Page 133 of Happy After All

I don’t need to put him and Christopher side by side to know who I have stronger feelings for. I don’t need to do a pros and cons list. Idon’t need to do a list about what love is, and how Nathan is different from Christopher.

If I did, though, the winner would be clear. It’s too obvious for anything quite that literal.

“How did that go?” he asks, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“It was fine. It was fine. It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t painful. He apologized to me.” We’re walking away from the tent, and it’s dark out now, crowds of people still milling around, laughing, drinking cider. “I don’t know what I expected. I let my grief over the baby turn into this thing that was tangled up in him. I was angry at him. For a very long time. I mean, if I sat down and thought about it, I probably still would be, but not enough to yell at him. Not enough to let him have any more of my energy. I just ... I don’t want to be with him. I don’t want that life. I don’t ... I just don’t.”

I laugh, and it comes out half a sob. “I have to do an auction!” I say. “In front of people.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

I know he just means the auction, but it feels like a bigger question. I’m glad I can answer it honestly. “Yes,” I say. “I’m going to be just fine.”

Chapter Thirty-One

The Grand Gesture—when one protagonist does something expensive—in time, money, or pride—to show the other protagonist the depth of their feelings.

It’s time for the auction, and we’ve drawn a bigger crowd than I expected. Several people that are here were also at the book signing, and it makes me feel bolstered, because I’m not just running an auction cold. I feel warmed up after the book event.

The whole forest is beautiful, and everyone here had a chance to look at the trees they liked and write down the numbers for what they want to bid on when it comes up.

I look at my list in front of me and begin. “The Route 66 Tree, by Get Your Kicks Diner.”

Bidding starts off strong. As we get deep into the auction, it’s starting to get astronomically high. I’m shocked. Shocked that it’s going so well and people are so invested in doing something great for the community.

Each tree starts fetching more and more money. My opening bids are starting over $200 almost every time.

The mermaid tree goes. The John Deere tree. The avocado tree, the kitten tree, and the peacock tree follow. Then there’s a tree all done up with Elvis, one with Marilyn Monroe wrapped in glittery ribbon.

There’s a tree covered in candy, and one in tropical flowers.

My favorite is the one the kids made.

Each one is a labor of love for the community. Work that the people who live here put in to rebuild this place we’ve chosen to call home.

Finally, it’s time for the Pink Flamingo tree. It’s so pink. So obnoxious.

So me.

I see Chris, pushing his way to the front row, and he raises his hand. “Five hundred dollars.”

My eyebrows shoot up. It’s a high opening bid.

He gives me a slight apologetic smile, and I’m frozen for a second. I guess since I didn’t take his apology, he wants to give money?

“One thousand dollars.”

I turn and see Nathan standing there, his arms crossed.

“One thousand dollars,” I repeat.

“Fifteen hundred!” That’s from Christopher.

Everyone in the crowd is watching them, all eyes fixed on the two men trying to outbid each other.

“Twenty-five hundred,” says Nathan, looking over at Christopher like he might start a fistfight with him.

I blink. I feel like I’m in the middle of a Hallmark Christmas movie showdown. Much like every love triangle I’ve ever seen, it really is no competition. I know Christopher doesn’t want me back. I know that’s not why he’s doing it.

---