A California Christmas (Silver Springs #7) - Brenda Novak Page 0,133

he was beginning to feel the cold, was starting to shiver. “It was all so unfair to her,” he muttered.

“You’re telling me she died for you, right? Isn’t that what you’re saying? That it was a willing sacrifice on her part?”

Fresh tears rolled down Dallas’s cheeks, and the lump in his throat grew so big that he could scarcely squeak out a one-word response. “Yes.”

“Then don’t let it be for nothing. Let her go. Let the past go with her. And quit punishing yourself.”

Dallas thought of Emery and how much he already missed her. He hadn’t chosen climbing over her, as he’d pretended. He’d turned her love away because he couldn’t allow himself to be that happy without feeling guilt.

But as he sat back in the dirt and stared up at the clear blue sky on a beautiful Christmas Day, he knew Brian was right. Although it might be something he’d have to remind himself of over and over—and would probably always be a struggle for him—he had to say a final goodbye to Jenny.

* * *

It had been a long day. Emery and her mother and grandmother had exchanged only small gifts, but Emery was happy that her mother had managed to smile here and there, and her grandmother had been able to reminisce about Christmases past, something no one had expected. Earlier memories seemed to be easier for Adele to recall than more recent ones, so she talked about the Christmases she’d known as a child, which Emery was glad to learn about. Adele had grown up in such an interesting time. She’d been born on a small farm, helped to raise her younger siblings when her mother died after being bucked off a horse, and married young. Over the span of her life, she’d seen the invention of the telephone, the television, the personal computer and the internet. Emery doubted there’d ever be a generation who experienced such rapid and radical change in the way people dealt with each other and the world.

Maybe this Christmas hadn’t been the best they’d ever experienced, but they were together. That was what mattered. They were together, they loved and supported each other, and Emery no longer had to worry about the lawsuit with Ethan and the station. She was grateful for all of that—which was why she refused to focus on what she didn’t have.

She did, however, unblock Dallas and send him a quick message:

Merry Christmas. I hope you had a great day. You are such an amazing person. You deserve the best.

She waited to see if she’d get a response. She was breaking her own rule—already—which was pretty pathetic. But she told herself she’d allow this one more exchange. It was Christmas, after all. And hearing from him was what she wanted more than anything.

She saw the three little dots that indicated he was either reading what she’d sent or writing back. But she never got a response.

She couldn’t help feeling a little misty eyed when she put her phone on its charger but ordered herself to quit obsessing over something that wasn’t meant to be. What happened to being strong like her mother? And what about all those things she was so grateful for?

She was being a baby, she told herself. But she couldn’t stop the tears that rolled onto her pillow.

A ding indicated someone had sent her a text.

She slid over to grab her phone and had to blink several times to be able to see through her tears.

I was going to surprise you. But if you’re awake, maybe you’ll come pick me up from the airport.

Had she gotten this message by mistake? She wiped her eyes and read it again. It was from Dallas, all right, but she couldn’t imagine she’d been the intended recipient.

Was this meant for me?

Yes. I don’t know anyone else in Boston. [[laughing emoji]]

She jumped off the bed and blew her nose before she called him.

“What are you doing in town?” she asked as soon as he answered.

“Coming to tell you that I can’t live without you,” he replied.

She felt her heart jump into her throat. “Are you serious?”

“I missed my first flight, had to leave my luggage behind and flew clear across the country without it. I’d say I’m pretty serious.”

“But...how could you be coming to surprise me? You don’t even know where I’m at!”

“Our mothers are friends, remember? She texted me the address.”

“So you’re really here.”

“Yes. Merry Christmas.”

For a moment, Emery was speechless, and her mind was going in a