“Always.Now, where’s Zach?”Chrissy asked, passing her a tissue as tears started up again.
“I don’t know,” Tilly admitted and then went on to tell Chrissy everything.All about Kathryn Lancaster and her connection to Zach.The stuff he went through and what happened when he saw Rainey’s email.By the end, her tears had dried, and anger at the situation had reappeared and replaced her sorrow.“How could he believe that it was all a big trick?”she fumed.“Doesn’t he know me at all?”
“I think there’s a lot of hurt in him that he needs to work out.When he’s had time to cool down, he’ll come and find you.”
No doubt Chrissy meant to make her feel better, but she didn’t.“It’s too late.It doesn’t matter what he does.He didn’t trust me, and I’m not sure I can forgive that.”She straightened her spine and shook off the melancholy because a group of people in an auditorium and her town were counting on her.“Let’s get inside and get everyone rounded up.We’ve got a show to put on.”
She still wanted Zach.Still wanted to be there when he needed her after a bad shift.Still wanted to hear his laugh.Still wanted to feel his arms wrap around her in a hug that had always made her feel secure and wanted.But that wasn’t going to happen because, apparently, she was the villain.
Tilly marched past her sister, using the determination to keep her going.
An excited buzz filled the room when she walked in.
“What is going on?”Tilly called.The volume died down, and those closest to her smiled as the crowd parted.She blinked twice, not believing what she was seeing.
“Is that...?”Chrissy started to ask.
“Yes.I think it is,” Tilly finished on a whisper.
Standing not thirty feet away from her were Zach and his mother.Kathryn Lancaster, the Kathryn Lancaster, was in Marietta.
Zach began to walk toward her.Tilly’s feet were rooted to the spot.Behind her she was aware of Chrissy moving away, and she wanted to grab her sister’s hand for support.
“Tulip,” Zach said softly when he stopped in front of her.The last time she’d seen him, anger had made his brown eyes as dark as night.Now, they were light and open, and she didn’t want to believe what other emotion she saw shining in them.She had to be imagining it.
“Zachary,” she responded, using his full name for the first time.His lips quirked in an endearing smile.
“I’d like you to meet my mother, Kathryn Lancaster, your narrator and emcee for the night.”
No, she must have misheard Zach.No way did he say that Kathryn was taking over the role that Tilly had decided she was going to do.The role that Tilly had wanted Kathryn to fill from the very beginning.
“I’m sorry, what?”She didn’t know if she was disappointed or excited, but it was possible that all her dreams for the event were about to come true.
Zach entered her personal space, his fingers brushing lightly against hers, where they rested by her side.“Mom is here, and she’s excited to be part of your production.”
“But...I don’t understand.How?”
“It’s a Christmas miracle, Tulip.”He curled a piece of stray hair from her ponytail behind her ear.A shiver racked her, and it wasn’t from the rush of cold air from someone walking through the door.
“I’m looking for a Tilly Bloom?”a male voice boomed around the room.
Zach took her by the shoulders and turned her gently.Two men and a woman stood just at the entrance of the auditorium.Somehow she found her voice.“I’m Tilly Bloom.”
One of the men, who wore a thick parka and glasses, held out his hand.“Hello, I’m Gerald Sanders.This is Larry Munsey and Priscilla Garside.We’re the judges for the Light Up Montana contest.”
“Oh!Hi, welcome.We’re just getting everything ready to get on the road.”Tilly had no idea if that was true or not, but it had to be getting close.
“Excellent, we’ll leave you to it and wait outside.We just wanted to let you know that we were here.I know you’ll want to give everyone a pep talk,” Gerald said before indicating his fellow judges to precede him out of the area.
The moment the door closed behind them, the chatter started again.Tilly looked around at everyone wearing huge smiles.People were looking at Kathryn in awe.
“How?”she asked Zach again.
“Long story,” he murmured.“It’s almost time.You should do what the judges said.Talk to everyone.”
“But your mom?What’s going on with that?”Tilly knew she needed to say a few words to everyone.Thank them for willing to be part of this event.For being there for her without question.But she needed some answers.“How is she standing here in Marietta when you accused me of—” She couldn’t keep the hurt out of her voice, and she wasn’t going to try to.
“I’m so sorry, Tulip.I made accusations that had no place being made.It was...my insecurities.”
