Page 84 of Unwrapping Romance

“I haven’t been inside a church since I was five. I’d forgotten how beautiful a church can be.”

“And why is that?” he asked.

“My mother brought me to midnight mass on Christmas when I was five years old, left me sitting in a pew, and never came back.”

“You poor child. I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“I hate the holiday season because of her. And I don’t believe in God. If there were a God, he wouldn’t have let her leave me.”

“People leave their loved ones for various reasons. What about your father?”

“I never had a father. I have no idea who he even is. I remember being so scared that night. And honestly, the frightened child is still inside of me. I met a man with whom I fell in love. He hates the holidays as much as I do because of his father. After his mother passed away, his father sent him away to boarding school and left him there for the holidays while he traveled. But I don’t think he feels the same way about me.”

“It sounds like you’re both very wounded.”

“We are.” I breathed out a laugh. “Two wounded souls who find company in the bitterness and resentment of what had happened to us.”

“That’s no way to live your life, my child. You must find peace and put the past to rest.”

“Easier said than done, Father.”

“I know you said that you don’t believe, but God will pave the way if you let him. All you have to do is ask. And there’s no better place than inside his home.” He placed his hand on my shoulder. “I have to get ready for mass. I’ll be here if you need to talk again.”

“Thank you, Father.”

I sat there for a few more minutes and left. My phone pinged. Pulling it from my purse, I saw a text from Jack.

“When are you coming back?”

I ignored him and kept walking, staring at the trees that glistened from the snow. I was on a street filled with shops with decorated holiday windows. People passed by—happy, laughing, with shopping bags in their hands.

As I pushed open the door to a bakery, my eyes were immediately drawn to the festive decorations that plagued every inch of the shop. I couldn’t escape this holiday hell no matter where I went. The smell of freshly baked goods filled the air, diverting my attention away from the Christmas décor. One of the cases was filled with holiday-themed desserts—cakes, cupcakes, and pies.

“Welcome to Sweet Sensations. How can I help you today?” a woman asked.

Looking up, I stared at her momentarily as my heart started racing with the same eyes I had staring back at me. No. It couldn’t be. I was imagining things.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Um, I changed my mind.” I gripped my purse strap and ran out of there as fast as I could.

I ran down the street, almost falling on the ice that hadn’t been salted. I caught myself and sat down on a bench. What just happened? My phone pinged, and another text from Jack came through.

“I’m sorry for how I spoke to you earlier.”

I ignored his text and sat there, trying to catch my breath.

“Sierra, will you please respond to my texts?”

“I’ll be home soon,”I replied.

I stood from the bench and hailed a cab back to his townhome. When I walked through the door, I put my purse down and found him in the living room, his feet on the coffee table, watching the football game. I didn’t even know he liked sports. Ellie sat quietly next to him, playing a game on her iPad.

“You’re back,” Jack said.

“Hi, Sierra.” Ellie smiled.

“Hi, sweetheart.” I leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

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