Was I giving up? Did I think she belonged with Heath?
Hell, no.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Natalie
The next few weeks were insanely busy. So maybe people scheduled surgeries at the end of the year since they’ve met their insurance deductibles or out of pocket maximums. Sabine, who’d come in from France to spend Christmas with me, didn’t fully understand what I was talking about. Insurance worked so differently in every country, but the US system seemed to be one of the hardest to understand.
And, since I didn’t want anyone to die of boredom, I didn’t try to explain it. I just said it was the busiest time of year for surgeons and other people in the health care field.
That seemed to take care of it.
But this year that busyness had an unintended consequence. I kept trying to make plans with Heath so I could break things off with him. Every time I tried, he would magically have something come up. It had reached the point that I was starting to wonder if he knew what I wanted to do.
I believed that even more after I heard what Sadie said at dinner one night. Lynne had invited everyone over so they could see Sabine. Normally, she said they would have had a nice dinner at Jack and Diane Crenshaw’s house, but they were going through a lot with Carrie’s divorce.
So, she hosted even though her house was much smaller.
We were all eating and enjoying good company. It was about a week and a half before Christmas. I thought I still had time to break up with Heath before the Christmas Eve ball his parents were hosting. That is, if I did it soon.
Until what Sadie said next.
I was talking to Tim about what he was doing at the quarry lately, when Sadie suddenly called to me across the table.
“Natalie, it’s unbelievably kind that Heath and his parents have invited all of our friends to their Christmas Eve ball.”
I stared at her, not comprehending. “What do you mean?”
It seemed like every conversation stopped, and I felt all eyes on me.
“Melinda and Drake have been invited, as well as their parents. The same for Blair and Scott and their parents, too. Carrie and her parents were invited, but they’re not going because… well, you know.”
I nodded, dazed. They had also invited Imani and her boyfriend, but they weren’t coming home this year. They were both doing their residencies out of town and were exhausted. Their parents were going to travel to see them this year for the holidays.
“That’s… great.” Well, damn. I couldn’t very well break up with him now.
“You didn’t know?” Sadie asked, frowning.
“No.” I realized everyone thought I was upset they’d been invited. “I mean, it’s great, though,” I said forcing a smile. “I think it’s going to be a really fun night.”
Both Sabine and Tim were watching me carefully. Sabine had theorized that Heath was doing this on purpose for some reason. But who would want to hold onto someone who didn’t want them? Especially when I didn’t even think he loved me?
This was all very strange.
Later, Tim was helping dry the dishes when he saw me walk by. He handed Alexis the dish, grabbed my hand, and pulled me out on the back deck.
“What are you doing?” I laughed.
“Getting you alone. What is going on with that whole Christmas Eve ball thing?”
I bit my lip. I couldn’t tell Tim before I told Heath. That wasn’t fair. “I was surprised, that’s all. I, um, appreciate the Reyes going to all that trouble to make us all feel welcome.”
Tim’s eyes narrowed at me. “I call bullshit. It’s something else. Why won’t you tell me?”
“Look!” I pointed above us as a shooting star streaked by. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
He caught the tail end of it. “Did you make a wish?”
