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I know he’s busy. It’s not his fault there was a fire. I shouldn’t be so negative, but I know what happened two years ago, and it wasn’t even this dramatic. I was a fool to let my feelings out or his in. I shouldn’t have slept the night with him. I should have grabbed my clothes and run for the hills. Then last night would be a lovely memory of a night of passion. Well, two nights of passion.
Maybe I’ll get a cat. I can become a proper cat lady.
The rest of the movie shoot is nuts. Committing to shooting an entire movie in six days is insane. I barely have time to breathe. Not to mention all the damn holly jolly bullshit.
There is no Santa Clause.
Landon goes from serving the cast and crew food to cleaning up his kitchen and dealing with the insurance company and bank. We text, but I’m a coward and avoid going to talk to him when he’s at the studio. I could make ten minutes to speak to him.
My heart aches to see him and warns me off at the same time.
The next three days fly by. It’s Christmas Eve, and the final scene is in the can, which means we’ve finished.
The director says, “I know you all want to get to your holiday celebrations, so rather than having a party now, let’s get together on New Year’s Eve. I’ve booked the Avalon Hollywood Club. I expect everyone to be there.”
Great. Another Hollywood party without a date. I can’t wait.
Landon:Come to the restaurant, we’re reopening and having a small celebration.
I don’t respond. I can’t risk having my heart broken into a million pieces again.
At home, I stare at my bland apartment without a single holiday decoration. Sliding onto my overly deep couch, I curl my legs under me and dial my mom.
“Gracie, I thought you’d forgotten me entirely.” Mom’s voice is the most soothing thing and brings tears to my eyes. There’s something about Katherine Lane that’s a balm to my soul.
“Merry Christmas, Mom.”
“Dad and I were worried they were working you too hard. It’s late. Did you just get home?”
Dad is in the background calling out, “Merry Christmas, baby girl.”
“Merry Christmas, Dad. I just walked in. It was a long week.” I check the clock. It’s seven here, so ten in New Jersey. I don’t usually call my parents this late.
“The family was here, and the house is a mess. Emma and Lucas are still here helping us clean up. Jacob and Alyssa just left. I like that girl so much. Sally and Colin went to spend Christmas Eve with his father and sister. They’ll be here tomorrow though. He’s a nice man and so in love with your sister. Other than that, it was the full Lane clan. Well, our corner of it.”
Tears spill down my cheeks at the mention of my happily coupled siblings. I can picture all the mess and how much fun they had eating and watching old videos of us as kids. “I wish I could have been there too.”
There’s a long pause. “Are you okay, Gracie?”
“No, Mom. I’m not. I thought I met someone, and then life got crazy. There was a fire. He had to work. I had to work. History really does repeat itself.” I’m full-on crying now.
Through the phone, I hear my mother calling Emma, and a door closes. “Gracie, Emma and I are in the bedroom now. I have you on speaker. What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” I sob.
“Grace.” My sister Emma’s voice is stern and loving at the same time. She’s so much like Mom. “Who made you cry?”
I almost laugh at the way she says it, as if there’s a schoolyard bully, and she’s going to take care of this. “I did.” And that’s the truth.
“What happened?” Emma’s voice is softer.
I tell them everything.
“Is this the same Landon from a few years ago?” Mom asks.
“Yes.” My voice is tiny and sad.
Emma says, “Grace, if he had a fire and still tried to communicate with you, that doesn’t sound like a guy who wants to let this thing between you go.”
