Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“Yes!” Ainsley cheers. “Go! Run! There isn’t a second to waste!”
I don’t run—the shopping plaza is too crowded—but I speed walk like I’ve never speed walked before.
Back at my place, I’m packed and headed down to my cramped parking spot behind the building in ten minutes.
I brush the snow off the windshield and slide inside, starting the engine. While the car’s warming, I pull up directions to the Reindeer Corners Inn on my phone. I’m about to tap the “go” button when something outside of myself takes control of my thumb, and I tap the “call” button instead.
Heart surging into my throat, I lift the phone to my ear, promising myself that if Caroline answers, I’ll ask her permission to drive up to see her first. She made her wishes abundantly clear. She doesn’t see a way forward for us, she doesn’t want to see me or talk to me or text me, and she’s done nothing in the past week and a half to make me think she’s changed her mind about any of that. It feels wrong to ambush her without at least trying to make contact first.
But if someone else answers, I’ll take it as a sign that I’m clear to do this crazy thing, that luck is on my side and there might actually be hope for a happy ending, after all.
I hold my breath as the phone rings once, twice, and finally a cheery, but blessedly unfamiliar voice chirps, “Reindeer Corners Inn, this is Kayla, how can I help make your holiday more magical?”
I start to hang up, but then that power outside of myself takes control again, and I hear myself say, “Hi, Kayla, it’s Leo Fenton. I got your message from Ainsley, but I need more information. I need you to tell me why Caroline left. I can’t fight for her if I don’t know what kind of enemy I’m up against.”
Kayla makes an anxious, considering sound, then whispers, “Give me two minutes to move to the office line, and I’ll tell you everything. But you’re not going to like it, Leo. It’s bad. Really bad.”
twenty-three
. . .
Caroline
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the inn, not a drop of joy remained, not even a smidge…
At least not for me.
From the moment I left Leo in the city, I’ve been living The Wizard of Oz in reverse.
My world of bright, vivid color has faded to a depressing grayscale not even a profusion of holiday decorations and festive vibes can penetrate. Reindeer Corners is doing cheery small-town Christmas the way only it can, complete with lights and carolers and sleigh rides through Farmer Rick’s pasture at the edge of town.
But in my heart, it’s already the depths of February.
It doesn’t help that Vivian has flaked on both of our dates to meet up for coffee and a heart-to-heart about the situation with Leo. She even pretended not to be home when I swung by her place last night after work. I’d hoped to clear the air and make a plan while Frank and the kids were in the town square waiting for Santa Claus, but my repeated knocking went unanswered. I could see my cousin moving around behind the curtains when I walked up the steps, but she was committed to playing possum.
Eventually, I shouted, “I’ll be back, Vivian, and we’re going to talk this through. You can’t avoid me forever.”
And we can’t just move forward like nothing happened. Leo deserves to know that he has a child. I refuse to keep that kind of secret from anyone, let alone the man I love.
I still love him. So much.
The longing hasn’t faded a single iota. If anything, it’s gotten worse. I think about Leo all day and dream about him every night. I replay every moment of our time together—a mental bruise I can’t keep my fingers from probing—and the sight of Greg padding around the inn in festive holiday sweaters is enough to bring me to the verge of tears.
A few nights ago, I lost control and slumped down beside the fireplace in the lobby, hugging Greg as I sobbed into his fur. Thankfully, it was nearly midnight, and Henrietta, the night manager, was the only one still around. But I could tell I scared her a little. She fetched me tea, cocoa, a cranberry seltzer and a piece of her special banana bread before calling Ben, her husband, to come give me a ride home on his snowmobile so I wouldn’t have to walk a mile in the dark.
Meanwhile, Greg has been an absolute saint. The moment my bottom lip begins to tremble, he’s right here, twining his way around my ankles, purring as if to say, “Hold on, honey. Your happily ever after is coming, just wait and see.”
But I don’t want happily ever after without Leo. I don’t want anything without Leo. I’m down in the dumpiest of dumps, so low and plagued by misery that I’ve become nostalgic for my existential crisis days.