Sleigh bells ring Are you listening

 "Oh, I don't  know, maybe we should have stayed here for Thanksgiving," Yuki said when she and Brandon finally had the time to meet up at the coffee shop. She clasped her mug of creamed coffee. It was definitely sweater weather now. She slightly shivered thinking she wished she had all her Christmas shopping done.

"What do you mean?" His smile was open. He was full of laughter. Their Thanksgiving was small with his partner. They had been threatened with COVID from their work places, but they all three had Strep Throat instead.

"It was nice," Yuki started. She mentioned how festive Tess and Riley's farmhouse was. "We had good travels."

"Good," Brandon nodded and held up his black coffee to  his lips, but then put it down because it was too hot. "I think its great you traveled with the baby." He talked how they needed to get out of the house more. She could tell he was worried about Em staying home too much. 

"We met, Tess' brother," Yuki was serious then.

"Oh." Brandon looked at her brightly as if that was nice.

"That's not all." She forked a piece of her Christmas sweet roll filled with cinnamon and cranberry goodness. She wasn't sure she wanted to say much more, so she ate.

Brandon sighed, tilting her head as if she'd left him hanging. She swallowed a mouth full and reached for her coffee. He waited.

"Sterling's girlfriend, well, I'm not sure they are together together anymore," Yuki held her coffee and washed down the big bite of the gooey goodness. She cleared her throat. "Sterling's girlfriend is Melissa."

"Melissa?" Brandon looked to be surprised. 

"It was the last thing I expected."

Yuki pressed her lips tight, but finally said, "And..and she's pregnant."

"What?" It was a surprise. Brandon choked a laugh since she knew he knew the reason why Riley and Melissa broke up. Melissa didn't want to have kids. "How's..how's Riley taking it?"

"Good," Yuki nodded. "I think."

"Melissa has really surprised me. It's like she won't talk to me anymore. It was sad, you know. I thought we were friends. Like she could tell me anything,"

Brandon was straight-lipped then as if he maybe he was disappointed in Melissa, too. "I hope she's doing OK."

"I think so." Yuki nodded. "Of course, she wouldn't tell us much. It was like she was bitter just being there. Maybe it was seeing Reilly. Melissa's so indifferent now. It's like I never knew her, you know."

Yuki thought how Melissa used to be. She was so happy, but being pregnant had not made her happy and she could see the stress on Sterling's face.

Brandon asked where they were living, as if he might send a care package or even visit.

"Oh, in Lincoln," Yuki said she wasn't that far away.