He walked up to her and gripped her shoulders as he stared into her eyes.“You didn’t make me do anything.I chose to leave.”His gaze searched hers.“How are you doing?”
She was about to be honest with him when his phone rang.
He held up a finger for her to wait.He checked his phone.“I have to get this.It’s the clinic, and I have a patient there who just had abdominal surgery.”
She nodded in understanding.While he stepped away to take the call, she put Tater Tot down on the floor and got him a treat.All the while, she couldn’t help but think that sometimes what you wish for doesn’t end up working out the way you imagined.This was one of those times.
Colin stepped into the kitchen.His brows were drawn.“I’m sorry.There’s been a complication with Smudge.I have to go.”
She wasn’t ready to see him go, but she understood.“Sure.Thanks for everything.”
He took a step toward her.Then he hesitated, as though not sure what to do next.He stepped back.“I’ll, uh, call you later.”
And then he was gone.She’d never felt more alone.After taking Tater Tot outside, she changed her clothes, turned off her phone, and curled up on the couch with the pup.She tried to chase away memories of her parents with a Christmas movie.It didn’t work.
Chapter Sixteen
Adayoff…
Plus snow…
Equals a morning restocking the shelves and tidying up the store.With the blinds drawn, hiding the big lazy snowflakes twirling and falling to the ground, Holly turned on some Christmas music.“A Holly Jolly Christmas” played in the background while she worked.
At her feet, Tater Tot played with a couple of his toys.He had a little stuffed duck that squeaked.He would pick it up with his mouth and toss it into the air.Then he’d set off chasing it.He did this over and over again.
Holly didn’t normally work on her one day off.But Christmas week started on Monday.She needed to be prepared for last-minute shoppers.
No matter how busy she kept herself, her thoughts were constantly returning to Colin.She thought she would have heard from him the prior evening after his emergency, but he hadn’t called.She decided it was probably for the best because she wasn’t up for talking.Still, she couldn’t deny that she liked having him around.He wasn’t complicated like Roger and Billie Jean.
What was she supposed to do about them?She tried to get closer to them, but they kept her guessing at their true intentions.It had her wishing they were still in California.And that just added to her guilt.Perhaps she was jumping to conclusions about them.Maybe she needed to slow down.
Knock-knock.
Holly straightened from where she’d been organizing a display shelf.Tater Tot barked and ran to the locked door.Who could that be?The Closed sign was in the window.
Her hand went to her hair.She hadn’t done much with it that morning, other than to pull it back in a ponytail holder.And she was wearing some old sweats.Perfectly comfortable but not something she wanted people to see her in.
Knock-knock.
Tater Tot continued to bark.Who is it?Please, don’t let it be my parents.She straightened her clothes and swallowed hard.
She crept toward the door.She peeked through a small gap in the blinds.She gasped.It was Colin.What was he doing there?
Her heart started to pound.She wasn’t prepared to see him.But with the yappy pup beside her, there was no way he would believe she wasn’t there.
With a resolved sigh, she flipped the deadbolt.She leaned down and picked up the puppy.When she eased opened the door and the pup spotted Colin, he let out some excited barks.The dog had good taste.
Once Colin stepped inside, she closed the door and then put down the wiggly pup.Tater Tot barked before jumping up on Colin.As Colin petted the dog, Tater Tot quieted.Her puppy was totally eating up the attention.
A minute or so later, Colin looked at her.“I hope you don’t mind I stopped by.”
She moved back to where she was rearranging a display.“No.Not at all.I’ve just been working this morning.What’s up?”
His face creased with twin lines between his brows.He looked like he wanted to say something, but he remained silent.She wondered if it had something to do with her parents.She hoped they hadn’t done something else to upset people.
The suspense was eating at her.“Colin, what is it?Just say it.”
He shook his head.“It’s nothing.”
