Chapter Twenty-Three

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

After my trip home to the mountains, the days flew by.

First, I gave notice at work, telling them I’d be taking my remaining vacation days as planned. So while my last official day would be December 31, I’d turned in my laptop on the twentieth—four days ago.

Next, I gave notice to the landlords and began the task of packing up my stuff. I donated all of the holiday decorations, including the items in my storage locker.

The rest of my belongings—sofa, bed, and kitchen stuff—would all be put into a much, much smaller locker.

Where would I go? What would I do for money after my savings ran dry? I wasn’t sure, but something deep inside said it would all work out. I guessed you could say I had faith.

Yes, my friends and family all questioned my very unorthodox decision to blow up a perfectly responsible life, but once I told them I wasn’t happy, that I needed more from life, they pretty much backed off. Something about living a life you loved resonated with people. Even the biggest skeptics.

So for the first time ever, I was spending Christmas Eve alone. I’d gone to mass and said a prayer for all the people I loved—and a few I didn’t. I had a bottle of wine and one extra-large pizza. I’d watch one of my favorite movies and drift off to sleep, waking up on Christmas morning as a thirty-year-old. No job. Soon to be without a home. A proud hoboess.

I smiled and poured myself a glass of wine before snuggling under my fluffy white throw on the couch.

This is great. I love this. Christmas Eve all to myself. No people to wait on. No cleanup. Yep. This is great.

I turned on the flatscreen and started clicking through my digital movie library.

“Let’s see… Elf ? Love Actually ? A White Christmas ?” I clicked and toggled, but nothing sounded good.

I set down the remote and sighed. Maybe I just needed more wine.

Or Beau . I got up and peeked out the window, but there were only piles of cardboard boxes next to the dumpster. No red tent. No magical, hot Santa in training who took my entire world and turned it on its head.

Suddenly, my door buzzed.

I sprang to my feet and pushed the intercom button on my kitchen wall. “Hello?”

“Hey! It’s Kay.”

For one split second, I felt a flicker of disappointment. Then the thought of spending Christmas Eve with my best friend sounded great. I buzzed her in and waited at the front door.

I watched her come up the stairs, carrying a bunch of bags.

“I thought you were supposed to be at your parents’ by now?” I said, since we both usually headed home for the holidays.

“Can you believe it? Another freaking storm.”

I stepped aside and let her in. “Another one?” I hadn’t even paid attention.

“They’re supposed to get five feet, and we’re getting two.” I followed her into the kitchen, where she put her bags down. “Yep. The entire city is snowed in. Airports are closed. Roads are undrivable.”

“Really?” How sad. All those people trying to get to family were stuck.

She pulled out two big bottles of tequila. “But the liquor store was open, baby!” She produced some limes from the other bag and then slid out a frozen cheesecake.

“What’s that?”

“Duh. It’s just a few more hours until your birthday.”

“You didn’t have to get me a cake,” I said.

“Then how about some shrimp cocktail? Or perogies? Spaghetti with meatballs?”

I looked inside her bags. There was nothing else in them. “Those sound good, but if you didn’t bring them, it’s too late to go shopping. The stores are all closed by now, unless you count the gas station on the corner, but all they have are microwave burritos.”

Kay grinned. “I’m having it all delivered.”

“From where? Everything’s closed.”

The door buzzed, and she hit the button. “You’ll see.”

We both went to my door. I spotted Shawna and her sister, Egypt, coming up, carrying containers of food.

“What are you two doing here?” I asked, both happy and surprised to see them.

“Well,” Shawna said, “we were supposed to go to Boston for Christmas, but our flight was cancelled. Kay texted us and invited us over for a potluck.”

I looked at Kay, who shrugged. “Well, you always throw a party for everyone. Why not let us throw one for you?”

My eyes teared up. “That is very…” I swallowed hard, “sweet.”

“Don’t speak too soon,” said Shawna. “Because I cooked the casserole myself.”

That was huge.

The door buzzed again, and Kay ran to the kitchen to get it.

Over the next hour, twenty-five more people showed up, including Kay’s official boyfriend, Lick, who came despite not celebrating the holiday. Very supportive.

There were also a few people from work, shared friends we’d met over the years, and Kay’s sister and hubby. Even Mrs. Larson and Jason stopped by. Everyone brought food.

It wasn’t my usual party with the light shows and Christmas-themed snacks. Most of us ended up sitting on the floor or crowded on the couch. But there was music. Everyone drank and laughed. At midnight, Kay lit my cake, and everyone sang “Happy Birthday.” It was truly the best Christmas Eve I’d ever had.

But as the evening wound down and people started heading home while it was still safe, I couldn’t stop wondering what Beau was doing at this very moment.

Was he helping his dad deliver presents? Was his hair completely white now, and had his six-pack abs turned into a big belly? I couldn’t imagine him playing the role, but a part of me didn’t want to. I wanted to remember him young, muscular, and filled with kindness he often tried to hide.

Sitting next to Kay, I sighed.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m just missing Beau. I can’t stop thinking what might’ve happened if I’d said yes.”

“Who’s Beau?” she asked. “And yes to what?”

I drew a long breath. She didn’t remember him. “He was someone I met recently.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She smacked my arm.

I was about to tell her how special he was, but instead told her to never mind. “It would’ve never worked out.”

“Oh, well,” she put an arm around me, “you still have time to meet Prince Charming. You’re only thirty.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “Plus an hour.”

I nodded out of politeness, but honestly, I knew I’d never meet another man quite like him.

She added, “You’re probably going to meet fifty hot men over the next few months, and they’ll all fall in love with you. Then you’ll leave, break their hearts, and move on to the next place.”

I was looking forward to my trip. I’d bought a Eurail Pass and mapped out an itinerary that took me to twenty different countries. I had lists of cheap hotels, museums, churches, and beaches. “It’s going to be an adventure, that’s for sure.”

“Well, just make sure to be safe and check in once a day, like you promised. We need to know where you are at all times,” she said.

“I will.”

“I’m going to miss you so much.” She turned her body and hugged me. “I’m also proud of you for doing this for yourself.”

“You’re not mad about the cruise?” I asked.

“No! I’m going in July with Lick, and he promised that if anything happened, I’d get to keep the cabin.”

“Planning for divorce so soon?” I laughed.

“Actually, I’m planning to ask him to marry me. He’s the one, Meri. I know it. But he doesn’t think I’m into all that froufrou wedding stuff.”

“Really?” I chuckled. Kay was definitely the romantic type who’d always dreamed of meeting the perfect man and riding off into the sunset. “Just make sure I know in advance when the wedding is. I want to be there for every second of it—the dress shopping, the planning, the—”

“Decorating?” She arched a brow.

“Especially that.”

“I love you, Meri.” She hugged me tight.

“I love you, too, Kay.”

“Merry Christmas and happy birthday.”