Page 55 of A Match Made at Christmas

“That’s okay. I just wanted to see if you were okay.”

A quizzical expression washed over her face. “Oh. Yes, I’m okay.”

“And I wanted to give you this.” Hayes pulled the photo out of his pocket and handed it to her.

Peggy took the old picture, and her eyes turned glassy. One hand covered her slight gasp. “Where did you get this?”

“Peggy, I don’t know what happened between you and Howie all those years ago or tonight on the roof, but I do know one thing for sure.”

She looked up at him, eyes expectant, as if Hayes had the magic words that could take her pain away. And maybe he did.

“He loves you.”

Peggy’s face softened. “You can’t possibly know that.”

“I can,” he said. “And I do. He’s not doing a very good job of hiding how he really feels about you.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know, Mr. McGuire.”

Hayes pulled his coat tighter around his body. “I know. And maybe it won’t be simple.” He paused. “I just know if you gave him another chance, you’d make him the happiest man alive.”

Peggy pushed the photo toward Hayes.

His hands went up, as if to reject her offering. “You keep it. Maybe it’ll remind you that once upon a time, you two had something special. Magical even. And that doesn’t come along every day.”

She pulled her hand back and studied the image again. “Thank you, Hayes.”

“Now, the other reason I came. . .” He put on his best version of a charming smile and hoped for the best. Because if anyone could help him make this idea a reality, it was Peggy, one of the most well-connected people in Nantucket.

Chapter 17

A Surprise Stop

Pru had watched Hayes talk to Howie, and then walk out the front door of the Nantucket Whaling Museum, and for a brief moment, she considered running after him and spilling the truth about how she felt.

But no, it could wait for a time when they weren’t rushed or surrounded by people.

She’d finished out the evening with a throat sore from all the talking she’d done. Once she was back home in her most comfortable pair of pajamas, she replayed the unfinished conversation she and Hayes had had in the stairwell. She closed her eyes and thought about the kiss he’d stolen as she left him standing there, the way it had sent a tingle straight down her spine, the way she still felt it now, hours later.

The following morning, Pru dragged herself out of bed and checked her phone. Nothing from Hayes.

She showered, dressed and made herself some coffee, then checked her phone again. Still nothing.

Around 10:00 a.m., there was a knock at the door, and her heart leapt and relaxed at the same time.Finally!She raced over and pulled it open, but it wasn’t Hayes standing on the doorstep. It was his mom and sister.

And they both wore smiles so big they had to be fake.

“What’s wrong?” Pru asked.

Nan frowned, then looked at Harper. “Do we look like something’s wrong?”

Harper shrugged. “I thought we looked full of Christmas cheer.”

Pru frowned. “You’re not here to tell me Hayes left on the early morning ferry or something, are you?”

They both stared at her.

“Sorry, come in.” She pulled the door open, and they passed by. “I’m just hoping to talk to him is all.”

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