Chapter Twenty-Four
CLARA
Clara sat close to Brent, cozy and warm by the fire. The day had been nothing short of amazing. Undoubtedly magical.
She’d had the best time sledding with him.
She knew it was more than just fun that she was having with him, though.
When Brent had carried her home, she felt taken care of in a way she never had before.
It was different from the way she’d felt with Matthew.
With him, it had been more about dependence, helplessness.
With Brent, it felt as if she was cherished.
Sitting beside him in front of the fire, her heart glowed with pure happiness.
Maybe this Christmas magic thing was happening.
Maybe she was truly beginning to fall for him.
The relief she felt from this tiny admission gave her the reassurance that this whole situation would have a simple ending after all.
Brent got up and walked to the kitchen, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Clara bit down on her lower lip. Even with things working themselves out, as much as she tried to avoid the thought, she knew there was something she still needed to do.
As difficult as it was going to be, she needed to be honest with him and explain what was going on.
The last thing on Earth she wanted to do was ruin this perfect day, but she knew it was finally time.
She couldn’t put it off any longer. She needed to tell him the truth if they were to enter into a lifetime commitment together.
Clara thought about how she’d explain her wish in a way that would make any sense to him.
Brent returned to the living room carrying two steaming mugs with a thick layer of cream on the top. “Hot toddy?”
“Oh, those look wonderful,” she said, carefully taking one from him. “What are they?” She took a sip. The sweet warmth of the beverage filled her entire body.
“Hot buttered rum. The perfect après sled beverage.”
“Wow, you just whipped those up?”
He shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“Brent?” she said, carefully holding her drink with both hands. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Sure.” He smiled, setting down his drink. “What is it?”
She looked into his dreamy brown eyes. He seemed so happy, making her feel awful about what she was about to say. She cleared her throat. “Brent, last year, when we found out you were being deployed . . .”
He nodded, waiting for her to continue.
“Well, there’s something I haven’t told you.”
“Okay.”
“Something that would maybe explain some of my behavior lately.”
She noticed him stiffen. He sat on the chair across from her and placed his elbows on his knees. He leaned forward with his full attention.
“It’s time I finally told you the truth.”
Brent let out a puff of air. “I agree. It’s definitely time we had this conversation.”
She nodded.
“Look, Clara, I know you don’t like talking about this past year, but—”
The room went dark, and Clara gasped. Everything was ominously quiet. Brent and Clara looked at each other through the darkness, realizing the same thing: The power had gone out. Neither of them moved. The soft glow of the fire illuminated his face. His eyebrows were drawn together.
“Go on,” he said. “No more interruptions.”
Brent looked nervous, as if he knew the weight behind the admission she was about to make.
But how could he? He couldn’t possibly be expecting anything like what she was about to say.
Brent got up from his chair and came to sit beside her on the sofa.
He took her hand in his and waited for her to continue.
He was right. She needed to get this over with. Perhaps the darkness would make it easier. She turned her head to look at him and realized she had nothing to fear. With him by her side, Clara couldn’t imagine feeling any safer than she did at that moment. It was now or never.
She tried again. “Brent, I know this sounds crazy, but I made a wish—”
The table buzzed beside her.
She clenched her fists and shook them in the air. “What now?” She reached for her phone so she could shut it off completely. When she glanced at it, she saw a text from the Darlington front desk.
EMERGENCY! WE NEED YOU HERE NOW!
Clara sat up straight. She had never received a text like this from work before. This was serious. Her heart raced as she imagined all the possible problems that could be waiting for her.
She looked over at Brent with wide eyes and shook her head, not quite able to believe the unfortunate timing. “Brent, I can’t believe this, but I have to go to the Darlington.”
He said nothing at first, his brown eyes wide and unblinking. Eventually, he nodded in disappointed understanding.
Clara sat motionless for a moment beside him on the couch.
The truth was, she didn’t want to go. She actually wanted to have this conversation, as difficult as it may be.
Twisted ankle aside, it would take every ounce of willpower she had to get up off the sofa and leave him.
Still, she knew she needed to go to the hotel.
She reluctantly turned away from him, sadly realizing their perfect day was over whether she liked it or not.
Clara threw the blanket off her lap and set down her drink.
She looked at Brent and shook her head in apology.
She didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say other than sorry.
But she had already said that word too many times over the past few weeks.
After a while, she felt as if her apologies were just as fake as the rest of her.
She threw on her heavy coat and pushed through the pain of her twisted ankle to get her boots on.
Clara looked over at Brent through the darkness, the warm glow of the fire reflecting off his handsome face. She gave him a defeated shrug. He looked back at her with a weak attempt at a smile and an understanding nod of acknowledgment that she had to leave.
“Come on, I’ll take you over there,” he said.
She gave him one last look of longing, wishing she could stay there with him forever. Clara wished she didn’t have to leave, that she could take the time to finally tell him everything and work through the complicated situation she’d put them both through.
But what Clara was quickly realizing was that what she wished for was never as simple as it seemed.