Page 97 of Merry Mended Hearts

He’d said it had something to do with the magic, but so what if that was what brought us together? Was the idea of being with me that bad?

I refused to believe this overarching obsession with all things Boone was fake. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be a sobbing mess right now. If this was only magic-induced, then these feelings would stop.

I ignored my phone long enough that the call ended, and Mom made a second attempt.

Rolling my eyes, sniffing the excess dripping from my nose from crying so hard, I swiped the screen and braced myself for a lecture. I’d forgotten to let Mom know I wouldn’t make it home in time. Undoubtedly, this was the purpose of that call.

“Hi, Mom.”

“He’s here with a date!” Mom fumed without even saying hello.

I blinked. Mom’s exclamation was enough to shake me to attention. I rolled on my back and stared upward. “Who is?”

“Terry! He was supposed to be here to meet you, but instead, he brought someone with him. I guess this woman is his girlfriend, and he’s been dating her for a while.”

Hm. This sounded a little too much like a romance novel to me. Was it possible that Terry hadn’t wanted to meet me and so had fabricated a date just for this dinner? I couldn’t help smiling at the thought.

“It’s okay, Mom.”

“It’s not okay! If that was the case, then why would Uncle Mike tell me otherwise? Why not tell me he was already taken so I didn’t get my hopes up?”

I glanced at the clock as the humor of this whole situation struck like a chime. Laughter bubbled up my throat.

“What’s so funny?” Mom demanded.

I couldn’t answer. I was laughing too hard. I laughed and laughed, and the sound was so humorless and cold, it struck even me. According to the clock, it was about time for Mom’s Christmas Eve party, and for the expected guests to come.

I hadn’t given her gathering much thought since being at Boone’s, but I let the laughter overtake me. The release was exactly what I needed right now.

The radio was behind this. It had to be.

I waited for the chiming sound to alert me of its magical interference, but nothing came. I glanced hopefully toward the window, waiting for the sound of a snowmobile to alert me of Boone’s changing his mind, but nothing came.

Maybe I’d been wrong about everything. What if this wasn’t the radio at all, but further proof of how unwantable I was? I’d said it before—rejection was my lot in life. This was no exception. I’d been rejected by a man I hadn’t even wanted to meet in the first place!

“Even though we’re all wondering why your plane never landed, at least you didn’t rush home for disappointment.” Mom sounded disappointed enough for us both.

No, I had plenty of that around here.

I’d told Boone I was unwantable. While the rose of what I wanted was lovely and alluring, it was unreachable through all the thorns. Rejection stung everywhere I touched.

“It’s okay, Mom. Really. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know, but a snowstorm hit this area and closed the pass leading from the inn back to the town. From what I hear, it won’t be open until tomorrow.”

“Do planes fly on Christmas?” Mom’s skepticism was evident.

I was touched. “You really want me there, don’t you?”

Even without the prospect of setting me up on a blind date?

“You’re my daughter,” Mom said as if this was the most obvious thing. Which it was. “It’s not the same without you here. I thought I’d be okay with you being gone for the holiday, but I’m not.”

“Mom,” I said with resignation.

Before the sleigh ride, I wasn’t sure I’d ever have the guts to say what I needed to say. But I was tired of feeling like I was walking on eggshells. I’d always considered my mom to be one of my best friends, and most of the time I loved being around her. But right now, I felt so torn, I couldn’t hold my feelings back any longer.

“You know how restricting my job is and how badly I want to write full-time.”

“I know, honey.”

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