“He actually doesn’t know I’ve been house shopping.”
“What? You’re going to have to let that man into your life at some point.”
Vanessa laid out the whole story on the house, and how it was perfect, but not. “And Robert’s been acting like he’s about to pop the question.”
“I’ve been holding back saying this for a long time, but you keep dodging marriage with him. You’ve got to decide if you’re going to marry him, or just let him move on.”
“Well, I—”
“I’m not asking for an explanation. This is something only you can decide, but you two have been together longer than some marriages last these days. It’s not fair to either one of you to let this drag on status quo.”
She blew out a breath. “Anna, I know we look like the perfectcouple on paper. He’s nice. Successful. Handsome. Generous. Dependable. The only thing we don’t agree on is he loves living in his rooftop condo, and I’m ready to be out of the city to have a house with a yard, but that’s not the reason.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t love him, Anna. I’ve tried so hard. I like him a lot. I’m just not in love with him.” It frustrated her so much. “Maybe I’m not capable of that kind of love.”
“Of love? Everyone is capable of love, Vanessa. Follow your instincts. I think you know what you need to do.”
“It’s not going to be easy to break it off. But you’re right.” She sat there feeling a little numb. Why had she let this go on so long? “Anna, I miss you, and these talks.”
“I miss you too. I’m always here for you. We’re family.”
“I know, but wouldn’t it be nice if we lived closer? I was thinking you could even come up here and live with me now that you’re retired.”
“Things happen for a reason. Sometimes you just have to open your heart, and trust it will all work out the way it’s supposed to rather than trying to manage every detail.”
Vanessa laughed. “You know how I hate surprises. I don’t see that happening.”
“Ultimately, the journey will be wonderful. I promise.”
Anna was always saying stuff like that. Even to people she didn’t know. It used to embarrass Vanessa, but now it seemed sweet. “If you say so.”
“I do say so. And who knows. Maybe one day we’ll live closer, but nothing is stopping us from more frequent visits. We can always fly.”
“We’ll do better next year.”
“Yes, we will. Now, the reason I was calling was that I’dreally love it if we could make plans together for the holidays. You could come here. I’ll cook and spoil you rotten.”
“I don’t—”
“Don’t you dare say no. I’ll fly to you in Chicago if I have to, even if it is bitter cold and damp. Get your calendar out and ink me in. Somewhere. You name the place. I really want to see you.”
Vanessa was already going down a list of things in her mind. “Wait. Everything’s okay, right?”
“Of course. You’re like the daughter I never had, and you’re so much like your mother. I miss her too, you know. We’ve let too much time slip by. Let’s have a family Christmas this year. You and me.”
Mom had always known how to do it up right. Christmas hadn’t been the same since she passed. Her absence left a gaping hole in everything special. Without her it never seemed worth doing, but spending Christmas with Anna was definitely the next best thing.
“Anna, I’d love to spend the holidays together. Yes. We will absolutely do it.”
“This is the best Christmas gift ever.”
Vanessa’s eyes glossed. “This is going to be perfect. I just pulled in at the office. I’ve got that meeting this morning where I’ll be getting my next assignment. The good news is you mightnothave to come to freezing Chicago for Christmas. All that hard work I’ve put in over the past few years has me positioned for the pick of the projects. I may very well be working in Paris, France—”
“Paris? Wow. AGC has been really good to you.”
It was true, but she worked hard for everything she got. “Or Leavenworth, Washington, which doesn’t sound all thatfancy, but from what I hear it’s the best place in the whole country to spend Christmas. Fluffy, white snow glistens from every building, and a million holiday lights decorate the entire Bavarian-style town. It’s like being in a snow globe of the North Pole. They even have reindeer.”
