Page 52 of Something Borrowed

“I’d love another bowl—and then I’ll probably want a nap instead of doing chores.”

An image of Cal stretched out under one of the blankets he’d bought flashed into Vic’s mind. And then, before she was conscious of what she was doing, she imagined snuggling herself in against his solid frame. She sighed and popped up from the table to refill their bowls, hoping if he noticed her flush, he’d think it was the temperature of the room or something.

“So do you have Christmas plans?” he asked when she was seated again.

She shook her head. “No, it will just be me and Audra—so a very festive time.”

Cal laughed—then stopped abruptly as if fearing he was being rude. He shook his head. “I don’t have plans either. And it’s always so slow this time of year that I shut down from the 22nd until the first Monday after the new year. No one wants renos done when their house is all decorated and they have tons of company—”

“Small town life! The Second Chance Shop is open on Christmas Eve, but then Madeline shuts her down until, like, the 8th or something of January.”

“Yeah, I should’ve booked a trip to Mexico or something, but I thought I’d be doing something with my sister.”

“Plans fell through?”

“Not really. Just me forgetting the reality of folks with children. She’s heading south to spend the holidays with her kids, which I totally understand. Of course.”

Vic got it. He understood, but now he’d also be alone at Christmas. She kind of envied him. “I can lend you Audra.”

He didn’t curb his laughter this time.

Their second helpings had rapidly disappeared, and Vic pushed her nearly empty bowl away. “I had hoped Michael would come, but—” She broke off, feeling a bit emotional, and just shook her head to indicate it wasn’t going to be a thing.

“He can’t make it,” Cal filled in for her softly.

Vic tried to give a light laugh. The resulting strangled croak sounded anything but. “More like won’t make it. Doesn’t want to make it. Won’t even respond to talk about.”

Cal studied her, but—a rarity—Vic didn’t flinch. His gaze felt compassionate, not like he was weighing her up and finding her wanting.

“When Carrie’s marriage broke up, my nephew Jordan—Jordy—took it very hard. He’s a bit younger than Michael, but not much. He pretty much cut Carrie out of his life, which was devastating for her, especially because, well . . .” Cal shook his head. “Anyway, he’s mostly come around. It may take a bit, but I think Michael will too.”

Vic bit her lip. “That’s kind of you, and I really want to believe it, but . . .” She paused, then sighed. “There’s not just a lot of water under the bridge, there’s a whole blown-out river.”

Cal shrugged. “I can tell how much you love him, though. And somewhere beneath the mess of logs and mud, he knows it too. Real love has to count for something. It has to.”

His words made Vic’s heart hurt, but she had to smile at his extension of her “blown out river” line—and then she was shocked she could smile when thinking about her failure with Michael.

“How’ve you contacted him?”

Now this was something Vic recognized—a man going into fix-it mode. Honestly though, she didn’t mind. Maybe he would have a good idea. After all, Michael was male too.

“By text. That’s definitely his go-to communication.”

“Like most of us nowadays, I guess. But it doesn’t leave a lot of room for saying much unless the other person responds. Maybe send him an email.”

“An email?”

“Yeah, you know. Those electronic letter things, kind of like the things we used to write on paper and send with stamps.

“You never did!”

“No, I really truly did.” Cal’s eyes crinkled, then his expression immediately sobered again. “I have no clue that he’ll be any more receptive to your email than your texts, but who knows? Won’t hurt to try. It’s harder to ignore an actual letter.”

Her skepticism must’ve showed on her face.

“I’m sorry. Was that mansplaining? Carrie gets on me for it—but I also can’t help it. I am a man. And sometimes I explain things.”

A little burst of mirth welled up in Vic. “Now, that was mansplaining.”