Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Spending time with the dogs had always calmed her. They didn’t ask for anything but love, and she’d always had plenty of that to give. Ruby licked her face, and Jackie Daytona, a small mix with a flattish face that spoke of her part-bulldog heritage, kept insisting on being picked up, not that Maisie minded. She hugged and petted all of them until her clothes were covered in fur, and then left the kennel and started stuffing the stockings in the playroom. Iris had gone above and beyond, like always, and for Ruby’s stocking, she’d included a sweater with Jack’s picture on it. Before, Maisie had laughed at the sight of it, but now it felt like a knife to her chest. Jack wasn’t going to adopt Ruby. He already lived in a house with a big dog and dictatorial cat. It didn’t matter how much Ruby loved Jack, how much she’d chosen him as her soul companion—she was going to be taken home by someone else eventually. Would she still pine for Jack?

Would Maisie?

The thought ripped a bitter laugh from her. Of course she would. And she knew a thing or two about pining. Except something told her this would be much, much worse than the pain she’d felt over River.

“Knock, knock,” Dustin said, unnecessarily, as he pounded on the partially open door, swinging it toward her.

The look on his face was one he usually reserved for frightened or aggressive dogs, which told her a lot about the vibe she was giving off, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

“Would you like some help?” he asked for what had to be the third time. “Or maybe a Danish? I knew you were coming in to do the stockings at some point, but I figured you might bring Jack and Iris. I was actually expecting you all to come in much earlier.”

She’d known he’d fish for information eventually. It was a testament to her resting bitch face that he’d held out this long. Still, she didn’t want to bite Dustin’s head off. He’d dedicated his whole Christmas Eve to the shelter so she could go to the engagement party.

The engagement party.

Would it still happen? It was past five, creeping toward six. It had taken her a long time to pull herself together.

Part of her thought she should warn River about the epic mess that awaited him. He’d texted her to check in—apparently Jack had seen Finn, and Finn had called River and told him something was up, although he’d refused to say more (apparently his ability to retain secrets was improving…she’d have to thank Adalia for that), but she couldn’t bring herself to call him right now. Not after her fight with Jack. Not yet. Still, River was her oldest friend, and she’d already missed the majority of his bachelor party… Could she really skip the engagement party, knowing what she knew? Whether or not Lee showed, Prescott was sure to blow the whole thing to hell. She should go to offer her support.

Finn had texted her too, of course, telling her that he’d seen Jack and he knew her wink-wink-nudge-nudge secret was out, and if she wanted to talk, he was only a phone call away. Or he’d see her at the party.

Finn was right. Now that River and Georgie both knew, and Jack too, it really wasn’t much of a secret anymore. There was freedom in that, but she feared it had come at a price she didn’t want to pay.

“They’re not coming today,” she said, choking out the words. “The engagement party starts soon.”

Dustin shuffled on his feet a little, one hand coming up to stroke his beard. “Now, I might be reading the room wrong, but it seems to me you’re a little upset.”

Another laugh ripped out of her. “Dustin, you excel at reading psychic energy.”

He puffed up like bread dough left out in the sun. “I’ve always thought so. River’s aunt gave me some suggestions the last time she came around.”

“Sounds like Dottie.”

“Well, if you need to talk, I’m two shakes of a dog’s tail away,” he said, laughing at his own attempted pun. “And if you need to leave, I’d be happy to take over.”

“Thank you, Dustin,” she said, meaning it.

He started to back out of the room but paused in the doorway. “For what it’s worth, I hope you work it out, and not just because Iris knows how to make Beatrice laugh. There’s something else I’ve read in your psychic energy—and Jack’s. He’s good for you. And he looks like a young Marlon Brando…you know, with dark hair.”

Her heart was pounding in her ears, but she tilted her head and gave him a vacant look. “Who’s that?”

“What?” he said, looking thunderstruck. “You don’t know…” Her small smile finally penetrated. “Oh, you’re messing with me. Well, you know where I am.”

“I do.”

He shut the door behind him, leaving her alone with the stockings. Only a few left. What would she do afterward? She could go home to Einstein and Chaco, but the prospect of spending the night sitting by the tree, alone, knowing her friends were at the party with Jack made her feel frozen inside. Maybe she should take the tree down so there wouldn’t be such an ever-present reminder of him, but somehow she knew that would be worse.

Her phone buzzed again, and she drew it out with trembling fingers. She’d stopped thinking Jack would call. He had to be at the brewery now, making last-minute preparations.

He wouldn’t want her there, probably. He’d said he wanted space. Time. Obviously, a few hours didn’t qualify.

She’d thought about calling Molly back and telling her everything, but she hadn’t. Because Molly was more sensitive than most people realized, and she’d think it was her fault. And Maisie wanted her to like Jack, because she still thought, she still hoped…

The text was from Blue.

Are we still on for the party? Ended up throwing away the shoes, but I didn’t like them anyway.

