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“Hey, Oliver, how’s it going?” Chan says as Gus offers a fist bump.
Fist bumping Gus back, he responds with a chuckle. “Good, really good.”
“You guys just get here?” I ask.
“Yep, I know how you work. Early bird always gets the worm… or the best spot to watch the lighting ceremony. We figured we’d meet you here. Have you seen your parents yet?”
I shake my head. “Nope, not yet. Dad said they’d be here. Now we just have to brace for it.” I try to laugh, but it feels fake.
Chantelle pulls me in for a hug. “Aww, sweets. Maybe she’ll be happy this year.”
“Wishful thinking, perhaps. You know how she feels about me. Being a personal assistant is not a career. Yada, yada, yada.”
“But look how well you’ve done for yourself, girl. If she won’t be proud of you, I certainly will.” I nod, but don’t respond to her. I never know how to take compliments, even coming from my best friend. Voices from our other side prompt my attention. I look over to see the dark-haired girl from Sugar and Spice Cafe coming our way.Tessa.
“Hey, guys,” she greets us. We quickly make introductions, knowing that the ceremony is about to start soon. When the town mayor gets up on the podium, we all quiet down and wait. I look around for my parents, but don’t see them. Maybe they decided not to come this year.
“Welcome, one and all. Another year in the books, folks. Each year we celebrate the founding families in this town by lighting this tree, and tonight we do it again. Without further ado… in three, two, one… we all count down along with him. The tree lights and cheers are spoken from the lips of people all across the square.
Oliver puts his arm around my waist and pulls me to him. “Merry almost Christmas, Willow. There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask…”
Before he can finish, a blonde walks up behind us. “Oliver?”
“Lindsay?” His voice sounds off. Clearly, he knows her and clarity spotlights itself when I remember the conversation we had about his ex-girlfriend, almost fiancé.
“Oh, Oliver, it's so good to see you. We really need to talk.” Feeling like the odd man out, I slip from below Oliver’s arm. “I didn’t see you there. I’m Lindsay. Olly and I go way back. I wasn’t interrupting anything was I?” Not waiting for my answer, her eyes fall back to Oliver.
“Lindsay. What are you doing here in Whiskey Run?”
“A little birdie told me you moved here, and I couldn’t wait any longer to come see you. I’ve been thinking about us and…” I move away before I have to hear any more of this torture. Slipping away, I hear Oliver call out to me to wait, but the tears are already forming in my eyes. These last few days with Oliver had been perfect. I knew it was too good to be true.
Chantelle and Gus catch up to me. “Willow, wait up.”
“I just can’t…”
“What happened with Oliver? Why are you… hey, will you stop walking for a minute?” I keep moving and shake my head. I don’t want to stop. I don’t want to look back. I just want to get out of here.
She jogs to catch up with me, leaving Gus behind. “Hey, go this way. My car’s parked at the cafe. I’ll take you home.”
“Thanks,” I say softly, remembering that Oliver brought me here in his SUV.
The night sky is clear. Somewhere between the carousel and the tree lighting, the snow finally let up, leaving us alone with white covered roads and front yards. A few minutes later we’re in her car and she’s pulling into my driveway. The lights on the outside of my little cottage are shining brightly and the tree sparkles from the front window. My heart aches when I remember who helped me decorate all of this stuff. He spent a couple of days here so I’m sure my memories are stuck with me for a little while.
Following me into the house, she sends off a quick text. I’m assuming it’s to Gus to give him an update since she totally ditched him to follow me. “What happened, Willow? You and Oliver looked so happy tonight, then the next thing I know, you’re running away from him…”
“Lindsay showed up at the tree lighting ceremony.”
“Who’s Lindsay?”
“His girlfriend, slash almost fiancé, who left him a couple years ago. The one he refers to as his Christmas past.”
“Well, if she’s a ghost of Christmas past then why did you run?”
“Did you see her? She’s gorgeous. Everything I’m not. Tall, blonde, perfect hair, a smile that would make anyone sing. I can’t go up against that.”
“So, instead, you what? Ran like a child instead of fighting for the guy you’re falling in love with?”
I scoff at her. “You did not just huff at me. You know it’s true.”
