Wes shook his head and smiled. “My mind is made up. My future is in Bayberry.”
Mr. Summers looked utterly perplexed as he stood and shook Wes’s extended hand. “All right, then, if you’re sure. I wish you all the best.”
“Thanks. Merry Christmas.” Wes made his way out of the office.
Jan came rushing up to him. “Did I overhear you correctly? Are you really leaving us?”
He nodded. He had thought he’d be a wreck, wondering if he’d done the right thing, but he was calm and certain. He’d made the right decision, and if he had to do it over, the only thing he’d do was follow his heart to Bayberry sooner.
“Oh.” Behind the woman’s round glasses, there were tears in her eyes. “You’re going to be missed.”
“I’ll miss you too. And your mother’s baking.”
Jan dabbed at her eyes. “I just can’t imagine never seeing you again. You’re just like one of my kids, only better behaved.”
He knew what a great honor that comparison was, and he didn’t take it lightly. “Maybe you and your family could come visit. After all, Bayberry isn’t that far away. And they have a wonderful B&B.”
Her eyes widened. “I love that idea. So tell me, is there a certain young woman involved in this decision?”
“As a matter of fact, there is.” He smiled when he thought of Kate.
Jan clapped her hands together as an answering smile lit up her face. “I knew it. I’ll be expecting a wedding invitation—”
“Slow down. It hasn’t gotten that far. But when it does, consider yourself invited.”
Jan beamed. “I’m so happy for you. Can I give you a hug?”
“Of course. Merry Christmas.”
After they embraced, Wes headed for his desk and booked himself on the next available flight back to Vermont. Next, he placed a very important phone call to the Bayberry real estate agent, Mary Trimble. The call didn’t take long. And then he set to work cleaning out his desk. It was surprising how little personal stuff he kept there.
Not much longer, and he’d be at the airport waiting to board his flight home. Home. The word sounded good to him. And this time, home meant more than a place to hang his coat and rest his head at night. This time, home meant love and friendship, and so much more.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kate sat on the couch with a single light on.
There was no Christmas music playing. There were no Christmas movies on the television. And the Christmas tree was darkened.
Her holiday spirit had deserted her.
It was Christmas Eve. The most wonderful, magical time of the holiday, and she was supposed to be getting ready for the dance.
Her gaze moved to her phone. There had been no word from Wes since he’d left town. She told herself not to expect to hear from him again. His life was in the city, and all she’d been was a distraction on a business trip. Nothing more.
Though it had felt like more to her. She couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss, and how much fun they’d had. Their time together had meant so much more to her than she thought possible.
There was no point in going to the dance alone. She wouldn’t be able to paint a believable smile on her face. And the town had really come together to put on the best dance ever. They deserved to enjoy it.
Her gaze moved to the dress her aunt and Wes’s mother had made for her. It was hanging near the front door on the key rack. They’d draped it in plastic to keep it clean until she put it on for the dance. She didn’t know where she would wear it, but she promised herself that she wouldn’t let their efforts go to waste.
She couldn’t just sit here. She needed to do something. Cleaning? Yes, she would clean and work out some of her frustration. And after all the baking she’d done for the holidays, her kitchen could use a good going-over.
She moved to the kitchen and flipped on the lights. Once the water was steaming hot, she filled the sink and added some cleaning fluid. The lemony scent filled the air and gave her a boost of energy. She grabbed a dish cloth and set to work, clearing one countertop at a time, before washing the backsplash and then the counter. The more she thought about Wes leaving, the harder she scrubbed.
She didn’t know how long she’d worked at it before there was a knock at the door. She wanted to ignore it, because she knew her aunt would want to know why she wasn’t ready for the dance. And Kate didn’t want to get into why she wasn’t going. She didn’t want to discuss Wes.
Knock knock.