12. Anna #2
When Anna turned to the register, the woman waiting was practically beaming. “You two are just adorable. Are you on your honeymoon? You definitely have that young love look about you.”
“Something like that,” Beau said.
Oh, that was an interesting answer, considering that they most definitely were not on their honeymoon.
The woman clapped her hands to her chest. “I wish you both the best. What can I get for you, young man?”
“Coffee. Black, please.”
The woman turned to the older man behind her and whispered loudly, “Give them the lovers special.”
The man winked at her and disappeared into the back room. A minute later, he returned with a white bag and handed it to Anna. “On the house.”
“Thank you so much. I’m sure we’ll be back for more. Everything looks delicious,” Anna said. She removed her gloves and stuffed them in her pockets to let the warm cup heat her hands.
“I’d love to see you two again. I’m Jan, so ask for me if I’m not out here at the register next time.”
With coffee and warm baked goods in hand, they moved slowly through the throng of people in the shop and out onto the sidewalk. More people had arrived in the short time they’d been in the store, and it was difficult to move around.
“It looks like people are finding their spots for the ceremony,” Anna said as they passed a few families who sat on the edge of the sidewalks.
Beau pointed away from the stage. “There’s a clear spot over there. Maybe everyone wants to be closer to the action. Is that too far away?”
“It’ll be fine. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see from anywhere.”
Beau tucked the bag of desserts under his arm and grabbed her hand before leading her through the mass of people. His skin was warm from the coffee, and the sensations she’d felt when he held her hand earlier were magnified.
She’d expected him to balk at her request to go to the tree lighting ceremony. She’d expected complaints or excuses. Instead, Beau indulged her completely without any friction.
When they reached the clearing, there were only a few other people, mostly couples, hanging around beneath a large oak tree.
Beau leaned one shoulder against the trunk of the tree and held up the bag. “Want a treat?”
Anna checked the time. “Sure. It should be starting soon.”
He opened the bag and pulled out the smaller white bag containing the “lovers special.”
“What do you think it is?” she asked.
He held it out to her. “You open it.”
She peered into the small bag. Two large chocolate-covered strawberries sat at the bottom. Anna pulled one out and handed it to him. “Looks good. One for you and one for me.”
Beau took his strawberry, but he continued to watch her closely as she bit into hers.
“What?” she asked when he didn’t make a move to try his.
“Nothing.”
“You don’t like chocolate-covered strawberries? ”
“I do, but you can have mine if you want.”
If he liked it and wanted it, why was he offering it to her? After taking her time chewing, she found the courage to ask the question that had been burning in her mind since they left the bakery. “Why didn’t you correct Jan when she asked if we were on our honeymoon?”
Beau turned his attention toward the stage. “It’s kind of a long story. Explaining it while we were in line would have been weird.”
Okay, so he had a point. They would have gotten some odd looks after explaining she was on her honeymoon with a man who wasn’t her husband.
Anna didn’t have a husband. She’d spent months preparing herself to be a wife both mentally and spiritually. She’d prayed and planned, but now she was single again—starting over from square one.
She’d been thinking less and less about Dean. The sting of his betrayal had waned as if more than two days had passed.
In fact, her life with Dean held a dream-like quality. It played like a movie in her head, but the woman in the vision wasn’t Anna. She was watching the show from the sidelines.
Maybe it had all happened without her. The past almost seemed calculated for her—absent of her will. Had she slept through the entire thing?
Yet, the past forty-eight hours were burned into her memory. She’d stepped into a world of color after a lifetime of black and white.
The soft Christmas music playing through the square changed to an upbeat tune as the mayor of Freedom took the stage. The man was younger than she’d imagined the mayor would be, but he held the audience’s attention with ease.
“Welcome to Freedom’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Christmas is our time to shine here in Freedom. I’ve lived here my whole life, and this small town is more than lights and skiing. It’s filled with hope, love, and community.
“I’ve always thought the tree lighting ceremony was more than pretty Christmas decorations. It symbolizes God’s love for us. It lights up the whole world, and I’m always happy to be reminded of the gift of Jesus and his sacrifice for us.”
Anna glanced at Beau who listened intently to the mayor. She needed the reminder of God’s love. Dean might have hurt her, but that slight was nothing compared to the hope she had in Christ.
Everything was going to be okay. She was going to go on with her life, and her goal was to be stronger than ever.
Suddenly, the trees and light posts around the square flickered on, illuminating the dark sky amidst gasps and awes.
The crowd erupted into cheers as the town transformed.
Dozens of trees were wrapped in various colored lights, garland sparkled on every shop sign, and everything from snowflakes to doves hung on light poles as far as the eye could see.
The breath Anna inhaled tingled in her chest as “Joy to the World” filled the air. When the buzz of the crowd overtook the song, she turned to look at Beau with wide eyes. He wore a mischievous grin, but his gaze darted down.
Oh, she was holding onto his arm. When had that happened?
She let her hand fall away and wrapped it around her cup with the other one. “Sorry,” she said, loud enough to be heard above the roaring of the crowd.
“It’s fine,” he whispered before turning to scan the scene.
Heat crept up her neck and cheeks despite the blistering cold. Beau kept his distance from everyone. She’d known him to be that way in all the years she’d known him.
But she’d never known him like this. Alone, relaxed, and just enjoying life.
