Page 42 of Meet Me on Christmas Eve

Hazel stared at me for a moment, narrowing her eyes. Finally, she abruptly sat back in her seat, and her eyes flashed in annoyance.

“Hazel? What’s—”

She looked away for a moment and then turned accusing eyes at me once again. “I saw you!”

I swallowed. “You saw … what do you mean?”

“Mari, just cut the crap. For once in your life.” She shook her head. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen her this angry, at least not at me. “I saw you and Terry.”

At my sharp intake of breath, she laughed bitterly. “Yeah, that. Were you going to tell me?”

I had to stop wiping the counter and gripped the edge of it instead. Shock turned to dismay and then embarrassment and then regret. “Hazel, I …” I stopped, not knowing what to say. “I’m sorry.”

She looked away for a long moment, shaking her head at first.

“Sorry, it’s just … I guess I didn’t know what to think. How to process it. I think I would’ve told you.” I bit my lip, realizing too late that wasn’t the right thing to say.

“Youthink? But you’re not sure? Maybe you would’ve kept that from your best friend, maybe not?” When our eyes met again, this time she just looked disappointed.

“I didn’t mean that. I would’ve told you.” I looked at her, and she looked unconvinced. “Or you would’ve dragged it out of me eventually. Because you have that superpower.” I tried to give her a weak smile.

She didn’t speak for a while, and she definitely didn’t smile. “You’re right, I would’ve. But I shouldn’t have to, dammit. Don’t you just … want to tell me things? Your best friend?”

Looking at her face, a picture of hurt, I swallowed and nodded. “It’s hard for me though.” I sighed. And I’m not all that convinced that talking to anyone about feelings, or having anything to do with them, is even a good idea … but I knew it was the wrong time to say that. “But yes, and I’m sorry. Truly.”

After a long moment, she squeezed my hand. “So, Mari, what are we going to do about him?”

My eyes widened. She didn’t mean … oh wait, she means the business deal. My shoulders sagged in relief. “Well, the plan to make him an ally was doomed anyway, so I’ll probably just need to go straight to Jane and figure out what is really going through her mind. We don’t really know why she won’t sell, so I think—”

“Stop, Mari. I wasn’t talking about the business thing. I mean we can talk about that, but what about you and your long-lost love?”

I felt my lips twist in amusement. “My what? This isn’t a Hallmark movie.”

“But it could be,” she said with a grin as her Santa hat started to fall off her head.

I saved it before it could land on the counter. “There’s no long-lost anything, and certainly not … love.” The word was hard to say. It felt bittersweet, and I felt a pang in my chest. Ugh, heartburn again probably.

Hazel gave me the sympathetic look she’d given me many times when she thought I was missing out on something, usually because I liked being rational, staying in the present, and working hard. I didn’t let it bother me usually. But tonight, I found myself feeling that pang again. I needed to find the antacids. I was about to ask if she had any in her red and green purse when she spoke, “I saw that kiss. I don’t think you can just sweep it under the rug like you usually do.” She paused, furrowing her eyebrows upon seeing my resolved expression. “But you’re going to try, aren’t you?”

I bit my lip and then nodded with a sheepish smile. “Hey, I can probably get Ted down there to cover the bar now that it’s so late. Want to go raid the dessert table and put our feet up?”

My friend’s eyes lit up. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter 13

I’d just removed my boots when I felt my phone buzz in my pocket.

Now what? I sighed. I’d just finished helping calm a very confused older woman who was found making snow angels outside while singing something unrecognizable but vaguely resembling a Christmas tune. Of course, I’d had the night off, but the staff informed me that this woman also happened to be the wife of a high-ranking senator, so we needed to treat this one with kid gloves. Sigh. Once we had her safely back in her room, I’d reminded the night manager in no uncertain terms that I was off-duty tonight.

So it was with great annoyance that I pulled my phone out, expecting I was needed yet again. But the corner of my lips turned upward when I saw the sender of the text.

Hazel: Merry Christmas Eve!

Hazel: Or should I say Mari Christmas? Hahaha I’m so funny

Me: You missed your calling as a comedian.

Hazel: I know! Listen, I wanted to call but Mom and I are on this Christmas Eve cruise on the Seine, and it’s SO loud. There’s nowhere quiet. How are you?

---