She should probably say something to break the tension.But between the rapid beating of her heart and her jumbled thoughts, she couldn’t come up with any words.
As though he read her thoughts, Justin spoke up.“What made you decide to help with the play?”
She shrugged.“They needed help, and I used to help with the costumes.Remember?”
“I remember.”The words were flat.
She couldn’t tell by the way he’d said it if him remembering was a good or bad thing.Now that they were speaking, she wanted to keep it going.“What happened to the person who was working on the costumes?”
“I’m not exactly sure.But at the last rehearsal, there was a lot of yelling between the parents and Mrs.Geller about the costumes.”
Felicity gaped.“You mean she’s still making costumes?She was doing that when we were kids, and it seemed like she’d been doing it for a long time before then.She must be in what?Her seventies?”
“I think she’s in her eighties.”
“Oh, wow.And she was still volunteering her time?”
“Well, she isn’t volunteering any longer.The parents were up in arms about the costumes.They said their kids weren’t going to wear them.Merry Kringle was trying to calm everyone down and she lost the battle.That’s when Mrs.Geller said she quit.Said she was going to have Christmas with her daughter.I forget where she lives, but it isn’t in Kringle Falls.She took her sewing machine and some other stuff and walked out.”
“And here I thought Kringle Falls was the most boring town in the country where nothing ever happens.And now you go and prove me wrong.”Felicity couldn’t help but laugh.An uprising over children’s costumes.Only in Kringle Falls.
A little smile pulled ever so slightly at the corners of Justin’s mouth.It was enough that his dimples were just beginning to show.He was still so handsome.And then her traitorous heart fluttered.
He turned into the parking lot.“Are you ready for this?”
“Sure…I think.”She laughed.She wasn’t quite sure what she’d gotten herself into.“Hey, I’m sorry if you felt like we sort of ganged up on you about the puppy.”
He cast her a sideways glance.“Sort of?”
She let out a nervous laugh.“Okay.So we did.But Sunny is the sweetest dog.She’s quiet and well-behaved.I think you’re really going to enjoy spending time with her.”
“Just remember, you agreed to take care of her when I’m at work.”
“Oh.Yeah.Sure.No problem.”She hoped her mother felt the same way, but she would deal with that later.
He pulled into a parking spot.“It’s not too late to back out of this.”
She glanced over at him.“Why are you making it seem like I shouldn’t go inside?”
“I’m not.”He spoke the words too quickly and in a higher octave.
“Justin, what don’t I know?”
He shook his head.“Nothing.I’m sure you’ll have the costumes under control in no time.”
He got out and left her sitting there, hating that the moment had passed so quickly.It wasn’t that anything special had been said during the short ride.It was rather the fact that they’d shared the peaceful moment.
Apparently she’d lingered too long, because the next thing she knew Justin was opening her door.She hadn’t meant for him to do that.It was something he used to do for her—in another lifetime.
She got out.“Thank you.”
Wordlessly, he gave a slight nod of his head.
Together, they walked toward the school.It brought back a lot of good memories of them entering the school together.She thought about asking him if he remembered, but she refrained.Of course he remembered.The real question was did he want to remember?Something told her he did not.
Still, he wasn’t married.Was it wrong that it made her happy?Of course she didn’t want him unhappy.She was just glad that at last there was a chance she might be able to repair some of the damage she’d done to their relationship.
She doubted they’d be good friends by the time she went back to New York, but she’d like to think he would no longer go out of his way to avoid her.Maybe it was nothing more than wishful thinking on her part.
