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Friday morning, Maya woke up at four in the morning, padded to the kitchen, and brewed a big pot of coffee. She waited expectantly for six AM to roll around, knowing that once Brad got up for his run, he would call her back. But six came and went— and Brad didn’t reach out. Her heart flipped over in her chest. She needed human contact. The big mansion around her echoed.
Maya showered, did her hair and makeup, and drove to Hollygrove Elementary in time for bus drop-off. But after she parked the car a block away and headed back down the sidewalk, all the students were inside. She could see classrooms through the windows, children rubbing their eyes of sleep as their teachers got them to recite spelling words or tell stories. Maya reminded herself that school would let out in less than seven hours, at which time she could pluck Brad from the chaos of the elementary school, perhaps buy him a drink, and tell him everything.
That, and ask him about his day. Genuinely get to know him more. She’d been selfish, demanding so much of his empathy and time. She needed to give back.
Maya turned on her heel and strode downtown, her eyes on the garlands that hung from store to store, the sparkle of the heaps of snow, and the sharp steeples of the surrounding churches. She decided to head to the coffee shop for a scone and a cup of coffee, where she would regroup and think about how to contact Olivia and translate her newfound information.
That’s when she heard her name bellowed out across Main Street.
Maya froze in recognition. For a split second, she thought maybe she was dreaming. That was the only explanation, wasn’t it?
And then, she heard it again. “Maya! Wait up!”
There was no mistaking it. That was Nick’s voice.
Maya turned around as Nick, dapper as ever in a tan pea coat, his hair fluffed up with the mousse he always used, his smile vibrant, swaggered toward her. She was immediately transported back to their first date, when he’d taken her to one of the most expensive oyster bars in New York City and said, “If you want to have a good time, baby, stick with me.” He’d seemed like a character in a 1940s romantic film. She’d swooned.
“Nick?” Maya was breathless as he approached. “What are you doing here?”
For a moment, Maya let herself get swept up in the romance of it all. Nick Collins was the successful, handsome chef she’d met and fallen in love with five years ago. She’d lived with him for years. They’d traveled around the world together, to Paris, Rome, Bangkok, and Sydney. He’d once said, “I would have loved to have children with you, Maya. If only I hadn’t met you too late in the game.” And Maya had wept with love.
“Look at you,” Nick said now, his cheeks bright red with chill. “You’re beautiful.”
Maya furrowed her brow with confusion. She glanced around downtown, trying to make eye contact with passers-by. Perhaps she should ask someone else if this was really happening. Maybe Nick was a mirage. Maybe she was about to communicate with nothing but air.
“How did you find me?” Maya demanded, trying to make her voice sound stern.
Nick’s smile widened. He enjoyed this game. “I heard everything about you on the news.”
Maya bristled, remembering the journalists who’d met her outside the Albright mansion. That, plus the story of Olivia and the heirloom necklace, had meant more media attention than Maya had ever dreamed of. It also meant a boost in blog traffic. And, apparently, a visit from Nick. But did she want that?
“Get a cup of coffee with me,” Nick ordered in that authoritative way she’d once loved. “There’s a great little stall at the Christmas market. I know you hate Christmas. But I promise. It’s worth it.”
Hate Christmas?Maya had all but forgotten that was a part of her personality. She’d been swaddled in Christmas celebrations for weeks.
Maya was wordless as they walked toward the little Christmas market, where the stalls remained from the festival. That had been two weeks ago, but it felt more like two years. Had Veronica known Maya would fall into the past like this? Had that been a part of her plan?
Nick greeted the man at the coffee stall with his city swagger and asked for two cappuccinos.
“Hey there, Maya!” Ben, the coffee manager, greeted her warmly, his eyes still on Nick. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Nick. He’s in from the city,” Maya said, her voice wavering. She was suddenly fearful that Ben would make a beeline for the elementary school and tell Brad what she was up to.
“Hopefully to stay for a while,” Nick said, winking at Maya. “I heard a rumor about a mansion around these parts. Do you know anything about that?” he asked Ben.
Ben laughed nervously and handed over the cappuccinos. “You stay warm this morning,” he ordered, refusing to answer Nick’s question. “It’s not even twenty degrees.”
Maya and Nick fell into step beside one another, wandering through downtown. On the one hand, this felt like the most normal thing in the world: Maya, in step with her love, Nick, drinking a cup of coffee. On the other, Maya had grown exponentially since Nick had kicked her out of their apartment.
Maya stalled on the sidewalk and blinked up at him. She blurted, “What about your new girlfriend?”
Nick took the question in stride. “It didn’t work out.”
“I see.”
“I called you,” Nick said. “I wanted to explain.”
Maya’s head throbbed. She hadn’t fielded any calls from Nick. She had a vague memory of Phoebe “blocking” Nick on Maya’s cell phone, calling it the single greatest way to get over someone. That meant he couldn’t call her at all. Maya had been too out of her mind to notice or care.
