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—”
I pushed away from Jack and wrenched open the car door. Diving inside, I pulled it closed before I changed my mind and hit the lock. I rapped on the seat in front of me.
“Please, go. Now.”
Jack pounded on the window, and a sob burst from my throat.
“Just drive!”
The car jerked forward, sliding on the slippery gravel. It gained traction and shot forward, leaving Jack standing alone in the driveway, shouting my name.
Chapter 15
Delia
“What do you mean there’s car trouble?” I leaned forward and gripped the handrest inside the taxi as the driver pulled over to the side of the road and stepped out. He lifted the hood and smoke poured from the engine. I clambered out of the car, nearly slipping on the icy road, and peered into the hazy abyss that was the vehicle’s inner workings.
“What’s wrong with it?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I just drive the thing. Don’t worry, I’ll call it in and get someone else out here.”
There wasn’t time for that! I hovered my hands over the blazing engine, hoping some magical energy would call out to me. If I knew which part to fix, I could use a spell, but I wasn’t a mechanic. It all looked like twisted metal to me. Minutes were ticking by, and I needed to make it to the train station.
“Sorry about the trouble. I bet you’re trying to get home for Christmas. It might be a while, but we’ll get you back on track. Why don’t you wait inside the car? It’s freezing out here.”
We were in the middle of nowhere, without access to alternate transportation. There wasn’t even a house in sight or a parked car I could zap to life and commandeer in the name of saving Christmas. I shivered and slipped back into the taxi.
Reaching for my phone, I tried to dial the agency’s main line, but no one answered. Not that I expected the receptionist to be manning her desk during a party, but it would have been nice. Next, I tried Agatha, cringing when I got her perky voicemail. I considered leaving a snarky one-liner but changed my mind.
