Page 49 of A Christmas Duet

“We wanted to surprise you,” her father piped in, coming to stand next to his wife with his arm around her middle. “And what a surprise to find Daisy here as well.”

Daisy tossed Hailey an apologetic look, silently relaying that she had nothing to do with this unexpected visit.

“I’m Hailey’s mother,” she said, again directing the comment to Jay.

“I’m pleased to meet you,” Jay returned, ignoring the odd vibes coming from Hailey’s mother.

“And you are?” her mother asked.

“Mom,” Hailey said, gently placing her hand on her mother’s forearm. “This is Jay Cantor, my friend.”

“Your friend,” her mother repeated, as if someone had knocked the breath out of her. Her hand went to her chest. “I don’t believe you mentioned anything about having found a new…friend.”

Thankfully, her father stepped forward and extended his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Jay. Any friend of our daughter’s is a friend of ours.” He said this and looked pointedly at Hailey’s mother.

The two men exchanged handshakes. “Thank you, sir,” Jay said.

“I’m Rich, and this is my wife, Julia.”

“Jay and I only recently met,” Hailey explained. “We were out to dinner. I’ll admit finding you here is a surprise.”

“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision,” her father explained. His eyes shifted to his wife, letting Hailey know this had been all her mother’s doing.

“I see,” she murmured, her heart sinking. She’d come to Podunk for solitude and her entire family had shown up. First her sister and now her parents. She wouldn’t be shocked if the George Washington High School band arrived next or, heaven forbid, Zach.

“You say Jay is a new acquaintance.” Her mother sounded almost relieved.

“Like I said, I met Jay shortly after I arrived,” Hailey supplied.

“Does he know about Zach?” her mother asked in a stage whisper, as if Jay wouldn’t be able to hear when he clearly could.

It was all Hailey could manage not to stamp her foot in frustration. Instead, she gritted her teeth and nodded. “He does. He also knows Zach is someone of no consequence in my life.”

Hailey was about to remedy the assumption of her mother’s that she and Zach were getting back together. Before she could get the words out, Jay said, “I should be going.”

Her mother nodded as if that was a brilliant idea.

Hailey couldn’t blame him for wanting to leave as quickly as possible. Her mother seemed determined to bring up Zach, making it uncomfortable for everyone.

Instead of arguing, Hailey said, “I’ll see you out.” She pretended not to notice her mother’s pleading glance asking her to stay.

“I think your friend can find his way to the door,” she blurted out.

Hailey glared at her mother with enough fire for the other woman to shrug and turn away. “Okay, if you insist.”

As soon as Jay and Hailey were outside and the door was closed, she hurried to apologize. “I’m so sorry,” she said with a moan. “My mother is being obstinate. As I mentioned earlier, she’s Zach’s biggest cheerleader.”

“No worries,” Jay said. He looked uneasy, and Hailey couldn’t blame him. Little wonder he was eager to escape. It went without saying that her mother would use every excuse under the sun to bring up Zach.

“Zach means nothing to me,” she reiterated.

“I know,” he said, and offered her a weak grin.

Hailey realized a lot was hanging over his head and wished there was something she could say or do to reassure him that everything would work out the way it was meant to. His future with Cantor Music hung in the balance. It only made sense that he was preoccupied.

“It will all work out, Jay,” she said, in an effort to put his mind at ease.

“From your mouth to God’s ear.”

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