Page 24 of This Christmas
“Chanel is having a sale,” she says. “Where’s the nearest store?”
“Fifth Avenue,” I say without missing a beat.
“Seriously?”
I set the paper down and reach for her hand. “Small town, remember. There’s a mall, but it’s in Albany. Actually, a town called Colonie. Do you want to go there?”
“Ms. Caryn,” Leslie the innkeeper knocks on the door as she comes into the room. “Sorry to interrupt but I overheard you. We’re driving over for Albany today if you’d like to come with us.”
I fully expect Caryn to say no, but she readily agrees.
“That would be lovely!”
My eyes go wide at her statement. She smiles, as if saying yes is something she does often. As soon as Leslie leaves, I lean forward and touch her forehead with the back of my hand. Caryn laughs and bats my hand away.
“Stop it.”
“I can’t help it. I think my fiancée has the flu or someone had taken over her mind.”
“It’ll be fun.” Caryn shrugs.
I pick up my phone and type out a text to her. “This is the address of the Inn. If you get bored or want to come back, call for a car. I think an Uber can bring you here. But please remember, this is a mall. It’s not Fifth Avenue. I think their designer store is Macy’s.”
“I like Macy’s,” she says with a shrug.
I’m doubtful, but she deserves the benefit of the doubt. “When did you get chummy with Leslie?”
Another shrug. “We chatted over tea. She’s rather nice.”
“What’s her last name?”
Caryn’s eyes widen and then turn to slits. “You think you’re a funny guy, don’t you?”
I nod, popping my eyebrow. “What is it?”
“Grace.”
“I’m impressed.”
Caryn laughs and throws her napkin at me. She stands, comes to me, and presses her lips to mine. “Go visit your dad today.”
“I will.” I pull onto my lap and hold her. While I believe I, or even we, needed this trip, it’s messing up my feelings. “I love you.”
Caryn peers into my eyes. “I love you too.”
“Have fun today. Call me if you need anything.”
She laughs. “Don’t you mean, call my dad?”
Ouch, another shot to my ego. Before I can say anything to defend myself, she’s off my lap and gone. I tell myself she doesn’t mean to hurt my feelings. Her parents raised her to depend on her dad for everything. Still, her words sting, and are a stark reminder I’ll never be able to financially support her. Unless I take over her father’s company, and considering her dad isn’t retiring anytime soon, I guess things will always be like this.
After Caryn and Leslie leave, I head to my dad’s store. By the time I get to Main Street, it’s bustling withactivity. Last night’s snowfall has sparked some magic, and people are out being jolly.
I find a parking spot a block away and walk toward the store, stopping and talking to people who recognize me. I give them the quick and dirty—living the life in the big city, home for the holidays—type stuff. Some ask about Caryn, having heard about her from my dad, and I promise to introduce her to everyone at the tree lighting ceremony this coming Friday.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I tell them all. Except, when I think about the last one I went to my insides twist. I’d been to so many over my years living in Deer Ridge, but that very last one sticks out in my mind. It’s when I told Evangeline about the internship.
Imagine if you hadn’t?