“So, if she’s checking the bottles every day to make sure they’re the same, then she’d know how much was in there and the bottle under the sink is unnecessary.”
A light went on in Harmony’s head, shining on Sam with such brightness that she finally saw him for what he was—and she saw their marriage in a whole new way. “Oh. My. Gosh.” Harmony pressed her cold hands to her cheeks.
Yes, she’d been innocent—in all the right ways. She’d been young and wanting to love and be loved. She’d believed that men were like her father—honest, true blue, romantic, and that they protected the hearts of the women in their lives. Sam? Sam had taken advantage of her. He’d used her innocence up like … like shampoo that was easily replaceable. Maybe for him, it was—all he needed was a new woman on his arm who thought he hung the moon. But it wasn’t that easy for her to refill her bottle.
Until now. Until she realized something very important—she was marriage material. She wasn’tboring—she wasamazing! Breck was right: Sam couldn’t see how great she was because he was too busy looking at himself.
“Bye, Sam.” She stuck out her hand, ready to shake away the residual influence he had on her life. He truly didn’t deserve her.
Jenny made a strangled noise in the back of her throat.
Harmony waved her off as she and Sam shook hands. “I can honestly say that I’m going to forget you. From this moment on, you’ll be nothing but a speck of my past.” With that, she spun on her heel and headed for the exit—not even needing to see his face or know his response, because she truly didn’t care.
“Harmony?” Jenny caught up and hooked their elbows together. “Where are you going?”
She stopped and grabbed Jenny by the shoulders. “I’m not the broken one, Jenny. It’s not me!” The revelation was so big it filled her up and about lifted her off the ground. “He is incapable of loving me the way I deserve. I wasn’t going to change him—not in one marriage, and not in a thousand.”
Jenny grabbed her arms, locking them together. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Harmony laughed. “Then you should be happy, because if Sam’s the incapable one, then that means I am capable of loving someone enough.I’menough.” She threw her arms out to the side and tipped back her head. “I’m enough!” She laughed, the joy of it all too much to hold in. Jenny released her and she spun in a circle, narrowly missing the store sign boasting 30% off all pajama sets. She stopped suddenly. “I have to find Breck.”
“Go.” Jenny took the perfume from her. “I’ll buy this and drop it off at your apartment.”
“Thank you!” Harmony hugged her before running out the door. Her feet hit the icy sidewalk, and she skidded. A Santa rang his bell, asking for donations. People in parkas and scarves rushed by, determined to get to their families or office parties.
She ran the three blocks to Breck’s and pounded up the stairs—too excited to wait for the elevator. Once she got to his floor, she leaned against the wall and panted. Breck wouldn’t care if she was a sweaty mess; he’d answer the door and he’d kiss her like she was a winter princess. She charged ahead, still gulping for air.
Three knocks and the door swung open. “’Sup?” asked a guy in a football jersey. She didn’t even know what team was plastered across the front, because it was all faded.
She suddenly felt unprepared. She should have planned a speech or something that would tell Breck how wonderful he was and that she wanted him for this Christmas and beyond. “Is Breck here?” She rose to her tiptoes and scanned the room behind him. Half the magic supplies were missing. The melting snowman stood in the corner, looking droopy and left behind.
“He’s doing a show or something.” The guy scratched his stomach. “Wait—you’re his hot assistant.” He leaned against the doorframe. “I was hoping to meet you.”
Harmony nodded once. An idea popped into her head. If she could just get the melting snowman costume, and then somehow perfect an illusion she’d only stumbled through … she might be able to make this all work out. There was a lot riding on all thoseifs. She grinned to herself. That was what Christmas magic was for!
Taking advantage of the roommate’s posture, she brushed past him on the side he wasn’t leaning against. “I’m just came to get this.” She snagged the melting snowman and then, in a flash of inspiration, also took a piece of poster paper. She rushed back out the door before he thought to stop her.
“Whatever,” he muttered. The door slammed shut.
She grinned. Breck’s street performing permit only allowed him to set up in certain places. He’d mentioned that he wanted to do this trick near a business doorway … Think! Where had he said …? The toy shop! She jogged down the stairs and headed that direction, praying she got there before he was done. Hopefully this time, it would be the magician who was amazed by the magic trick.
Chapter Fifteen
December 23rd (Continued)
Breck
The crowd applauded half-heartedly.
Breck gave them his stage smile anyway. It was the same smile he’d pasted on when the clerk handed him his change and wished him a Merry Christmas, the same one he used when he helped a woman off the bus, and the exact same grin that appeared when John asked if he had a rent check.
It almost hurt to put that face on at this point, but what else could he do? His reason for smiling was gone, and he couldn’t get her back. The idea that he couldn’t save Harmony from herself had haunted him the night before. If only he hadn’t pushed. If only he’d held back his feelings and been less selfish. If only he’d tried harder or said the right thing.
He grabbed a deck of cards. “For this trick, I’ll need a volunteer.”
No one raised their hand. He deflated. Getting a volunteer was usually the easy part. If he couldn’t get someone to pick a card, then he wasn’t ever going to make it as a magician.
He set the deck on the table and waved everyone off. “Sorry, folks, show’s over.”And so is my channel and my dreams.
