Page 114 of Bragg's Christmas

“Me three,” Harmony says.

“And I believe you, as well,” Soleil adds.

The tension in my shoulders releases and I let out a breath of relief. “Thank you.”

“We also believe you about the ninth-grade incident,” Moon says.

“What?” My chest tightens. “But at Thanksgiving—”

She waves a hand in dismissal. “I was a bitch.” She glances around the room. “We all were.”

Soleil’s cheeks darken. “I’m sorry. I should have listened to your explanation and not believed the rumors in town.”

“You were away at college.”

She frowns. “Still. I should have supported you. It’s what we do in Winter Falls.”

I drop my chin to my chest. It might be what the people of Winter Falls do, but I never got the memo. No one’s supported me since my dad died.

“I didn’t live in Winter Falls then,” Harmony begins, “but I’m appalled with how the people of town have treated you.”

“Even if you were getting jiggy with Mr. Simon.”

My growl cuts Moon off.

“I said ‘even if’. It means I believe you.”

Oops. I might have growled too quickly. I wave for her to continue.

“Even if you were getting jiggy with Mr. Simon, you were fourteen years old. He was obviously taking advantage of you. The town should have stood behind you.”

I feel tears well in my eyes again. “It’s all in the past.”

“No, it isn’t,” Soleil declares. “If it were in the past, we wouldn’t be having this discussion now – twenty years after the fact.”

She’s got a point, but I don’t want to discuss Mr. Simon or Murray, the contractor. Or how the entire town didn’t believe me until now. None of it matters at the moment.

The only thing I can think about is how I’ve lost my family – the man I love and the little girl I wish was my daughter.

“Drink your wine,” Eden suggests.

“And eat tons of food,” Moon adds.

“It’s the best cure for a broken heart,” Harmony says.

“As is bashing the man who broke your heart,” Soleil says.

I shake my head. “I’m not bashing Damon. It’s not his fault.”

“Not his fault? He broke up with you by text because he thought you were cheating. He didn’t stop to find out what was happening. He jumped to conclusions. Asshole,” Eden snarls.

“Damon broke up with me because he thought I cheated?”

I hear glass break and realize the glass I was holding is now laying shattered on the floor. I start to stand but Moon stops me.

“I’m on clean up duty today.”

Eden cringes. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew. I’m a bitch.”

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