“I miss Mum. I miss her every day, but it’s worse this time of year. I know that, but Dad, everything is ten times harder when I feel alone. I need you, too.”
“Oh, darling,” he cried. Evelyn’s dad hadn’t cried in front of Evelyn since her mum’s funeral. “I’m coming home.”
A rush of emotion spilled out as Evelyn shattered. The years of hurt and loneliness coupled with Alyssa and Bug’s departure came flowing out. Evelyn listened as her dad laid out his plan to get home. With a ringing in her ears and her heart palpitating, Evelyn disconnected the call.
22
Decorations, Declarations, and Dog Bedding
Alyssa
Alyssa scrubbed her face. This morning had been perfect. Beyond perfect, actually. Then Mindy showed up, which put a spanner in the works, but it was okay. Alyssa knew she needed to leave Evelyn to deal with that hot mess, which was why she nipped out with Bug. Going home, taking a shower, and checking on the other dogs would waste a bit of time before she could return to Evelyn and her oh-so-comfy bed.
That had been the plan, anyway. However, as with all good intentions, it got mucked up. First by Alyssa losing her phone. The bloody thing couldn’t have got far, but she couldn’t find it for the life of her. Then there was a crisis at Four Paws. One of the puppies had taken a turn for the worse and needed emergency medical care.
When Alyssa finally got back, she found there was no power to her mobile home, so that took another hour to sort out. All in all, it was well into the afternoon before things settled and Alyssa could organise herself to head back over to Evelyn’s.
It was on the journey back to the penthouse that inspiration struck. Hearing Evelyn describe her Christmas experiences since her mum died was heart wrenching. No one should feel alone, especially during the festive season, so she formed a brilliant plan to help Evelyn embrace a holiday she once loved.
Alyssa’s newfound joy and optimism dissipated like a tissue in a puddle when she parked the car and stared at the mass of people filing into the shopping centre. It was bursting at the seams with grumbling Christmas shoppers. Weary mothers dragging their screaming children from store to store. Lonesome husbands hanging around the food court, ladened down with bags their wives had dumped on them. Thank God Evelyn wasn’t here. A sight like this would definitely reinforce her belief that Christmas wasn’t worth celebrating. Although after talking to her, Alyssa knew it wasn’t a genuine dislike of the season. Evelyn just felt lonely and sad. Time to turn that around.
Rolling her shoulders and neck, Alyssa psyched herself up like a boxer entering the ring. She had a vague idea of what she needed and an even vaguer plan of attack. Into the shopping centre she went, bobbing and weaving like a pro—dodging prams the size of small cars, sidestepping distracted phone-scrollers, and navigating around couples who’d decided the exact centre of the walkway was the perfect spot to have afull-blown argument about whose mother they were visiting for Boxing Day.
Forty-five minutes later, Alyssa emerged from the crowds hot and flustered but triumphant. Her arms were weighed down with bags. A total success. Now she just had to get Evelyn onboard. That was probably going to be the hardest part.
With a quick check of the time, Alyssa reasoned that taking an extra twenty minutes to grab Bug was a good idea. If anyone could soften Evelyn to the idea of Christmas, it was him.
Why was Evelyn’s penthouse so dark? Crap, maybe she’d gone out. Alyssa stood inside the door, weighing up her options. First option was to leave and come back later. Messaging or phoning Evelyn was out of the question because she still couldn’t find her bloody phone, and the one she’d grabbed from the sanctuary didn’t have Evelyn’s number listed as it was for work purposes only. Second option was to stay and surprise Evelyn with everything she’d bought.
Bug decided for her by wandering over to his pile of discarded Christmas decorations he’d hijacked from Evelyn’s closet yesterday evening. Setting her bags on the floor, Alyssa shoved her nerves down. Evelyn could hate everything she was about to do and kick her out, never wanting to see her again. Shaking her head, Alyssa got to work as Bug lay watching in a supervisory role.
An unknown amount of time later and Alyssa had to concede there was a distinct possibility that she’d gone a tad overboard.
Evelyn’s penthouse looked like Christmas had upchucked all over the place.
The only thing missing was a Christmas tree, and that was only because Alyssa couldn’t get the guy to deliver within the hour. Checking the time again, she ran downstairs to wait for the tree. Darrel—the tree man—had messaged her work number to say he’d had a cancellation and was on his way over now. Hurrah, another victory!
“Perfect,” she whispered to herself and Bug. It had taken an hour to place the tree and get it decorated. Looking around, Alyssa smiled, and then it wavered. She’d taken a huge risk sprucing up Evelyn’s place. The woman could detest it and feel like her space had been violated.
“Shit,” she hissed.
What had she been thinking? Well, she hadn’t, had she? No, Alyssa had floated along in a post-sex love haze, only thinking about how romantic it would be to do this for Evelyn.
In truth, this could be an utter disaster!
The squeak of a door almost gave Alyssa a heart attack. There was someone in the penthouse. Oh shit, what if it was Mindy? Alyssa hadn’t even considered that possibility. She’d just presumed Evelyn would deal with her ex and ask her to leave. What if it was a burglar?
Picking up a Nutcracker statue that was positioned by the open fireplace, Alyssa creeped towards the hall that led to the bedrooms. Counting silently in her head to three, she shrieked like a banshee, raising her weapon ready to strike down theintruder. Evelyn’s scream pierced the house with such force, Alyssa instinctively flung the Nutcracker behind her and ducked.
“What thefuck?” Evelyn screamed again, clutching her chest.
“Evelyn,” Alyssa panted, her heart rate that of a jackhammer. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“Why does everyone think me being in my own home is surprising?”
Alyssa didn’t know what to say. She was too struck by how tired and sad Evelyn looked. “Are you okay?” she asked, staggering to her feet. Evelyn had dark circles under her eyes, and her hair was a mess. Had she been sleeping all day? “Did something bad happen with Mindy?”
Evelyn laughed. “You tell me. You left, ignored my calls and messages, and took Bug. But it’s okay, I know you don’t do relationships or anything. I shouldn’t have presumed.”
