Page 64 of A Cozy Christmas Blizzard
Wynn stepped into the foyer and frowned when he saw her. “Katherine?” She could see the question in his eyes.
“Merry Christmas,” Max said. He didn’t seem inclined to leave.
“Could we talk?” she asked. “Privately?” She was terrified he’d tell her that everything had already been said, so she rushed to add, “Really, this will only take a moment and then I’ll leave.”
Wynn glanced at his father, who took the hint and reluctantly left the entryway.
K.O. remained standing there, clutching her purse with one hand and the pink box with the other. “I was out at the French Café and I talked to Alix.”
“Alix?”
“She’s one of the bakers and a friend of Lydia’s—and Lydia’s the lady who owns A Good Yarn. But that’s not important. Whatisimportant is that Alix received an engagement ring for Christmas. She’s so happy and in love, and Lydia is, too, and Susannah from the flower shop and just about everyone on the street. It’s so full of Christmas out there, and all at once it came to me that... that I couldn’t let this Christmas pass with things between us the way they are.” She stopped to take a deep breath.
“Katherine, I—”
“Please let me finish, otherwise I don’t know if I’ll have the courage to continue.”
He motioned for her to speak.
“I’m so sorry, Wynn, for everything. For wanting to be right and then subjecting you to Zoe and Zara. Their behaviordidchange after Zelda read your book and while I can’t say I agree with everything you—”
“This is an apology?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“I’m trying. I’m sincerely trying. Please hear me out.”
He crossed his arms and looked away. In fact, he seemed to find something behind her utterly fascinating.
This wasn’t the time to lose her courage. She went on, speaking quickly, so quickly that the words practically ran together. “Basically, I wanted to tell you it was rude of me to assume I knew more than you on the subject of children. It was presumptuous and self-righteous. I was trying to prove how wrong you were... are, and that I was right. To be honest, I don’t know what’s right or wrong. All I know is how much I miss you and how much it hurts that you’re out of my life.”
“I’m the one who’s been presumptuous and self-righteous,” Wynn said. “Youareright, Katherine, about almost everything. It hasn’t been easy for me to accept that, let alone face it.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, aren’t you two going to kiss and make up?” Max demanded, coming back into the foyer. Apparently he’d been standing in the living room, out of sight, and had listened in on every word. “Wynn, if you let this woman walk away, then you’re a fool. An even bigger fool than you know.”
“I—I...” Wynn stuttered.
“You’ve been in love with her for weeks.” Max shook his head as if this was more than obvious.
Wynn pinned his father with a fierce glare.
“You love me?” K.O. asked, her voice rising to a squeak. “Because I’m in love with you, too.”
A light flickered in his eyes at her confession. “Katherine, I appreciate your coming. However, this is serious and it’s something we both need to think over. It’s too important—we can’t allow ourselves to get caught up in emotions that are part of the holidays. We’ll talk after Christmas, all right?”
“I can’t do that,” she cried.
“Good for you,” Max shouted, encouraging her. “I’m going to phone LaVonne. This calls for champagne.”
“What does?” Wynn asked.
“Us,” she explained. “You and me. I love you, Wynn, and I can’t bear the thought that I won’t see you again. It’s tearing me up. I don’tneedtime to think about us. I already knowhow I feel, and if what your father says is true, you know how you feel about me.”
“Well, I do need to think,” he insisted. “I haven’t figured out what I’m going to do yet, because I can’t continue promoting a book whose theories I can no longer wholly support. Let me deal with that first.”
“No,” she said. “Love should come first.” She stared into his eyes. “Love changes everything, Wynn.” Then, because it was impossible to hold back for another second, she put down her purse and the Yule log and threw her arms around him.
Wynn was stiff and unbending, and then his arms circled her, too. “Are you always this stubborn?” he asked.
“Yes. Sometimes even more than this. Ask Zelda.”
