Page 53 of A Christmas Duet

Why her mother would continue to hope for a reconciliation was beyond Hailey. She was as stubborn as Zach, thinking a few words would convince her to give him another chance.

Sighing as though saddened, her mother’s eyes pleaded with her. “I’d so hoped—”

“Mom,” Hailey said in warning. “Don’t go there.”

“I know, I know,” her mother continued. “It’s just that your father andI—”

“Leave me out of this,” her father intervened, raising his hand. “Julia, give it a rest. You’re pushing way too hard.”

“You’re right,” she said, and sounded sincere. “I’m just finding it hard to let go of Zach and you as a couple.”

“Try harder. It’s not going to happen.”

The sound of a car door closing broke into their conversation.

Hailey’s eyes flew to her mother. All this talk aboutZach suddenly made sense. It couldn’t be, could it?No, please. Say it isn’t so.Hailey had to know, even when she realized she wasn’t going to like the answer.

“You told Zach where to find me, didn’t you?”

Her mother’s guilty look said it all.

Chapter Seventeen

Sure enough, just as Hailey suspected, Zach Gibson stood on her front porch, his arms loaded with beautifully wrapped presents.

“Merry Christmas,” he called out, as if he were Santa himself and had dropped by on his way from the North Pole.

Stepping aside, Hailey reluctantly let him into the cabin. Her mother stood to one side, looking uncomfortable and apologetic. Both her father and Daisy completely ignored his arrival.

“Ho, ho, ho,” Zach called out, and went directly to the Christmas tree and set down the gifts. “Hailey.” He turned to her, his eyes bright and smiling. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember.”

“Hello, Zach,” she mumbled without enthusiasm. Whether he was incapable of reading the room or he chose to ignore her complete lack of welcome, Hailey couldn’t say.

“Oh—you’re…here,” her mother said, as she nervously rubbed her palms together. “And in time for Christmas.”

“Perfect. Just perfect,” Hailey mumbled under her breath. Her entire holiday had gone from bad to worse in a matter of only an hour. All she needed now was for the raccoon to break through the hole under the sink and for bats to tangle in her hair.

“And you brought gifts with you.” Her mother continued to make the best of an uncomfortable situation. “I imagine you’re hungry after your long drive. I’ll get you a cup of tea and a snack.”

“Zach doesn’t drink tea,” Hailey said, speaking from experience.

“I will today,” he said, winking at Hailey.

Although tempting, Hailey resisted rolling her eyes.

“Coffee, then,” her mother said. “I’ll make myself another cup of tea. Although I shouldn’t. When I drink tea this late in the evening, I don’t sleep a wink.”

Daisy joined their mother in the kitchen and their father escaped by heading upstairs. That left Hailey alone with Zach and she was thankful. She planned to send him on his way at the earliest convenience.

“Listen, Zach, I think it would be best if you—”

“Hailey, I’d hoped—”

They both spoke at once. Zach still didn’t get the picture. She hated to be blunt but felt she had no choice. It appeared that was the only way to get the message through to him.

“Can I go first?” he asked, grabbing hold of her hand, his gaze imploring.

He would take the lead whether she wanted him to or not. “If you insist,” she said, and jerked her hand free of his hold.

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