Page 11 of Merry Kissmas

The memory comes to an abrupt halt when the Uber parks along the curb at my cousin’s brownstone.There’s a wreath on not only the front door, but on every window, and it makes me think I have the wrong place.Garland is woven through the black wrought-iron railings that lead up to the door.And are those fake reindeer at the base of the stairs?As an adult, he’s never been that into Christmas, especially after what happened to him all those years ago.

I step out, and the driver retrieves my suitcase from the boot.

Walking up the steps, I spot elf figurines on the other side of the door and the welcome mat reads “Merry Christmas from the Wainwrights” with their names on stockings.So I suppose I am in the right place.

I press the doorbell, and “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey plays.

How clever.

My cousin opens the door.“Pierce,” he says with a smile.

Behind him, all I see are more Christmas decorations.

“Are you sure I’m at the right house?It looks like Christmas threw up around here.”

He chuckles and steps aside, inviting me in.“Yeah, well… things change.Come in and tell me about the interview.”

I wheel in my suitcase and leave it by the door.I can tell one thing for sure—my cousin has built a home with his wife.I push aside the envy quickly taking me over so I might enjoy my time here rather than focusing on what I don’t have.But damn it all to hell if Brynn hasn’t made all that hope resurface.

ChapterSix

Brynn

“Traveling on the last business day before the holidays, huh?”Butch, my Uber driver, is a chatty one when I just want to sit quietly and dissect how the interview went.

Annie was very pleasant and sweet.Enzo was too, but he asked me the more typical hard-hitting questions, whereas Annie’s were more thought-provoking.The two of them were super professional, but it’s clear they’re a couple from the way they look at one another.Him especially.It’s nice to see a man who adores his wife.

I’m not sure I’ll ever find that, but then again, I’m still young.

“Yeah, I was only in town for a night.”

“And where are you headin’?”

I usually don’t mind talking to my drivers, but I just want to get to the airport, find my gate, and get on the plane, even if it’s not where I want to go right now.What would my family do if I decided to rebook the flight Mancini Advertising booked for me and head to Portland?Although that would be lonely, since I’d spend Christmas by myself.

“Utah,” I answer.

“Visiting family?”

He looks at me through the rearview mirror, and I smile.It’s not genuine, but he probably doesn’t see that.“Yep.”

Finally, he turns off the main road to follow the airport signs.I collect my purse, ready to hop out, but he abruptly stops in a line of traffic.

“Busiest day for travel,” he says, shaking his head.

I groan and throw myself back into the seat.Lifting my wrist, I check my watch to make sure I have time for this delay.

Inch by inch, we move forward while Christmas carols ring out of the stereo.Butch sings along to each one.I have a feeling—from the holiday lights around the inside of his car and the stuffed reindeer that’s been fixed to the grill—that he’s a Christmas lover.Normally I am too, but a little more subdued.

“I hope you have TSA pre-check.Security is going to be a nightmare,” Butch says, his eyes finding mine in the rearview mirror once again.He’s spent more time looking through that than the windshield.

“I do.”I don’t have to travel a lot, but enough that it makes it convenient for me.

We finally get closer to the actual airport, and I need to tip Butch extra because he snakes his way in and out of the line of cars, cutting people off, so that we move along faster than we would have.

“I’m not sure I can get you any closer,” he says, four car lanes away from the curb.

“No problem.I’ll get out here.”I open the door and quickly climb out.

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