Page 48 of Christmas Charms
I can barely breathe. My pulse is pounding a staccato rhythm that seems to beat in time to a simple, three-word phrase.
Definitely a date.
“Sometimes I wish the same thing,” I murmur, and I’m shocked to realize I mean it.
Why am I saying this?You’re living the dream, remember? And that dream is in Manhattan, not here.But when my hands grip the soft velvet of the armrest between us, and when Aidan leans the slightest bit closer to me and his gaze flits toward my lips, I’m consumed with the thought that maybe there’s more to life than dreaming. More to life than fancy trips around the world and posh parties and priceless necklaces.
“Ashley.” Aidan’s minty breath is warm on my face, while onscreen, Bing Crosby is serenading Rosemary Clooney, singing about counting his blessings.
And I realize, now more than ever, how much of a blessing Aidan has been to me—not just yesterday, but today, too. A shiver runs up and down my spine when he leans closer, and I suddenly can’t fathom a tomorrow without him. Manhattan seems a million miles away, even farther than Paris.
My breath catches as Aidan’s gaze drops slowly to my mouth, and my heart swells. It feels as if I’ve been waiting for this kiss for the better part of the past eight years…maybe even longer. Maybe even a lifetime. But just as my eyelashes begin to flutter closed, my attention snags on a glimpse of red over Aidan’s shoulder.
I don’t want to look. Idesperatelydon’t. I want to stay right where I am, a breath away from the aching tenderness of Aidan’s lips landing gently on mine. I want to fall into this moment, to sink into it like a soft feather bed. But for some odd reason, I can’t. A chill runs up and down my spine, and I freeze, shell-shocked, as the flash of red comes into sharp focus…the familiar twirl of a cape, the snowy white bun.
My eyes go wide.
Betty!
“Wait,” I say, and Aidan’s eyes pop open, searching my face.
“I’m so sorry. I thought…” He shakes his head and pulls away, no doubt under the mistaken impression that I didn’t want to kiss him, when in reality I want nothing more.
But I can’t let Betty get away. I don’t know what she’s doing here or how she ended up in the Palace Theatre in Owl Lake, but Ineedto talk to her. She’s the only one who can tell me more about the bracelet, and I still have so many questions—especially about the tiny engagement ring charm.
“Don’t apologize. Please.” I rest my hand on Aidan’s broad chest. His cable-knit sweater is impossibly soft against my palm, and his heart pounds wildly in the dark. “I just…”
I shake my head, at a complete and total loss for words.
I just think I spotted Mrs. Claus headed toward the lobby for a refill on her bucket of popcorn.
Could this situation get any more absurd?
“I just need to slip away for a quick second. I’ll be right back.” I scramble out of my seat and tell myself I’m only imagining the glimmer of hurt in Aidan’s blue eyes, but it’s no use. It’s there, because I’m quite literally running away at the very moment we were about to kiss.
I’ll make things right with Aidan, I tell myself. I’m not sure how, since we’ve barely begun to move beyond our sensitive past, but I will. I can’t bear the thought of hurting him again, but I also can’t pass up my best opportunity to get to the bottom of the magic bracelet.
The theatre is pitch black, and I dart down the aisle until I push my way out the door and stumble into the lobby, blinking against the sudden brightness. Two teenaged boys are working the concession stand, and other than a life-size cardboard cutout of Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins, they’re the only people in sight. No Mrs. Claus. NoMr.Claus. Not even a lowly elf.
I make a mad dash for the ladies’ room but find it empty, even after banging on each of the stall doors and calling Betty’s name. There’s a hollow feeling burrowing behind my breastbone. This can’t be happening. She couldn’t have just disappeared into thin air, like…like…
Like magic?
I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My cheeks are flushed, and my eyes are wild. I can’t remember the last time I’ve looked or felt so alive, and for a dizzying moment, I’m not sure if it’s the Betty sighting or the almost-kiss with Aidan that has my heart fluttering like angel’s wings. Possibly both, even though kissing my high school sweetheart isnotpart of the plan. And I can’t even blame the latest near-miss on mistletoe.
I take a deep breath and head back toward to the lobby to interrogate the teen boys. They don’t remember seeing an older woman in a red cape and can’t stop smirking as I describe Betty’s appearance. It’s hopeless. Either I’ve imagined the entire incident or she’s vanished, like Santa up a chimney.
Shoulders slumped, I turn back toward the theater and nearly plow straight into Aidan in the process.
“Oh.” I swallow and take a backward step. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He tilts his head, regarding me with cautious curiosity. “You left in such a hurry, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Fine,” I nod with far too much enthusiasm. “I’m great. I, um, thought I saw someone I knew, but it seems I was mistaken.”
“Ah.” His gaze darts around the empty lobby. I can tell he doesn’t believe me simply by the way he tucks his hands into his pockets and can’t seem to look me in the eye. “Who?”
“Just a lady I met on the train,” I can’t lie to him, but at the same time, I know my answer isn’t helping him understand why I pulled away so abruptly. Why would I chase down a random stranger from the train when we were about to kiss?
