Page 169 of The Blessings of Christmas
“When did this happen?” Emily asked, looking as if she wanted every detail.
“After we decorated my tree.”
“Once?” Bryn said, her forehead puckered into a frown. “Just one kiss?”
“Maybe twice.” Those kisses had replayed in Josie’s mind until it felt like she’dkissed him hundreds of times.How she wished that were true.
“And then what happened?” Emily’s grip on Josie's elbow tightened.
“He left.”
“Just like that?” Bryn was still frowning.
“Yes, just like that. He drove away.” That part was kind of puzzling. She’d been avoiding him at the library, and he'd been so busy. The reading program. Open Hearth. Getting ready for his mother’s visit. He was probably exhausted.
Or maybe he was absolutely horrified. Josie had no way of knowing.
A breeze kicked up from the harbor. Emily and Bryn both dropped their hands and grabbed their strollers. They pushed ahead as any good mother should. But Josie could tell that both of her friends were puzzled by her news.
“Oh, ho ho ho,” Emily eventually chuckled. “I would bet that Miss Darcy would not like this.”
Bryn gasped. “Oh, you're right. What about Darcy? I mean, isn't she coming any day now? And he kissed you?”
Running a shaking hand over her forehead, Josie laid it out for them. The swings were just ahead, moving slowly in the breeze with holly wrapped around the posts. “The engagement is off. His mother will be here any day.”
“Excellent.” Emily crowed, so loud that little Alex gave a start. Then Emily pressed a finger to her lips as if to remind herself that she didn't want the little boy howling. Not now atleast. “I mean excellent that the engagement is off and equally excellent that his mother is coming. At least I think that's a good thing.”
“When did that happen?” Bryn asked. “The broken engagement.”
“A few days ago, I guess. I really don't know.” Everything was a mess in Josie’s mind. She felt like one of those snow globes that you pick up and shake. She'd been avoiding Malcolm at work. And they’d been busy, so busy.
“Clearly you need more information.” They'd reached the swings and Emily sat down.
“I do?” Josie didn't really know where to go with this. Taking her seat on the swing, Bryn looked equally confused.
“Definitely. When exactly did he tell you this?”
“When we were decorating my tree.”
“How romantic.” Stars in her eyes, Bryn slumped back. The movement jostled the jingle bells on her stroller, but Sheldon never woke up.
“He brought pizza. He's great with lights.” Josie knew that she was making no sense.
“I've got news. All men are great with lights,” Emily said. “That's because they get confused when they're confronted with too many ornaments. The lights? All you do is string them up.”
“Yes, after you make sure they all work.” Bryn threw that in. Obviously during the last couple of years while Josie hesitated to put up a tree, her newly married friends had been experiencing their new roles as wives.
“Sounds like the field is clear, Josie.” Emily leaned forward, elbows on her knees. “I think you have to close in now.”
Josie snorted. “Emily, this isn't a military exercise. This is…”
“Love,” Bryn whispered. “Christmas love. It’s so romantic.”
“Who said anything about love?” Josie turned to her friends, wanting to squash that rumor. But of course she was in love withMalcolm. The realization nearly knocked her off the swing and she gripped the warm wooden board. She loved his generosity of spirit. His kindness and his sense of humor. Heck, she even loved the way he ate his pizza.
And that love threatened to swamp her at inopportune moments. Like when she spotted him standing at the coffee machine, staring into space. Or when she saw him readingHow the Grinch Stole Christmasin Spanish to the children. Oh, that just made her melt.
“Have all the Christmas Wishes been taken?” Emily asked.
