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The Warrens were selected to host their Bible study’s Christmas party this year, and while Lorraine relished in the extra decorating and cooking special dishes and desserts, she knew nothing would live up to the expectations of the group. Not only did Lorraine not fit in with most of the ladies, but she also had to follow Betty Condor’s spectacular Christmas party the previous year.
On its own, Lorraine’s party would have been a success. Ed compensated for Lorraine’s quiet nature by charming their guests, and Judy, only two years old and a darling in the little green dress Lorraine made, provided a constant source of conversation for Lorraine when she ran out of hosting duties that did not require mingling.
All it took was a few pointed questions from Betty to show Lorraine the inferiority of her efforts.
“Lorraine, you’ve got such a quaint home here. However do you have time to juggle it all? Your…work and your family and your housework? Organizing this…little party must have been such an undertaking.”
Lorraine’s eyes instantly scanned the room for Ed, but before she could stammer a response, he appeared at her side with their dozing daughter in his arms.
“Judy’s making her pre-bedtime rounds,” Ed said, forcing a smile at every woman in the circle except Betty. “Say goodnight, sweetie.”
Judy’s little fist, curled against her father’s reindeer tie, unfurled in a pitiful attempt at a wave. All the ladies, including Betty, cooed at her indulgently.
The comforting warmth of Ed’s hand in the small of Lorraine’s back almost made her weep. “We make it a point to put Judy to bed together, so if you’ll excuse us,” Ed said.
Raising a perfectly plucked eyebrow, Betty couldn’t resist one more jab. “I suppose that is a lot to ask of a mother, to put her own children to bed without help.”
Ed froze, his jaw set, and, in an effort to keep her husband from doing something rash like throwing the Condors out, Lorraine plastered on a sickly sweet smile and directed all its sugary stickiness to Betty. “I know the concept of shared responsibility in a family must be so foreign to you, Betty, but it’s 1965. Do try to catch up.”
Women like Betty never scoffed—she pursed her lips, giving her the look of an agitated platypus. Susan Welling snorted into her eggnog, and Lisa Aiden suddenly found her plate of snacks riveting.
“You’re amazing,” Ed whispered into Lorraine’s ear as he guided her away from the group and through the throng of people in their living room. “But I wish you would have let me kick that—”
“Ed.”
“—woman of God out of our house.”
As they climbed the stairs, Judy stirred in her father’s arms. “I know, sweet girl,” Lorraine whispered, caressing Judy’s cheek with the back of her pointer finger. “You can hear Daddy’s heart thundering, can’t you?”
Ed stopped in Judy’s nursery doorway and leaned back against the doorframe. “Nobody talks to Mommy that way,” he said, his gaze fixed on his wife instead of their daughter.
After a furtive glance over her shoulder to ensure her guests were occupied, Lorraine slumped against the other end of the frame. “Everybody talks to Mommy that way, Daddy.” She felt the intensity of Ed’s stare but refused to look up. If she did, she’d start to cry, and then Ed would insist on running interference for her while she rocked Judy for a while. She could do this. Just a couple more hours.
“I think I know what might make you feel better.” Ed’s voice had dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, and when Lorraine chanced a glance at him, she found him staring above them with a shit-eating grin.
Mistletoe in their daughter’s doorway could have only found its way there one way.
“Oh, Ed,” she tsked.
“Nobody’s looking. And anyway, it’s our house. Who gives a damn if they are?”
Her sweet, silly boy, standing beneath mistletoe he planted as an excuse to kiss her, holding their snoozing baby, was irresistible. Licking her lips, Lorraine took Ed’s face in her hands and rested her forehead against his.
“No matter what anyone says, I know the truth. You’re perfect, and I love you.” When Ed kissed her, soft and sweet and slow, Elvis’s rendition of “Silent Night” meandering from the living room, and Lorraine believed him.