Chapter 29 Kit #2
“Look, I’ve had my heart broken before. When I lost my wife, I was destroyed.
It’s not quite the same, but one thing that doesn’t change is how impossible it is to think straight when you’re broken-hearted.
When William asked to resign, I told him to wait a year.
If he still felt the same after some time had passed, then he could submit his resignation to the board.
Until then, I wanted him to give it more time. A lot can happen in a year.”
He said more gently, “I have four daughters, and I’ll tell you what I’d tell them, when people are hurting, they can do things that make sense in the moment, to stop the pain. But it doesn’t usually lead to actual healing. Everyone deserves a little grace when they’re hurting.”
I blew a puff of air out of my mouth and turned back toward the tree. “Well, William really wanted that job. I’m glad he didn’t quit.” I wiped a tear from my cheek.
“I should be going,” Mr. Braithway said quietly. “Merry Christmas, Kit.”
“Thanks, Mr. Braithway. Merry Christmas to you, too.”
I headed back to the house. I waited in my car for a minute before going in.
I sighed and looked at the house. Aunt Rita had decorated with garland across the banisters and a beautiful new wreath on the front door.
Every window in the house had a candle in it.
I looked to see if the light was on in William’s room, but it wasn’t.
I couldn’t help but feel some disappointment.
Did William really recuse himself from participating in the purchase of the land?
Had he been telling the truth all along?
Had William really tried to quit his job?
Why didn’t he tell me? But I realized the answer as soon as I thought of the question.
I wouldn’t have listened. I wouldn’t even take his phone calls. How could he have told me?
I went inside was immediately hit with the sounds and smells of home during the holidays.
The crackle of the fireplace and the smell of fresh baked cookies.
No one was in the front room, so I hurried into the kitchen.
The kitchen island was covered in a sight I never expected to see.
There were delicious serving platters of food.
Usually, I cooked for Aunt Rita, so I was slightly skeptical when she insisted on making dinner at home, but maybe she had learned how to cook while I was in D.C.
Aunt Rita was standing by the back island, beaming. I walked over and gave her a huge hug. “Where did all this food come from? Did you cook this?” I was amazed.
“Well, we wanted to do something special since you were going to be home tonight,” Aunt Rita said.
“This is awesome,” I said, “But did you cook all this? Did your fiancé cook all of this?”
“Actually,” Aunt Rita said slowly, “Bonifacia cooked it.”
“Bonifacia?” I asked.
Aunt Rita said slowly, “Bonifacia is a new renter. She’s rented the room across from William’s.” ?
“Oh, that’s great,” I said. I was still unable to fully process what was happening. “The food smells delicious. Is she joining us for dinner?”
Mr. Braithway walked in. He was holding two bottles of wine and a bottle of whiskey. “Happy Holidays!”
“Mr. Braithway,” I said as my eyes darted from Aunt Rita to Mr. Braithway.
As if to make things clearer, Mr. Braithway set the bottles on the counter and walked over to Aunt Rita. He slid his arm around her waist and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Aunt Rita smiled up at him, then said, “Kit, I know you’ve met Mr. Braithway before. We’ve been dating.”
Aunt Rita put her hand out and I blinked, wide-eyed at the biggest diamond engagement ring I’d ever seen. “Wow! Congratulations! But this is a lot to take in.”
“I know it’s a lot,” Aunt Rita said softly. She looked up at Mr. Braithway, who still had his arm around her waist, and smiled. “But we are incredibly happy, Kit. I hope you’ll be happy for us too.”
I took a deep breath and held it in for a second before I said, “I am. I really am. It’s a surprise, but I am happy for you two. But how did you two even meet?”
Aunt Rita looked up at Braithway and said adoringly, “George has been volunteering with the chamber and the hospital. I’d seen him around at the hospital.”
Braithway let a little smile slip, and he said, “From the moment I first saw her, I just knew.”
“The rest is history.” Aunt Rita blushed. I had never seen her so happy before, and I didn’t want to rain on this parade, but this was a lot to take in.
Aunt Rita said, “Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes.”
I was grateful for the distraction. “I think I’m just going to go upstairs to clean up,” I said.
I turned and hurried down the hallway and to the foyer.
My head was spinning. George Braithway and Aunt Rita had just given me so much to process.
I darted for the front door, tempted to run back to my car and drive straight back to Veronica’s house in Atlanta.
My hand was on the knob of the front door when I saw someone standing by the Christmas tree, putting logs onto the fireplace. He had his back turned toward me, but I recognized his broad shoulders.
In that moment, a thousand scenarios raced through my mind. All of which felt too scary to face. I wanted to run. I reached out for the doorknob, but William’s muttering stopped me.
“Why won’t this fire light?” I heard him say under his breath.
“William,” I said softly.” Merry Christmas. Need help with that fire?”
William turned and his dark eyes showed their surprise and then something like relief washed across his face. His full lips parted and he said softly, “Kit, I am so happy to see you.”
