I shook my head. So much for not giving any assurances. Oh well, a little one couldn’t hurt.
As I was gathering the empty boxes to bring back up to the attic, my phone chimed. I slipped the phone from my back pocket and noticed a text from Simon. We hadn’t spoken since he’d left to finish his case, but I tapped his name to open the message.
A photo appeared of Jack and me underneath the mistletoe. Pinching my fingers, I zoomed in, grinning at the cherished moment captured in time. This must have been the photo Simon snapped at the festival. I hadn’t realized he’d taken one.
Another text came through. This one was a short message followed by a link.
Simon:I’m sorry to do this. But I had to warn you when I found the correct passage. Maybe they’ll make an exception. Take care, Frost. See you in the new year.
My finger hovered over the link, unease keeping me from clicking it. I knew whatever was on the other side of that link wasn’t going to be good. With a deep breath, I gathered the courage and tapped the screen. A page from a document loaded, and I squinted at the tiny text in the corner revealing the page to be from our employee handbook.
Simon had highlighted a passage, and I skimmed through it. A horrifying numbness spread through my body as the words took hold. I blinked, desperate for the disturbing lines to disappear, but they remained in cold, steadfast pixels.
Section 375
Paragraph Four
Non-Completion of A Matchmaking Case File As Assigned by Management
Agent shall follow instructions and data provided in the case file, and shall not deviate or change data without prior authorization in writing. If the agent fails to complete the case file as directly assigned, the agent shall forfeit all future duties relating to the client. To protect client confidentiality and agency assets, the client will lose all memory of any agent or agent activity beginning at the designated deadline documented in the case file.
The client will continue their existence as if the agent had not intervened. All traces of the agent shall vanish, and all associates of the client will lose any knowledge of the agent or agent activity. This decision is final.
My phone clattered to the floor as my heart roared in my ears. Technical though it may be, the meaning was simple. Because I’d failed to complete the case file as written, at midnight tonight, Jack was going to forget I existed. He’d wake up Christmas morning still hating Christmas and at odds with the town and the memory of his father.
This was my fault. How could I be so reckless as to not read the fine print? Panic seared through my chest. I couldn’t let this happen. It wasn’t fair. Not when Jack had changed for the better and had healed. To take all that away now was unimaginably cruel. Even if we couldn’t be together, and I had to accept the punishment alone, I needed to stop Jack’s memories from being erased.
I dropped to the floor and grabbed my phone, swiping through the lock screen. It was Christmas Eve, the night of the our annual employee holiday party. The office would be filled till midnight with top executives. Someone there had to have the power to reverse this decision. It was my only chance.
If I left right now, I might make it by midnight. With trembling fingers, I dialed a taxi, then raced to my room to grab my coat and purse. Jack was coming down the stairs, box in hand as I thrust my arms through my jacket and slammed a hat on my head. My boots were next, and I hopped frantically on each foot to slip them on.
“Delia? What’s wrong?”
“I have to leave. Right now. There’s an emergency that came up at work.”
Jack’s features furrowed with confusion. “But it’s Christmas Eve, and it’s already getting late.”
“I know, and I wish I had time to explain everything. I really do.” I backed down the hall, trying not to hyperventilate as Jack dropped the box and followed.
“Delia, don’t go. Is this about the toy drive? I shouldn’t have pressured you. Forget I said anything.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then whatever this is, we’ll fix it. Just stay here with me, tonight.”
“I can’t fix this from here!” Anxiety made my voice shrill, and I forced myself to keep calm. “You have to trust me. Trust that I’ll make it right and that I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“Delia, you’re scaring me. Wait, a minute.”
Outside, the taxi had arrived, and the driver beeped the horn. Leaving everything behind but my purse, I ran through the front door and down the snow-covered drive. Jack was close behind, and as I whipped open the car door, he slammed it closed, breathing heavily.
“Talk to me, please. Just don’t—”
Going up on my toes, I pulled Jack to me, breathing him in before I kissed him. Second, by second slipped away, and I didn’t want to let go, but I made my fingers curl into fists and stepped back.
“If you wake up tomorrow, and I’m not there—” My voice broke, but I cleared my throat and pushed through. “Know that I did everything I could to make it back and that I love you.”
“Delia—”
