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“I’d love to stay at the party, but I’ve got a few things I need to do tonight before I have to do take-down,” Claire said.
Melody stopped her before she could walk to the front room. “By ‘things to do,’ do you mean you want to stay at home instead and watch Christmas movies alone?”
Claire didn’t bother denying it. The girls had roomed together for four years before getting places of their own. Melody knew Claire as well as Claire knew Melody.
“I’ll be alone all Christmas,” Claire said. “I may as well start now.”
Melody’s smile faded.
Claire hadn’t meant her words to come off as depressing as they’d sounded. In all honesty, spending Christmas alone was more appealing than going on another cruise with her parents, her mom asking over and over why Claire had broken up with “that nice, wealthy boy” and her dad asking for grandkids every day.
Why they would want grandkids when they couldn’t even stay in Colorado long enough to see their only daughter was beyond Claire’s comprehension. And what mother would ever want her daughter to be with someone who’d made her so desperately unhappy?
“I’m actually looking forward to some time alone,” Claire said, scooting the clippings from Mia’s floral display to the garbage can at the end of the table. “It’ll be nice to clear my head, you know? Figure some things out.”
“Claire. You’re always alone. What the heck do you have to figure out? Especially around Christmas?”
Claire hesitated. “A lot of things. What I’m going to wear tomorrow. What I’ll have for dinner tonight. What I’m going to buy myself for Christmas this year.”
Melody was already shaking her head, pressing a hand over her eyes. “This is bumming me out just hearing you rehearse your life out loud.” She fluffed up her dark, shoulder-length hair. “Look, I know I’ve already made you this offer, but I’m going to say it again. Come to England with me.”
Claire sighed with a large roll of her eyes. Nearly every year, Melody and her family traveled to the U.K. to spend the holidays with Melody’s aunt, who lived in London. Knowing Claire was going to be alone for Christmas this year, Melody had asked Claire to join her. Three times, actually. And each time, Claire had politely declined. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go. It was England, after all, and she’d never traveled outside of the western United States—despite the fact that Claire always kept a current passport in the ridiculous hope of one day seeing the world. But there were just too many things that stood in her way.
“I’ve already told you, Melody. I really appreciate the offer, but I—”
“Wait,” Melody interrupted. “Just hear me out, okay? I’ve been talking to my Aunt Tasha about it, and she said you’d be more than welcome to stay with her. She has an extra room since my cousin will be gone over Christmas, and with her working almost every day that I’m there, I’ll have no one to hang out with. Unless you come.”
Claire shook her head. “I’d love to, really. But like I said, I don’t have the money.”
Well, actually Claire did have the money. But she was saving it for her future flower shop. It would hardly be wise to dip into her savings just to follow her friend to England on a whim.
A slow smile spread across Melody’s lips, and Claire eyed her uneasily. “What?”
“I’m pretty sure I’ve solved that, too.”
“I’m not going to let you pay for my flight.”
“No, look.” She pulled out her phone, tapping a few times before showing the screen to Claire.
Claire swiped the remaining stray petals and stems from the table, then looked at Melody’s phone.
Across the background photo of a rainy Big Ben were the words,
DEN — LHR
London, England
$452
Round Trip Flight
Offer ends December 20th
Claire narrowed her eyes. “Nuh-uh.”
“Yeah-huh,” Melody said. She pulled back her phone and scrolled to the caption, showing it once more to Claire. “It’s legit. I confirmed it with my aunt. She uses it all the time when she flies. They price them lower because you might have a few extra layovers, but I mean, for that price, who cares?”
She certainly had a point. Four Hundred and fifty-two dollars. Round Trip. London. Claire was a sucker for a good deal, but that was a ridiculously cheap price for a flight anywhere out of the country, especially at Christmas. But to London…Could she actually go?
