Page 53 of Holiday Hook Up

“He didn’t. He’s at my mother’s trying to beat her at cards, but I needed to be here.”

“Really? Why?”

“Every Sunday I wait for the 2:00 p.m. bus.” Emma tightened her pretty pink scarf around her neck. “Even on holidays.”

“You do?” Bethany asked, more than perplexed why Emma would make waiting for a bus a weekly routine.

“Yeah.” She pointed behind her. “I’m usually in the Star Lite, sitting at that table. There’s only one Sunday since I was thirteen that I didn’t sit there, and it was only because Jason had my seat and refused to give it up.”

Bethany laughed. “Was that your cute meet?”

“You could say that. Although, I remember wishing I had the power to turn him into a frog.” She giggled, adding, “But I did think he was pretty handsome even then.” She patted the space next to her. “Would you like to join me and wait?”

“Sure.” Bethany took a seat next to Emma. It shouldn’t take her that long to get home to make her Skype call. Maybe she could ask Emma for a ride.

“How is your Christmas?”

“Low-key. My parents are in the Bahamas, so it’s just me.”

“Do you have plans for tomorrow night? Jason and I are getting together with Abby and Brandon. Josh and Caitlin will be there, too.”

Bethany smiled at her friend. Emma Stevens was always thoughtful. It would be fun to hang out with them. “I’ll be running the store tomorrow, but I could come by after work.”

“Fantastic. Oh, and Adam should be there, too. Would you mind inviting him?”

Why should Adam be there?“Sure.” Her cheeks warmed at the thought of her spending the evening with Adam. She could always blame what she was sure were rosy cheeks on the cold air. “So why do you come here every Sunday?” she asked, changing the subject.

“It’s pretty silly, really. I overhead my mother talking to my Aunt Jackie when I was a teenager and thought my father would be returning on the 2:00 p.m. bus on a Sunday. He never did.” She sighed. “And my mom’s premonition was a little different than my young imagination heard. I still come here, though, hanging on to all that hope I once had that he’ll return.”

Bethany didn’t quite know what to say. She knew the story of Emma’s dad skipping out on her and her mother—the whole town did. “Well, I think that’s wonderful. Hope is a good thing to have.”

“Yes, it is.” Emma touched her neck and pulled out a necklace that had been hidden. “And Jason asked me to marry him.”

Bethany stared at the beautiful diamond that dangled on a thin gold chain. “Emma! Congratulations, that’s wonderful.”

“Thank you.”

“When did it happen?”

“Last night.”

“Why aren’t you wearing the ring? You did say yes, didn’t you?”

“Not yet, but I will, and Jason knows that.” She smiled. “I’m glad we ran into each other because I think you’re the only person who will understand why I didn’t say yes.”

“I will?” Bethany sat back. Why would Emma think she was the only person who would understand? Wouldn’t Abby be the one?

“It has to do with the hope chest.” Emma turned to face Bethany. “Can I ask you something? When you opened it and put Mary’s dress on, did you feel like there was something you must do in it?”

Bethany looked away. She’d already confessed her feelings for Adam to Abby. There was no reason not to believe that Emma could keep the secret, too. “I wanted to kiss Adam.” Wow. And just like that, there it was. Out in the open.

Emma gave her an encouraging smile. “And did you?”

“Yes. I mean, I’ve always wanted to kiss him, but in the dress . . . The feeling was overwhelming. I needed it to happen right then.”

“I had the same feeling.”

Bethany raised a playful eyebrow. “That you wanted to kiss Adam?”

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