Chapter 16
16
T he Holly and Hearth Café hummed with life, the smell of cinnamon rolls and freshly brewed coffee mingling with the quiet murmur of conversation. Emily sat at her usual table by the window, a mug of tea growing cold beside her as she scribbled notes for the Christmas Gala.
The gala was less than two weeks away, and the list of unfinished tasks seemed endless. Lights still needed testing, the caterers had questions about table arrangements, and volunteers kept dropping out of their shifts. Emily rubbed her temples, wondering—not for the first time—why she had agreed to take on such a monumental project .
“Fancy seeing you here,” a voice drawled, smooth and familiar.
Emily’s pen froze mid-word. She looked up to find Derek standing in front of her, coffee cup in hand and that same cocky grin she had once found endearing.
“Derek,” she said, her tone flat. “What are you doing here?”
He gestured toward the counter. “Grabbing a cup of coffee. This place is quaint. I can see why you like it.”
“‘Quaint’ is an insult wrapped in a compliment,” Emily replied, returning her gaze to her notes.
Derek laughed, sliding into the seat across from her uninvited. “You always did have a quick wit.”
Emily sighed, setting down her pen. “What do you want, Derek?”
“To talk,” he said simply. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us lately.”
“Us?” Emily repeated, incredulous. “There hasn’t been an ‘us’ for over a year.”
“I know,” Derek admitted, leaning forward. His voice dropped, taking on a soft, almost vulnerable tone. “But I made a mistake, Em. I should never have let you go.”
Emily stared at him, her chest tightening. For a moment, she felt a flicker of the old ache she’d carried after their breakup—the one she had buried under layers of work and new friendships in Mistletoe Hollow.
“You let me go because you wanted to,” she said, her voice steady. “You made that choice, Derek. And I made mine.”
“I know,” he said quickly. “And I’ve regretted it ever since. I’ve changed, Em. I’ve realized what’s really important, and... it’s you. I want to make things right.”
Emily leaned back, crossing her arms. “And this realization came to you after a year of radio silence? What changed?”
Derek hesitated, his charming facade faltering for just a second. “Does it matter?” he said finally. “I’m here now.”
“It matters to me,” Emily said, her voice firm. “Why are you really here, Derek?”
He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the bell above the café door jingled, and Noah walked in.
Emily felt her heart sink to the tips of her toes as Noah walked to the counter and ordered his coffee, his movements deliberate, his shoulders set. He didn’t glance their way again until the barista handed him his drink. Even then, his approach felt measured, as though he were deciding on each step.
“Hey, Emily,” he said, his tone steady but clipped. His eyes flicked briefly to Derek before settling on her.
“Noah,” she replied nervously, straightening in her seat. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I was in the area,” he said, taking a sip from his cup. His gaze didn’t waver, but Emily felt the weight of it, as if he were trying to read between the lines of the moment.
Derek, ever the charmer, leaned back in his chair, flashing a smile. “You must be Noah. Emily’s told me a lot about you.”
Noah’s lips twitched—almost a smile, but not quite. “Can’t say I’ve heard much about you.”
The tension between them was palpable, thickening the air. Emily shifted uncomfortably, her tea forgotten.
“Derek was just leaving,” she said quickly, hoping to diffuse the moment.
Derek raised an eyebrow, his grin widening slightly. “Was I?”
“Yes,” Emily said firmly, meeting his gaze. “You were. ”
Derek held up his hands in mock surrender, pushing back his chair with an exaggerated flourish. “Fine, fine. I can take a hint.”
As Derek walked away, Emily felt the tension ease slightly, but it didn’t disappear. Noah stood there, his silence louder than anything he could have said.
“You okay?” Noah asked finally, his voice softer now.
Emily hesitated, unsure if she was more frustrated with Derek’s intrusion or Noah’s reaction. “I’m fine,” she said, though the words felt hollow.
Noah studied her for a moment, his gaze steady but unreadable. “If he’s here to cause trouble...”
“He’s not,” Emily interrupted, though she wasn’t sure she believed it herself. “He says he wants to make amends. That’s all.”
Noah’s expression didn’t change, but Emily caught the faintest clench of his jaw.
“Just... be careful,” he said finally, his voice quiet but firm.
Emily’s frustration bubbled to the surface. “I’m not a damsel in distress, Noah. I can handle Derek.”
Noah’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, Emily thought he might argue. But then he nodded, his shoulders stiffening again.
“Of course you can,” he said, stepping back. “I’ll see you later, Emily.”
He turned and left before she could respond, the bell above the door jingling softly behind him.
Emily sat there for a long moment, staring at the door. Her chest felt tight, a mix of guilt and irritation swirling inside her. Noah’s words had been measured, but the weight of what he hadn’t said lingered—an unspoken question hanging in the air between them. To her horror, she felt the hot stinging of tears filling her eyes.
That evening, Emily stayed late at the hardware store, organizing supplies for the gala. The shop was quiet, the only sounds the faint hum of the heater and the occasional creak of the floorboards.
The bell above the door jingled, startling her. She looked up to see Derek stepping inside, his grin softening as he approached the counter.
“Working late, I see,” he said, his tone light .
“What do you want, Derek?” Emily asked, exhaustion seeping into her voice.
“To help,” he said, holding up a bag of takeout. “I figured you could use some dinner.”
Emily hesitated, her stomach growling despite her frustration. “Fine,” she said reluctantly.
They sat at the counter, eating in relative silence. But as the conversation drifted to the past, Derek’s tone shifted, growing softer and more personal.
“I miss this,” he said, his gaze lingering on her. “Just us, working on something together.”
Emily looked up, her chest tightening again. “Derek...”
“I know I hurt you,” he said, his voice earnest. “But I’m here now, and I want to make things right. Can’t we start over?”
Before Emily could respond, Derek leaned in, his hand brushing hers as his face drew closer.
For a split second, Emily froze, her heart racing. Then her instincts kicked in, and she pulled back sharply, her chair scraping against the floor.
“Derek,” she said firmly, standing. “This isn’t happening. ”
The rejection seemed to catch him off guard, his expression flickering between surprise and hurt. “Emily, I?—”
“You need to leave,” she interrupted, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
Derek hesitated, but the look in her eyes left no room for argument. With a sigh, he stood and grabbed his coat.
As the door closed behind him, Emily sank back into her chair, her head in her hands. The weight of the day pressed down on her, but one thought rose above the chaos:
Some people don’t change.