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“Okay. Have it your way, but you still have a dance to go to.”
“Carrie, I can?
??t.”
“Yes, you can. Everyone adores you. We need you there. And tonight is about Christmas, community and love. Please come.”
Kate’s gaze moved to the dress still hanging by the door. Carrie followed her eyes. She rushed over to the dress and took it off the hook.
“You have to go, if nothing else to wear the dress that your aunt and Wes’s mother took time to make just for you. The whole town is waiting to see you in it. You don’t want to disappoint them, do you?”
Kate shook her head. She’d already disappointed enough people.
“Good.” Carrie gently propelled Kate toward the bedroom. “Go get changed. I’ll wait.”
Kate took the dress and headed for the bedroom. She couldn’t believe Carrie had talked her into going. But it would certainly beat staying home, thinking about the candle company and mourning Wes’s absence.
She was soon dressed. She did her makeup, and then Carrie fixed her hair in a festive style that included long barrel roll curls. She finished her outfit with earrings made of red bows and jingle bells.
Kate moved to the mirror. Aunt Penney and Martha had outdone themselves. Kate’s gaze moved down over the simple white bodice with short sleeves. She’d added a sterling silver locket she’d inherited from her mother. Inside was a picture of her as a baby and one of her father as a young man. Kate’s fingers touched the pendant as a wave of love and loss, in equal parts, washed over her. It didn’t matter how many Christmases came and went, she still missed her parents.
She lowered her hand, smoothing it down over the high-waisted band of satin. It transitioned into a pleated full navy blue and bronze-striped midi skirt. And when she twirled in front of the mirror, it fluffed out just a bit. She laughed when she realized that after all these years, she loved it when her skirts fluffed up like a princess gown. Maybe there was still some childhood wonder left in her, but was it enough to believe in miracles? Was her aunt right? Would this be a great Christmas? Or was it just wishful thinking on her aunt’s part?
“Wow! You look amazing.” Carrie’s voice drew Kate from her thoughts.
“It’s all thanks to Aunt Penney and Martha. They did an incredible job. It fits perfectly.” And then, just because she could, she twirled in front of the mirror once more.
Carrie smiled at her. “It’s good to see you enjoying the moment.”
“I’m trying.” Inside, her heart ached for what might have been if Wes hadn’t left. But for tonight, she would put on a happy face. “We’d better go, or we’ll be late.”
“Agreed.”
They rushed out the door. Since the hall was close by, they opted to walk, as parking would be absolutely impossible. They decided to carry their heels and change into them at the dance. And so in her red coat and snow boots, Kate followed Carrie down the apartment steps.
They walked up Moose Way, where the sidewalks had been shoveled. They cut across on Valley Lane. At the intersection of Flatlander Way sat the old Victorian house where Wes had grown up. It was when they neared the For Sale sign that Kate came to a stop. There was a “Sold” banner on the sign.
For just a moment—a very brief moment—she wondered if Wes had bought the house. She knew how much he loved the place. He would be so happy living there.
In the next moment, she dismissed the idea. She was being utterly foolish. He was gone. His home—his future was in New York. Kate’s vision blurred. She blinked repeatedly.
“What’s the matter?” Carrie asked.
Kate swallowed the lump in her throat. “The house.” Her heart sank down to her fuzzy-lined snow boots. “It’s been sold.”
“Must have just happened. I didn’t hear anyone mention it at the diner. I wonder who bought it?”
Kate’s eyes stung. It was the final sign that Wes wouldn’t be back. Her hope that he’d return to Bayberry was slipping away with each passing moment.
“Kate, are you all right?” It took Carrie a moment to put it together. “Wait. This is Wes’s childhood home, isn’t it?”
Kate nodded and then started walking again. It wouldn’t help to linger. She was sure that whoever had bought the house would be happy there. It just wouldn’t be Wes.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Could this really be the last Candlelight Dance?
An arrow of sorrow pierced Kate’s heart.
