Page 40 of A Christmas Duet

“And someone in town told you where I was staying,” she said, cutting her sister off before she went on another long explanation of her sleuthing skills.

“Yup, that’s exactly what happened. I met this guy on the street. Think he might be like an attorney or something, because he told me he’d been cheated out of some award having to do with a Christmas tree competition.”

Despite everything, Hailey smiled. She knew all about the decorated Christmas tree wars in Podunk. “The thing is,” she tried again. “I came to Podunk to be alone.”

“At Christmas?” Daisy’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head as though she was shocked.

“Yes, at Christmas.”

“You know Mom had a conniption when you told her you weren’t coming for Christmas.”

Hailey was already aware of her mother’s feelings. “Since I’m not in Tacoma with Mom and Dad, you should be,” she said, thinking that might help them deal with their disappointment.

“They don’t want me there, I’m an embarrassment,” Daisy stated dismissively, waving her hand as if to prove her point.

“Daisy,” Hailey cried, aghast. “That’s not true. No way are you an embarrassment. You’re quirky and fun and talented and—”

“Maybe I don’t embarrass you,” she interrupted, “but we both know I’ve never quite fit into the family.”

Hailey found it hard to believe her sister felt this loss of connection. “Daisy,” she said, feeling dreadful for her sister. Hailey sat down next to Daisy and took her hand in hers. “You’re wrong. It hurts me to think you’d believe something like that.”

Daisy dismissed her words. “You might not believe it, but when I called Mom, she didn’t sound all that inviting. All she could talk about was Zach’s visit. Sorry, sis, spending Christmas with Mom and Dad wasn’t an option. I’d feel like a stranger in my own house.”

Something was off. Hailey wondered about Daisy’s sudden interest in being with the family over the holidays. For the last several years she’d found a convenient excuse to stay away. Something had changed? She wanted to reassure her sister that she was loved, but before she could, Daisy continued.

“I understand why you decided to spend Christmas in Podunk,” she said, “and I don’t blame you. Mom should never have invited Zach. If I were you, I would’ve escaped, too. The thing is, you shouldn’t be alone on Christmas. That’s just wrong, and that’s why I’m here,” she said, as if her arrival had solved everything.

“Avoiding Zach isn’t the only reason I escaped. I wanted this time to compose music, relax, and enjoy the solitude.” She couldn’t be any blunter than that.

Staring pointedly at the Christmas tree, Daisy seemed pensive. “Apparently, not all your time is spent alone.”

“Okay, fine, Jay and I put up a tree. It was his idea. I was perfectly content to forgo anything having to do with Christmas.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Daisy insisted. “You might say the tree was all Jay’s idea, but I know you, big sister. You couldn’t help yourself. You cheerfully went along with the idea.”

It would be a lie to denyit.

Giving a knowing shake of her head, Daisy continued. “You’re like Mom when it comes to Christmas. You love the holidays.”

At one time that had been true. But that was before her breakup with Zach, before she got bogged down with her job at the high school. Christmas had been a special time with her family. In past years, when both Hailey and Daisy were in college and home on break, they’d bake cookies and candies to deliver to family and friends. Daisy would enhance the baskets, leaving Hailey and her mother to deliver the treats.

Looking back on what had once been a season for family fun, Hailey realized the joy that surrounded the holidays had been lost about the same time she’d set her guitar aside.

When she told Daisy she craved this time alone, itwasn’t an exaggeration. She needed music with the same desperation as she required oxygen. If she couldn’t write, she might as well shrivel up and die. The sole purpose of this time in Podunk was to kick-start the creative side of her brain. It’d been working beautifully, too. With Daisy’s arrival, that was at risk.

“You should know, Jay’s a successful musician and he’s been helping me. I’ve felt creatively dry for far too long.”

“A musician?” Daisy brightened and then her face fell. “I fell in love with one of those a while back. He was incredibly talented, but unfortunately, he was an irresponsible flake.”

Oh dear.Daisy was about to go into another of her long-winded stories.

Daisy laughed loudly. “If you can imagine, he wanted to move in with me and let me support him.”

That was truly worth a laugh.

Leaning toward Hailey as though this was of high interest, she said, “I want you to tell me about you and Jay, and don’t leave out any details.”

Hailey refused to get sidetracked yet again. It was apparent her sister wasn’t going to take the hint. “Daisy, you know I love you.”

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