Holiday Promise (Hollyberry Harbor #2)

Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

The second that Blake left the house with Max, Melody could finally breathe. She hadn’t realized just how hard it was going to be for her to see him every day. She’d told herself they just had to make it until the new year, then she’d see him less.

But he shot that possibility out of the water when he told her he’d be working from home more often.

Why, oh why, did she insist on him staying?

Because it was good for Max.

Even with all the turmoil she was dealing with, Melody couldn’t deny that she’d done the right thing by that kid. He needed his father more than she needed peace. And yet could she really be happy in her job if she decided to stay? Melody was being pulled in two opposite directions. She loved Max. She knew he needed stability. She could already imagine what it would do to him if she left.

Melody groaned as she sat at the kitchen counter. The steaming tea that Ms. Anthony had fixed for her sat untouched. The housekeeper continued her work, cleaning up after lunch and the like. She’d been strangely quiet lately, and Melody already knew why.

Ms. Anthony wasn’t blind. Just like Thomas, she’d noticed a shift in the dynamics between Melody and Blake. It would make sense for her to have an opinion on the stupidity that was that decision.

Lifting her head, Melody looked over at the housekeeper. “Can I ask you something?”

Ms. Anthony glanced in her direction. “Of course, dear.”

“Why haven’t you told me your thoughts about… my relationship with Blake.”

The older woman smiled. “It’s not my place to pass judgement.”

“But you did. You were judging us for our decisions.”

Ms. Anthony paused her work and glanced once more in Melody’s direction before she put down her rag and moved over to her. “I wouldn’t say I was judging you at all. I had opinions, surely. But like I said, it wasn’t my place. You two are adults. You’re permitted to explore options like anyone else. The complications that surround a relationship where someone dates her boss… that’s a matter entirely on its own.”

“That you don’t approve of,” Melody insisted.

She smiled. “Sweetheart, love isn’t something you can choose. Not really. It sort of just happens. If you find that your feelings for Blake are strong enough, then that’s where you will let your heart stay. But if this was simply a moment in the long line of moments, you’ll do just fine by getting back out there—into the dating world.”

Melody knew she made a great point, and yet the thought of going on a date with someone else in her current state terrified her. “I don’t want to find a rebound.”

“I’m not suggesting that. I’m simply stating that if you want to move on, you can’t linger. It does no one any good if you choose to stick your feet in the mud and leave them there. Follow your heart.” She winked at Melody, then returned to her work. She only made a few swipes with her rag when she glanced at Melody one final time. “That Thomas fellow seems to have eyes for you. Perhaps you go out on a date with him.”

Melody couldn’t believe she’d let herself get roped into a date with Thomas. He was nice enough, but he wasn’t… Blake.

No. She wasn’t going to think about Blake. She was on a date with Thomas and he deserved her full attention. That should be easy enough. Blake wasn’t even aware that she’d left on a date with Thomas. He’d been out Christmas shopping with Max when she left. He’d get home to her being gone, and he probably wouldn’t even ask where she was.

“…then again, I never really thought about relocating, so I don’t know that I will.”

Melody jumped, finding Thomas staring at her. He’d been talking about work. That was all he’d talked about since they’d sat down for dinner. Even Blake didn’t dwell on his work when they were together.

She squeezed her eyes shut, berating herself for thinking about Blake yet again. When she opened her eyes, she wasn’t surprised to find Thomas staring at her with concern.

“Are you okay?”

Melody nodded and looked away, her eyes already stinging, ready for the tears to spill. Why was she so emotional? It wasn’t normal to react this way after only a few weeks. She didn’t believe that feelings could grow so quickly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Her voice squeaked, and she forced herself to look at him fully this time. “I’m fine. Sorry. I had something in my eye.”

He didn’t look convinced. Why would he? Thomas had warned her about dating Blake from the start. He’d never strayed from his opinion. The look of excitement when she asked if he’d like to get dinner had been next level.

Guilt swirled within her. She shouldn’t have asked him to come with her. Ms. Anthony was right that Thomas might have feelings that went a little deeper than a simple flirtation.

Swallowing hard, she focused on her food. The atmosphere of the restaurant near the harbor screamed Christmas Cottage. From the poinsettia and mistletoe décor to the colors of the food on her plate, Melody wouldn’t have been able to escape it if she tried. “This place is next level, isn’t it?” She let out a dry laugh as she lifted her eyes to Thomas. “Do you get to spend much of the holidays with your family?”

He shook his head. “My folks live in Arizona. With my work schedule, it makes it near impossible for me to take trips down there, and they really don’t like how cold it gets up here.”

“Arizona, wow. That’s quite a difference.”

“You grew up here, right? In Hollyberry Harbor?”

Melody nodded. “I did, from the time I was about eleven.”

His smile widened.

“What?” she laughed.

“I’ve heard about the locals here. They don’t tend to go very far.”

“Oh have you?” Melody placed her hands on her lap. “And who have you known who’s a local to Hollyberry Harbor?”

His expression faltered and immediately she knew who he was thinking about. He looked away and cleared his throat.

“It’s Alison, isn’t it?”

Thomas peeked at her. “It’s strange that you didn’t know her.”

“Yeah, well, this place is bigger than it looks.” She stared at her hands, fidgeting with them. “But I’m not surprised she wanted to stay put. I feel the same way. It was hard enough as it was to move to Portland to get a job. I never thought I’d make enough here. I’ve been lucky.”

“Have you?”

She lifted her gaze. “Of course I have. Wouldn’t you say the same? Blake’s a good boss.”

Thomas frowned. The temperature seemed to drop by a few degrees. Blake was the source of contention between the two of them, no doubt about it. Thomas might respect his boss and love his job, but he didn’t approve of the inter-office relationship that had occurred. Maybe going on a date with Thomas was a bad idea.

The more she gazed at the man across the table from her, the more she knew she shouldn’t have asked him here. But it was more than that. The unrest she’d felt since breaking things off with Blake had only snowballed since that night. She couldn’t stand to be in the same room as Blake without wishing he would smile at her, graze his fingers against hers, or pull her in for a breathless embrace.

A hot, searing pain flooded her chest and rose into her cheeks. These feelings wouldn’t go away no matter how hard she tried, and she knew it. There would be no fixing the heartache she felt without fixing things with Blake. As terrifying as that thought was, it was scarier to consider what a future would be without him in it.

What would happen when Max was too old to need a nanny? How would she feel if Blake brought home another woman he was interested in? Her hands trembled, and she clutched them harder together to quell the motion.

“I think this was a mistake,” she said quietly. “We should’ve never gone to dinner.”

“Melody—”

She turned teary eyes on him and shook her head. “There’s nothing you could say or do to change it. I don’t know if I’ll ever fully be able to give my heart to another.”

Thomas looked completely crestfallen. He wouldn’t meet her gaze, no matter how long she stared at him. She could only imagine what he was thinking about—she’d led him on, she’d teased him like one would tease a rabbit with a carrot. That wasn’t how it was, but she couldn’t bring herself to voices it.

“You’re right,” he muttered. “We shouldn’t make things more complicated than they already are. You’re clearly not ready for something new, and I don’t want to put you in the position where you have to choose.”

Chills raked along her skin, the relief she felt at his understanding overshadowed by the twisting in her gut. Just because she knew she couldn’t see Thomas anymore didn’t mean Blake would be interested in something more serious. She could be shooting herself in the foot with all of this.

“Thank you,” she rasped. “For understanding.”

He nodded sharply. “Should we… get our food to go?” He nodded to her food. “You’ve barely touched it.”

She blushed. “That might be for the best.”