Page 170 of The Blessings of Christmas
“Sure looks like it.” Bryn seemed to give herself a little shake. “I noticed yesterday that there were presents heaped under the tree at Victoria's Pantry. And each one has a tag. Everything's all marked.”
“We're taking them over on Christmas Day. I guess that's become tradition now.” Josie hoped her parents would find the visit to Open Hearth as much fun as she did.
“Is Malcolm's mother still coming to Sweetwater Creek for the holiday?”
“Yes, she's coming. Maybe tomorrow?” Was that what Malcolm had told her yesterday? He’d been so quiet since that night at her house.
“Well, that does it. You have to get things settled before then.” Sitting back, Emily pinned her with her eyes.
“What things?” What was Emily talking about? Obviously her friend was thinking more clearly than Josie was.
“Ask him what that kiss meant.”
Josie cringed. “Are you crazy? I could never do that.”
“Well, I could.” Emily's eyes were flashing.
Bryn gasped and Josie grabbed Emily's hand. “But you won't. You will not go up to Malcolm Sutter and ask him why he kissed me.”
“Of course I won't.” Emily wrenched her hand away. “I just meant that any woman with skin in the game, meaning a woman who had something to win or lose, would not let that question go unanswered.”
Phew. What a relief. In her mind she could see Emily charging into the library, cornering Malcolm and asking him that most embarrassing question.
But Josie did want to know.
Slapping her palms against her thighs, she stood up. “You're right and I will do it.”
Thirty minutes later, she was changed into her work clothes and sitting behind her desk when Malcolm appeared. Josie wasn't quite ready for this moment. She was going to take it anyway. After all, wasn't she the girl who had persuaded Emily to check out Jackson's house that dark night to find out if he was dating anyone? They’d crept up to his home...and then he let the dogs loose. With Spartacus and Maximilian yapping at their heels, they’d raced back to the car.
Yes, back in those days that had been her. Brave. Bold. But that had been before Malcolm had returned from South America, single but not single.
“Got a minute?” Malcolm asked, sticking his head into her open doorway.
“Sure. No problem.”
He came inside and closed the door. That was not a good sign. Shutting the door was what people did when they resigned. Eager to have something in her hand, Josie grabbed a pencil.
“I just wanted to say…” he began at the same moment that she said “If you're thinking about…”
They both stopped and looked at each other. So he wasn't even going to sit down? She could see his uncertainty and it was breaking her heart. Whatever happened, she did not want to lose Malcolm as a friend. No, that would really kill her. Heobviously loved Sweetwater Creek and he enjoyed this job and all the people that came with it. She was his boss and didn't want him to feel nervous about any of that.
Her mouth dry, she cleared her throat. “About the other night. I know things got a little…out of hand.”
For a second he stood there, a muscle twitching in his cheek.
Say something Malcolm. Say that it wasn't a mistake.
“I guess so,” he finally said. “And I'm so sorry.”
Those weren’t the words she wanted to hear. Glancing down, she saw that her knuckles had turned white. Josie had a death grip on that pencil. “I hope we can just move on from here.”
“Really?” What did that surprise on his face mean? She wanted to think that he was disappointed. But maybe that was her imagination.
“Of course,” he said, nodding. “Sure.”
“You're a good friend and I know that you've been through a lot recently so this is all...just fine. Glad we cleared things up.”
“Good. That’s, good. I think. If you're sure about this…” Malcolm said just as someone knocked on the door.
