Now it was time for a test drive.He set off down the road.Enough snow had already fallen that he lowered the blade.The interior of the truck vibrated as the lowered plow cleared the freshly fallen snow.
As the truck rumbled down the road, his thoughts rewound to the earlier incident with Felicity.He’d been too far away to catch her—not that he hadn’t tried.
When her head had smacked the frozen sidewalk, his stomach had dropped down to his work boots.And that moment when she hadn’t moved, his heart had been in his throat.He couldn’t remember ever being that worried.
He tried to tell himself he would have been that concerned about anyone.It was a nasty fall.But there was a little voice in the back of his mind telling him that it was different because it was Felicity.There was a part of him that wanted to phone her and make sure she was all right, but he wouldn’t allow himself that luxury.He assured himself she would be fine.After all, her mother was a nurse.She was in very capable hands.
The only thing he had to do was try his best to stay out of her way.That was obviously going to be easier said than done.
Chapter Four
Herheadhurt.
But not as much as her pride.
Felicity couldn’t believe she’d fallen right in front of Justin.What a way to make an entrance.As the memory played in her mind for the umpteenth time, she rolled her eyes.What must Justin think of her?
Scratch that.She didn’t want to know what he thought of her.She could probably guess, and none of it was good.
She didn’t want to think about Justin now.It didn’t matter that he’d gotten even better looking with time.He was now someone’s husband.End of story.
Her feet were freezing by the time she reached the Evergreen Apartments.They weren’t there the last time she was home.At least she didn’t think they were.The last time she was home, it had been for her father’s funeral, and everything from that period was a blur.
The building appeared to be three-stories.The exterior was burgundy siding with forest-green trim.It definitely fit in with Kringle Falls desire to be known as a Christmas town.
She headed for the double glass doors.After determining where her mother lived, she noticed an elevator at the end of a short hallway.
As she pressed the button for the second floor, she just had to hope her mother was home.In no time, the door opened to the second floor.The hallway had dark green carpeting.The walls were an eggshell-white.Each apartment had its number running vertically down the wall next to the corresponding door.Below each number was a doorbell.
When Felicity reached apartment 218, she paused.Her heart was pounding.She had no idea how this reunion was going to go.Maybe she should have let her mother know she was coming home.Maybe coming home was a big mistake.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she pressed the doorbell.Her palms grew damp.She rubbed them on her coat.She couldn’t believe she was this nervous about seeing her own mother.Guilt mounted as she realized it was her fault for being so focused on her career.The words of her ex came rushing back to her:“You’re so selfish with your time.”At the time, she’d had a string of excuses, but now she was wondering if Greg had been right.
But she knew it was more than just her job that had her avoiding Kringle Falls.If she were in New York, she could imagine her father was well and at home with her mother.
She rang the doorbell again.She wrung her hands together.This was a mistake.She definitely should have gone with the phone call.She turned to walk away when she heard the door open behind her.Her steps slowed, but she didn’t turn around.
“Felicity?”There was uncertainty in her mother’s voice.“Felicity, is that you?”
Her pulse raced.It had been years since she’d been this nervous to face her mother, like the time she went out with Justin, and they fell asleep in the back of the cinema.She was an hour past curfew.Her mother had waited up.
Even though she was all grown up now, she still swallowed hard.She leveled her shoulders and turned.The first thing she noticed was how much thinner her mother’s face was compared to the last time they were together.
Her mother’s hair, which she’d kept long because Felicity’s father had loved it that way, was now cut short in a bob with bangs.Felicity had never seen her mother with short hair.It was different, but it looked good on her.And was she wearing contacts as well as eyeshadow and eye liner?It was like her mother had some sort of makeover.
Her mother’s eyes widened, and then a smile came over her face.“It is you.”Her mother stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her.“I’m so glad you’re home.”
Those words had Felicity pulling back.Her gaze met her mother’s.“But I’m not home.I don’t understand.”
Sadness flickered in her mother’s eyes.It was then that Felicity noticed the dark circles under her eyes.
Her mother backed up.“Well, come in.”
Felicity rolled her suitcase behind her.She stepped into the apartment.It was small but not too small.The cream-colored walls looked freshly painted and the furniture looked to be new.None of it was from the house.
“Here.”Her mother held out her hand.“Let me take your suitcase for you.”
Felicity relinquished her suitcase.“I know I should have called first.”
