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“You going to the tree lighting tomorrow?”
Savage Valley may have been a small town, but when it came to holidays, they sure didn’t act like it. Tree lightings, decorations, town outings, the whole thing was done up with style. Always being way more festive than any other town close to them. She probably should go, get out of the house and spend time with her friends and family. But she already knew she wouldn’t.
“Probably not, Dad.” She didn’t give any excuse. Christmas was hard. Bar none. And she was not in the mood to celebrate.
“I’m going to pick up some dinner from Tracey’s,” she muttered, sitting back, exhaustion and unease pulling at her.
“Okay, hon. Love ya.” Her father sounded like he wasn’t ready to get off the phone, probably worried about her, but she wasn’t giving him a choice.
She needed to get her food and get home, so she could break down.
“Love ya too,” she replied automatically, but her mind was already gone.
If she blocked it out, she could pretend that life was perfect. That she was getting off work and picking up dinner for both of them, and that when she drove down that long road to their house, he would be standing out on the front porch, waiting for her.
Stupid.
She put the phone down and drove off.
You can do this!
She just had to keep pushing, and everything would be okay.
Pushing through work.
Pushing through life.
Praying that everything would work out, even if she was starting to realize that it never would.
CHAPTER2
MELANIE
THE PAST
“Ican’t believe you are getting married!” her sister, Margaret, squealed.
That was Margaret. High-pitched or nothing.
She smiled, still staring in the mirror, not believing that the girl in front of her was actually… well, her.
“I never thought this day would come,” she whispered, feeling like it wasn’t real.
Was she really going to marry James?
Was she really going to get to spend the rest of her life with him?
“Oh, posh. You two have been together since freshman year in high school. Everyone knew it would happen.”
That was true.
Still didn’t mean that she hadn’t been dreaming of this day.
“Daddy is going to flip when he sees you.” She smiled again.
“I wish Mom was here,” she whispered, and Margaret smiled sadly, reaching up to adjust one of the flowers in her hair.
“I know. Me too. She would have loved James for you.”
