Christmas on Main Collection

Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

AURORA

I'm nothing short of a screw-up. I told myself that this time would be different. That this time, I wouldn't fail because I couldn't let Allegra down. She's always doing things to help others, and she asked me to do one thing. What is wrong with me that I can't do anything right?

Walking around town is meant to help me relax and think of a way to fix things with Allegra. But that last conversation with Paz is still playing on a loop in my mind. He deserves someone so much better than me. Someone who won’t let him down the way I let everyone in my family down.

Before I know it, I’m right back where I started. The unfortunate side effect of living in a small town is not a lot of places to go.

Paz is standing near the Christmas tree lot behind the shop as I approach. I search his expression for any sign of anger with me, but I only find concern. There is no way that I did anything in this lifetime to deserve such a man.

“Are you okay?” he asks, pushing off the wall and walking over to me.

“I’ll get there.”

He pushes a loose strand of hair that the wind has blown out of my ponytail behind my ear. "I know you will."

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

Paz glances over my shoulder and nods at someone. I turn but only see Van messing around with the plumage of one of his trees.

"What are you—" I start to ask, but he cuts me off with a quick kiss.

“I have something you need to see.” He takes my hand and pulls me into the alley towards the trailer in the back.

“Where are we going?”

Paz opens the camper door and pushes me gently in, but I stop when I find Allegra sitting on a sofa bench.

"Oh," Allegra says, a look of disappointment crossing her face. "It's you."

I’m not ready for this. And I don’t know why Paz and Allegra would set this up only to have her act like she wasn’t just sitting in here waiting for me.

I spin around, ready to make a quick exit, when I see Van next to Paz. They both flash a conspiratorial grin and slam the door shut in my face. The lock clicks into place, and I know that I'm not getting out of here. But a girl can still try.

“Hey!” I bang on the camper wall. “Open the door!”

“Yeah. Let us out.” Allegra calls from behind me.

"No," Van yells through the door.

“Come on,” I plead.

“It’s for your own good,” Paz says.

“Seriously?” Allegra asks.

“Yes. Seriously.” Van answers her. “You ladies talk or just sit there. But we’re not opening this door until you two finally get on the same page.”

"But—" I start to say, but Paz cuts me off.

"It's Christmas, for fucks sake."

This is unbelievable. I'm being held hostage with my sister in her boyfriend's camper while my boyfriend is on the other side of the door, acting like I'm the unreasonable one here.

“And your sisters,” Van says. “Sisters should be getting along. Or at least speaking to each other at Christmas.”

“Says the guy who’s an only child,” Allegra snaps back.

The corner of my mouth ticks up in amusement. “Right? Like either of them get it.”

Allegra and I stare at one another, realizing that our attempts at freedom really are going to be contingent on us talking things out.

“I guess we should talk.” I sigh. “Since we’re both here.”

“I guess.” Allegra motions for me to sit. So I do. “So. Talk.”

“I don’t want to sell the store.” I finally say the words I’ve been thinking since we got the place. “And I think deep down you don’t want to either.”

That’s right, rip that bandage right off.

“But—" Allegra starts to protest, but I continue.

“Let’s start with why I don’t want to sell. You’ve always known what you wanted in your life. I’ve never had that.” I point to myself. “I've been drifting, and for the first time since graduating, I've found something I'm good at."

Allegra nods. “You are good at what you do. You’re so creative. So imaginative. I can see this place has been good for you. But this wasn’t in my plan.” She points between the two of us. “This wasn’t our plan. The one we made together from the start.”

I slump in my seat. She has many valid points. But I decide to try and throw one last Hail Mary.

"You know as well as anyone that plans change. And you have to adapt to them. Isn't that what you're always saying."

“Yeah, but I have a career. I have a job I love and a boss who needs me.”

I brush the loose hair from my ponytail and sigh. "Does your boss need you, or have you just gotten comfortable?"

Allegra stops and thinks for a moment. And a flicker of hope lights in my chest.

