A Holiday Temptation - Tiffany Patterson Page 0,14

and for some reason, she took a liking to me.

A year later, Desiree moved in with Deirdre to start school at the same university. We quickly became a trio of sorts. What I didn’t know, initially, was that Deirdre had a problem. Deirdre’s carefree ways got her hooked on alcohol and drugs. It didn’t take long for her to spiral down into the quicksand of addiction, making it impossible for either Desiree, her parents, or even me to pull her out.

My friend spent years in and out of rehab, trying to kick her habit. She failed and died as a result of an overdose. At her funeral three years ago, it broke my heart to see how Desiree blamed herself for her sister’s downfall.

Make sure you look out for her if something happens to me, Deirdre made me promise one night, out of the blue. We were sitting in my apartment, talking, and listening to music, and she asked me to look after her sister. So I did because it’s what I do. I look after people, even though I try my best to keep my distance because, for too many people, being around me hasn’t stopped them from getting hurt.

But Desiree is more independent than Deirdre knew. She’s sweet in a way that most people aren’t. So sweet, she’s actually a baker. Mostly of cookies, but other treats, too. For now, it’s her side hustle, but I know she wants it to be her full-time job. I can see her owning a bakery someday.

“You caught me at a good time,” I respond. “I just pulled in the driveway.” I glance up at the front of the house, my chest twisting at the thought of going inside.

Your mother needs you, that tiny voice in my head reminds me.

“It’s almost eight o’clock there, isn’t it?”

I nod though she can’t see me. “Long hours at this place. Cypress is in a bit of a mess, and we’ve got some new things in the works. I’m working on getting up to speed on everything.”

I don’t tell Desiree of everything happening at work. This deal with Townsend has to remain a secret until the announcement on New Year’s Eve, and Desiree doesn’t know anything about Mark.

I’ve never shared with her the full details of my past. All she knows is that I’m originally from Williamsport and moved to Seattle to start college after attending boarding school to finish out high school. I’d told Deirdre a little more, but even she didn’t know the entire truth of my past with him.

Sighing, I run my free hand through my curly hair, uncaring how I might cause it to frizz out.

“How’s the second grade going?”

She laughs. Desiree is a full-time elementary school teacher. “The kids are great.”

I hear the solemness in her voice. “But …”

She sighs. “Sometimes I’m there and wish I were in the kitchen. I’ll get an idea in the middle of class for a new recipe to try out and have to scribble it down somewhere quickly. I’m lucky if I can find the paper by the end of the day.”

“Which is why you need to finally put in that notice at your job and open the bakery.”

“You and Neil keep saying the same thing.”

My ears perk up. “Neil? Really?” I smile at the little upbeat way she says his name.

“Yeah, like you didn’t know what you were doing when you told me how much he enjoyed my cookies last year.”

Neil McKenna is my former boss. I worked at McKenna Rehab Facility for five years, working my way up from assistant to Program Director. I worked directly with Neil McKenna for the last two years and rarely saw anything get under his drive to grow his facility and carry out its mission. He was like a dog with a bone sometimes. The few occasions I recall him being distracted were when Desiree was around.

Deirdre spent time at McKenna for treatment, and Desiree had come during visiting hours or for family therapy sessions.

I laugh. “And the year before that. The man’s been crushing on you for a while now. And I knew the feeling was mutual.”

“Maybe.”

“It’s going well between you two, huh?”

“I think so. It’s early but … I like him. He’s different.”

“Good. Anyway, when are you sending me my cookies? I tried to re-order those butterscotch ones this morning, and they’re sold out.”

She sucks her teeth. “You get on my nerves. You know you can just call me with what you want.”

I shake my