Christmas in Bayberry

“I’m sorry you were put in that difficult position, choosing between the life you love and the person you love. Talk about an impossible decision.”

She shrugged. “Deep down, I must have known it wasn’t going to last. We were better as friends than we were as a couple.”

Her admission that she wasn’t pining for her ex lightened Wes’s mood. “It’s good to learn that earlier rather than later.”

“Agreed.” She glanced his way. “Have you had a similar experience?”

He shook his head. “I’ve been too focused on my career to devote the time to a relationship. Maybe someday, when my life slows down.”

“Your career sounds like it’s on the fast track. Do you really think it’ll slow down? To me, it seems like life just gets faster and more chaotic. If you want something bad enough, you have to make the time for it.”

She had a good point, but the thought of backing off the career he’d been working toward all his life didn’t sit well with him. He shifted his weight from foot to foot. Maybe he could change the subject.

“I hear they have the biggest Christmas tree in New York,” she said.

“You must mean the one at Rockefeller Center.”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “How impressive is it in person?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen it.” He knew how bad that sounded. He always spent his holidays working—until now. “If you’re ever in New York at Christmastime, I’ll take you.”

“It’s a date.” Her cheeks, already pink from the cold, turned a deeper rosy hue.

He liked the thought of dating Kate. He liked it a lot. “Yes, it is.”

Kate looked away. “You’re probably in a hurry to get home. What would you be doing if you were in New York right now?”

He shrugged. “Nothing special.”

“I bet you’d put up a Christmas tree.”

“I don’t have a Christmas tree.” In fact, he didn’t own any decorations.

“Really?” Her fine brows lifted in surprise. “No Christmas tree at all?”

He shook his head. He hadn’t given it much thought. Or rather, he tried not to think about it. “After I got my own place, it just didn’t seem worth the effort to decorate just for myself.”

Kate frowned. “That…that’s so sad.”

He stared down at the snow. Is that how she saw him? As a sad man? It wasn’t true. He was fine. He had a small but nice apartment and a good job. And maybe he’d consider moving and getting a puppy like Rascal.

“I’m fine.” Did his statement sound as hollow to her as it did to himself?

Her gaze searched his. It felt as though she could see through him. He couldn’t tell

what she was thinking. He didn’t want her feeling sorry for him. He was happy with his life. Wasn’t he? Or had he been wearing blinders all these years, blocking out everything he was missing out on?

“Is everyone ready for the countdown?” the mayor asked the crowd.

“Yeah!” Everyone in the crowd cheered.

Needing to look at anything or anyone who wasn’t Kate, Wes glanced around. He noticed that the crowd had multiplied since they’d arrived. He’d be willing to bet that everyone in town had shown up.

“Ten, nine, eight…” Everyone continued to count down, including Wes. Excitement pulsated in the air. “…Two…one!”

With a flip of the switch, the mayor turned on the tree lights. They were shaped like white candles. It was quite stunning. And way at the top was a large angel holding a candle in each hand. It was really quite remarkable. And according to the mayor, the decorations were beaded ornaments made by the children of Bayberry.

Everyone clapped. And then the mayor started to sing “O Christmas Tree.” Wes wasn’t a singer—not that he’d actually tried since he was a kid. When Kate started singing and glanced expectantly at him, he shook his head. Her brows gathered into a frown until he mouthed the lyrics. He was rewarded with a smile from Kate that sent his heart racing. What would it hurt if he really sang? And so he uttered the words softly.