Taking holiday meals together had become something of a tradition for our two families ever since Belle's mom died. Mr. K and Mother were comfortable around each other, although it was clear there was no trace of chemistry between them. Tonight's meal was much like any other unhurried, unpretentious, and utterly mundane. Mother and Mr. K did most of the talking, as they were the ones who hadn't seen much of each other for the past several months. And at the end of the evening,

Mother and I walked back home.

As soon as we walked back inside our house, Mother turned to me with a gleam in her eye. "He has NO idea what you're doing with his Little girl, does he?"

I blinked in surprise, pausing halfway through the process of hanging my jacket on the coat rack.

“Um, what?"

Mother just gave me a look. She knew I'd heard her.

"Uh... well..." I stammered before admitting, "I had been wondering if he'd started to suspect."

Mother snorted and shook her head.

“He doesn't have a clue.”

“You can tell that?"

Mother rolled her eyes at me and put away her coat. With her back to me, she continued, postulating, "Perhaps he has a blind spot for you

You're the son he never had, after all. You're the golden child who can do no wrong in his eyes. And he still believes his daughter is the same innocent, adoring virgin she's always been." Mother glanced back at me.

“For now."

“For now?"

Mother turned to face me, took a deep breath, and gave me a look with genuine concern in her eyes.

“Be careful, Matthew. Belle isn't just any ordinary girl you can sleep with and abandon.”

I frowned. "I have no intention of--"

“I didn't suggest you did," Mother interrupted.

“Just keep in mind that you don't have the Luxury of breaking up with her and never seeing her again. Belle's father will find out eventually, one way or another.

Once that happens, the dynamic of these Little holiday dinners is going to change. Whether it changes for the better or worse depends on you."

I blinked again.

“That's... kinda heavy..."

Mother's smile was thin. "You're an adult now. Get used to shouldering the weight."

And then she headed upstairs.

Except for Belle, I didn't see any of the BTC girls until Saturday