“What about Van?”

She shakes her head. “I can’t plan my whole life around a guy I just met. A man whose identity I didn't even really know until half an hour ago."

Wait what?

"What is he, Bruce Wayne or something?" I smirk. "Does he have a secret bat cave and drive around the city fighting crime?"

“I mean, kind of.” She shrugs. "Not the bat cave or crime-fighting part. Just the billionaire part."

"Seriously? How much money are we talking about?" I ask, knowing full well that Allegra is going to chastise me for saying it.

“Aurora!”

There it is.

"Hey Van?" I turn and yell through the door. "You're a billionaire, and you live in a camper? What happened? Is your Montecito mansion being fumigated or something?”

“I don’t live in a camper. Not all the time. But this isn’t about me.”

“Yeah. Focus,” Paz says, and I can imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration with my lack of staying on point here. Then he mutters just loud enough that I can hear him. “For fuck’s sake.”

I smile. For some reason, annoying him like this is very amusing to me. Look out for a lifetime of this, buddy.

Turning back to Allegra, I whisper. “Does he have a place in Montecito?”

“Yeah, but he’s right. This isn’t about him or where he lives. Or even the fact that I’m crazy about him. I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

“You were right. I am comfortable with my job,” Allegra explains. “I’m freaking awesome at it. But what if we do this and we fail? Brick and mortars are a dime a dozen.”

I try to give her my most reassuring smile. “Not our place. Our place is special.”

“What?” she scoffs. “Because it’s Christmas all year round?”

“That and it has us. Both of us. And if we work together, nothing can stop us.”

Allegra looks between me and then the door and then back again. "Are you sure this isn't just about the guy? Because I'll be pissed if I give up my career only to find out?—”

“I’m not going to bail on you. And I’m not going to bail on Paz. I know we just met, but—I’m crazy about him.”

“You’re in love?” Allegra looks hopeful.

I glance over at the door and nod.

"How did we end up here?" She sighs. "Two sisters who couldn't be more different, but we've found our place, and our hearts have found their matches."

“Maybe Aunt Doris knew something we didn’t,” I say. “Maybe this was her plan all along.”

“So you’re saying Aunt Doris not only gave us her store but our men?”

“She’s the ultimate matchmaker.” I point upwards. “We see you, Aunt Doris.”

“The meddling—” Allegra shakes her head. "I guess there's just one thing left to do. Well, two."

“What’s that?”

"We tell the buyers to go suck it, and then we tell our men they'd better get used to having us around."

Allegra pulls me into her arms for a hug. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in this adventure of life. We’ve always been side by side, sisters for life. But somehow, the bond we share now feels even stronger. It’s the best Christmas gift my sister could have given me.

"Okay," I pull myself free and pound on the door. "Open the door, Tree King. We’re friends again.”

“Yeah,” Allegra calls out. “Come get your sunshine!”

Is she talking to Paz?

The door opens, and Van steps aside to let me out. Then he walks into the camper and shuts the door behind him.

“Sunshine?” I ask.

Paz shakes his head. “Don’t ask.”

I won’t now, but I definitely will later. Instead, I dive into Paz’s arms and close my eyes.

“Thank you,” I say against his chest. “How do you always know how to fix the broken things in my life?”

He gives me the smirk that drives me wild. “I guess it comes easy when you’re with the perfect person for you.”

“You think I’m perfect.”

“Don’t let it go to your head.” He laughs.

I push up on my toes to kiss him. “You are the perfect person for me too.”

Paz grows serious, and for the briefest moment, there is a flicker of doubt in what he is hearing me tell him. So, I reach into his jacket pocket and pull out the keyring with the snowflake keychain.

“It’s destiny for us.” I rest it in the palm of his hand and lay mine over it. “The universe or just the magic of Christmas pushed us together. And I’m never letting you go.”

"I love you," he says so quietly that I almost miss it.

“I love you too.”