William took a step toward me but then stopped himself. He shoved a hand in his pocket and bit his lip. I felt emotional hearing William say he was happy to see me. It was a relief, but I still felt anxiety in the pit of my stomach.
“I’m happy to see you, too,” I said quietly. “I didn’t expect to see you in Creekstone. Mr. Braithway told me you were spending the holiday with your mom, so I just assumed you were with her in the Philippines.”
“Oh, yeah.” William ran his hand through his hair and then shoved his free hand in his pocket. “My mom is renting a room here now. I brought her to Creekstone in the fall, and she just loved it, so I helped her rent a room.”
I stepped into the front room, unsure of what to say next.
We were silent for a moment until I pointed toward the kitchen. “Sorry if I seem out of it. I just saw Aunt Rita and Braithway kiss, and I have so many questions, but I am not sure I’ll ever be ready for the answers.”
William chuckled.
I swallowed. “I saw your Christmas tree. The one in the competition. It’s perfect.” My voice caught a little in my throat.
William closed the distance between us. He stood close enough to touch me, but he didn’t. After all this time, I couldn’t believe how I longed for him. He asked in a low voice, “Can we talk upstairs?”
I nodded and I followed William to his studio apartment.
I’d played out so many scenarios in which William and I would see each other for the first time.
For the last month, I’d imagined the conversation over and over again.
I’d practiced what I would say with anyone who would listen: my therapist, my best friend, the lady who cut my hair in D.C.
, and the plants in my dad’s apartment. I thought I was ready for this, but standing there, all I could think about was what Mr. Braithway had told me in the library.
When reached William’s room, it was exactly as it was when I left, only now a small Christmas tree stood by the fireplace. I walked over to the tree and admired it.
“Is it okay if I shut the door?” William asked.
“Yes, of course,” I said. William walked over and stood a few feet away from me by the mantel.
“I just don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” William looked sheepish. “Plus, Aunt Rita, Braithway, and my mom are a gossipy bunch, so as soon as they figure out, we’re up here…”
I laughed. “I can’t imagine.”
William looked relieved to see me laugh.
“It’s nice that your mom stayed in the states for the holidays,” I said.
William shrugged. “I’ve been having a hard time…” William’s voice trailed off for a moment before he added, “She thought it might be nice to spend the holiday here with my friends.”
My head jerked back a little when he said, ‘his friends.’ He stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at the floor.
“Kit, I am so sorry. I should have told you everything. I thought it was better to keep work separate from our relationship,” William said, “but I see how that was wrong—and that you feel like you can’t trust me.
I hope that you can forgive me, and that we can at least be friends,” William said.
His jaw flexed and his eyes searched my face for a reaction.
We stood in silence. I took a deep breath, and I said, “We can’t be friends.”
William sighed and his shoulders slumped, almost as if resigned to it. “I’m sorry, Kit. I understand. Thanks for hearing me out, at least.”
“I don’t think you do,” I said gaining confidence. “I can’t be casual friends with you because I can’t be anything casual with you.”
William looked up at me. I smiled. “I’m in love with you, William. I have spent every minute of the last six months trying to make sense of why I couldn’t move on, but it is clear to me now. You said it best the night of my birthday party. There is no turning back from this.”
William was against me so quickly. His hand cupping my face and then his lips against mine. The kiss was soft at first. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
William spoke against my mouth. “I love you, Kit.” Almost like no time had passed, William’s hands were around my waist pulling me against him.
I looked up at him and said, “I know we need to talk. I know we have a lot to work out, but I want to try.”
“Me too. I’m so sorry, Kit. I’m so sorry I hurt you.” William pressed his forehead against mine. “Please forgive me.”
“I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have left like that. I should have tried to communicate what I was feeling instead of just running away. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that,” I said. “I hope that I didn’t ruin everything by leaving.”
William paused and said, “It really hurt me that you left without even trying to work things out, but I understand how hurt you were, and I’m sorry. But Kit, you have to know, I would have waited for the rest of my life for you to come home.”
William held me in a tight embrace, almost as if he were afraid to let go. I pressed my face against his broad, muscular chest. I closed my eyes and breathed in his wonderful scent. I could feel him doing the same in my hair.
Then after a few moments, William said softly, “Kit, can I ask you something?”
“Yes,” I whispered, my eyes still closed.
“Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you.”
I laughed. “In D.C. staying with my dad and finishing my fellowship.”
William pulled back, and I looked up to see his handsome, crooked smile. “I can’t wait to hear about it, but we have to go downstairs and act very cool in front of some very nosy family members now.”
I chuckled. “This might be the best Christmas yet.”
William looked amused and said, “Better than last year?”
I let my fingers lace into his as we started to walk toward the door. “Our impromptu holiday movie marathon is going to be hard to beat, but I suppose we have time to try and top it.”
“Yeah?” William asked, his crooked smile spreading across his lips.
“I think we’re due for a lifetime of perfect holidays.”