Page 13 of Holiday at Home
Violet sits up and pulls away, clearing her throat and quickly swiping at her eyes. “Oh no,” she says, shaking her head vehemently. “Simon and I arenotback together again.”
The emphasis onnotis a quick jolt back to reality.
“Nope,” I add quickly. “I’m just in town visiting. Catching up with old friends.”
“Maybe that’s just how it starts.” Erin sighs dreamily. “But leave it to the Christmas spirit. You never know what might happen!”
Cassidy elbows her. “I think you’ve had too much mulled wine.”
“Nu-uh,” comes the slurred response. “You had too much mulled wine.”
They move on, giggling harder than they need to. Violet wipes her eyes and sits straighter, a wall going back up between us.
Which is fine.
Totally understandable and as it should be.
Our time in each other’s lives is past.
Well…
It’ll be passed once I’ve gotten her to sign that contract.
“I don’t know,” Robbie says. “Maybe they’re right. Maybe the Christmas spirit will bring you two lovebirds back together again.”
Violet scoffs and rolls her eyes.
“Oh, come on. It’s not that farfetched. You guys were so good together.”
Nora reaches for her husband, trying to shush him. “It’s more farfetched than you’d think, honey. Remember?”
“Simon really doesn’t get the whole Christmas spirit thing,” Violet mutters.
“Of course he does! Just look at him in his shorts and T-shirt. That screams Christmas spirit.”
“He broke up with me on Christmas Eve, remember? I was standing right there, under the tree, and he was supposed to fly home that night so we could get married and start our lives together. Instead, he called to inform me he was staying in New York. Forever.” Violet turns to me with hurt in her eyes. “And it’s fine. In the past. But if we could just change the subject, that would be great.”
“Dude…” Robbie looks at me like I committed murder. “That’s right.”
“I’ll admit. Not my finest hour.”
“Not your finest…?” Violet scooches away from me, sadly shaking her head. “No Simon. It was not your finest hour.”
I could defend myself, but there’s no point. Not now. Probably not ever. Maybe once upon a time, Violet and I were the couple to beat, maybe there’s a part of me that looks at Robbie and Nora and wonders what could have been if Violetand I had gotten married when they did, but none of it matters because choices were made, paths changed.
Violet and me?
Our story is over.
Well…
Almost.
5
Violet
We get back to my parents’ house after the tree-lighting ceremony and Nash’s excitement almost erases how strange it feels to walk through the front door without them. I’ve been living here since they passed, but the place doesn’t feel like mine yet, though it does feel less theirs with every passing day.
