Page 5 of A Christmas Duet

Chapter Three

Hailey’s phone rang early the following morning. Lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, she checked the screen to discover it was her mother. She should have known. No one else would think to disturb her before seven o’clock on a weekend.

Julia Morgan, loving mother that she was, was calling to ask how soon her eldest daughter planned to arrive for the holidays. Hailey groaned, wanting nothing more than to sleep. She’d been awake half the night, chewing over her conversation with Katherine, the text from Zach, and the song she so desperately wanted to write. The offer to use her friend’s family cabin would be a dream come true. She would have as long as two weeks to center herself and work. After feeling creatively dry, that lively, fun melodykept playing in her head. She woke twice during the night, humming the tune.

The mere thought of escaping Christmas with her family lured her like a food addict to a Las Vegas buffet. Even while she attempted to dismiss the idea and put it completely out of her mind, she hated disappointing her parents.

Hailey’s phone chirped once more, and, knowing if she didn’t answer now, her mother would try again and again, she gavein.

“Morning, Mom,” she greeted, hoping she sounded somewhat pleased to hear from her mother.

“Hailey, sweetheart, you should have told me.”

“Told you?” she repeated.

“I heard from Zach. He said the two of you have been talking.”

Hailey flopped back onto her pillow and closed her eyes. She was furious with Zach. This was exactly what she feared he’d do. She should have known that when she’d turned him down flat, he’d use any excuse to wheedle his way into her holidays. He was smart enough to know he had an ally in her mother.

“I think it’s simply wonderful,” her mother gushed.

“Mom,” Hailey said, keeping her voice level. “Please listen, I have no intention of getting back with Zach.”

“He thinks…He said that he’s hoping for a reconciliation.”

No doubt he’d made it sound like a possibility, exaggerating their recent communications. “Zach can hope all he wants. I’m not interested.”

“Now, Hailey, don’t be hasty. You’re wise to take matters slowly. I do wish you had told me.”

Her mother completely ignored the fact that she didn’t want to renew anything with Zach. “It’s been three years. I’m a different person than I was when I graduated from college. We parted ways and moved forward. Zach is wasting his time. I’m not going to change my mind.”

“Hailey.” Her mother seemed shocked. “The two of you are the perfect couple. I said that from the first time I saw you together. Zach is exactly what you need.”

“Mom, please, would you listen to what I’m telling you? I’m not getting back together with Zach.”

A short silence followed. “Oh dear.”

“What?” Hailey asked, tensing for what was coming next.

Her mother’s sigh rang through the call. “I invited Zach to spend Christmas with us.”

“You did what?”

“Don’t be upset, sweetheart. I was so pleased to hear from him. He called because he wanted to send you a gift for Christmas. He feared we might have moved and asked for the right address. We got to talking and then one thing led to another.”

“Mom,” Hailey grumbled. No, no, no, this couldn’t be happening.

Zach knew full well how happy her mother would be to learn the two of them had been texting.

“Before I could stop myself, I blurted out the invitation.” At least her mother sounded somewhat apologetic.

“And Zach couldn’t accept the invitation fast enough, right?” she asked.

“No, no,” her mother rushed to explain. “He refused at first, saying he wasn’t sure how you’d feel about him coming, but then…but then I persuaded him.”

Hailey placed her hand over her eyes, unsure who she should be most annoyed with, her mother or Zach.

“Don’t be upset with me, it’s Christmas. I’ve got everything ready for your arrival. I baked your favorite cookies again and got out Grandma Hazel’s chocolate bonbon recipe, too.”

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