Under The Mistletoe

Part 19

Small Talk ...

Shelly didn't say anything more about the cooking and how often he does it, she just gave me a knowing look. We got started on the latkes. I helped shred the potatoes making sure to do everything she said. I didn't want to be responsible for screwing it up.

"How are things going for you. How is work?"

"Things are going well. Work is slow right now, but I have a few things on the books for January already including a trip to New York. I am stressing a little over what to get Avi for Christmas."

"You know he is not too terribly picky. I don't imagine that you've gotten to the socks and underwear stage in your Christmas yet. This is the first one?" She made a simple statement and followed it with a powerful question. Would Avi seriously hide a relationship from his parents for over a year?

I cleared my throat. She didn't need to know that he had gotten me lingerie for my birthday. "Yep. It's been a little over 6 months. This is our first Christmas together. I have never dated anyone during the holiday season before. So it's all a bit new to me."

"He is not ever very hard to buy for. His focus isn't on things, even though he likes things. It is more on sentiment and value. He seems quite content to have your love, but if you feel like getting him something, I believe that he needs things, like oh," She paused and looked up to the ceiling for a moment. It was such an Avi thing it was clear where he learned it from, "I don't know, perhaps dishes that match. I mean I think he owns two plates and they don't even match. What if you guys had a double date of some kind and he decided to cook. With him having only two plates you'd have to go to your place."

I muttered under my breath. 'That means he would actually have to tell people about us.' I giggled. "Not a bad idea. I will definitely put some serious thought into it."

She didn't skip a beat. She still had a mother's hearing, "He's a tight-lipped boy, for good reason. Hold faith, he'll open up and share you a little more. He's had to deal with a lot of broken trust in the past year and a half and is clearly still struggling, but he'll come around." She smiled graciously. "I guess if it's just the two of you at his place there really isn't a need. Be gentle when you push him. His rebellion is not something you want to deal with." She worked and talked so casually. Everything was ready to start cooking. "Can you hand me that oil over there please?"

I nodded and handed her the oil. "I don't so much mind that he keeps it from the general public, but I feel like I am keeping a huge secret from my family. I have met enough of his friends and family, why can't it go both ways? I don't see this ending anytime soon."

She stopped what she was doing and turned and looked at me. "I understand where you are coming from, Dear, but be patient with him. It's one of his broken pieces. I am sure you've already discovered a few of those. He's not perfect, by any means, but he has a soft and tender heart and a very hard head. He heals well, it just takes him a long time. I don't see you hurting him. I don't see you wandering around with your head stuck in the wrong places because you are dating him, you are not asking him for bragging rights, which he would not give to you. He doesn't see it either or it would not have lasted as long as it already has. I know he's very grateful that you are giving him this boon, he's mentioned it more than once in our conversations. Don't try and force this on him either. He will give you this in time. I can hear him moving towards it everytime we talk. There is something about you and the way he feels for you that is different from anything he's ever felt. Keeping him loyal and close isn't hard especially when it is what he wants and needs. I love him with all that I am. I've spent a lifetime watching him grow and learn. I very much love what you are teaching him and the man you are already helping him to become. He gets all giddy and bouncy and nervous." She smiled and looked at me with love and warmth, but the expression changed to something and knowing. "He is hiding something and your relationship is not it."