Page 47 of Clued in to Love
“NHS is helping to check people in for breakfast.” Olivia pointed to a tub of candy canes and a stack of tickets. “Then my team has to work on solving the next clue.”
“How’s it going?” Darby hoped that Olivia’s team would win. It would be great for her students to win that kind of cash, especially knowing her plans for putting it to good use.
“Good. Want a candy cane? Here, take a couple. Although after we pull off our prank, we’re probably never going to want to see one of these again.” Olivia held out the tub for Darby, who proceeded to help herself to two of the minty treats.
“True.” Darby unwrapped the striped candy. “I’m running out of hiding places in my classroom.”
“Right?” Olive’s dimples creased as she grinned. “Cass’s mom is worried she has a sugar addiction because she has like forty boxes stashed in her room.”
“I have a feeling we might end up inadvertently causing a candy cane shortage.” Darby winked and took a lick of the peppermint candy.
“Blame me. It was my idea.” Olivia set the box on the check-in table. “The hunt is going well. We have the first two challenges complete,” she continued. “I’m pretty sure the next clue involves having our pictures taken with Santa, but we can’t cut the line and push all the little kids out, you know?”
“Probably not in the holiday spirit,” Darby agreed, tucking the other candy cane into her purse.
“Do you have a ticket, Mrs. Reynolds?” Olivia consulted a printed list.
“No, I’m meeting an old friend who invited me.”
“Let me see if you’re on the list.” Olivia flipped through the pages.
Darby opened her purse. “I’m happy to purchase a ticket, especially if NHS gets a portion of the funds.”
Olivia tapped the sheet with her pen. “Nope. No need. You’re a VIP, Mrs. Reynolds.” She grinned and pointed to her left. “Breakfast is in the ballroom. It’s buffet style, and you are at table four.” She handed Darby a ticket. “Have fun.”
“Thanks.”
Darby took her place in line behind two young couples with overly excited children bouncing up and down in anticipation of seeing Santa. She hated to admit it, but she felt just as eager, confused, and out of her body as the youngsters, albeit for very different reasons.
“Der he is! I sees him! I sees him!” a toddler shouted, standing on his toes to get a better look. “Hi, Santa. Hi, it’s me. It’s me!”
Darby chuckled. The energy in the room was a reminder of how much delight she used to take in the season. Could she capture that again with Samesh? Did she want to?
A swell of guilt made her throat seize up.
How was she even considering a life without Jim?
She gulped hard and found her table. It was markedReservedand near the buffet station. Samesh was on the opposite side of the ballroom at the cookie-decorating tables. The event appeared to be running smoothly. There were lines for food, pictures with Santa, cookie decorating, and craft tables, but none were long, and families flowed between the spaces.
No one else was seated at her table, so Darby decided to get a cup of coffee and a breakfast pastry. When she came back, she found Hilary downing a mimosa.
Darby could tell from the vacant gaze in Hilary’s eyes and how she kept running her hands through her hair that something was wrong. “Is everything okay?” She set her coffee and gingerbread scone on the table and sat next to Hilary.
“Hey, Darby, I didn’t know you were coming. It’s good to see you here.” Nothing about Hilary’s tone reflected the sentiment of her words.
“Samesh invited me.” Darby motioned to the cookie station.
“Right. Of course. That makes sense.”
Darby wondered what made sense, but she was concerned about Hilary. In the minute since she’d sat down, Hilary had finished her mimosa and reached for another as a waiter passed them with a tray. “The event seems to be going well.”
Hilary gulped the drink. “Sure. Yeah. It’s good.”
“I don’t mean to pry, but you don’t seem like yourself.” Darby didn’t know Hilary well, but in their previous interactions, Hilary had come across as strong, confident, and capable. The woman sitting beside her looked ready to crumple into a ball on the floor. It was a feeling Darby was very familiar with.
“My entire life is in shambles, but otherwise, I’m fine. Just fine.” Hilary let out a high-pitched laugh and tilted the champagne flute to get the last drops of her drink.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Darby broke off a piece of her scone.
