Page 45 of Tis the Season
Erin seemed to deflate. Brow suddenly knitted, she stared at me. ‘So let me get his straight. You’re feeling bad over something youdidn’tdo?’
‘Alex came by the shop the next day to apologise.’
Erin’s bemusement continued. ‘For what?’
‘That’s what I thought. He doesn’t have a responsibility to Gideon. I do. Which is why I should’ve stopped Alex when he put his arms around me.’
‘So the two of you did kiss?’
‘No. But the only reason we didn’t was because my phone rang.’
Erin looked at me like I’d gone mad. ‘So if you still didn’t kiss, what’s the problem?’
‘The problem is, I wanted to. More than anything.’
‘I’d like to kiss Alex, but I’m not losing sleep over the fact that I haven’t.’
‘But you’re not in a relationship. You’re not acting like there’s one rule for Gideon and another for yourself.’ I sighed. ‘I feel like such hypocrite.’
‘So what are you going to do?’
I wrinkled my nose. ‘I wish I knew.’
‘Let me put it this way, if Gideon wasn’t on the scene, could you see you and Alex getting together? As a couple.’
Frowning, that was a question I refused to think about, let alone answer.
‘Okay. Then can you imagine yourself still with Gideon in years to come? Marriage, kids, the lot.’
‘I used to. When Gran passed away, I felt so alone. Gideon saved me. If I hadn’t met him, I doubt I’d have my sanity, let alone the shop. That’s what makes this situation so hard. Back then he was patient and understanding. Everything I needed.’
‘And now?’
I shrugged.
Erin looked at me, her expression heartfelt. ‘Not all relationships are meant to last, Hattie. Some are meant to come and go. Of course, whether or not that includes yours with Gideon, only you can decide. Either way, just know you’re not beholden to him.’ Erin put a hand on mine. ‘Although, if you want my advice…’
Thinking back to the fancy underwear situation, I wasn’t sure I did.
‘When you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything.’
I supposed that made sense. I wasn’t exactly in the right frame of mind to be making serious decisions. ‘The fact that it’s Christmas isn’t helping. I was hoping for a bit of holiday fun. Instead, I’m wondering if I’ll be like Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McAllister, spending it home alone.’
‘If the worst comes to the worst, you can always celebrate with me and Mum.’
I chuckled. ‘Thank you. The way things are going, I might have to take you up on that.’ Ready to talk about something else, I bit into my mince pie. ‘Should we really be eating these?’
‘After what we’ve heard about Richard’s cooking, most definitely.’
My phone bleeped, letting me know a text had come through.
‘That’ll be Joyce,’ Erin said. ‘She’s probably wondering where we’ve got to.’
Checking the screen, I frowned. ‘Now there’s a surprise.’
‘Don’t tell me it’s Gideon.’
I nodded.
