The Chase by Susan Wales

Author:Susan Wales [Susan Wales and Robin Shope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC030000;FIC026000;FIC031000
ISBN: 9781441239457
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2017-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

22

Christmas Eve was a night of song

That wrapped itself about you like a shawl.

But it warmed more than your body.

It warmed your heart. . . filled it, too,

with melody that would last forever.

—Bess Streeter Aldrich

A fresh blanket of snow and a little help from the town’s decorating committee had transformed Delavan into a winter wonderland overnight. Evergreen wreaths with trailing red velvet bows had been hung from the lampposts that lined the cobblestone streets, and every storefront was ablaze with twinkling lights. Crowned with a brilliant star, the traditional forty-foot blue spruce stood at the center of town. And churches at every corner proudly displayed a nativity scene on the lawn to celebrate Christ’s birth.

It may have been the dead of winter, but Jill had a spring in her step. Maybe it was because Craig had told her he was planning to attend her family’s annual Christmas party. She walked around the streets of town singing carols, loaded down with packages, looking forward to this particular party more than she had any others in the past.

Lost in her daydreams, she imagined her grand entrance over and over in her head. Craig would look up at the winding staircase and see her floating down in a vision of red silk, like the movie legends she had mimicked in her childhood. She hoped her grand entrance would not only take Craig’s breath away but capture his heart as well.

Jill was jolted out of her daze when she bumped right into Craig and Caroline at the entrance to the Ben Franklin store. “Is this my Christmas present?” Craig teased her, pulling at a package while holding the door for her.

“As a matter of fact, I—I just put in an order with Santa for a bag of switches for you, Craig,” Jill stuttered, trying to get her thoughts together, trying to act normal, as if she didn’t feel as though someone had stabbed her in the heart with a dagger.

Caroline stood by, smiling. Her exquisite profile, framed by the fur on the hood of her parka, reminded Jill of the image of the snow princess that had graced the cover of her childhood book of fairy tales.

“We’ll see you tonight,” Craig said.

Jill nodded dumbly. She couldn’t avoid watching the two of them blend into the crowd of last-minute shoppers. It should’ve been no surprise that Craig had said, “We’ll see you tonight,” meaning not just him but Caroline too. How could she have been so stupid to think he’d come alone?

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