Page 18 of First Christmas

“Don’t beat yourself up about it. I don’t think I could handle having that conversation with Lucas either. At all.”

“Well, do it,” she encouraged. “It may hurt but it would be a lot easier than wondering ‘what if’.”

I nodded in understanding as the cafe owner's daughter came to our table with the check. I grabbed it before Monica could, speaking over her protests.

“It’s on me,” I spoke directly to Caroline, who grinned at me, “don’t let her sway you.”

“I would never,” the sweet blonde said, taking my debit card and leaving to run it.

Monica’s eyes trailed after her, “We should see if she wants to hang out with us sometime.”

“That would be nice,” I agreed. “She’s probably feeling a little lost, being back in a small town after big city life. The rumor mill has kind of been brutal.”

Caroline made her way back to us, sliding my card and the receipt to sign in front of me. “How are those sweet girls?” She asked us.

“Oh. They have you fooled.” Laughed Monica. “They’re all hyped up now that they’re on Christmas break.”

“Nat is the same. She’s been with Lucas all day doing ‘secret things’ and is annoyingly excited about not telling me.” I rolled my eyes.

“It wouldn’t be Christmas without surprises,” smiled Caroline. “Thank you all for coming in. Have a Merry Christmas!”

“You too, Caroline.” I smiled softly at her.

There was definitely sadness in her eyes as she smiled back.

She had a beautiful smile, but it wasn’t quite reaching her eyes.

“So, where did you run into Nat and Lucas?” I asked my friend as we gathered our things.

“Becks! You’re horrible. I was sworn to secrecy. Stop it.”

“It was worth a try,” I grinned.

Chapter 8

“She really thought you were cheating on her?”

I looked over at Nick. Trevor was standing behind him gaping at me.

“I don’t know if it’s that so much as her anxiety just creating scenarios,” I shrugged, my shoulders aching with the lifting and work we’d been doing.

“Maybe you should just tell her,” Trevor suggested, “Especially if it’s getting worse, like you said.”

I shook my head, placing a few more nails to secure the freshly painted shelves to the shed’s newly-papered walls.

“I can’t ruin the first big thing anyone’s ever done for her,” I argued, “and Nat is so excited about bringing her out here on Christmas morning. Maybe I can talk her into showing it to her tomorrow instead. Christmas Eve is basically Christmas.”

Trevor glanced around the area, raising his eyebrows, “I can’t believe she’s not come out here snooping. Most women would’ve been digging around already. Is Mon still sneaking in tomorrowmorning to place the books and decor before she heads to her parents?”

I laughed and nodded, “I told Becks there may be wildlife in this shed. It’s so old that looking from the outside, there’s no questioning it. It not having windows has helped too. I’m glad I ended up running into Monica and filling her in. I wouldn’t know what books to put where.”

“Driving you here from the station every ‘night shift’ you’ve been working has kind of been a pain in the ass,” muttered Nick.

“I know. I owe you all. But man. She’s gonna love this.”

I stopped and looked around the space.

It had been my grandfather’s woodworking shed. It was spacious and sat in the far corner of our back yard. The inside had been gutted and we’d lain new hardwood floors, wallpapered the walls, and hung soft lighting everywhere after redoing the ceiling. Fairy lights hung around the room with pictures of settings from her favorite books.

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