Page 2 of A Christmas Duet

“It’s going to be incredible. And the best part is that Shawn will be joining us on the twenty-sixth.”

Shawn was Katherine’s current love interest. Over the three years Hailey had known her, she’d watched her friend drift in and out of relationships. This time, though, was different. Shawn had lasted longer than any of Katherine’s previous relationships. Hailey was pleased for her friend and wished her every happiness.

“He’s spending Christmas with his family and then driving up to Whistler.”

“I didn’t know he skied,” Hailey commented.

“He hasn’t since high school. It says a lot that he’s willing to take it up again so he can spend time with me and my family.”

“That it does,” Hailey agreed.

“Is Zach still bugging you?” Katherine asked.

Hailey wanted to grind her teeth in frustration. She’d dated Zach all through college, and Hailey, and herparents, too, had assumed Zach would propose following graduation. Instead of a wedding proposal, he’d dumped her. Three years later, out of the blue, he’d reached out, wanting to reconnect. Hailey wasn’t interested. Zach, however, didn’t seem to be getting the message. “Can you believe this? He sent a text suggesting he join my family for Christmas.”

“What?” Katherine was as shocked as Hailey had been. “After what he did to you, he has the audacity to invite himself to your family Christmas.”

To be fair, Zach hadn’t technically dumped her, although he might as well have. Following graduation, when she was expecting a marriage proposal, they’d hadthe talk.

Before he was willing to make a commitment, the ever-practical Zach wanted to be sure they both were on the same page regarding the future and wanted the same things. That made sense, and Hailey had been pleased he’d taken the idea of marriage seriously.

Instead, their discussion turned out to be a kick in the gut. Zach wanted Hailey to be realistic about her career choice. It was all fine and good that she liked to write music, according to Zach, but there wasn’t a glimmer of hope that she had what it took to make it big. He pointed out that while she had a pleasant singing voice, it wasn’t good enough to garner her the attention she would need.Too many others were far more talented than she could ever hope tobe.

Hailey accepted the fact that she wasn’t another Adele or Taylor Swift, and that was fine. It was the songs she wrote and intended to sell. Songwriting was her gift. Not performing.

She didn’t argue, which only fed the flames of Zach’s speech. He’d gone on to say, because she was an introvert, she simply didn’t have the personality to face the highly competitive professional world of music. Zach reminded her that she’d never been one to stand out in a crowd or to make sure she was noticed. Another truth that had eaten away at her hopes of ever succeeding. He insisted that if they were to consider marrying, she would need to put aside her imaginative dreams, be practical, and find employment that would help build their financial future. He needed a wife who would support and encourage him and his career and didn’t want one who would be distracted with fanciful, impractical dreams of her own. The bottom line was that she had to choose; it was either him or her music.

The decision had been easy. She’d loved Zach, but she couldn’t change who she was or deny the gift she had been given. With tears in her eyes and her heart breaking, she told Zach that no matter what the future held, she felt she had to write her songs. Without the smallesthesitation, Zach had accepted her decision and walked out of her life.

Even now, three years later, his discouragement and lack of faith hurt. What pained her most was the fact that he’d never really known her heart. For nearly two years, her creativity had been stymied. She hadn’t been able to release the hold his negativity had branded on her soul. Every effort she’d made to write ended up in the wastebasket. Only in the last several months had she found her mojo again. She’d composed a few songs, even sold one to a radio station for an advertisement. Lately this charming Christmas ditty had been playing in her mind day and night. She was anxious to pick up her guitar and get the notes and lyrics down on paper over the holiday break.

And now, shockingly, after three long years, Zach was back.

Well, sortof.

It started in November with a text message asking Hailey how she was doing. To say she was surprised to hear from him would be an understatement. He made no reference to their split, as if the years since they’d parted had never happened. Not one word of regret or a single anything of what had transpired. Even now, nearly a month later, Hailey didn’t know what to make of this sudden change of heart, or if it even was one.

Her initial response had been polite, but she made it perfectly clear she had no desire for a reconciliation.More text messages followed. She answered the next couple with a short one- or two-word reply, letting him know she wasn’t willing to engage in this conversation. Then she stopped answering. That hadn’t dissuaded him.

Zach continued with texts and emails, telling her about his job with Microsoft, which was what he’d always wanted. He was well on his way to another promotion and a pay raise and had purchased a home in Kirkland close to the jobsite. His life seemed to be perfect in every way.

Most conversations and texts revolved around him and his nearly perfect life. Hailey found it all rather confusing, unsure what to make of this sudden interest. He hinted that he missed her and wished for them to get together again. Not once did he ask about her songwriting, as if it was a moot point.

“Zach wants to join your family for Christmas?” Katherine repeated. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“I wish. I let him know that wasn’t going to happen. I don’t know what more I can say to convince him I’m not interested. He seems to feel that if he keeps contacting me eventually he’ll wear me down and I’ll change my mind. That isn’t going to happen.”

“I should think not, after what he did.”

Hailey treasured Katherine’s friendship, and her support and encouragement.

“Did he get the message this time?” her friend asked.

“I can only hope. Part of the problem is my mom,” Hailey said, thinking out loud. If her mother got wind of Zach reaching out, she’d be thrilled with the possibility of the two of them getting back together.

“Mom was always Zach’s biggest champion. She was devastated when we split. My mother would do everything she could to get us back together.”

“Does she know he’s reached out?”

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