Yule Tidings by Savannah Dawn Read Free Book Online

Maybe it was because the memory of the lost baby was so recent, but her anger at Jason ebbed.  “Good morning,” she said, her voice cracking ever so slightly.  He was home, and he would spend some time with her this morning without that wretched girl.
    “Morning,” Jason said, looking at her curiously.  She seemed to have deflated since last night, her anger diminished.
    “How’d you sleep?” Anne asked, trying to make small talk.  She knew how he’d slept; with that whore.
    “Alright I guess.  I’m used to my bed at home.  It’s always hard to switch,” Jason answered reservedly.  He didn’t want her to think that he had forgotten how rude she was last night, but he didn’t want to be mean either.  “You?”
    “Okay.  Did you want some coffee?  I made a pot at about five.”  Anne started to hand Jason a cup.
    “Thanks, but I don’t drink coffee, Mom.”  Jason watched his mother warily.  There was always calm before the storm. 
    “Oh.  Well there’s orange juice in the fridge, and milk, and water.”  Anne started to open the refrigerator door but Jason’s voice stopped her.
    “Mom, I’m not thirsty, really.”  Jason watched her for a minute.  She wasn’t acting normal, but then again it was hard to say what was normal anymore.  She’d changed so much in the last six years.  He almost wished he was ten years old again, and his real mother was back.  She’d had her moments, and it seemed like there was a solid year or two when she hadn’t been quite as perfect, but overall she’d been a good mother to the four of them.
    “So, is Alexia awake?” Anne asked, trying to get Jason talking.  Maybe if she talked about Alexia he would open up about his relationship with her.
    “No, I let her sleep.  She hasn’t been feeling well.  Traveling gets to her.”  Jason wasn’t sure why his mother kept calling Alex by her given name, but it was irritating, as if she couldn’t even accept her nickname.  “Mom, she goes by Alex,” he said slowly.  He didn’t want to fight with her again, but he didn’t want to just let her have her own way either.  Sometimes it seemed like he had to fight every small battle that arose to prevent a war. 
    “I just have a hard time picturing a girl as an Alex, Jason.” Anne opened the fridge.  “What would you like for breakfast?”
    “I’m not extremely hungry Mom.  I’m not much of a breakfast person anymore.”  Jason tried to ignore her jibe about Alex being a male name.  She was behaving herself for the most part.  In some relief, he heard Alex get up and go into the bathroom.  At least they could leave soon.  “I thought I’d take Alex to the mall, and maybe the museum,” Jason told her offhandedly.
    “Oh.  Well that’s nice.”  Anne wasn’t sure what to say.  She thought Jason was coming home to visit her , not to take that tramp for a tour of the city; like she would appreciate the museum anyway.
    “I thought you might join us in town for lunch, though.”  Jason thought about things on the drive back last night, and it made more sense to tell his mother the news about his engagement in a public place.  She wouldn’t be as likely to make a scene or anything.  He didn’t want to fight with her, and he certainly didn’t want to subject Alex to her theatrics. 
    “Oh.  Well, I hadn’t planned on driving into town today, but I guess I can meet you for lunch.  What did you have in mind?”  Anne didn’t really want to spend more time with Alexia, but she knew Jason would take it as an affront if she refused his invitation to eat with them.  He’d been so sensitive to anything she said about Alexia last night, Anne didn’t dare deny him.
    “Whatever really, we’re not usually picky eaters.  Big Boy, Country Kitchen, Applebee’s; it doesn’t matter to us.”  Jason tried to be accommodating as he listed off the restaurants he knew were in town.
    “Well, I’ve never been to