Fall from Love

her head and waves off the doctor’s request. “Well, it’s my birthday and my birthday wish is to have breakfast at the table and not in bed, so the doctor can just kiss it.” She gives us both a pointed look and we know better than to argue with her.
    “So, when do we head over to the Abbott’s for Thanksgiving?” Mom asks, changing the subject.
    “I think the plan is to eat around noon,” I answer, recalling Josh’s text from this morning.
    “Good. It will be nice to spend some time with them. I haven’t see Josh since this summer. What should we bring?” she asks, looking between the two of us.
    Kelly shrugs. “I asked Mrs. Abbott what we should cook, but she insists we only bring ourselves.”
    “She always did make a big spread. Well, we can’t show up there empty handed. We can at least bring some wine, or maybe some flowers,” Mom suggests.
    “I’ll pick up some wine tomorrow,” I offer.
    My family and the Abbott’s have been friends for as long as I can remember. It isn’t unusual for us to spend the holidays with them. Now that our family has shrunk to just three, it makes even more sense.
    “Good. Now that’s settled, let’s enjoy our time together and start eating these delicious looking pancakes.”
     
    ❧
     
    After breakfast, I help my mom back to her bed and, even though I should be used to seeing her so weak and tired, it still kills me.
    “So what’s this I hear about a girl? Holly, is it?” Mom asks as I prop up a pillow behind her head. Her weak voice matches her tired eyes.
    Damn my sister and her big mouth, I think to myself. “Yeah, there is a girl and her name is Holly.”
    “Tell me about her,” she says, leaning back and closing her eyes. “I want to hear about the girl that has my son’s heart.”
    “It’s not really like that, Mom. We’re just friends,” I lie. I’m not sure how to explain the situation to my mom and make her understand.
    She sighs. “That’s how all the great relationships start. You know, your dad and I were friends at first. It took him months to convince me to go out on a date with him.” She sighs again. “I think that friendship is the foundation of every healthy relationship, but you just can’t be too scared to take the next step if you want something more.”
    What the hell has my sister been telling her? “It’s a little more complicated than that.”
    She opens her eyes and grabs my hand. “Son, love is complicated, life is complicated. We’ve just got to be strong enough to get through it.” She closes her eyes again. “Don’t forget it.”
    When I get back into the kitchen, Kelly smiles and throws a dish towel in my face. “I wash, you dry.”
    “I should make you wash and dry all by yourself. You and your big mouth.” I shake my head at her. “I’m never telling you anything ever again.” I should’ve known better than to tell Kelly anything anyways, she’s always had a big mouth, but she’s also the only sister I’ve got and is the person I go to for advice with girls.
    “Hey, she’s your mom and she was curious to know what her baby boy has been up to. What was I supposed to do, lie?”
    She hands me a frying pan that’s dripping wet. I roll my eyes and take the pan out of her hands.
    “So, you didn’t tell Holly the truth, did you?” She wastes no time in picking up where she left off before breakfast.
    I rub the towel over the frying pan a few more times than is needed. “No.”
    “And why not? Wasn’t that the plan? You said that before the two of you went any further, you were going to tell her the truth.”
    I swallow hard, remembering the kiss; the freaking amazing kiss we shared just last night. “Who said we went any further? We’re still just friends.”
    She turns to look at me with a raised eyebrow. “You’re either a liar or a complete idiot. Which one is it?”
    “I only get two choices?” I smile.
    She shakes her head and rolls her eyes. “She clearly has feelings for you. The way she looked at me the other morning, when she thought I was your girlfriend, it looked like someone had stabbed her right in the chest.”
    She holds out another pan and I take it. “It’s just... she…” my voice fades and I rub the towel over the pan and set it on the counter.
    “She, what?” Kelly presses.
    “She asked me to kiss her, alright?”
    “And...”
    “And that’s none of your business.”
    She laughs. “Well, at least I now know you’re not a complete idiot. So what