6. Merry Christmas To My Heartache
1467 Words
Molly
The drive to Whispering Pine feels unreal. Like I am floating outside my body watching myself trail behind a mysterious man and his quiet, adorable daughter because I apparently no longer have survival instincts.
Charles and Lily drive ahead in his dark SUV, steady and controlled, while I follow in my car. He asked me very politely to leave my car at the store and ride with them. Yeah, no. Absolutely not.
Not my ugly old baby. We have suffered too much together for me to abandon her in a parking lot like a discarded sock.
Maybe he thought I would run off or something. Honestly, that would have been the smart thing to do. But here I am. Driving anyway.
Whispering Pine appears slowly as we turn off the main road. Quiet, secluded, buried in snow. Living up to its name, the pines stand tall and dark around us, dusted with white and swaying in the wind. The houses are spaced far apart, wooden and warm looking, with golden lights glowing inside.
It feels peaceful. The kind of quiet I actually need after everything that has happened.
We finally reached their cabin, though cabin might be the wrong word. It is bigger than I expected. Not a mansion, but definitely not the tiny shoebox I booked for me and Josh.
Charles pulls into the driveway. I park beside him and kill the engine.
Snow pops up in the passenger seat with a bark, tail wagging excitedly. I unbuckle, step out into the cold air, and she leaps out immediately, sprinting toward Lily.
I shut the car door and turn toward them.
Charles stands by his car, closing the door as Lily steps out. His eyes flick to me, slow and intent. He nods once, probably pleased I did not hit the gas and run off.
“Come on,” he says.
Two simple words. But the way he says them is deep and sure, like he already expects me to follow.
And I do. Because I have apparently lost all common sense today.
Lily walks on his right, Snow bounces happily between us, and I trail slightly behind.
The cabin up close is even nicer. Wooden exterior, and warm yellow window lights.The porch is wide, decorated with pine branches and fairy lights that twinkle brightly.
“Wow,” I whisper, mostly to myself.
Charles steps onto the porch and unlocks the door. He holds it open and looks at me as I approach.
I step inside and freeze.
The interior looks like something straight out of a winter magazine spread. Warm lighting. Polished wooden floors. A huge stone fireplace crackling with fire. Soft white rugs. Brown leather couches. Cozy blankets. Art on the walls. An open kitchen with black marble countertops and neat copper pots overhead.
“Holy… wow,” I breathe.
Charles steps in behind me and shuts the door. “Make yourself at home.”
Easy for him to say. I feel like I just walked into a millionaire’s winter getaway and somehow no one stopped me at the door.
“You seem to love it.”
I stop and turn. He is standing there with his hands in his pockets, watching me with that unreadable expression that somehow manages to feel both calm and a little dangerous. My stomach does a strange flip and I pretend it is hunger.
“Yes. It is beautiful. Really beautiful.” My voice comes out softer than planned.
“I am glad you love it.” His smile is small but warm, and for a stupid second I forget how to breathe. “Why don’t you settle inside while I go bring your box.”
“Oh. I forgot that.” I lift a hand awkwardly. “I will go get it. My…”
“No. Do not stress yourself.” He steps in closer, not too close but close enough that I feel it. “I will get it. Let me show you to…”
“Daddy, is this my room?”
Lily’s voice slices right through whatever moment we were about to have. Charles and I both turn. She stands in a doorway with Snow beside her, tail thumping and all.
“Yes, Molly and I…” Charles stops mid sentence. I see it hit him first, then me a heartbeat later.
“Wait. How many rooms are here?” I ask.
“Two.” His tone is too casual. “You can stay with Lily if you want.”
I glance at Lily. She is already halfway into the room, testing the mattress while Snow shamelessly hops onto the bed.
“It is fine. We can share. I do not think anything will happen.” I say it lightly, but heat crawls up my neck immediately. My brain needs a leash.
The corner of Charles’s mouth lifts. Not a smile, but something that feels like he is trying not to smile. And somehow that is worse.
“I will be back.” He turns and leaves before my imagination can embarrass me further.
The moment he is gone, I let out a long shaky breath. Then I head toward the bedroom and step inside.
My eyes land on the bed instantly.
It is big. Extremely big. Great. Exactly what my already chaotic mind needed.
Immediately, my brain starts creating scenes that should be illegal. I slap both hands over my face.
Get a grip, Molly. You have known this man for five minutes and your hormones are trying to file a takeover.
After a minute, Charles returns carrying both of our boxes effortlessly. His arms flex, and I pretend I do not notice. He sets everything inside the wardrobe carefully.
“I will go check up on Lily.” He heads toward the door but pauses, eyes narrowing slightly. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
I shake my head. “No, actually.”
“It is almost noon.” His brows pinch together, and the look he gives me feels like a scolding wrapped in concern. “Why is that?”
I shrug. “I have not had the chance.”
He takes a slow, controlled breath. “Alright. I will take care of that right now.” Then he steps out.
The moment the door shuts, I throw myself face first onto the bed.
“What is wrong with me?” I groan into the pillow. “Why does this man affect me so much?”
I push myself up and force my feet to move. I unpack my toiletries in the bathroom and arrange them. When I step back into the room, I pause again. It really is beautiful. Spacious, warm, soft blue and white everywhere.
I hug myself. No idea why cozy things make my chest feel weirdly tight, but here we are.
After a few minutes, his voice comes from the hall.
“Molly, come have some food.”
“So quick?” I whisper, honestly impressed, then walk out.
Snow and Lily are already at the dining table. Snow jumps off her chair. Yes, she has a chair. She runs straight to me immediately. I scoop her up.
“You already forgot me and found your new bestie,” I say, kissing her head. “Typical.”
I sit just as Charles sets a bowl of chicken on the floor for her.
Then I see the table.
My eyes nearly fall out.
Chicken. Beef. Salad. Ice cream. Fruit. Cake. Rice. A feast like he raided an entire restaurant and told no one.
“Whoa. When did you prepare all this?” I ask.
“I pre-stocked for Christmas,” he says with a small smile. “Come enjoy yourself. And Molly… Merry Christmas.”
“Thanks.” My smile matches his before I can stop it. “Merry Christmas.”
I turn to Lily. “Merry Christmas, Lily.”
“Merry Christmas,” she says with a bright grin.
We eat in a comfortable silence. For the first time today, I am not tense or spiraling. I am just existing like a normal human being, which is honestly shocking.
After we finish, the four of us curl up on the couch and watch Christmas movies. Lily falls asleep in Charles’s lap halfway through the last one. He picks her up so gently that something tightens in my chest again. And of course, Snow follows them into the hallway.
When he returns, he sits beside me and opens a can of beer. The soft click makes me glance at him. He looks relaxed, the kind of relaxed that makes my heart do a weird flip.
“You want to watch some more?” he asks.
“Sure.” My smile is small but real.
The next movie starts.
- Writer
