Tangled Tinsel by Wendy Knight

Author:Wendy Knight [Knight, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Six Inch Heel Press
Published: 2019-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

“I know, honey, and I’m sorry. Again. But I can’t control the weather or the roads.” Charlotte paced up and down the hall in front of their hotel room, mentally trying to count the number of times she’d told him she was sorry for something she couldn’t control.

Seven, if she was remembering right.

In just this conversation.

He wasn’t usually this bad. He was needy, sure. But not annoyingly so, unless he was on his own with her family. She tried to put herself in his position—she’d probably react very similarly.

His family made hers look positively warm and inviting.

“How is my family treating you?” she tried to sound soothing, praying it would absolve some of the hysteria in his voice.

“They haven’t once invited me to play cards or eat with them. If I want food, I have to go down and sit at the table. No one brings it to my room—”

“They don’t tell you when dinner is?” That seemed harsh, even for her family.

“They told me it was at six, but no one came to get me for it.”

“So... the problem is... that you had to walk down to dinner by yourself?” She raked a hand through her hair, trying to keep it away from the ice rash while simultaneously ripping it out of her head. She’d never been a fan of the brown. It didn’t fit her skin tone at all.

“It’s rude, Charlotte. And another thing...” He continued on, but her attention was pulled away as Grey came up the stairs, phone to his ear. He was smiling, and while he didn’t know she was there, it was a real smile. Not guarded and judgmental and border-line angry, but like he was really happy to be talking to whoever was on the other line. He’d almost gotten to that point earlier, where he could look at her without all the negativity, but there always seemed to be pain in it.

“Yeah, Mom. I’m sorry too. Hopefully I’ll be there tomorrow before Christmas is over. How are the grandkids? Driving you crazy without me and Noah there, huh?”

Charlotte closed her eyes, remembering far too many Christmases at Grey’s house. So much noise and chaos, never many presents, but warmth and laughter. They always played games together and sang Christmas carols. Their meal wasn’t even close to the grand feast her family had, but it seemed so much more filling.

Her own family had a giant tree and many presents, all the latest gadgets and name brands, and dinner was huge and elaborate.

And quiet.

So quiet.

“Charlotte, are you listening to me?” Paul dragged her out of her reverie and she shook her head, trying to clear Grey’s family out of it. He had stopped, eyes widening when he saw her standing frozen in the hall, and raised his hand in a little wave.

She smiled and waved back.

“Yes, I am. Sorry. Listen, I just—I just want you to know that I’m in this. With you. I know I haven’t been super enthusiastic, but I’m in it now.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.