Page 28 of Maybe This Christmas
“Emma Dale.I’m a guest here.Caleb has been keeping me company.”
“Oh?”She raised her hand to her face, her diamond wedding ring catching the light.
Emma couldn’t help but look down at her empty ring finger.Funny how she hadn’t missed the weight of the ring until now, even though she’d rarely taken it off in the year since the engagement.She should miss the weight of it, if nothing else.But she felt lighter, now that it was gone.
“Mom, I think Dad is waving you down.Or it could be Uncle Gordon.They’re too far away to tell.”He turned to Emma.“My dad and uncle are identical twins.”
She waved Caleb off.“They just want me to judge who has the best Santa bellow.If I hear one moreHo!Ho!Ho!tonight, I’m going to ho-ho-help myself to an entire bottle of red wine.”
Emma laughed.Caleb’s family seemed warm and inviting.His mother reached forward to touch her arm.“I’m Lainey Ellis, by the way.Sabrina and Caleb’s mom.I’m also Sebastian’s mom, but he’s not here tonight.He and his wife run Loaved Up, the bakery in town.Have you been to Falling Leaves yet?”
Emma shook her head.“I’ve only been here a couple of days.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure our activities director can give you a tour tomorrow.”
“Mom, I have to work.”
“Hmm, well, your father and I are staying the night.You get the morning run of activities started, then I’ll take over.Emma here really needs to see the town before the storm rolls in tomorrow.”
Before he could protest, Lainey wandered off toward Santa and his identical twin.
“I’m sorry.My mom can be a lot.”
The off-key duo left the stage, making Caleb’s words suddenly loud in the lounge.Several people turned in their direction, including the women stepping off the stage.
“I heard that!”Lainey called from the other side of the room.
Before he could reply, the music kicked up again, with two guests singingRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
As much as she didn’t want this night to end, the throbbing behind her eyes told her she needed to get away from the off-key karaoke.
“I think I’m going to call it a night.Especially if we’re going into town tomorrow.”
Caleb gently took her by the elbow and led her out of the lounge.“Of course.It’s been a while since I’ve been to karaoke.I forgot how terrible most people are at it.”He paused.“I’ll walk you back to your cabin.”
“You should be glad I wasn’t up there.I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”
“Me either.The rest of my family has the voices of angels—even my kids.I’m the one on recording duty on holidays.”
She laughed.“Your family seems nice.”
“Oh, they are.It’s just that sometimes I remember when I lived in North Carolina.That distance was nice.But, with my ex and her fiancée living in Blacksburg, it makes sense for me to stay locally.”
Despite the raucous party happening in the lounge, the rest of the resort was damn near magical with the Christmas ambience turned up to eleven.
“Sure, of course.It’s important to be near your children, I get that.”
She’d felt oddly light when Caleb told her he was a father.She loved children, but, given her chaotic upbringing, she’d never wanted children of her own.She’d been content being an auntie to Aniyah’s two kids.Davis had never wanted kids either, so it was one thing they’d bonded over early in their relationship.
“You all right?Am I boring you to death?I am drunk and a bit rambly.”He pushed open the door leading to the cabins.Cold air smacked them in the face.
“I’m fine.Just a little sleepy.”She reached for his arm.“My cabin’s just on the other side of the bridge.I can take it from here.”She gave his arm a squeeze.“Thank you for a wonderful evening, Caleb.You helped turn around a terrible week.”
The fine lines around his eyes crinkled as he smiled, she noticed.“Oh, you’re welcome.I had fun, too.”He placed his hand on top of hers.Still warm, despite the cold.
“See you in the morning.”
Their eyes locked before she took off toward the bridge.She carefully picked her way across, wary of ice.It took her so long that she’d figured Caleb had returned inside by the time she reached her cabin.
