Page 43 of The Holiday Dilemma

“Brooke, what is it?”

“What’s what?” I asked, turning my attention away from the book and looking over at Trinity.

“You’re not your usual bubbly self. What’s going on?”

“Tristan got an amazing job offer this morning.”

“That’s fantastic. I bet he is happy.”

“Oh it is. I just, um…” My eyes began to burn.

“What is it?” Trinity asked, coming over and taking a seat beside me.

“It’s nothing. It’s stupid.”

Just then the door opened and Thomas walked in. “Hey, Trin, I’m just running over to the hardware store to pick up a few things I’d ordered. Do you need anything from the store at all for dinner?”

I smiled and watched as Trinity shook her head, smiling. “No, but thank you for asking. Drive careful.”

Thomas bent down and kissed her. “I’ll let you ladies have your coffee. Good to see you, Brooke.”

“You too, Thomas.”

As soon as the door closed, I broke down into tears. Trinity instantly placed her arm around me, trying to console me. “The news just came at a bad time, I guess. I was going to offer him a job and ask him to stay in Willow Valley. He seemed so happy here, until…”

“Do you love him?”

I nodded my head and wiped my eyes. “I think so.”

“Then what’s the harm?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “He doesn’t feel the same way.”

Trinity looked at me, a small smile on her lips. “How do you know that? Have you asked him?”

“No.”

“Perhaps you should.”

The afternoon passed quietly, and as we sat there talking and sipping our coffee, I began to feel better. Trinity helped me to see that without asking him I had no idea how he felt. When I left Bluebird Books and began to make my way home, I was armed with a plan to ask Tristan to stay in Willow Valley. Only when I returned to the house, my insecurities crept back in as I listened to him talk on the phone to the person I assumed was his new boss and by the time he was finished, I had talked myself out of it.

Tristan

Two Days Later

I placed my bags down inside the door of The Crispy Biscuit and watched as Brooke stood behind the counter, a smile on her face as she boxed up the order for one of the ladies from the retirement home.

Since the day of the contest, she had begun acting differently. She’d refused my help at the diner the last two mornings and had busied herself most nights after work. I’d hoped to talk to her the night before last, so she could tell me what was bothering her, but she’d come in after I was already in bed and was gone before I’d woken this morning.

Just as she passed the box over the counter, she caught my gaze. The smile fell off her face. She whispered something to Melinda and took off into the kitchen. Something was wrong, I could feel it. I wandered over to the counter and stood there waiting for Melinda to turn around.

“Hey, Tristan,” she said softly, smiling at me.

“Hey. Is Brooke busy?”

Melinda looked over her shoulder toward the kitchen and then back to me. “She’s behind on orders this morning and has asked that she not be interrupted.”

My heart sank. She’d sat across from me last night, picking at the celebratory dinner I’d made her. Even if she didn’t win the contest, she still deserved to celebrate. I’d suggested curling up on the couch afterwards and watching a movie; however, she’d let out a yawn and said she was tired. I’d watched her get up and make her way into her bedroom. I was about to join her when she shut the door behind her, so I’d retired to the couch.

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