam enjoyed being with her because she didn’t have the baggage that his family had, he hadn’t let her down like he felt he had his family. She was someone with whom he could make light conversation and fill his time when he wasn’t working—that was all. How hadn’t she seen it before now? Tonight’s supper swelled in her stomach as she realized what a fool she’d made of herself. No wonder he’d laughed at her. Thank God she hadn’t said any more than that. She had to show her face and work in his home. She’d better get herself together.

When she finally swam out of her thoughts, she realized that Adam had left the room, his mug still sitting on the coffee table. It only served to make her assumption more clear. Adam did enjoy making casual conversation with her, but when it came down to it, he’d leave in a second. Andy was the person he wanted to talk to, and she would win his attention every time. As much as it bothered Carrie to think about it, she knew that, really, that’s how it probably should be. From everything she’d seen, someone like Andy would be a catch for Adam. She was poised, polite, confident, pretty. Carrie took in a deep breath and tried to rub the stress from her eyes as she let it out.

“You okay?” she heard, her eyes still shut as she rubbed them. When she looked up, Joyce was standing next to the coffee table.

“Yes. I’m fine, thank you.”

“Where’s Adam? Did he run off on ya?”

Carrie nodded.

Joyce shook her head just slightly and sat down on the sofa beside Carrie. “I don’t know what to do with that boy.” She leaned back, folding her arms. “He hasn’t been the same since Gwen left him.”

Carrie set her mug onto the coffee table. She couldn’t drink any more anyway with the state of her stomach, and Joyce’s comment had piqued her interest, so much so that she didn’t want to do anything else but listen. “How so?” she pressed. She knew it was none of her business, but she wanted to know.

“After Gwen left, he threw himself into his work,” she said. “I’m his mother, so I can feel confident in saying that he’s never failed at anything before. I don’t think he knew what to do when his marriage failed.” The fire cracked, sending red hot sparks up the chimney. Carrie realized she’d been on the edge of her seat, holding her breath, waiting for more explanation from Joyce. “You know what I think?” she wriggled around on the sofa, getting comfortable. Carrie turned in her direction and folded her leg underneath her to face Joyce. “I think that working is his way of being a father because he knows how to be a good provider. I think he’s terrified to actually be with the kids because he may fail again. He’s very sensitive, you know.” Joyce stood up and grabbed Adam’s mug from the coffee table. “Why don’t you come in the kitchen. Sharon’s upstairs. The guys were supposed to come in here, but Walter suckered them into another game. It’d be nice to have another woman in the room.”