Page 24 of A Second Chance Christmas Kiss

She shrugged. “You mean, why do I have to go to work? I can’t do mine from anywhere. I must do it at a doll shop.”

I kept following her. “Will you go to dinner with me?”

She didn’t answer, and we turned the corner of the doll shop.

“Melody, did you hear me? What about going to dinner tomorrow?”

She punched in the code and then swung back and glared at me. “Look, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it was a rough divorce. I really am not looking for anything.”

“Just as friends. Will you go to dinner just asfriends?”

She closed her eyes for a second, like she was steeling herself to deal with a repulsive salesman. “Charles, I can’t. I’m sorry.” She marched inside and shut the door.

I stood there for a long moment, hoping she’d change her mind and open the door to apologize, but she didn’t. Finally, I turned and walked down the alley, letting my feet carry me down the street that ran alongside the beach. My heart was heavy, and not just because she’d told me no to dinner. It seemed like herlife hadn’t worked out the way she’d wanted it either. Whatever I’d said about Christmas plans had clearly triggered something.

I hadn’t dwelled on her a lot over the years. Okay, maybe that first year she’d been married, and then after my divorce. I’d always wondered what would’ve happened if she had left the wedding with me. If we had spent our lives together. How many kids would we have had? How many times would we come to Jewel Cove in the summers and at Christmas?

I found myself standing in front of the path that led down to the beach. There weren’t a lot of tourists out, although there were some runners. I liked Jewel Cove in December because it was quieter, with fewer people. Taking off my shoes and socks, I walked out onto the cold sand just like she had done the other night. I put my feet in the freezing water and watched the ocean.

I needed more answers. I had no idea how I would get a chance to talk to her without looking like a complete stalker, but I would figure out some way. I had to. Not because I needed closure, but because I needed answers. I always had, and she’d never given them to me. She wouldn’t talk to me after that Christmas, then she’d gotten married. Why?

Chapter Nine

Melody

I was unnerved after getting coffee and a muffin with Charles. I took my time putting on my makeup, cringing as I realized he had seen me without it. Not that it mattered. I had made it very clear that I didn’t want to see him again. But I was self-conscious, and there was always the chance I’d run into him again.

I stared at myself in the mirror and tugged at my face, smoothing the lines around my eyes. I should’ve gotten some surgery done before I got divorced. I had never really cared about surgery or anything like that. I’d felt like I looked pretty good. Now I felt vulnerable.

I finished applying my makeup and then started on my hair. It was long and straight, but today I curled it. I felt like I needed a little lift and holiday spirit. Gretchen would get it. I put on some nice black slacks and a tighter Christmassy red top. At least I was slender, I reminded myself. I didn’t have to work at that. All the running and the lack of appetite showed.

Charles had asked me to dinner tomorrow night. He probably would’ve taken me somewhere nice. The thought filled me with shame. Why couldn’t I say yes to dinner with a friend?

My heart raced. I knew why: because he wasn’t just a friend. He would always be the man who’d gotten away. Strike that—the man I’d shoved away.

At exactly ten am, I unlocked the front door. My phone buzzed, and I looked at who was calling me. Peter.

I answered. “Do you have the 401(k) money lined up for me?”

“Always a money grubber.”

Anger surged inside me. “What do you want, Peter?”

He sighed. “I might be able to get that money to you sooner if you can help me out with some things.”

I tried to breathe slower and calm myself. “Like what?”

“Have you talked to Will?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It’s just a polite question. He won’t talk to me.”

I wanted to laugh, but there were many times Will wouldn’t talk to me, so I didn’t want to make it a thing. “I have to go, Peter.”

“Wait. Do you know where the Christmas villages are?”

This rocked me. “What?”

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