Page 77 of Christmas Wishes

Doris lovingly shook her head. “That old romantic,” she said with laughter.

“He got his wish.” The tears came again as I gripped the mug.

“You fell for Keaton.” It wasn’t a question. I might not have told Doris that something had been happening between us, but she knew me better than nearly anyone. It had to be written all over my face anytime I looked at him.

“I did. Hard.”

“Then why are you here and he’s not?”

“I don’t know.” I dropped my face in my hands. “I didn’t think I had any options. Shit. Is this what happens when you avoid feeling things for so fucking long? They hit like a damn tsunami?” I wanted to crawl out of my skin.

“I wouldn’t know because I don’t pull that bottling-up crap.” She gave me a pointed look. “Are you going to mope about him leaving, or are you going to do something about it?”

“Do something about it?”

She nodded encouragingly.

“But it hasn’t even been two weeks. This is ridiculous.”

Doris rolled her eyes.Rolled her eyes.“I’m not suggesting you propose to him, but you could give yourselves more time to figure out if what you have between you is real and lasting.”

“I could, um…” I racked my brain. “Go to Minneapolis?”

“Now you’re talking!”

I excitedly slammed my open palm on the table, rattling the dishes. “But, wait. Christmas. I don’t want to leave you alone. Not this year.”

Doris grabbed my hand. “I’ll be fine. You always look out for me, but I want you to look out for yourself too. Are you going to deny a dead man his dying wish? You have to go get Keaton.”

“Pretty sure that timing doesn’t fit. It wasn’t his dying wish.”

“It’s cinematic. Don’t argue with me.” She grinned. “I’ll take care of Joule. Go.”

I pulled my phone out and bought a pricey-as-hell last-minute ticket with two massive layovers that would get me to Minneapolis tomorrow afternoon. I barely had time to head to the house and pack a bag.

I hurried to the front door, then turned back. “What if this means I need to relocate to Minneapolis?”

“Surely they have a need for electricians in Minnesota.”

“Doris.”

“Then I’ll visit. We’ll figure it out. You’d better not give up on what you have with that wonderful young man out of some sense of obligation. Nico would roll over in his grave.”

“His grave is an urn on your mantel.”

“Semantics. Go. Pack. Get your man.”

I turned back to give her a quick squeeze and a kiss on the cheek, then hurried to my truck. I had a flight to catch.

Chapter37

Riggs

The entire driveto the airport, I debated whether I should text Keaton about my plans or surprise him. By the time I’d followed signs to the airport parking lot, I’d decided to text him right before turning on airplane mode at takeoff and let the cards fall where they may. Too bad I didn’t get this rush of bravery earlier to get a seat on Keaton’s flight. How epic would that have been?

As I pulled my suitcase from the backseat, I idly wondered what I’d even packed. Worst case, I could buy proper clothes in Minnesota. I checked my phone for any texts from Keaton. I’d hoped he would text before his flight took off, but there was nothing.

A niggling doubt in a dark corner of my mind grew louder. What if leaving Juniper Ridge broke the fever that had taken hold of him? He might’ve begun wondering what he ever saw in me in the first place.

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