Brad:I’m not sure how to take that.
Abby:In this instance, it’s a compliment.
Brad:Compliment accepted.
Abby:I thought you would have come back for Christmas.
She automatically pressed send before she had a chance to reconsider her words.She stared at the words on the screen.It sounded like she wanted to see him, but that wasn’t the truth.She’d be fine if she never saw him again.Maybe she should explain…
Abby:I mean so we could work on the party plans.
Backspace.Backspace.Backspace…
Brad:I’m spending the holiday with my mother.
Abby didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of him being with family.She supposed there was a bit of lone wolf in him.Or maybe she’d read him wrong.
Brad:Aren’t you with your mother?
Abby:I was earlier.I could only eat so many sugar cookies.
Brad:Now I understand.
Abby:Understand what?
Brad:Why you’re party planning on Christmas Eve.
She frowned as she stared at the message.He was judging her?From everything she’d learned about him, he was a workaholic.
Abby:What are you doing this evening?
Her question was greeted with a distinct silence, or in this case, a lack of messaging.Did he have a date?The thought left an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach.She chose to ignore the sensation.
She should just leave him alone.After all, she had the party plans to focus on.And now that she had a color scheme, she could get on with ordering the rest of the decorations, as well as the invitations.
Knock.Knock.
The sound startled her.Who could that be?She glanced at the time.It was going on nine o’clock.Her friends—Kate, Carrie, and Sadie—would all be at the Candlelight dance.So, who was knocking at her door?
She set aside her laptop and rushed to the door.When she peered through the peephole, she saw her friend and next-door neighbor.Sienna was about her age, maybe a year or two younger.She was a single mom with an adorable little girl.
Abby swung the door open.“Hey, Sienna.”
Sienna stood there, holding her daughter’s hand.“I’m sorry to bother you.Annie and I were making some sugar cookies for Santa, and we ran out of sugar.And the store in town is closed.Would you have any extra?I promise to replace it.”
“Ah…” She had to think if she had any left.“Yes, I think I do.Come on in.”She turned and headed into the kitchen.“I don’t know how much I have left.I haven’t made it to the store since I baked.”
“We just need a half a cup or so.”
Ding.
So, now Brad decides to respond to her.It was almost like he knew she was distracted and wouldn’t be able to rush over to pick up her phone.She was still curious if he was on a date.
She pushed thoughts of Brad to the back of her mind as she opened the kitchen cabinet.Inside was a yellow sack of sugar.When she picked it up, she found it was half empty.
With it in hand, she turned to Sienna and Annie.“It doesn’t feel like there’s much left.I hope it’ll be enough.”
“Thank you.”Sienna accepted the bag.“Feels like it’ll be plenty.We really appreciate this, especially Santa.”She glanced down at her daughter.“Right, Annie?”
