“Oh, Felicity.”Her mother’s face crumpled as she softly cried.
Felicity jumped up and moved around the counter to hug her mother.They’d never talked this openly about their feelings in the past.Maybe that was part of the reason they’d drifted so far apart.
When Felicity pulled back, she said, “And I have something for you.”She rushed to her room and returned with a white box.She held it out to her mother.“Merry Christmas.I’m sorry it isn’t wrapped.”
Her mother smiled.“You shouldn’t have.”
“Go ahead.Open it.”
Her mother lifted the lid and pushed aside the red tissue paper.Her mother gasped.“But I thought the salt dough ornaments were all broken.”
“They were.Justin helped me make these baking soda ornaments.They are supposed to hold up better.I hope you like them.”
Her mother dangled one from her fingertip.“It was very sweet of you.I will always treasure them.”Her mother gently placed the ornament back in the box before looking at her.“I just want you to be happy too.Do you think Justin makes you happy?”
Felicity didn’t feel any pressure from her mother.Instead, she sensed true curiosity.It was one of the questions she’d been asking herself the past couple days.
“Justin has always made me happy.He’s been my best friend my entire life.At one point I didn’t know who I was without him.It’s one of the reasons I couldn’t marry him back in college.I had a lot of growing to do.”
Her mother nodded.“I understand.You were so young back then.But now is anything different between you two?”
“He says he loves me.”Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
There was a distinct silence before her mother said, “He was really upset when he stopped by looking for you.He looked like he’d just lost his best friend.And when I spoke to his mother, she told me that he returned Sunny to Merry.”
Ding.
Felicity was tempted to ignore it because she wanted to know more about Justin, but her mother said, “Go ahead and get it.I don’t have any other news about Justin.”
Felicity pulled the phone from her back pocket.She was surprised when she saw it was from her friend who she’d sent Justin’s manuscript to.She opened the message.
Agent:Stayed up all night reading.Loved it!Would like to speak to author about representation.
Felicity:Thank U!Will let them know!Merry Christmas.
Agent:Merry Christmas.
This was the best news.She couldn’t wait to tell Justin.
“Is that Justin?”Her mother’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Uh.No.It’s some really good news that I know he’ll want to hear.”She began writing him a message.
Felicity:Can we talk?
Justin:When?
Felicity:In a half hour at your place.
Justin:See you then.
Felicity jumped up.“I have something important to do.I’ll be back later.”
Her mother smiled.“I hope you find your happiness.”
“Me too.”She gave her mother another hug.“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
