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They beamed at one another. Best friends were … well, the best.

Kate left shortly after, and Emmie got out her cooking equipment.

###

Thanksgiving morning was gray and gloomy, but Emmie awoke with anticipation. She’d always loved this holiday and intended to enjoy this one. And this was the last holiday before Christmas, when she’d be away.

She sent a quick text message to Gemma, wishing her and the entire family a happy and successful day. In addition to having the restaurant open, they did a fabulous catering business for the day’s events.

Emmie couldn’t help smiling at the thought of Gemma in the restaurant. She’d hated working in the kitchen as a child, and now she’d grown to love it. She knew Lauren and Rick would arrive early because that’s when Kate’s son, Hank, and his wife, Janelle, usually arranged to spend time with them. Kate and Emmie had thought it would be appealing if Hank and Lauren married one day, but quickly realized they were too much alike to make it last and were much better as friends.

This morning, she’d bake the pies and make her appetizer. And then, though dinner wouldn’t be served until four, she’d go next door for a social afternoon at one o’clock.

As she worked, she couldn’t help wondering what her Christmas would be like. Pushing away any thoughts of loneliness, she shaped the cheese balls and put them in the refrigerator to chill.

###

That night, Emmie sat alone in her living room, watching the flames of the gaslit fire in the fireplace. She relished a quiet time like this after a busy day.

Thanksgiving at Kate’s house was always enjoyable. It was fun to see her kids. She loved them like the aunt they called her. She knew that tomorrow she and Kate would discuss Janelle’s self-absorption and Jared’s new girlfriend, as well as Lauren’s growing pregnancy and ideas for the baby’s room. That, too, was part of the holiday.

Pickle had spent some time in Emmie’s lap, and she wondered once again if she should get a dog after the holidays. She gazed at the empty space next to her and decided she’d look into Dachshund breeders in the area.

She finished her glass of water and climbed the stairs to her bedroom, thinking about a conversation earlier in the day. She’d talked to Lauren about Christmas decorations, and they agreed that Emmie should still put out her decorations except for the Christmas tree, which would be the first time they’d be without it.

“It’s a big change, Mom, but I understand you don’t want to put it up if you’ll be away,” Lauren said. “Gemma will be harder to convince.”

Emmie decided to wait to speak to Gemma. She wanted her daughter to accept that this Christmas, there would be changes for all of them. Some jarring; others, not.

###

The next day, while everyone else seemed to be at the mall shopping for holiday deals, Emmie headed to her favorite discount pharmacy to find suntan lotion and travel sizes of her favorite products. Normally, she’d be careful about spending a lot of money for what was a fairly short trip. But she was following Lauren’s suggestion to buy what she needed, as long as it was practical.

The checkout clerk asked Emmie where she was going on her trip. Emmie told her, and then it hit her. It was real now. That feeling stayed with her when she entered the office following the holiday weekend. Four more weeks and she’d be sitting in the sun on a beach instead of bundling up to face a cold, winter wind.

###

The end-of-year rush of tying up outstanding work kept her and everyone else busy until the day before she was due to fly out. Her mind kept wandering to that time. When one of the partners in the law office noticed her distraction, he said, “Go home, Emmie, and get ready for your flight tomorrow.”

“Thanks. I think I will.”

She left the office, scarcely believing the time had finally arrived.

CHAPTER FIVE

Emmie waited by her front door with two suitcases. Brad had promised to drive her into New York City to get her flight out of Kennedy Airport. He’d insisted on doing it because he’d promised Earl that he would. Grateful for the transportation and for being able to avoid the hassle and cost of parking at the airport, Emmie quickly accepted his offer.

Now, her stomach filled with flutters as he drove into the driveway and got out of his car to help her.

Kate and Pickle stood in their front yard and watched. Then, as Brad and Emmie drove away, they waved, filling Emmie with a surge of love.

“I’m very glad you’ve decided to make the trip that Earl wanted for you,” said Brad. “Even though the girls are not able to join you, it should be an awesome stay. Especially after all that you’ve been through. I know this is what he wanted for you.”

“Thank you for all you’ve done and are doing now to make it happen,” said Emmie. “I think back to all we’ve both been through together as our children have grown up. We’re one big family.”

“I still miss Earl,” said Brad. “But I’m grateful that he’s not suffering anymore. To see a strong guy like that suffer such consequences from the stroke was difficult to watch.”

“I know,” said Emmie. “But I’ve done a lot of soul-searching, and I’ve made an uneasy peace with losing him. It’s up to me to move on just as he’s indicated I should do with this trip.”