Page 30 of Once Upon a Holidate
“How are you feeling?” she asked her friend. “Aside from the snow person crisis.”
“Good. Ronan is turning into a worrier. He monitors my every breath.”
“Your husband loves you.”
Natalie smiled. “Yes, he does and I like that in a man.”
Renee walked into the office and collapsed in the chair. She looked shell-shocked.
“What?” Wynn asked. “Are you all right?”
Renee blinked a couple of times. “We have a cancellation. The wedding on the eighteenth isn’t going to happen. The bride ended things and is going back to her old boyfriend. The groom is taking a job in China where he’s apparently kept a mistress for two years. The parents are the most upset, but I don’t have to deal with them.”
Wynn knew that weddings got canceled at the last minute. It was rare, but it happened. “Good news or bad news?” she asked.
“I can’t answer for them, but for us, it’s kind of not a bad thing.” Her mouth curved up in a smile. “We have a very well-designed contract that protects us from absorbing any costs when there’s a cancellation. And that was going to be our last wedding before the holidays.” The smile widened. “We’re going to get an even longer break than we’d thought.”
“Good for you,” Natalie said, before winking at Wynn. “She wants time at home to have more sex with Jasper.”
“I do like the sex,” Renee said as she picked up her phone. “I need to text Pallas and let her know what’s happened. I can’t believe we’re going to get almost three weeks off work and over the holidays. Yay us!”
Natalie looked at her. “You’re just going to say you like the sex and move on?”
Renee didn’t bother looking up from her phone. “Oh, please. As if you don’t like making love with Ronan. It’s one of the perks of a great marriage. I’m not going to apologize for enjoying it.”
“Me, either,” Natalie said with a sigh.
Wynn didn’t enjoy feeling like the odd friend out, but there was no getting around the fact that she wasn’t having sex with anyone. Even more significant—she was ready for that to change. She wanted a man in her life. A good guy who cared about her and wanted a real relationship. It was time. Probablypast time. She’d had her reasons for avoiding anything significant in the romance department, but she was starting to think it was time to forgive herself and move on. Yes, she’d been awful, but she’d learned her lesson and she was a better person now. Wasn’t she allowed to let go of the past and start something new and wonderful? Didn’t she deserve a second chance at happiness? And if she believed all that, shouldn’t she get off her butt and do something about it?
***
“Can I talk to Natalie tomorrow?” Hunter asked eagerly, as he walked next to Wynn. “I want to get going on the snowmen, Mom.”
She smiled. “I’ve texted her to ask when she can meet with you. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear.”
“I thought I’d have to wait until I was sixteen to get a job. Earning some money would be great.” He looked at her. “You know, it’s less than two years until I’m sixteen.”
She pretended confusion. “What does you turning sixteen have to do with anything?”
“Mo-om! I want to get a car. A guy needs wheels.”
“I can afford the wheels,” she told him. “It’s the rest of the car that’s going to be more complicated. You should have told me you only wanted the wheels.”
They climbed the three steps leading to the porch of Garrick’s house. While Hunter sighed heavily, Wynn rang the doorbell.
“You’re not funny,” her son told her.
“Actually, I think I have a great sense of humor.”
Joylyn opened the door. “Hi.” She stepped back to let them in. “My dad just left to get the takeout.”
“Did he say what we’re having?” Hunter asked. “I hope he got a lot. I’m starved.”
Joylyn looked pale and unhappy, Wynn noted. “You’re alwaysstarved.” She smiled at Joylyn. “He’s in the middle of a growth spurt. I’m sure you know from having brothers that boys can pretty much eat a grocery store when that happens.”
Joylyn nodded listlessly. “There should be plenty. Dad always buys too much.” She led the way into the living room and flopped down on the sofa. “I’d rather have something from home but of course he doesn’t cook.”
“Do you?” Wynn asked, trying to sound curious rather than judgy.
