The Right Man by Heatherly Bell

Author:Heatherly Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heatherly Bell

Chapter 5

“Get it, mija! Get it for me! Quick! I can’t reach.”

When Trish grabbed the last fifty-two inch plasmas, she knew she’d scored the deal of the year. It barely fit in the back-up shopping cart Trish pushed alongside Nonna’s inside the absolutely annoying Jiffy Mart. Right on cue one day past Thanksgiving, Christmas music drifted through speakers, reminding everyone to be “jolly.” If one more person shoulder-checked Trish she was going to kick them in their jolly.

She was in a foul mood anyway, hardly fit for company, much less a bunch of unruly strangers. This was definitely not the way to start the holiday season.

“Where are you even going to fit this?” Trish couldn’t imagine the plasma fitting anywhere inside their small and cluttered home.

“Don’t matter. Maybe I’ll give to Jimmy for Christmas.”

“He already—” Trish bit her lower lip. “I mean, we already have one.”

The lying. It had become exhausting. Thank God it would end today.

“I know but could you use another one? Maybe a man cave for Jimmy. If not, I’ll think of someone. Might even give it to your Poppi. If he’s good.”

“Right. No sense in missing out on the deal.”

Trish understood the method to Nonna’s Black Friday madness. First the gift, then the giftee. For all big ticket and unsentimental gifts, the first point was the price. There was no other point. It was six AM and they’d been at it for nearly two hours. There wasn’t enough coffee in the free world for this madness. She’d left her warm, soft bed reluctantly and under duress at 4 AM. But it would have been all that much harder to get out of bed with Jimmy nestled in next to her. Instead, there had been a cold spot next to her.

They were no longer getting married. She’d taken his ultimatum and he wasn’t backing down as she thought he might. How was she supposed to explain this to Nonna, for whom life was so simple? Find a good man, marry him, have children, live your life. Like Trish’s mother, Nonna hadn’t had a big wedding. Not because she was pregnant, but because it would have been impractical and outrageous for her father to spend so much money on one day. Nonna didn’t understand (or know about) all the elaborate plans that Trish had made, but she’s been supportive every step of the way. She above all others understood how much this day meant to Trish.

When they were seated for brunch at the Brown Bear Diner in Gilroy, as was their Black Friday tradition, Trish waited until they’d both ordered to drop the bomb.

“I have some bad news.” She moved the salt shaker closer to the pepper shaker. “Jimmy and I…we’re…see, we’re not…”

“Dios mio! Don’t tell me you’ve decided not to have children. Please just don’t tell me that. Look, I know Yolanda needs braces and Tony picks his nose, but mi amor, you and Jimmy will have beautiful and well behaved children.”

“I-I want children.” Trish moved the pepper shaker away from the salt.

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