Page 2 of Just Home for the Holidays

“Have some fun. Please.”

“Hey, I’m in the Big Apple. There’s a lot to do. Don’t worry about me.”

“I do.”

“You’re the only one who does that.”

“Well, maybe you should think about changing that,” Char chided.

Hunter rolled his eyes. He was the last guy in the world who would make a commitment to anyone or anything. He’d learned the hard way that there was no point in counting on tomorrow. “Don’t hold your breath,” he said with quiet heat.

Char laughed. “I’m not, but you could go ahead and surprise me one day.” Evie giggled close to the phone. “Tell Uncle Hunter that you love him and miss him.” Evie uttered a string of those incomprehensible sounds that only Char seemed to understand perfectly.

“Love you, too, babe,” Hunter said and took the chance to escape. “Later, Char. I’m heading into the subway.”

That was a lie, but it worked. He shoved the phone into his pocket, balling his hands into fists as he strode the last few steps to the club. The last thing he wanted was to be alone with his memories and his regrets, but he was becoming desperate for a distraction.

Hunter swept open the door of the club for one of the fabulous fifties who came for yoga in the evenings and she flashed him a smile. He did his best Elvis impression and sangBlue Christmasas he crossed the lobby behind her. She laughed and spun around to sing the chorus with him.

Fortunately it was one song that didn’t need the words changed.

Two whole weeks until he was in the clear. No doubt about it, Hunter needed a plan.

* * *

Home!

Chloe felt like a kid on Christmas morning. Home for the holidays! She practically had her nose pressed to the glass of the back window of the cab as the driver headed down Broadway. It was all so wonderfully familiar. It had been just over a year since she’d left for San Francisco and as much as she loved her job on the left coast, it was good to finally be back.

She wasn’t going to think of it as returning to the scene of the crime. Josh had probably married someone else by now. She could just enjoy Manhattan, all decked out for the holidays. She’d made a schedule, just to make sure she didn’t miss a thing. Her calendar was full yet perfectly organized, just the way she liked it. Chloe Richardson didn’t like surprises.

She just had one job to do first.

The cab stopped outside Flatiron Five Fitness and she wheeled her suitcase into the building, staring around herself with pleasure. She loved this place, almost as much as she loved Flatiron Five Fitness West. Since it was Wednesday night, the dance club was closed and instead, holiday music was playing softly in the lobby. The sound made her smile. Members were coming and going with purpose and, not for the first time, she thought that F5F had something in common with Grand Central Terminal. She’d missed the New York bustle.

The shop with branded merchandise was decorated with glittering silver snowflakes, many of them hung from the ceiling so they spun and sparkled. She waved to Germaine who threw up his hands in delighted surprise at the sight of her. The take-out place in the lobby had fresh samosas, by the tantalizing aroma, and Chloe’s stomach grumbled. Maybe she’d grab some take-out before heading uptown to her mom’s. She was going to miss dinner there, for sure.

And that wasn’t an accident. It also meant she ducked an inquisition. Scheduling was the key to success in Chloe’s world. With luck, she’d get to the apartment in time to change and go to the carol service at St. James, with no pesky interval for maternal inquisition.

There was a big Christmas tree beside the reception desk, sparkling with ornaments. Sonia was talking to the receptionist, a guy Chloe didn’t recognize, and they were both wearing Santa hats. Videos of the pop-ups from the previous holiday promotion run by Kyle and Theo were playing on the big screen. The rock climbing wall at the opposite end of the lobby was busier than usual. There was even a line of members waiting their turn. She saw Thom instructing two younger boys and waved to him but didn’t interrupt.

F5F would have been her second home, if not for her relocation to Flatiron Five Fitness West in San Francisco. She’d met Tyler McKay during her internship at Fleming Financial, when he’d been a financial advisor there as his day job. By the time she knew that investment advising wasn’t for her, Ty had left Fleming to be the full-time CFO of Flatiron Five Fitness, the club he’d founded years before with four partners. Ty had given Chloe a job and a chance. He was a terrific mentor and she’d taken the opportunity to run the finance team at the new club on the west coast with his encouragement.

Chloe knew she couldn’t have worked anywhere better. She was on track to establish the financial independence she wanted more than anything in the world, and she’d have it by the time she was thirty. She would have done anything for Ty, but he didn’t ask for much: running this meeting was a rare request. Ty had gone to Harte’s Harbor for the holidays with Shannyn, his wife, and their son, Michael. He’d asked Chloe to manage the last weekly meeting before the holiday break at the New York club in case he had troubles calling in. Once that duty was done, her vacation could begin.

Chloe’s phone rang and she answered without looking, assuming that it was Ty, checking for the tenth time that she had the agenda.

But it was her mom.

“The dress was delivered,” Chloe’s mom said, her pleasure evident. “And I just had to hang it up for you.”

“Of course, you did.” Alicia Brett’s curiosity should be a matter of public record. Chloe had no doubt that any package arriving at her mom’s apartment would be opened and examined, regardless whose name was on the address.

“You’re going to look gorgeous!” Her mom’s excitement was so obvious that Chloe smiled. “I sent down to the bank for your grandmother’s rubies. They’ll be perfect with that dress and I’ve always thought the red would suit you well.”

Chloe almost dropped the phone. “The rubies? You’re kidding.”

“I am not kidding, Chloe.” Her mom was stern. “It’s the biggest fundraiser of the season and you can’t turn up without some stellar jewelry. The dress is wonderful, but the rubies will take it to the next level.” Her mom paused for a moment. “I don’t suppose you’ve found a suitable date yet?”

---