“I love you, Zach Langley,” she whispered.He didn’t move.
Sighing, she got out of bed and padded to the kitchen.She would fix them some grilled cheese sandwiches.They’d come in from the rehearsal, and dinner had been the last thing on their minds.
As she prepared the sandwiches, she thought over everything that still needed to be done for the show.Christmas Eve was only two days away.She didn’t have to worry about when the judges from the contest were coming.The contest organizers had emailed at the beginning of the month all the details of when they’d arrive and when they’d leave.They weren’t staying in Marietta.They were basically coming in for the show and leaving the same night.They wanted to be home for Christmas with their families too, and Tilly totally understood that.
“Rainey’s email!”She shot up from her seat.
After flipping the sandwiches over, she raced to her bag by the front door.She pulled her phone out and groaned.She only had five percent battery left, so she plugged it in, then took the sandwiches from the pan, placed them on a plate, put it in the oven to keep warm, and started a second lot in the pan.
Finally, she opened the email.
Hi Tilly,
I’m so sorry, but I can’t do your event.
Best,
Rainey Webster
Her stomach dropped.“No.It has to be a mistake,” she whispered.
Rainey Webster had canceled two days before Christmas Eve with no reasonable explanation.
Why was she pulling out?
Why say yes in the first place if she didn’t really want to do it?
A piercing screech filled the air and her phone clattered to the table as she stood, her heart beating wildly as she looked around.Tendrils of smoke filled the room, and she rushed over to the gas cooktop, where the sandwiches now looked like lumps of charcoal.She pushed the pan aside and grabbed a hand towel, waving at the smoke.The bottom of the fabric caught the still-lit burner and ignited.
She screamed and dropped the towel on the ground, the flames eating quickly through the cotton.Tilly froze.Dropping it was the wrong thing to do.It was starting to burn into the mat she had near the sink.
“Tilly!Are you all right?What’s happened?”Zach came barreling into the room, attempting to pull his pants on.His hair was sticking up everywhere.“Shit!”
He jumped into action, pulling open the cupboard beneath the sink and grabbing a red packet, one she’d never seen before.Out of it came a blanket, which he placed over the flames, suffocating them.
Through it all, Tilly stood mute, watching Zach do what he’d been trained to do.In a matter of minutes, he had the fire out and had disposed of her burnt towel and mat.
“Thank you,” she whispered when he returned inside.
“Are you hurt?”His concern sent her over the edge, and she burst into tears.He pulled her tight against his chest.
“No, but it’s all ruined,” she cried.
“Shh, it’s okay, Tulip.It’s just a couple of sandwiches and some towels.”
She couldn’t speak around her sobs.If only it was what had been burned, but while the smoke curled around the room, she could see the entire Nativity event disintegrating in front of her.
She’d worked so hard over the last few weeks.There was so much expectation for it.So many people involved and excited about it and, like with everything she always did, at the last minute, she wasn’t able to pull it off.Wasn’t able to give the people of Marietta what she’d promised.
Zach’s chest was wet from her tears.He kept rubbing his hand up and down her back.
“Tilly.Tilly!”
She lifted her head, hiccupping a couple of times.
“What’s going on?This feels like more than just burnt food.”
She grabbed a paper napkin off the table and blew her nose.She stuffed it in her robe pocket before meeting Zach’s eyes.“It’s over.”
