Holiday Sparks

“Until I visited my brother a few weeks ago.”

She closed her eyes. “And you didn’t tell me.”

“We barely had time to say hello with our schedules and I didn’t want to ruin what was going on between us. I didn’t even know how to bring it up. Oh hey, Darcy—remember that asshole that wrecked your store. Oh yeah. He’s my big brother.”

Darcy tucked her hands under her arms. “And you wanted to protect him.”

“Yeah.” He sighed, itching to hold on to her, even if it was just her hand. “And if he got arrested, what would happen to Brit? I mean sure, I’d take her, but she’d be so embarrassed about what he did.”

Darcy leaned her shoulder into the couch and rested her head against the cushion, but still wouldn’t unfold herself. She might as well have a bubble around her that screamed keep out.

He turned to her. “I know this is hard to get past, but I swear he’s not normally like that. With the bills from the doctors and the extra hours to pay for them because he’s so proud, he’s been strung way too tight.”

“And now?”

Ben shrugged. “Ever since Brit’s mom left he’s been angry. Having his daughter break her collarbone and there was nothing he could do for her just drove him over the edge. I wish I’d known it was that bad, I’d have kept him under wraps.”

She searched his face, then laid her palm over his hand. “I’d have done the same. And if he hadn’t come in and wrecked the store maybe we’d never have this.”

He flipped his hand and caught hers before she could pull it back. “You’re not mad?”

She shook her head. “You’re probably the best man I know, Ben. I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me on purpose. I just need some time to think about this.” She slid her hand out from between his. “You lied.”

His gut churned with their dinner and the acid that had been boiling up like crazy all day. “I don’t want to lose you, Darcy.”

“I don’t want to lose you either.” She stood up. “Thanks for dinner.”

Ben couldn’t think of anything he could do but watch her leave.

Chapter Fifteen

Darcy dragged herself into the break room. It was Christmas Eve and she’d worked fourteen-hour days for the last three days. She wasn’t even sure what her name was anymore.

Two girls spoke quietly at the picnic table so she took the long table. She pressed her face into the cool metal and shut her eyes. She’d promised her mother she would sit down and talk to her that afternoon.

Her mom was feeling guilty that she and Jerry were out of town for two holidays in a row. She didn’t have the heart to tell her mother that she was so tired that she was grateful.

She pulled out her phone and set it on the table, bumping up the ringer to wake her up. Just five minutes and she’d refresh a little. Her phone buzzed and trilled a moment later.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Merry Christmas, baby! Did you hear Jerry too?”

She mustered up a smile, hoping it would show in her voice. “Yes, Mom, I heard him. Are you guys having fun?”

“I’ve never seen such blue oceans in the middle of December. It’s so beautiful, Darcy.”

“Make sure you take pictures.”

“I think you should come with us next year.”

“I think I’d get demoted if I asked for the week of Christmas off, Mom.”

Her light laughter was cut with the soft caw of a bird. “Where are you guys this time?”

“Hawaii. We’re on an excursion in the rainforest. It’s so beautiful.”

Darcy laid her cheek back on the table with the phone underneath. “I’m very jealous.” She listened as her mother babbled on about how warm it was and how it rained for ten minutes at a time and then the storms disappeared. All of it sounded like heaven. And sounded like she’d never be able to see it in her lifetime.