Page 43 of Holly, Jolly, and Oh So Naughty

Confusion washes over James’s face as he glances between Emma and me. “I’m sorry. From speaking to him, I just thought he would be the obvious choice.”

“Why?” I scoff. “Mark isn’t related to her at all.”

16

JAMES

“Do you have any idea what you have done?” Even with my phone on the table, my mother’s sharp tones fill the air as if she’s right next to me.

I answered her on the third ring since she had started calling me nonstop, and short of blocking her number, I began to fear that something serious had happened.

In her eyes, it has.

“A disgrace!” Mother yells. “A complete and utter disgrace! Her mother is in tears and refuses to show her face at the country club, and no one has heard from her father. He’s likely run away to the mountains to hide his shame.”

“Okay,” I say, lifting the phone back to my ear. “That’s a little dramatic.”

“Dramatic?”

She screeches so loud I jerk the phone away with a wince. “Yes,” I reply cautiously. “Surely, they should only care about her being happy.”

“It’s not about Bernice being happy,” Mom barks at me. “She’s dating a barista, James. Abarista!She’s dating the help!”

“That’s your problem right there, Mom. Bernice has found someone who makes her happy and who makes her smile in ways I never could. Your focus should be on that and not his occupation, because that doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t ever matter.”

“It does matter, James. How many times do I have to tell you that these things matter? That you can’t just decide to step away from centuries of tradition and cast your family out like this?”

“Well, it sounds like her family is the one doing the casting.” My head dips, and I seek to relieve the pressure behind my eyes while squeezing the bridge of my nose.

“When I heard you two finally spoke, I thought things were finally going back to normal.” Mom’s voice quavers, and my heart pulls south into my gut.

Out of all the choices I’ve made lately—good or bad—I haven’t intended to hurt anyone. Running away because I couldn’t face the loss of my father was definitely a wrong step in many people’s eyes, but I knew my mother would be alright with the people around her. She has a close circle of friends and enjoys being the queen bee.

It seems Bernice’s current decision has cast a wrench into that whole plan.

“We did speak,” I assure her, softening my tone. “It was a good conversation, actually, and I think we both left it knowing where we stood. It might be hard for you to hear, but Bernice and I never loved each other. When we were together, I knew whereher real interests lay, and in a way, I think she knew the same about me.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Mom mutters, sniffling across the line. “You’re supposed to put all of that aside and do what is right for your family. For both your families.”

“Is that really what is right? Or just what is done and people are too scared to do otherwise?”

“James. I’m too tired to have this discussion again.”

“You called me,” I point out, leaning back in my chair until it creaks. “Me. Bernice. It’s the same thing, really. We want to be happy, and if she is happy with the barista from the coffee shop on the corner, then she has my blessing. I’m happy she took that step for herself.”

“So, you won’t call her?” Mom asks.

“And say what?Hey, I’ve moved on but you’re not allowed to so I hope you’ll remain hung up on me forever?No, I’m not doing that.”

“What do you mean, you’ve moved on?” Mom asks.

My heart stops briefly in my chest.

Did I say that?

Shit. I did.

Thoughts of Lily flood my mind, pulsing in time to the few leftover bruises I have aching through me from last weekend. That trip had been a blast for a number of reasons—mainly learning that Mark had absolutely nothing to do with Emma. That and getting to spend the day with Lily and Emma. It was magical.

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