“Megan sought me out—but not because she knew about us.”
“You certainly didn’t discourage her, though, did you?”
“No, and why should I? She’s a very sweet girl. Maybe that’s why it took me a while to realize the two of you are related—” Faith paused long enough to shake her head. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I shouldn’t have said that. But I did tell her I knew you.”
“Back in high school.”
“True,” she said. “I didn’t feel it was necessary to go into our recent relationship…but perhaps I was wrong.”
“Perhaps you were.”
“Then I suggest that perhaps the best thing for us to do is agree to disagree.”
“If that’s the way you want it.”
Her lower lip trembled slightly. “We gave it a good try. Twice. We both made mistakes. I apologize for my part and you’ve already apologized for yours.”
“Can’t we start over?” he asked.
“No,” Faith said. “I don’t think we should.”
That seemed so final. “We tried and it didn’t work out. I don’t have the heart to make another stab at this. I guess I’m too old and set in my ways. I don’t bounce back as quickly as I used to.”
Troy had no alternative but to accept her decision. “Then I’d like us to part as friends.”
“Oh, I agree.” She removed her hand from her pocket and held it out to him.
Troy frowned at it. “I’d be more receptive to a hug.”
Faith smiled, moving toward him.
Troy enveloped her in his arms and closed his eyes. He breathed in her familiar scent, holding her just a moment longer than he probably should have. When he dropped his arms, he stepped back.
“Since we live in the same town, I hope we can be cordial to each other,” Faith said, sounding like herself for the first time that evening.
“I’m hoping that, too.” He shuffled his feet, still a bit uneasy. “As far as Megan’s concerned, I appreciate that you took her under your wing. She obviously needed someone and I’m glad she chose you.”
Faith’s face grew red; he wondered if it was from the cold or something else.
“I’m sorry for getting so angry with you,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t have said anything about you and Sally.”
Troy shrugged. “Sally was a blind date I got roped into. She’s the mother-in-law of one of my deputies. She was visiting from New York. Bart had a social obligation that particular night, and his mother-in-law was going to be alone, so he asked me if I’d mind taking her to dinner.”
“Oh.”
“Although it’s neither here nor there, it was only the one date.”
“You were right, though. It wasn’t any of my business. I must’ve sounded like a jealous shrew.”
“You didn’t,” he assured her.
“Grandma, Grandma, come and look at our tree,” Angela called out to Faith. Her brother trailed behind her.
“I’d better join my family.”
Troy took another step back. “And I should go find Megan and Craig.”
“I’m grateful we had this talk.”
He nodded.
“Merry Christmas, Troy,” Faith said softly.
“Merry Christmas.”
Megan and Craig had already chosen and cut down their tree by the time Troy located them.
“So, what do you think, Dad?” she asked.
Troy studied the tree. “Good choice. Do you plan to decorate it this evening?”
“I’m not talking about the tree,” Megan said. “I was asking about Faith.”
“Oh, that,” he murmured, unsure how to explain. “She’s very nice but I don’t think we have that much in common.”
His daughter’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve got to be kidding. Faith is perfect for you.”
“Let it rest, honey,” Craig said. “This is your father’s decision, not yours.”
It looked as if Megan wanted to argue but then she took her husband’s advice.
Troy helped Craig tie the fresh Christmas tree to the roof of the car. As they pulled out of the parking lot, Troy caught sight of Faith. She stood apart from her family, watching him. When their eyes met, she raised her hand in a gesture of farewell.
This time it really was goodbye.
Twenty-Seven
“Where are you?” Christie asked her sister, nearly shouting into her cell phone. Her heart pounded at an alarming rate. It was vital that she speak to Teri as soon as possible. She’d just finished her shift at Wal-Mart and had stopped by Teri and Bobby’s house—a visit that was also a convenient excuse to see James again. Since the night he’d come to her apartment, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. Their time together had been so special—at least to Christie—and she needed to confirm that he felt the same way about her.
“…shopping.” Teri’s voice faded in and out.
“I didn’t ask what you were doing, I asked where you are. I need to talk to you, pronto.”
“Seattle,” Teri told her. “Bobby and I are shopping for cribs. We’re driving to a mall.”
“Oh.” Christie’s heart sank. “I went over to your house when I got off work…I thought you’d be here.”
“Sorry…disappoint you, but…” Once again Teri’s voice faded out.
“Are you with James?” Christie asked.
“Who? I didn’t hear you.”