“That’s good,” he said gruffly, but kept his doubts about the truth of her words to himself.
“I know you doubt me.”
“I do.”He walked over to the tree and touched one of the snowflake ornaments Tilly had given him.“Why now?”
“Because the thought of not having my son be a part of my life anymore...”She touched his shoulder, and he flinched.She pulled her hand back.“If I were in your shoes, I’d feel the same.I miss you, Zach.I love you.It’s always been the two of us, and when it became obvious that you didn’t like me anymore, it was the wake-up call I needed.All I ask is that you give me a chance.A chance to prove to you that I have changed.That all that matters is you and your happiness.Will you give me a chance?”
In all his thirty years of life, he could count on one hand the number of times his mom had admitted she was wrong.
Perhaps this period of noncommunication between the two of them was exactly what they’d needed.It gave them both a chance to grow and find out what was important in their relationship.
If he was honest with himself, he missed her.Missed his mom, and he wanted their separation to end.
Turning back, he looked at her.Really looked.Her face was strained, and her blue eyes seemed dull.She was a different person now than the woman he’d seen when he’d walked out of her studio.“I will.But if I think—”
“I promise.It took almost losing you to shock me into looking hard at who I was.I don’t want to be that person again.I didn’t like her.”She held her arms out and he slowly walked into them.
Peace settled over him, and the love he felt for her swelled inside him.He could feel the same emotion coming from her.
No matter how big or how old he was, there was nothing like a hug from his mom.
After a few seconds, he pulled away.There was another person he needed to make amends to.Another woman he loved with all of his soul.
For the first time in hours, he smiled.“Mom, I need a favor.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Being fake cheerfulwas hard work when all Tilly wanted to do was crawl into a dark corner and cry her eyes out.It was Christmas Eve, the show was about to start in two hours, and she had to narrate the story and lead the Carols by Candlelight.
Her heart had been shattered into a million pieces, and she didn’t have the energy to make it happen.It was all on the precipice of falling apart, and she didn’t care.She was in a room full of people eager to get started, and all she wanted to do was go home.Tilly couldn’t even summon the ability to care that her reputation was about to be ripped to shreds due to her failing at the last minute.
Her soul hurt.
“Tilly-Pilly, what’s wrong?”Chrissy’s soft voice, full of concern, was the last straw, and as much as she didn’t want to, she burst into tears.
Before she had time to comprehend that she’d lost it in front of everyone, Chrissy was ushering her out the side door of the auditorium, where their trek would start.The air was cold, but not frigid, meaning that tonight would a rare mild night, which was perfect for their show.It would mean people would be happy to come out and follow them.
“No-noth-nothing’s wrong.”She hiccupped and attempted to get herself under control.
“And I really am Mary, mother of Jesus.Talk to me, Tilly.”
“I’ve failed.”
To Chrissy’s credit, she schooled her features, but Tilly had seen the flash of surprise on her face before she’d masked it.“In what way?”
“I promised to bring a big name in to be the narrator and emcee the Carols by Candlelight, and I couldn’t get one.”
Chrissy nodded.“Okay, well, that’s not too bad.You just do it.It doesn’t matter.”
“I was going to, but now I’m not sure if I can,” she said, her confidence from a couple of nights ago gone.“The judges are looking for something amazing, and having a big name would’ve helped us stand out.”
“Well, we’ll just have to make it unbelievable and amazing, so that we win on our own merit without needing any outside help.I believe in you, Tilly.You’ve done all this work, and you deserve to be the one narrating and leading us around.You know everyone is going to follow you and support you.”
Tilly’s heart swelled with love for her sister.Her unconditional belief in her meant the world and she was right.“I can do this.I will do this.”
“There’s my sister.”Chrissy grabbed both of her hands and squeezed.“It’s going to be absolutely amazing.Everyone in Marietta is going to love it.”
“Thank you.”But there was still one person missing.The one who’d believed in her from the beginning.There’d been many times she’d gone to pick up the phone to call him, but she hadn’t.Stupid pride and the thought that he needed to make the first move, seeing as he was the one who thought the worst of her, had kept her from making the call.
