Page 49 of Through the Snow Globe
Diana had avoided the subject as much as possible saying,“I can’t think of wedding planning right now, Linus. I’m up for the big promotion at work.”He’d let the subject go for a couple days, and then he’d brought it up again. And again. And Diana had dug in harder with her work promotion excuse, slowly pulling away from him, little by little.
“Hey.” Linus stepped into the back room now. “There you are. I thought perhaps you’d left and went home.”
“Not a chance. I’m just sitting back here thinking about things.”
Linus leaned against the doorframe and folded his arms over his chest. “What things?”
“You. Me. Us. Is the store closed?”
“Yeah. I just turned the sign. You ready to leave?”
Diana’s chest constricted. It felt like she was climbing aboard a roller-coaster ride and she had no idea where it was going. It could very well go off the track—again. She wasn’t at all prepared. “Yes. Ready.”
Linus stepped over to her and reached out his hand. She took it, feeling warm from the inside out. From the moment she’d first taken his hand, she’d felt safe and at home. These last three weeks, she’d been lost without him. She needed him more than she even knew. She had to fix this time loop tonight and keep him with her. Now that she knew what life felt like being loved, she didn’t want to experience how it felt without that love ever again.
They walked outside and Diana clicked her key fob as Linus put his bike on her rack. Then they both climbed into the car and she cranked the engine. Once again, she turned right out of the lot and drove the long way home.
“How was your meeting with Mr. Powell?” Linus asked as he rode alongside her in the passenger seat.
“Don’t ask,” Diana groaned.
“That bad, huh? I’m sure it went better than you think.”
Diana was hypervigilant as she drove, going five miles under the speed limit, her gaze darting from side to side looking for some hidden monster—a delivery truck, a dog, a deer—waiting to run out in front of her. Inside she was panicking. She had to do things right this time. There was no room for error. “Well, I poured hot coffee all over myself, cursed like a sailor, and stammered through Mr. Powell’s questions.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Linus said.
Diana blew out a breath. “I wish I were.”
Linus reached over and touched her arm. His touch had anchored her from the moment they’d met. “Well, that’s okay. Maybe you’re not meant to be in management anyway. You’re a good physical therapist. Your patients need you, Di.”
“That’s what Rochelle said too. I know she was trying to be positive, so why does it feel like you two are criticizing me when you say things like that? You don’t think I can be a good leader?” Diana turned to look at Linus and then jerked her gaze back to the road.No looking away.They were making it home tonight. Linus was going to be fine, and tomorrow, it really would be Christmas Day.
Linus released her arm. “It’s not that. I’m sure you would. You’d be wonderful at anything you do.”
Diana swallowed, missing the feel of his hand. It was a necessary comfort right now. “Then why are you questioning this for me?”
“Maybe it’s selfish on my part. Perhaps I’m just concerned that a promotion would mean you have less time for me.”
Diana glanced over again, her mouth falling open. “What?”
Linus pointed at the road. “Eyes forward, please. I want to get home in one piece tonight.”
“Right.” She jerked her head forward again. “What do you mean by what you just said?”
“I know it probably sounds horrible, but you never have time for us anymore. You’re always working, studying, reading. It’s like we were on the moon when we first got engaged, and then you just slowly started pulling back. You’ve shut down, and you aren’t talking to me as much as you once did. You used to tell me everything, and now I feel like there’s something you’re holding back. I’m worried about you, Di,” Linus said gently, laying a hand on her forearm again.
Her eyes burned. She tried to remember to breathe. “Just because I’m reaching for a goal?”
“No, because it feels like you’re reaching for anything that pulls you farther away from everything. From us.”
Diana swallowed past a tight throat, her fingers curling around the steering wheel. Then she pulled her hand from Linus’s.
“See?” he muttered. “Just like that.”
Diana glanced over to meet his gaze and then she saw his eyes go wide as he looked out the windshield.
Damn it! Not again.
