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She tilted her head as she considered it. “I thought I did, but when he makes my best friend smile again, I let go of my grudge. Have you heard from the ex that did this?”
“Nick says he wants his photos by next week.”
“Comeon.If I catch Reed out in public, he’s a dead man. He might be the only person I hate more than Nick.”
“Sorry to interrupt your catch-up,” Mom said through the guest door, “but can I come in?”
I opened it up for her. “What’s up?”
“We’re redecorating the tree and I wanted to see if you’d like to help.”
“Why?” Winnie asked. “It looks like a Christmas tree to me.”
“Amma says it’s the most millennial tree she’s ever seen, so we need to redo it with the décor she gave him last year.”
“She’s very picky,” I explained to Winnie, whose eyebrows raised. She worked long hours, and with the exception of our normal Christmas Eve dinner, she didn’t celebrate the holiday. “I’ll go help. Want to join?”
“Do I get to see Nick get lectured about it?” Winnie asked.
Mom nodded. “She’s on a rant right now.”
“Yes!” Winnie said before darting out of the room. Mom watched her go before turning to me.
“How long do you think we have until they start dating?”
“Who?” I asked.
“Nick and Winnie.”
“Mom, no.Never.That won’t happen. Nick’s seeing someone.”
Mom shook her head. “I don’t see that working out. She’s like Reed was to you—not a good fit.”
I would give her that. Nick’s girlfriend Cassandra was the polar opposite of him, and not in a good way. She was so quiet that she barely spoke to us when we met her, and she faded into Nick’s side like a chameleon. “Even if you’re right about that, Winnie wouldn’t let it happen.”
“What a shame. I think they’d be good for each other. If notgood,then entertaining. He needs someone to keep him in line.”
“Okay, then tell her that.”
“Even I’m not that brave.” She shook her head and then gestured for me to follow her. “Come on, Stella. Let’s go show your older brother how to decorate a tree.”
I followed her into the living room, trying to picture Winnie and Nick together. It wasn’t impossible. Winnie had dated both men and women, but always from a distance. Nick was always very close with the people he dated. He seemed to love trying to get Cassandra to open up, choosing to talk to her in corners for hours on end.
“I don’t care what trends say,” Amma was saying to Nick. “Blue and white arenotChristmas colors.”
“It was all Walmart had!”
“You went to Walmart when I gave you legacy Christmas ornaments?”
“I wanted a cohesive theme.”
“Nick Summers, Christmas is not cohesive. It’s fun!”
“You tell him, Amma!” Winnie cheered.
“Tell me you at least decorated a tree, Winnie.”
“Not at my place, but I brought one in for the employees. Everyone brought something from home to have.”