Chapter Thirteen
Grayson
This is the day that’s always haunted me. The day Tandy would be gone. Without a word, without a trace. The only evidence of her being here is the ache deep in my chest and the crazy Christmas decorations filling my living room.
I keep thinking about yesterday, when I told her about the meeting. I should have seen it then, known how it would sound to her. Like I was abandoning her. She thought I was choosing a future without her, when the truth was I couldn’t imagine going anywhere if she wasn’t coming with me.
Then the kiss. Her lips against mine. It was not one-sided, at least I’m mostly certain.
I think she felt it too, the spark between us, and I think that’s exactly what frightened her.
She carried on through the rest of the day, smiling and chatting as if the earth hadn’t shifted beneath us.
If only I’d realized sooner how I feel for her.
I’ve been everywhere—her house, Timeless Tales, and even texted everyone I know in town.
The last sighting was an hour ago: Tandy’s van heading past the town limits.
Since then, I’ve circled every street, hoping to see her red hair, hoping she’d turn around and come back home.
Her voicemail greeting plays in my ear for the fifth time.
Now I sit in my truck by the “Welcome to Oakridge Hollow” sign, staring at the three roads that branch away from town. Which one did she take?
I’ve never felt so lost, so helpless.
Alongside me, multiple cars pull up. Andrew, Randy, Jane, and a few more guys from the station.
“We thought you could use some reinforcements,” Andrew says, slamming his door.
I rake my fingers through my hair. “I don’t even know where to start.”
Jane steps closer. “Maybe she didn’t run. You know Tandy. She doesn’t do well with feelings. She might just need space to process.”
“Space?” I echo, bitterness tingeing my voice. “She packed up everything, Jane. Everything. She’s gone.”
I just have to accept it. Tandy Vaughn—my best friend, the woman I love—isn’t coming back.
The group falls quiet around me. Andrew clears his throat and switches to his authoritative police tone. “We’ll split up. North, South, East. We’ll check every road, every possible route.”
“It’s useless, Andrew,” I mutter.
He ignores me, and the group disperses to their vehicles. Only he and Jane remain.
Jane squeezes my arm. “I’ll let you know the second I hear anything,” she says before climbing into Andrew’s passenger seat. “Don’t give up hope, Grayson.”
Then there’s just me, the welcome sign, and the empty road. With a small ounce of hope, I glance at my phone, but there’s still nothing.
I suddenly feel a tug as an idea sparks in my mind. What if she really did just need some time? If Tandy needed space to think, I think she’d go to the hill. Our hill.
I gun the engine and race toward our hiking spot. The last place left to search. How could I forget? We’ve spent countless hours there—hiking and stargazing. We’d watch the sunset while she drew in her sketchbook.
I can only pray she’s here and stays put while I hike up the hill. I take the final curve too fast, tires kicking up gravel, and park in our usual spot. There’s no sign of the Wanderer.
I still jump out and charge uphill, lungs burning, and my eyes scan desperately for a flash of her fire-red hair. When I reach the top, I spin in a full circle, searching every space between trees, hoping for a sign of her.
“Tandy!” I shout.
But there’s nothing. She’s not here.
A surge of disappointment crashes over me. I sink to the ground, pulling my knees to my chest. I look out to the quaint town below me, the hills covered in trees. It all looks serene, peaceful. It’s hard to believe that my world is crumbling amidst all this beauty.
My stomach churns at the thought that I’ve lost her. I’ve lost the future I’ve envisioned with her. I finally saw what was right in front of me, only to have it stripped away. To lose my best friend and the woman I love in one fell swoop.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
Jane
No sign of her yet. We’ll keep looking. You okay?
I stare at the message for a second.
Me
Far from it
I shove the phone back in my pocket. It buzzes again, but this time I ignore it.
“I’m a fool,” I say aloud. Why not chastise myself out loud? No one’s around to hear it. “How could I have been so blind to something so beautiful? And now…now she’s gone.”
I close my eyes, resting my forehead on my knees. Maybe she didn’t feel the same way, and she’s saving me from embarrassment. Maybe I should be thankful. She cared enough about me to leave before breaking my heart.
“You didn’t lose me, Gray.”
My heart skips a beat, and I whip my head around quickly. Tandy stands there at the edge of the clearing, her hair wild from the wind, tears glistening down her cheeks.
“Tandy,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
She rushes toward me as I stand, collapsing into me. “I’m so sorry, Gray. I shouldn’t have gone like that. I shouldn’t have just left without saying a word.”
Relief washes over me. I pull her close, holding her tight as if she might disappear again. Her head tucks under my chin, and a soft whimper escapes her. Her body shudders against mine with each sob. I stroke her hair, murmuring reassurances, though I’m not sure if they’re meant more for her or me.
“I’ve been on the road for so long, Gray. I’ve never let anyone in.” She pulls back just enough to meet my eyes. “Not until you.”
She takes a deep breath, her eyes locked on mine. Her eyes, usually so full of life and laughter, are dulled with sadness and fear.
“Then we kissed…” Her voice catches. “I couldn’t bear losing my best friend. But the thought of loving you without being loved back was terrifying. So I ran, before either of us got hurt.”
She ran because she was scared. Scared of how much she felt for me.
“Tandy, you’re not the only one who’s scared.” My thumb traces along her cheek, brushing away a stray tear. “I was scared of what admitting my feelings would do to our friendship. But I was more scared of watching you leave without knowing how much I care about you.”
“I came back because I couldn’t keep running, especially from the best thing in my life.” Her voice breaks. “I owe you more than disappearing without a word. And Mrs. Claus told me to take a chance.”
“Mrs. Claus?”
“I’ll tell you that part later. But what I’m trying to say is…
” Her voice trails off. She looks down then back up at me with a trembling smile.
“All the traveling, all the wandering, I’ve been searching for something.
Home. And it’s taken me too long to realize that you, Grayson Sanders, are my home.
I am completely and hopelessly in love with you.
And I hate that it took me so long to see it. ”
Her words sink into me. To her, I’m home. The weight I’ve felt—the fear, the confusion—it’s all dissolving into pure warmth. The woman in my arms loves me back.
“Bookworm, I love you. More than you could ever imagine.”
“Gray?” She pulls away slightly and reaches into her dress pocket, pulling out a tiny sprig of mistletoe.
A surprised laugh escapes me. “Where’d you get this?”
She shrugs, grinning at me. “Just a little mistletoe magic.”
She holds it above our heads. I wrap my arms tighter around her waist, drawing her closer, until there’s no space left between us.
“Promise me one thing. That the only running you’ll do is straight into my arms.”
“I promise.”
I lean in, capturing her lips with mine. She’s all I’ve ever wanted. Everything I’ve been looking for. And she’s here now, in my arms, where she belongs.