Yule Tidings by Savannah Dawn Read Free Book Online Page A

Applebee’s.”
    “Okay, then we’ll take you to Applebee’s,” Jason said firmly.  “What time do you want to meet there?”
    “I was just going to ask you that.  I don’t work today, so it’s really up to you two.  I don’t have anything planned.”
    “Well, when you’re ready to come into town you can call my cell, or I can call you when we start getting hungry.  Either way,” Jason looked up as Alex came down the stairs, giving her his full attention.  She wore jeans and a loose sweater, her hair pulled back into a ponytail.  “Good morning,” he said, smiling.
    “Good morning.”  Alex looked from Jason to his mother, not entirely sure what to say.  She stepped into the kitchen and stood at Jason’s side, quietly.
    “Are you hungry?  I can make some pancakes,” Anne offered half-heartedly, watching Alexia move close to Jason with some disdain.  Anne noted the casual manner in which the girl was dressed, taking a quick perusal of her attire.  Her clothing was nothing extraordinary, but rather plain and simple.  Teachers can dress like that now?  No wonder the quality of education was dropping, Anne thought.  She didn’t really want to cook for the little tramp, but Jason was really touchy; she had to be polite and offer.
    “Oh, I doubt I could finish any,” Alex answered quickly.  Even the sound of food made her queasy.  “Thank you, though.”  Alex’s voice was full of sincerity.  She knew she wouldn’t be able to eat, but it had been kind of Anne to offer to make her anything, and she didn’t want Anne to think she wasn’t appreciative of the gesture.
    Anne, on the other hand, was angry. She felt she had every right to take their plates last night, but just because she didn’t like the girl didn’t mean she’d make her go hungry.  “I wouldn’t take your plate…” Anne started, but Jason interrupted her.
    “Mom, I told you, traveling makes Alex sick.  She just meant that food wouldn’t agree with her this morning.”  Jason had seen the look in his mother’s eyes.  He knew Alex hadn’t meant anything by her comment, she’d just been honest, but his mother had taken it the wrong way, as usual.  She deserved to be hackled about her behavior in Jason’s opinion, but he was certain that Alex wasn’t trying to be mean or vindictive.  “Do you want to get going?” he asked Alex.
    “Sure.”  Alex was ready to leave.  The tension in the room was thick enough to choke her.  Anne was glaring at her as though she could cause great agony with her stare.  Suddenly, Alex wasn’t at all sure if they should even take the chance of telling his mother about the engagement.  Maybe Jason had been right when he said they should just send her an invitation.  The woman was downright rude and spiteful. 
    “Okay, well we’ll see you around lunchtime at Applebee’s, Mom.” Jason said, leading Alex out to the car, his mother following them to the front door.  Jason ran back in the house under the guise that he’d forgotten his wallet and some traveling snacks.  Quickly, he grabbed their luggage and ran back out without saying a word to his mother, who sat in the living room staring blankly at the television.  He was hoping she didn’t notice he’d taken the luggage, but he doubted anything went past her.
    Jason told Alex his plan for breaking the news to his mother in public.  Alex wasn’t sure a restaurant would be the best place to tell her, but he had a point about it being somewhere public, where Anne wasn’t as likely to make a scene.  “It still seems a little backhanded,” she said after a few minutes, “but I guess it’s the easiest, and possibly the best, way.”
    “I think so,” Jason answered.  “Come on, I want to show you something.”  Jason took Alex to the museum, and then they went to his old high school to see a couple of his old teachers.  Alex enjoyed meeting the pleasant, up-beat people Jason knew.  She even met some of his