Christmas Ever After (Puffin Island 3)

“Actually, I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time. I’m having fun.” And I’m in love, and totally messed up. And I need to talk to you.

Emily’s head was close to Lizzy’s as she washed paint from the little girl’s fingers.

Sky swallowed. She really needed to talk.

Maybe she’d suggest a girls’ night in. Just her, Emily and Brittany.

They could open a couple bottles of wine and chat.

“Are you free tomorrow night?”

Emily dried Lizzy’s hands and lifted her down from the chair. “Sorry, no. We have a fund-raising concert at the school. You’re welcome to join us. It’s going to be fun.”

But there would be no opportunity to talk. Sky shook her head. “How about the night after that?”

“We’re helping Agnes decorate her flat. I’ve made a casserole and Lizzy has made decorations and next on our list is chocolate cake. We’re doing that now.” Emily cleared up the painting materials and then pulled eggs and butter out of the fridge and put them on the table while Lizzy found a bowl and a wooden spoon.

It was clearly a well-oiled routine and Sky thought how much her friend had changed since the beginning of the summer. She was so much more relaxed.

“You’re happy,” she said softly and Emily smiled as she weighed and measured.

“Yes, I am. Who would have thought it.”

Lizzy picked up an egg and tapped it gingerly on the edge of the bowl. Half went into the bowl and the other half slid in a jellied mess onto the table. “Oops.”

Sky watched as her friend wiped it up and showed the little girl how to do it.

She was patient and kind and Sky felt something uncurl inside her.

The best thing in the world was to see Emily with a family.

It wasn’t just Emily who had changed, she realized with a pang.

All their lives had changed.

“You’re brilliant. I love you.”

Emily glanced at her in surprise. “I love you, too.” She helped Lizzy stir the mixture and then spoon it into deep muffin cases. “Have you heard from Richard?”

“Nothing. And I’m relieved. We have nothing to say to each other.” And they never really had. It unsettled her to think that not once in the time she’d spent with Richard had she experienced the intimacy she’d found with Alec. “Alec said the other night he thought Richard might have a touch of narcissistic personality disorder. A lot of politicians do, apparently. It fits.”

And she realized that all she’d done since she’d walked through the door was talk about Alec.

If she couldn’t be with him, all she wanted to do was talk about him, as if a conversation somehow brought him closer.

She’d never felt this way about anyone before.

She put the bowl down, her hands shaking.

She had to get him out of her mind. She had to.

This was supposed to be lighthearted fun to take her mind off Richard. It was never meant to get serious.

Emily didn’t seem to have noticed anything was wrong. She made coffee and put a mug in front of Skylar. “What about your parents? Are they still upset?”

“Of course.” Sky had told Emily about the message from her mother and her friend had been horrified.

“I can’t believe she booked a venue. That’s appalling.”