Page 79 of A Merry Irish Christmas
‘Oh, right.’ He winced. ‘Evan isn’t here, I’m afraid.’
‘Oh.’ Her face fell. ‘He’s not? But… isn’t this his party?’
‘Yeah. He was here earlier. But I can take it, if you like and leave it here for him. He’ll be back later.’
‘I suppose that’d be okay.’ Mary handed over the parcel, secretly relieved. She could tell her mother she’d tried; it wasn’t her fault she couldn’t deliver it to Evan personally.
‘Who will I tell him called?’
‘Oh, Mary,’ she said, holding out her hand.
‘Mary!’ He shook her hand, smiling broadly. ‘Better late than never,’ he said cryptically. ‘I’m Josh.’
‘It’s lovely to meet you, Josh. I’ve heard a lot about you.’
‘Likewise.’
‘And this is my wife Amy,’ Josh said as a petite woman with long red hair came to join them. He introduced Mary, giving his wife a meaningful look when he said her name.
‘Why don’t you stay and give that to Evan yourself?’ Amy said, nodding at the parcel in her husband’s hands. ‘I’m sure he’ll be back soon enough when he finds you’re not home.’
Mary frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘He’s gone over to your apartment,’ Josh said.
‘He was expecting you to come tonight, and he was very disappointed when you didn’t. He thought maybe there’d been some misunderstanding.’
‘So… he’s gone to see me?’
Josh and Amy nodded. ‘I guess you got your wires crossed.’
Mary gave a hoot of incredulous laughter. She had a strong sense of déjà vu. It was like what had happened with her family all over again, albeit on a much smaller scale. ‘But what about Olivia?’
Amy waved her hand dismissively. ‘Oh, they broke up. Hadn’t you heard?’
‘Yes, but I thought…’ She shook her head, hope blooming in her chest. ‘Never mind.’ That’s what she got for reading celebrity gossip.
‘Is this Mary?’ an elderly woman asked, joining them. Mary wasn’t surprised when Amy introduced her as Magda.
‘Why don’t you stay and have a drink with us,’ Josh said, ‘and wait for Evan to come back?’
In other circumstances, she’d love to stay here with these people. She felt comfortable with them already, and she’d like to get to know them better. But right now… ‘Thanks, but I think I’ll try to catch him at my place. When did he leave?’
‘Just about five minutes ago. He probably had to walk. It’d be hell getting a cab tonight.’
‘Thanks,’ Mary said breathlessly. There was no way she could sit here and wait for Evan to return. She couldn’t possibly sit still or make small talk. It still took a while to extricate herself from Evan’s friends before they wished her well and sent her on her way.
‘I hope we’ll see you again soon,’ Amy called after her as she went to the door.
‘Me too,’ Mary said over her shoulder. ‘And I’d love to meet Oscar.’
Arnold was nonplussed when she appeared at the door again so soon. ‘Oh, I didn’t see him go out,’ he said when Mary told him Evan wasn’t home. ‘I must have been on my break.’
He offered to call her a cab, but Mary knew she’d be quicker walking – or running.
She was out of breath when she turned into her street, her chest heaving, and her heart pounding with a mixture of adrenaline and hope. She pushed through the revellers who were spilling out of brownstones onto the street, carrying the party out onto their stoops. Then the crowd parted and she saw the lone figure sitting on the steps of her building. Tears of relief sprang to her eyes. He was still here. He was leaning his elbows on his knees, head hanging. As she approached, he looked up and straightened.
‘Mary.’
