I Drew You Once in Art Class

Seventy-Two

Gerard was waiting for Frank in his room when he heard a car door slam rather loudly, he pulled back his curtains to see an angry Linda Iero marching to the front of his house, Frank looking terrified behind her. Just then, the horrified boy in the street noticed Gerard in the window and distinctly mouthed, I'm sorry.

Oh, God.

Gerard crept down the stairs to eavesdrop, hiding just out of sight. The doorbell rang, and Mrs. Way came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her shirt. She opened the door. "Oh, hey, Frank! And you must be Linda. Nice to meet you, I'm Donna." She stuck her hand out.

"Listen, Donna," Linda said, ignoring Donna's outstretched hand. "My son plans on spending Christmas with you."

Donna retracted her hand and raised her eyebrow. "We invited him to. It's not a problem, really, we're happy to have him."

"It is a problem. When inviting him, did you even think that he might have a family at home to spend Christmas with? Did you consider that you might be taking him away from that?"

Donna's mouth opened and closed, speechless.

"I didn't think so. You should have talked to me before making this plan."

Donna thought for a minute, then sighed. "Look, I didn't know it was a big deal. The kids are pretty excited about having a friend this Christmas... you'd be welcome to join us if you'd like?"

This time it was Linda's mouth to open and close, wordless. "I couldn't possibly..."

"Of course you could possibly. It would give us a chance to know each other, better since our sons are such great friends, and you'd get to spend Christmas with Frank, he gets to hang out with the kids, everyone wins."

Linda looked like she was about to be too polite and decline, but Frank, who had been standing behind her nudged her shoulder.

"Come on, Mom, that's a great solution! Please?"

Linda sighed, leading into a gentle smile.

"Okay. Yes, I'll come. Thank you."

She couldn't believe she had just agreed to that; what was she, 17? But if this was the way to spend time with her son without making him miserable, she'd take it.