Only Her Smokejumper Firefighter - Cami Checketts Page 0,50

She started crying again.

At least Cora wouldn’t hate her, but how awkward would it be at Cora and Quill’s wedding? She could hardly stand to picture Ren and all of his family members, including Grams and Cat and Iris, glaring at her.

“Are you okay?” Cora asked again.

“Yes,” she managed. “How are you? How’s Christmas?”

“It’s been good, until … I’m sorry …” Cora didn’t seem to know what to say.

Mavyn didn’t blame her. She had nothing to say either. “Tell me all about your day,” she almost begged. She wanted to hear about her friend’s happiness and celebrate with her. It didn’t matter that Mavyn wasn’t happy and wouldn’t be in the foreseeable future. Cora was more important than her selfish desires to be with Ren.

“Um, we went sledding. That was really fun.” She sounded distant, as if she were watching a show or focusing on someone else. “Then we went to the resort’s spa to warm up in the therapy pools … Mave, I’ve got to call you back.”

“Oh ...”

“Love you.”

Then Cora was gone.

She wanted to flop back on the hotel bed and cry again, but it was Christmas and even though things were never going to work out with her and Ren, she had felt the spirit and knew God cared. She didn’t want to spend His day sobbing her eyes out.

Forcing herself to get up, she took a long shower and then dressed in the running t-shirt, tights, and sweatshirt she’d worn—was that only two days ago?—when she’d almost frozen to death and Ren had rescued her. She laced up her running shoes and went out to explore. She found a great park close to the hotel. It was a nice day, probably high fifties and sunny. She enjoyed walking around the park and then a darling older couple stopped to talk to her and told her about the famous Sundial Bridge. She’d never heard of it, but it was only a few blocks away, so she said Merry Christmas and kept exploring.

The impressive bridge stretched across the Sacramento River. It was white and modern-looking, one end swooping up like a huge, white boat sail, or a sundial as the name intoned. The deck was made of translucent glass. As the sun made a glorious descent over the trees to the west, lighting the clouds pink with a pale blue background, the bridge itself lit up. Under her feet was now an aquamarine color.

“Cool,” she murmured. She was going to research and write an article about this bridge. Somebody would pay her for it.

She walked slowly along, seeing adorable children happily swinging from their parents’ hands or riding on their fathers’ shoulders. She hadn’t had a great family life. She’d thought she could rewrite her story and someday have a happy family with Ren. She realized now how premature and far-fetched that was. She could be happy, on her own. Someday.

Reaching the end of the bridge, she thought about continuing on the river trail, but she wanted to walk across the bridge again. It was getting darker outside and the aquamarine color was growing brighter.

As she sauntered along, nowhere to go and nobody to be with, she continued to study the people on the bridge as much as the view of the river, midnight blue as the night came on and the trees lining the banks grew darker as well.

A well-built man jogged across the bridge, heading her direction. His build reminded her of Ren. She looked back at the river flowing by. The last thing she needed was to be staring at some guy and fantasizing about Ren. What was he doing right now? Had he flown back to Mystical Lake to be with his family? Most likely. He probably assumed she’d gone back to San Francisco.

Footsteps pounded toward her. She knew it was the man, but she didn’t let herself stare at him.

The man reached her and stopped, right in her path. “Mave,” he said softly.

Her gaze darted up and she gasped and stepped back, putting a hand over her mouth. “Ren?”

He smiled, but it was hesitant and still full of that angst she’d seen in him this afternoon. “I’m so sorry,” he said without preamble. He had the portrait of the Savior in his hand.

What was he sorry for? She was the one who’d lied and messed up their relationship.

The bridge traffic wasn’t heavy, but some groups had to circle around them. “I’ve been looking everywhere,” he said and then gestured with his head. “Do