“It’s not going to be easy to break it off with Robert.”
“Matters of the heart never are, even between friends.”
“Thank you, Anna. I’ve got to take care of some personal business before I do some shopping and pack for this trip. They expect me Monday morning.”
“That’s quick.”
“And I have a lot to do before January first.”
“Call me when you get settled in. I’ll be right there. I might even treat myself to a train ride instead of driving. I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“I’d be happy to send a plane or train ticket. I’ll call you next week from my new home away from home, and we’ll figure it all out.”
Vanessa hung up the phone feeling better and worse. Better about the holidays, but dreading the discussion with Robert. She did care about him. Although, stepping back and looking at the relationship, he probably could use a talk like she just had with Anna too. They were friends. Comfortable and convenient friends. There never had been any butterflies or passionate romance. The occasional night out. Pizza in the office—hers or his. Someone to celebrate Valentine’s Day with. A partner to dance with at a coworker’s wedding reception, the ball drop on New Year’s, or the annual 4th of July party, which happened to be the only fireworks between them.
I’ll miss him if we break off and can’t be friends.
Food for thought for her afternoon of shopping. She stopped by the office on her way home. Kendra had her itinerary and information about Fraser Hills packaged nicely along with print copies of the original contracts for Porter’s and the warehouse deal. It was a thick packet.I have my work cut out for me.
Kendra had already left for the day, so Vanessa left a quick thank-you note on her desk.
Robert was already mad, and she hadn’t even told him she’d be out of town for Thanksgiving for work too. It had kind of become their tradition to go to the club for their buffet.Nice, but not like the family gatherings Mom had always hosted on Thanksgiving Day. A big turkey, ham, and all the fixings. There’d be so many things cooking at once that the kitchen was more like a sauna. Dad would set up card tables in each room, while Mom ran around with dish towels over her shoulder and somehow perfectly timed ten dishes to all be ready and hot at the same time. And yeast rolls. Mom would put those pans in the laundry room with a little heater keeping the room warm for them to rise so big they looked like they might float right out of the pans.
Mom would open all the doors to let cool air in. No one even seemed to mind.
The whole day was clouded by nostalgia. By the time she finished running errands, it was too late to go to her favorite boutique. That would have to wait until tomorrow.
Back home, she ordered Chinese takeout and sat on the floor in front of the coffee table watching television. It had been so long since she’d watched TV that she didn’t even recognize most of the programs on the network channels.
She wasn’t sure if it was her mood or the selection of shows on at the time, but none of them held her attention. Tired of clicking through the channels, she picked up her phone and scrolled through her messages. Robert hadn’t called.
She toyed with the idea of calling him. He was probably still at the office.
Instead, she turned off the ringer, put her phone on the charger in the living room, and called it a night. Tomorrow she’d pick up those pieces.
CHAPTERSIX
The next morning Vanessa went to her favorite boutique. The girls there knew her by name and quickly helped her pick out a comfortable small-town-casual mix-and-match wardrobe for her trip. On her way back to her car, she noticed a new store. A Kindred Spirit Gift Shoppe. The front window was filled with Christmas décor. As she walked by, someone exited carrying three glossy red bags followed by a waft of cinnamon.
She put her things in the car and went back to peruse the store. Bells jingled when she walked inside, and there was that smell again. Almost like the smell of home when she was a little girl. Cinnamon, sweet sugary cookies, and pine.
She meandered through the aisles. All kinds of Christmas things were displayed on Christmas-tree-shaped shelving. She found herself smiling as she lifted a baby snow angel, then an unusual sterling silver bell. When she waggled it in the air itmade the prettiest sound. Like the beginning of “Jingle Bells.” She set it down and started to walk away, then went back and carried it with her. Beautiful cross-stitched Christmas stockings hung from a reclaimed fireplace mantel against the exposed brick wall.
She lifted one of them, the heavy fabric with the intricate detailed design of a black lab on a sled, and another running alongside made her think of all the years she’d asked Santa for a dog. The only dog in her life had been Anna’s old brown mutt, Sam. He stank to high heaven most of the time, and kisses, Lordy he’d practically wash her face. She laughed. It had seemed so gross, but she’d loved it at the same time.I’m going to have a dog someday.
“Can I help you with that?”
Vanessa turned to see a portly older woman wearing a white frilly apron withA GRATEFUL HEART IS A HAPPY HEARTembroidered across the front. “This is so lovely.”
“Handmade,” she said. “You just don’t find nice stuff like that around much anymore. A local lady makes them for us. Heirloom quality, don’t you think?”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“We can embroider a name at the top while you wait if you’d like.”
“I’d love that.” Vanessa held the stocking close. “This one for Anna. A-n-n-a.” She reached over and picked out another. “I’ll take the snowy cottage scene for myself.”
“That’s my favorite one. Doesn’t it look inviting?”
