Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“Anyway,” Evangeline says. “I’m going to load up the truck and take an order to Whitaker’s,” she says to her dad. “Bernie called and said he needed some more trees, which is why I’m here.”
“Me too.” The lie is out of my mouth before I can stop it. “I came to help.”
“I don’t need your help, Zane,” Evangeline says this without even looking at me. She grabs the nearest tree and carries it to the red truck with wooden slats. Everyone in town loves this truck. If you see it out and about, you know Reindeer Ridge is making a delivery of either their trees, wreaths, or maple syrup. Most importantly, it delivers Santa to the annual Christmas party for the kids, as well as the town Christmas tree and the grand marshal for the town tree lighting.
“Evangeline—”
“Zane, I think you should go,” Mr. Holcomb says. “You’ve helped enough.”
I hang my head, nodding. He’s right. I have. As I pass by the rows of trees, I take one in each hand and carry them to the truck, where Evangeline is. She doesn’t look at me or even acknowledge my existence. Not that I blame her.
“Can we talk later?”
“No, I’m busy.”
“Tomorrow then?”
“Busy.”
“Eve, I’d really like—”
She takes one of the trees from me and gently sets into the back of the truck. “I’d like a lot of things, Zane. But like in life, we don’t always get what we want.” Evangeline leaves me there, holding the other tree. I set it in the back of her truck, take a long glance at her, and head up the drive to where my fiancée sits in the SUV.
Today will go down in the Book of Zane as one I wish I could have a re-do of. Sadly, at this point in my life, there’s a long list of days I need to re-do.
My hand rests on the handle, and I take a deep breath before opening the door, climbing in and shutting the door behind me. The house I shared holiday dinners in, made out with Eve in, and sort of grew up in, looms in front of me. Battery operated candle lights sit in the windows, likely to come on around five in the evening if I remember correctly.
Also at five, the house will light up with white lights, and with red-and-white lights in the shrubs out front, and on the wooden sleigh in the front yard.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Eve climbing the stairs in the backyard to the house. If I remember correctly, she’ll walk into the family room, through the kitchen, and down the hall to her bedroom or bathroom. Assuming she even lives there.
Caryn sighs next to me. My mind scrambles to find the words I should say right now. Starting off with I’m sorry or are you okay doesn’t seem like the smartest thing to do. Instead, I start the car, reverse out of the parking lot, and head toward the Inn. Caryn’s social meter on today’s activities has reached a maximum. I’m smart enough to realize this.
When I park at the Inn, she doesn’t wait for me to open the door for her or check to see if I’m following. I do though, knowing full well I owe her an explanation.
Thankfully, the innkeeper isn’t looming when we walk inside. At the top of the stairs, we turn right and head down the hallway to the room on the end, the one with the en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet.
Caryn opens the door, dumps her bag of dirty clothes in the trash, and heads right to the bathroom. I sit on the bed and wait for her to return.
Thirty minutes later, she comes out with her icy blond hair wet and towel dried.
“I’ve known Evangeline my entire life,” I start, even though Caryn isn’t paying attention to me. “We began hanging out with each other after her brother passed away. By high school, we were dating and were a couple until I left to take the internship with your dad.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
I shake my head. “No, it’s meant to give you some insight into my life.”
“You could’ve told me about her.”
“You’re right, I should’ve. Believe me, I tried. When you and I started dating, there was a day in particular when I felt off. I almost left and came home that day, but I didn’t.”
“Is she the reason we’re here?”
It doesn’t escape my notice that she doesn’t ask about the day I’m referring to. I shake my head. “We’re here for my dad.”
“Who loves Evangeline?”
I nod. “Everyone in town loves her.”
“Including you?”
“No,” I tell her, although technically we’re not in town.
SEVEN
EVANGELINE
When George told me Zane was back in town, I never suspected to run into him hours later. Let alone on my family farm. What in the tinsel was this man thinking? Showing up to the one place where he wasn’t welcome? Acting as if nothing has changed?