Celebration at Christmas Cove by Carrie Jansen

Author:Carrie Jansen [Jansen, Carrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

CELESTE BARELY MADE IT TO THE END OF NATHAN’S DRIVEWAY before she had to stop. She felt as if she was on the verge of either hyperventilating or bawling. Maybe both. But at least she’d managed to get out of the house before Nathan could see how upset she was. Nothing like blubbering on my way out the door to show him how much fun I had, she thought.

Up until the moment Patty called, their luncheon had been nearly perfect; lots of laughing and flirting and meaningful conversation, including Nathan sharing a little bit about his relationship with Holly. It hadn’t even mattered that Almeda’s was closed because in a funny way, hanging out in Nathan’s messy kitchen while he cooked eggs felt more intimate than fine seaside dining. More relaxed, too. Everything was going along so smoothly, and Celeste was crushed that it had come to such an abrupt end.

She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. The air was as cold and sharp as icicles as it traveled through her nasal passages, down her throat and into her lungs. How am I ever going to tell Philip my flight has been delayed even longer? She exhaled. And what’s going to happen when I do? Again she inhaled and then released her breath, repeating the process twice before continuing toward the inn.

Once inside, she hurried straight upstairs to call the airline in private. By now, she had the menu options memorized, and within seven minutes, she’d booked a different flight from New York to the Caribbean. Wishing the booking process had taken longer, she tapped Philip’s name in her contacts list. With her finger poised over his number, she told herself, “I can do this. I can do this.” But it turned out, she couldn’t. Not yet.

Her legs felt rickety as she headed downstairs to ask Carol for a ride to the airport at six-fifteen instead of two o’clock. Just as she stepped off the landing, Arthur emerged from the living room, a folded newspaper tucked beneath his arm.

His smile faded when he caught her eye. “Celeste, my dear, what’s wrong?”

That was all it took. The pressure had become too much and Celeste broke out in tears, like a burst dam. Arthur led her to the sofa by the fire. In between sobs, she told him about Tim and the lobster bisque and how much she dreaded calling her editor in chief to tell him what had happened.

When she was done explaining, Arthur commiserated. “I understand how frustrating it must be to experience another delay. But certainly Philip can’t blame you for circumstances that are beyond your control.”

“Oh, yes he can. And he will.” Celeste sniffled. “Now I’ll never get a promotion.”

“Really?” Arthur narrowed his eyes. His skepticism was understandable—he didn’t know Philip. “He’d pass you up for a promotion because you’re late for one assignment?”

“Oh, I’m not going to be late,” she clarified. “I’ll get to my destination in the early morning, a couple of hours before j’ouvert.”

“So, let me get this straight.

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