A Case of the Heart by Beth Shriver

Author:Beth Shriver
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: White Rose Publishing (an entity of Pelican Ventures, LLC)
Published: 2009-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

As soon as Alex got to the door, it opened, and his father grabbed his son and gave him a hug. “We just sat down to eat.”

They walked down the short hallway to the kitchen discussing the weather. Mouth-watering smells of roasted lamb drifted through the air as they entered. His mother held out her arms to embrace her youngest son and held on tight.

“Ma, you gotta let me breathe.” Alex chuckled as he gave her one last squeeze, and they all sat down together.

“It’s so good to see you. Now eat.” She piled on huge slices of lamb onto his pita and added lettuce, tomato and feta cheese.

He was glad none of his other siblings were there, which was a rarity in his family. Alex had so much on his mind. He just wanted to be home for an evening. He always had a good time meeting the guys to catch a game after a shift, but tonight he felt the need to be home.

They ate and caught up on family events and happenings. His mother finished eating and pushed her plate forward on the table. She sat with her hands in her lap and stared at Alex.

His father looked from Alex to her and got the nod from his wife to say something. “What’s on your mind, son?”

Alex was just putting the last bite of food in his mouth and stopped short. He looked at his dad and then his mom. They were on to him.

“Nothing, just felt like Ma’s gyros.” He smiled and pushed his chair back from the table, crossed his leg over his knee and tried to look nonchalant.

“No.” She scowled at her husband and then looked at Alex. “Who’s on your mind?”

Both men looked at her in surprise.

“Are you seeing someone?” His father leaned an elbow on the table and stuck a toothpick in his mouth.

How his mother knew these things always dumbfounded him. He smiled at her with sharp eyes, not knowing if he liked it or not. “It’s nothing serious.”

“Serious enough that you’re here,” his father stated.

His mother smiled and nodded.

Alex let out a breath. It wasn’t like he never came over unexpected. “I thought you’d want to know I won’t be here for Christmas dinner.”

His mother raised her eyebrows and looked at her husband. “Where will you be?”

Alex hesitated. He didn’t want to make this a bigger deal than it really was. As much as he knew where he wanted the relationship with Liz to go, he didn’t know if she would ever be as sure. “Do you remember me talking about a social worker named Liz?”

She nodded and he answered. “Why, yes, a number of times.”

Alex’s brows shot up. “Really? I didn’t know if I had mentioned her.” He paused and looked at his dad. “A number of times?”

His dad grinned as he nodded. “So, you’ll be spending Christmas with Liz?”

Alex was still stunned by the realization he had talked about her so much. “As long as the weather holds out.

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