Christmas at Reedy Falls by Elizabeth Sumner Wafler

Author:Elizabeth Sumner Wafler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Mamie

I pace the whiskey bar awash in disappointment. I really wanted Rob to have some nice warm gloves. It was a small celebration for me, selecting just the right pair at the men’s store. They were the perfect fit. I’ve held his hands enough that guessing the size was a snap. Then why do I feel I’ve committed some impropriety? He seemed anxious when I asked if he liked the color. Is it because I said the gloves were a business expense, which I meant as a joke? Does he think I’ve been playing fast and loose with the magazine’s money? Have I given him reason to believe that I’m a dishonest person?

My phone sounds with my Christmas text notification: a jingle of sleigh bells. Abigay Fletcher, my screen asserts. Can you talk? she’s asked. I’m torn. I’m dying to talk with her, but I’m not sure how long Rob’s shoot will take. I look at the closed door, roll a mental dice, then push the call button. “Greetings from Co-lo-rah-doh,” she says, answering on the second ring. When she doesn’t answer on the first one, it’s because she’s taking a preparatory sip of whatever she’s drinking. If it’s not yet noon, it’s still coffee. That’s how my girl rolls.

I take a seat on a barstool facing the door but as far away from it as possible. “Bee,” I say. “How’s it going?”

“We’re sitting in the Eagle’s Nest at the top of the mountain in front of a roaring fire. I thought I’d perish from the chill on the lift ride up.”

“It’s colder there today?” Today’s high in Greenville is supposed to be forty-four degrees and windy.

“It is! Thirty-two degrees right now but dropping. And it snowed again last night!”

“Well, be careful up there.”

“I always am.”

“Apparently, I’m not,” I say with an eye on the door. “I have committed a glove gaffe.”

“I’ll need an interpretation.”

I tell her about shopping for Rob’s gloves and his reaction, or at least the way I perceived it.

“Listen,” she says. “I believed it when you said you guys are in love. Love at first sight does happen. But after four days, you cannot know the man’s thoughts.”

“But we’re amazingly in sync most of the time. Remember I told you about the trust talk we had? When I told him about your counseling session?”

“One talk. And you were under the influence.”

“I was not!” I frown into the phone. “Of what?”

“Euphoria, exhilaration. You know, love drunk.”

I sigh. “You’re right, you’re right, I know you’re right.” I hear the rumble of Jake’s voice, excitement running through the cadence of his sentences. “Do you need to go?”

“Nope, Jake’s talking to some people about a black slope they tried.” In her voice, I hear her he’s-so-cute smile. “But I’m thinking here. Hang on and let me find a quieter spot.”

While Abigay’s on the move, I hop up, open the door, crack it open to take a peek, and then dare to dash up the short flight of stairs to look for signs of Rob in the lobby.

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