Page 112 of How My Neighbour Stole Christmas
I let out a sigh and just go for it. “That Christmas Eve, when you talked to me on the porch, you said that you hated the town.”
“Oh.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t mean that. It was—”
“And that was when my parents went missing.”
“Wait…what?” she says, sitting taller.
“I was out on the porch, hoping to run into you because I was scared, nervous. They couldn’t find my parents after a big snowstorm. They were supposed to come back that day, but no one had heard from them. When I saw you, I was relieved, but then…”
“Oh my God,” she whispers as tears fill her eyes again. “I went off about the town, how it was so stupid and how I didn’t understand why anyone would want to spend day in and day out celebrating Christmas.”
“Yeah,” I say lightly.
“Cole…” Tears fall down her cheeks. “I’m…oh my God, why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was numb,” I answer. “I didn’t want to fight with you. I didn’t even want to defend the town that was trying to help find my parents. I just…I slipped into another frame of mind.” I wet my lips. “And then the next day when I wanted to tell you what happened, you weren’t there. You had left, and I just…I don’t know, I took that as your goodbye. You were done with Kringle—you were done with me.”
“No.” She shakes her head. “No, I’m sorry. Oh my God, I’m so selfish and stupid. I’m so sorry, Cole.”
I shrug. “It was ten years ago. When I saw you come back into town, it just brought back all that animosity I was feeling, and then when I heard you were going to try to become the Christmas Kringle, I thoughthow dare she. And, well, the rest is history.”
She scoots closer on the bench seat and brings my hand to her chest. “I’m sorry. I should have been there for you. I should have asked what was wrong. I was so caught up in myself, I neglected to think about you. And then…God, not coming back. You must hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” I say.
Not even close, Storee.
Not even a little.
“Cole, I’m sure you do—”
“I don’t,” I say with conviction. “I really don’t, Storee.”
She presses her lips together. “Well, you should.” She glances down at her lap and lets out a sigh. “I’m just so deeply sorry. I should have been there for you, and I wasn’t. I can’t imagine what it’s been like. How lonely you must have been. I mean, I don’t see my parents much thesedays—they have their own adventurous life now—but if I want to…well, I can see them.” She pauses, and I can see how deeply she’s grieving for me. Her presence is somewhat soothing in this moment. But then she looks up. “God, I didn’t even know. I’m wrecked that I didn’t know what you were going through. I’m—”
“Because I made Cindy promise not to tell you.”
Her eyes shoot up to mine. “You did? Why?”
“Because I was angry with you at the time. I didn’t want your sympathy. I just wanted to deal with my new reality on my own. Plus, I knew you were headed to college, and I felt like you leaving that Christmas was you starting a new journey. You were done with Kringle, and I needed to accept that.”
“I would have come back if I’d known.”
“And that’s exactly why I made her promise. You weren’t into this town, this life, and I didn’t want your pity. It…it just was meant to be that way.” I drag my hand over my face. “And when you came back, I treated you like shit, and I’m sorry. I was just, hell, I was surprised. I didn’t know how to handle my feelings and I acted childishly. I’m sorry, Storee.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t be. You had every right to act the way that you did.”
“Losing my parents doesn’t give me the privilege to be an asshole.”
“How about this, we’re both sorry for separate reasons, and we both accept the apologies?” She squeezes my hand, and it makes me smile. “We can move on from this, Cole. We don’t need to live in a past of apologies, because that is not going to do anything but make us go around in circles.”
“You’re right,” I say, clearing my throat.
“So let’s accept what we’ve said, and move forward from here.”
“Yeah, I think I can get on board with that.”
“Good.” She glances out the window and back at me. “Now, that doesn’t mean I’m going to take it easy on you. You’re still going down…Snow Daddy.” My brows shoot up and she chuckles. “Atlas told me abouthis nickname for you. I was just waiting to use it. Has a nice ring to it, if you ask me.”
