Page 107 of Maybe Some Other Time

“Don’t you want kids? You’re gettingso old.”

That was a powerful pout on Thelma’s face.My only saving grace against what’s going on withherface.Thelma had struck a nerve. Intentionally.

“Thirty’s the new twenty,” Gretchen told her with a sniff. “You’ll find out in about a year when you’re also thirty.”

“Or will I be ninety?”

“Stop.”

When the cookies were removed from the oven and left to cool, Thelma found Gretchen in her living room, where she connected her phone to a pair of speakers by the television. Her cat was nowhere in sight as she loaded a playlist on her phone and extended a hand to Thelma.

“What’s this?” she asked, as familiar notes began to play.

“A little something that made me think of you.”

“Elvis?”

Gretchen took her by the hand and brought her into the middle of the living room, where they had just enough room to dance like they had in Vegas. “Oh, good,” Gretchen said as they swayed together, “you know Elvis.”

“Do you think I was comatose in the ‘50s?”

“No, I just don’t…. know what year was what…”

“‘Blue Christmas’ was the number one Christmas song last Christmas.” Thelma giggled, her arms slung around Gretchen’s shoulders. “I just said Christmas three times.”

“You sure did.”

They spun in a tight circle, Thelma yelping in surprise when Gretchen attempted to dip her toward the couch. Luckily, the furniture was there to catch their mutual fall.

“You know this is a sad song, right?” Thelma said while they sat side by side on the floor. The King was still crooning, but the song was already fading away into “Mistletoe and Holly” by Frank Sinatra. “It’s about being apart on Christmas!”

“Must be why it was the top song last Christmas.”

“Tomeit was!”

“I heard both of these songs my whole life. My grandma loved them.”

“Stop! You’re making me feel ancient!”

“This is what I’ve got to go by,” Gretchen said. “Granny’s pies and whispering Merry Christmas.”

Thelma let that wash over her. Hearing the “old” songs took her back to the last Christmas she lived through, with Robbie tearing apart his presents and Debbie looking slightly confused about what she was supposed to do.Bill had to help her while I wore a fluffy house robe and brought drinks out to everyone.Then they drove to her mother’s house for Christmas dinner, all while Sandy rang them sometime before they left.Bill had answered and bellowed that one of Santa’s elves wanted to talk to me.

Megan texted her when they were ready to head out for dinner. At the last second, Thelma asked if Gretchen could come, despite her girlfriend’s protestations. That summoned Megan to Gretchen’s door, her hand waving through the window.

“Eeek! You guys finally got back together?” she shrieked the moment Thelma answered. “Sweet! Of course you should come, Gretch!”

“I don’t want to intrude,” she said. “It’s your guys’ family dinner.”

“You’re basically family. Come on!”

“What would your dad say?”

Thelma stepped in for that one. “I’m sure the reservation can accommodate one more person. It’s a total of four, not seven!”

When Robbie caught wind of what was going on, he merely let out one of his grunts that basically meantwhatever you guys want, you get.

“Thanks, Rob.” Gretchen slapped her hand on his arm, much to his chagrin. “Son.”