Soon, the throngs of people on the sidewalks thinned and the lines in stores shortened. They visited each shop and vendor as she asked Beau repeatedly if he was ready to leave, but he never said yes. Instead, he carried the bags as they bought Christmas gifts for their families and friends.
Christmas shopping with Beau wasn’t something she would have ever expected to experience in her life, but it should have been on her bucket list.
They drove back to the lodge in silence. With her head resting against the seat, she didn’t feel the need to talk. Beau had been right beside her the entire day, and every minute of it had been perfect.
Back in the room, Beau took the bathroom first, changing into his pajamas and getting ready for bed. When it was Anna’s turn, she took her time basking in a hot shower.
When she looked in the mirror, the woman staring at her was glowing. Not from the heat of the water but from the excitement of the day that still lingered.
The room was quiet when she stepped out of the bathroom.
Unlike their room from the night before, this one had the bed, couch, TV, and a small table all together in one area.
It still featured all of the opulence of a luxury honeymoon suite, but the atmosphere was cozier than the other place they stayed.
Beau lay sprawled on the couch asleep with one leg hanging off the side. He was much too big for the small piece of furniture, but he’d absolutely shut down her offer to share the bed.
It was probably for the best. She’d never slept in the same bed as a man until last night, and she didn’t intend to make a habit of it. Even so, Beau was probably the only man she’d agree to sleep next to. Come to think of it, she trusted him more than any other man she knew.
She trusted too easily. That’s what got her into the situation with Dean in the first place. Thinking the best of people sounded like a good thing until the people she loved and trusted started stomping all over her while she walked on eggshells.
Looking at Beau, it was difficult to keep her distance. Her heart made decisions, and her brain rarely got a say.
Had she wanted to be loved so badly that she’d been blind to Dean’s affair? All she was left with was a taunting voice in her head saying “I told you so.”
But what she was feeling for Beau was more than appreciation.
It wasn’t infatuation either. She wasn’t in love, but it went against her instincts to push away from him when he was so kind and patient with her.
He’d made it his mission to build her up and make her happy with herself, but he was drawing her to him.
Yeah, rushing into relationships only left her heartbroken. Besides, Beau wasn’t interested in her. At least not in a romantic way. He’d only agreed to come with her to make his sister happy.
Anna’s phone rang, and she quickly silenced it. Every time the noise pierced the air, her body froze as an unseen fear wrapped its claws around her neck .
But it wasn’t her mother’s name on the screen. It was Tiffany, Anna’s legal assistant at the firm.
Anna slipped into the bathroom and closed the door. “Hello.”
“Hey, I’m so sorry to call you this late, but we have a problem.”
At least Tiffany didn’t beat around the bush. “What’s wrong?”
“Your parents are absolutely losing their minds. I mean, Catherine makes me want to melt into the floor on a regular day, but she’s been furious all day.
I have plenty to do to take care of your cases this week, but she’s been loading me up with tasks for her cases too.
I’m not talking about sending update letters or returning calls.
She’s had me drafting motions and proposed orders. She even asked me to draft a brief.”
Anna placed her hand on the cool granite counter next to the sink. Of course her mother was unhappy with her. She hadn’t answered a single call or text since she ran off from her wedding. It hadn’t crossed her mind that her mother would take it out on Tiffany.
“I’m so sorry. First, she shouldn’t have asked you to draft a brief. That’s not your job.”
“I know!”
“And I’m sorry this is coming down on you. She’s mad at me.”
Tiffany let out a deep, soulful sigh. “I’m really sorry about the wedding. I couldn’t believe it when I heard.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be fine. I?—”
Anna trusted Tiffany, but she didn’t want word getting back to her mom about where she was. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility for her mom to do something drastic, like show up at the hotel.
“I’m taking care of the messes from the wedding, so hopefully, she won’t have a reason to be mad at me when I get back.”
It wouldn’t be enough. Anna knew it. Her mom wouldn’t let this go easily. There was no doubt in her mind that Catherine Harris would have demanded she go through with the wedding, mistress or not. That was one of the reasons why she hadn’t gathered the courage to talk to her mother yet.
“This is going to be the longest week ever. No offense to you. He did you wrong. But your mom is on a warpath, and she’s out for blood.”
“I have no doubt,” Anna whispered. Her mother was the last person she wanted to talk to when she was upset.
Catherine didn’t understand invisible things like feelings or emotions.
Everything needed a direct path to reality, and Anna’s obsession with true love and living happily ever after was ridiculous to her.
Success was only measured in dollar signs for Catherine .
Anna, on the other hand, didn’t care how much money she had. Enough was plenty.
“I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this. Send me the things I left for you to do, and I’ll take care of them so you won’t be overloaded doing the things Catherine is giving you too.”
Tiffany groaned. “This stinks. I don’t like working for her. I like working for you.”
“The feeling is mutual, girl. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Also, don’t write the brief. I’ll do it when I get back.”
“Thank you! And I’m not sending you this work. I hope you’re hundreds of miles away from her fury.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow, but keep me posted if you need anything,” Anna said.
“Have a good trip.”
Anna ended the call and tiptoed out of the bathroom. Beau now had a blanket draped over his lower half while he tapped on his phone.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Yep. Just going to sleep.”
Beau turned off his phone and put it on the back of the couch. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
Once she snuggled beneath the covers, she turned to look out the big window at the dark, starry night. Despite everything Tiffany had mentioned about Catherine’s behavior, the fear Anna always carried around her mother started to drift away as if it had always been connected to her by a slip knot.