Page 69 of The Christmas Catch
“There’s really nothing I can say to convince you? I at least think it’s worth giving some thought. Not simply chucking it out right away.” Now she definitely sounded desperate.
Ali pulled up at some traffic lights. She reached over, took Morgan’s hand in hers, brought it to her mouth, and kissed her knuckles.
The effect made Morgan close her eyes. It transported her back to Ali doing exactly the same thing to her last night. It really wasn’t helpful.
“If this was last year, I’d be asking what you were doing for New Year and beyond. But I’m just trying to make it as painless as possible for us both up front.” She kissed her hand again, then put it back in Morgan’s lap. Ali eased the car forward as the lights went green.
“It doesn’t feel that painless to me.” Morgan’s shoulders slumped as she spoke.
Ali nodded, never taking her eyes from the road. “If it helps, it doesn’t for me, either.”
* * *
An hourand 15 minutes later, they finally pulled up outside Morgan’s family home, the same one she’d grown up in. Plus, true to form, you could probably spot the house from outer space.
“Is that a full Santa and six reindeer all lit up on your roof?” Ali peered out of the window. When she couldn’t quite see the whole thing, she undid her seat belt and clicked the button to lower the window. “Wow, it really is.” Her breath stained the nearby air.
Morgan saw their house through Ali’s eyes, someone who wasn’t expecting it. Every piece of greenery in the garden was lit with fairy lights. The black iron railings were strung with huge lit candy canes. Plus, there was a giant inflatable snowman in the front garden.
“It’s not subtle, is it?” Morgan laughed, then glanced out the window around their close. All the houses were similarly festooned. “It’s a neighbourhood thing. They all spur each other on, and every time I come back, there’s something different to admire.” She pointed at the roof. “Santa and his reindeer only arrived two years ago.”
“They make it. Tell your parents good call.”
The car was quiet for a few moments.
Morgan turned to Ali. “I guess this is where we say goodbye.”
Ali nodded but wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I think it is. We’re already late back. We need to spend time with our respective families.”
Morgan gulped, then sucked on her top lip. “We do. I have a gingerbread house to decorate and a phone to pick up. I need to know what I’ve missed in the past 48 hours I’ve been without it.”
“So much,” Ali replied. “The world of communications has blown up without you.”
“I sense some sarcasm.” Morgan smiled, then held Ali’s stare.
Their gazes danced in the air between them, and the car grew warm. There was so much to say, and they both knew it. However, Morgan didn’t know where to start. All she knew was she wanted to spend more time with Ali when they weren’t in a crisis. To see where this might go. But Ali had already made her feelings clear.
“There’s nothing I can say to change your mind? You won’t at least consider another option? Because they could be on the table.”
Ali closed her eyes, sighed, then massaged the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. “It’s for the best. I don’t want you waiting for me for a year. What if I meet someone and then I feel guilty? What if you do?”
“Because that happens all the time in my normal life. Women just throwing themselves at me on the street.”
“You might meet the love of your life on New Year’s Eve this year. You never know.”
“Then again, I might not.” Morgan’s brain pulsed as she shuffled her thoughts, trying to get them in order. But she’d make a terrible croupier. Her thoughts refused to be ordered, instead lying on the floor of her mind and refusing to budge.
She took a deep breath and made a final plea. “What about if this is the moment we’re meant to grasp? What if we’ve met each other and got together en route home for a reason? We could have been like Walt, gone home and been none the wiser. Maybe this is the change we’re meant to notice and act on.”
But Ali either didn’t want to hear what Morgan had to say, or she wasn’t ready. She shook her head before Morgan had even finished speaking.
“If it is, then fate will play out how it’s meant to. But I can’t start on my new adventure with conditions. It’s not what my dad would have wanted. He wanted me to travel and see the world, because he never did. I’ve got to honour his wishes and not get tied down.”
Morgan was about to point out she never wanted to tie Ali down, but then she thought better of it. This wasn’t just about Ali’s new start. This was about her dad, too. From the little Morgan had gleaned on this trip, Ali hadn’t dealt with his death yet. Which meant Morgan had to tread carefully.
Ali wasn’t going to listen tonight. She’d made up her mind, and she wasn’t going to bend. But maybe tomorrow. Or the next day.
Morgan would keep trying.