Shoot. She’d forgotten she was supposed to call Blue today. Blue likely wouldn’t want to go to the party if Maisie didn’t. Adalia was Georgie’s sister, and she’d probably be tied up the majority of the night. The last thing Maisie wanted to do was spend the night pretending to like drippy Dan, an uncharitable thought she forgave herself for given the circumstances, but she would like to talk to Blue. Blue was a good listener, and she was removed enough from the situation that she could be counted on to give impartial advice, unlike Dottie and Adalia, who had both made it very clear they wanted Maisie and Jack together.

Rather than text back, she called her, and Blue answered on the first ring.

“How’d it go with Jack last night?” she asked excitedly. “I was going to ask you more questions, but then…well, you know.”

Of course, that was when the tears decided to make another showing.

“I’m in love with him,” she said through sobs. “But I think I lost him. I think he’s gone for good.”

And then she told her everything.

“We can still change our minds and go to a bar,” Maisie offered as Blue parked in a lot close to the brewery. Drippy Dan had been told to stay at home, not that he’d minded.

There you go, making assumptions again.

But at least she hadn’t bad-mouthed him to Blue. She’d just thanked her, profusely, for listening to her fall apart. And for being enough of a friend to tell her it was more important for her to change her animal-hair-encrusted clothes than to be on time for the party. Blue had come to the shelter with a silky green dress, and Dustin had played Madonna’s “Vogue” on his phone while Maisie changed. There was no getting past the fact that she had sensible wooden clogs on her feet, but Dustin had taken one look at her and insisted no one was going to look at her feet. He’d then sent them out the door with a couple of Danishes and hollered, “You go get your man!” like he thought he was in a romantic comedy.

“We are going to a bar,” Blue said, returning her mind to the present. “I assume there’ll be beer.” She made a face. “Although maybe someone should cut Adalia’s brother off this time.”

“Fair point. But just in case, maybe you should stay out of spew range.”

“If he shows up,” Blue said quietly.

And Maisie nodded and repeated it. “If he shows up.”

It wasn’t her place to tell Blue his secrets, so she hadn’t, but for all his flaws, Lee wasn’t a drunk, she didn’t think, nor did he have a fetish for ruining women’s shoes. So she hadn’t felt she was making excuses for him when she’d told Blue that he was going through a hard time. A really hard time.

Blue hadn’t pressed. She’d just said she understood.

Looking at her friend now, across the front seat, she knew Blue understood her dilemma too. After Maisie had finished her sob story, sobs included, Blue had told her they were going to the party together, no Dan, because Maisie would regret it forever if she didn’t fight for what she wanted. She’d said it like a person who knew from experience.

Maybe she was just stalling for time, but Maisie found herself asking, “Why’d you join the Bad Luck Club, Blue? What happened to you?”

Blue looked at her for a long moment, considering, then heaved a deep sigh. “We don’t have time to get into it right now, but trust me when I say it wasn’t just bad luck. I spent my whole life letting my father make decisions for me, and then I married a man who did the same thing.” She winced. “Two men.”

Maisie’s mouth fell open. “You’re a polygamist?”

Blue laughed at that, a tinkling, infectious laugh that almost had Maisie laughing with her. Except she sensed a hint of bitterness behind it.

“No,” Blue said at last, “but some people would say I’m something worse. It’s a rare woman who’s divorced twice by the time she hits thirty.” She looked down at her hands, as if searching for the ring she probably used to wear. Make that rings. “I should have told you and Addy, but I was embarrassed. I’m trying to get past that, though.”

It took Maisie a second to find words. Not that she judged Blue. She didn’t. This just wasn’t something she’d anticipated. “I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could tell us. I know I can sometimes come off as judgmental…that’s something I’m working on too.”

“It wasn’t that,” Blue said, looking up and meeting her eyes. “I wasn’t worried about you two judging me. This was about me judging myself.”

Maisie grinned at her. “Well, maybe you, me, and Addy can get drinks sometime soon, after this travesty of an engagement party, and we can be judgmental of your exes instead.”

Blue gave her a soft smile. “You just want gossip.”

“I’m dying for it.”

“We’ll see. In the meantime, stop stalling. We’re already twenty minutes late.”

Twenty minutes. A lot could happen in twenty minutes. Had Lee confronted Prescott already? What about Victoria? Would she show up in one of her wedding dresses and insist one of the Buchanan men make a solid commitment?

River had texted her again a little while back, after arriving at the party. He hadn’t pressed her for details or asked why she wasn’t there yet. He’d just asked if she was coming.

She’d replied in the affirmative, although she hadn’t made the decision for him—she’d made it for herself.

And then her phone had died on her. There’d been no word from Adalia before it winked out. Presumably she was busy with Georgie and Iris, but it was still a little surprising. Were they at the party? There was no way of knowing without showing up herself.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she opened the door. “Let’s do this thing.”

“There you are,” Blue said, getting out too. “I’ve been waiting for your fiery redhead side to take over.”

She’d been waiting too.