Page 55 of 5 Golden Flings

Passing a notebook back to the employee lingering just behind her left shoulder, Autumn began gingerly untying the ribbons holding the lid closed. Seconds ticked by as she meticulously unraveled the package. Spreading open the cardboard flaps, she reached in and pulled out a delicate crystal snow globe dangling from a heavy-duty wire line.

An expression of wonder slid across Autumn’s sharp features. “It’s gorgeous,” she breathed.

The expression on her face had Noah’s own chest tightening. While a soft smile curled her lips, he could have sworn a silvered sheen glistened across her golden eyes.

God, her tears had always killed him.

CHAPTER 2

Reaching across the space,Harry folded her into a warm embrace that Autumn desperately needed. The whole moment was overwhelming. Noah, the party…the snow globe was just too much.

Whispering in her ear so that only the two of them could hear, Harry said, “I know Christmas is hard, but I was hoping this might help. I know you miss him, them, but your dad and mom are always with us.”

God, it took everything inside her to hold back the tears. But crying wouldn’t be professional, so Autumn swallowed them, pushing the loss and grief down deep. With a nod, she tightened her arms around Harry, just a second more of warmth and comfort, before she took a step back and let the other woman go.

Of course Harry would understand the grief she’d been struggling with – and denying – for weeks.

Her parents had her late in life. She was the miracle baby neither of them ever expected to have. She’d been the center of their world, in a good way, and their loss…it still hurt so much. Christmas had always been a special time for them. The first onewithout her mom had been rough, but she and her dad had each other. This year…

If she was honest, she’d been floundering for months. The life she’d built in Sweetheart had revolved around her parents…namely her mother’s illness and then making sure her dad took care of himself after she was gone. She’d gone to a local college so she could stay home. Then taken a job right in her own backyard. She loved her job, her life and her friends. But she’d started to wonder if there was something more out there for her.

And the snow globe in her hand only made her wonder more.

Her parents had never really been travelers, preferring to build a home that was an oasis of comfort. But her father had collected snow globes of all the places they’d talked about visiting. But never did.

Autumn’s hand gently skimmed across the curve at the top of the glass before she turned it over and shook the white iridescent glitter into the water. Holding it between them, she let the snow rain down over the idyllic Christmas scene. Her bottom lip threatened to tremble, but Autumn bit the inside of her lip until it stopped.

In that moment, she couldn’t help but wish for more. Just more. A family to fill the hole left in her heart. A chance to see places she’d only ever talked about. To be filled with happiness and joy instead of the restlessness and sadness she couldn’t seem to shake.

Oblivious to Autumn’s thoughts, Harry watched the glittering swirl inside the glass globe, a smile filled with utter enchantment crossing her face. “There was this adorable little old woman selling ornaments at the Christmas fair in the square. I talked with her for several minutes. She travels the country, living in the airstream called the Tinsel Trailer, selling one-of-a-kind Christmas ornaments.” Looking at Ed, she said, “Doesn’t that sound like such an adventure?”

“No, it sounds miserable. Why would anyone want to live and work out of a tiny trailer?”

Her grin widening, Harry smacked playfully at her husband’s arm. “Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Wrapping an arm around her waist, Ed pulled Harry in close and pressed a kiss to her temple. “You’re my sense of adventure, love.”

Noah watched the byplay between Autumn and his grandmother, at a total loss. He understood the significance of the snow globe for Autumn, having seen the collection her father had given to her over the years. He wondered how many more she now had…and what cities she’d never visit that they represented.

The old resentment crawled up the back of his neck to settle uncomfortably across his tight shoulders.

Now wasn’t the time.

Especially when he watched Autumn’s lower lip tremble against the emotions she desperately fought to hold in. No one else would have even noticed, but he did. It was a tell. The way she bit her lower lip to keep it all in.

He didn’t have time for this. Not right now. Flipping his wrist over, Noah glanced at his watch. “Listen, I have another meeting in about thirty minutes.”

Harry frowned at him. Autumn’s quick glance held gratitude. Sweeping out her arm, she said, “Follow me into my office and we’ll chat about the last-minute details. It shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes.”

Everyone filed behind Autumn into a huge office. Noah couldn’t help but look around and take stock. First, the spacewas open and airy. The back wall was solid glass with a vista of the calm lake, soaring mountains and a winter blue sky.

Efficient, that’s what her space was. No papers scattered across her desk. No clutter of random tchotchkes on the bookshelves. No, everything was streamlined and purposeful…just like she was.

Instead of leading them to the large credenza set close to that glass wall, Autumn indicated a round table with eight elegant leather chairs placed precisely around it. The top of the table was a gleaming dark wood with rich grain and beautiful color.

Autumn stood, waiting until he and his grandparents settled into chairs before she and her assistant chose the ones opposite. It didn’t escape his notice that she placed her assistant closest to him, using the other woman as a buffer.

It irritated him when it really shouldn’t. In fact, if she’d sat first, he would have done the same. Which irritated him even more.

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