Page 85 of Ten Christmases Without You
She wiped her hands on the kitchen towel and checked it. Her stomach did a little lurch. “It’s Mitch. He wants to know how things are going.”
Madison’s eyebrows raised.
“I think I might want to call him instead of texting.”
“What are you going to say?” her sister asked.
“Only what I know—that Mom was engaged to him. I’d love to hear his side of things. He’s the only one who knows what really happened.”
Madison shooed her off. “Go. I can man this fort. And Aunt Elsie and Aunt Charlotte will be here soon.”
Emmy nodded.
She went upstairs, ready to talk to Mitch. Without the distraction of work, she hoped he would say something to help her learn more. Her mother had trials over the years, and she’dmanaged with grace. Emmy could only hope she could do the same.
She hit “call” and put the phone to her ear, her fingers trembling.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Hi, Mitch.”
“How’s your dad?” he asked.
“He’s actually doing great. He was downgraded from ICU to a regular room, so we couldn’t be happier.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“I know. He even participated in our family Christmas gift exchange via video chat. I couldn’t believe it.”
“It sounds like it’s turning out to be a wonderful trip. You deserve it.”
“It has been, thank you. Speaking of wonderful, I got one of Mom’s design scrapbooks when I arrived.”
“Oh, really?”
Nervous energy zinged through her. She took a deep breath. “She wrote notes in this one.”
“She did?”
“Mm-hm. And she had a rainy photo of Rue des Lumières d’Automne.”
He was silent. Emmy swallowed against a dry mouth.
“I know you two were engaged,” she finally said. When he didn’t respond, she added, “I’d love to hear about it.”
“It doesn’t feel right to tell you,” he said. “She never told you. That gave me the impression that she didn’t want to share that part of her life.”
“Maybe she was afraid to tell meormy sister. Afraid of what we’d think. But I’m not here to criticize anyone. I just want to know that side of my mom, a side that seems most like me but is a mystery.”
He let out a nervous cough. Was there even more behind that nervousness? She wouldn’t know today. One thing at a time.
“Really, Mitch. I’d love to hear what happened. No judgment.”
“I was her mentor, so we spent long hours together. She made me laugh, and she was so open and positive—I’d never met anyone like her. The chemistry was pretty clear from the beginning. Anne didn’t grow up the way I did, and I found her complete disregard for material things, despite her career choice in fashion, to be incredibly attractive. I bought her the clutch you had the day you walked into my office, and I put a note inside for her to meet me at Rue des Lumières d’Automne.”
“I have the note. It was still in the purse,” Emmy said, breathless.
“Really?”
