When she was close enough she wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her small waist burying his face in her curls. They held each other for a long time.

“I’m so glad you came back,” he whispered.

She pulled back and cradled his face in her hands then kissed him softly on the cheek but so close to his mouth she caught the corner of his lips and she didn’t pull back. He felt her breathing accelerate then he kissed her back in the very same spot. Finally, she took a very deep breath and pulled away just enough to lean her forehead against his and smiled. “I’m glad I came back too. Thank you for this. It means so much to me.” Noah stared at her barely able to breathe and not wanting this moment to end. “Merry Christmas, Noah,” she whispered.

“Merry Christmas, Roni,” he whispered back.

She stared at him for a moment longer then smiled. “Now go get your jammies on. We got a marathon to watch.”

CHAPTER 16

I’m sorry I didn’t hear from you over the holidays. I hope they were good. I really hope you’re better. I’m here for you. You know that. Have a happy New Year.

Veronica read the text from Derek again. She knew what he was thinking. That she was wallowing in self-pity through the holidays alone and pathetic. He’d texted her so much in the past few weeks that if she didn’t know any better his guilty conscience was getting to him.

She hadn’t responded even once. Maybe she should. Just to let him off the hook. Let him know that while he thought her buried in grief and eating herself to death, she’d had not only the best Thanksgiving but the best Christmas that she could remember in years—if ever.

After nearly giving into her desires on Christmas day and possibly ruining everything, she’d managed to turn it around and they’d had the most perfect day watching movies. They talked and laughed the whole day. Other than the times she and her mother had done the same thing this was the best Christmas day ever. She’d worn her medal the entire day. Even when Noah had teased her and told her she didn’t have to, she refused to take it off.

She stared at her phone for another moment then decided against replying, tossing it on her bed. The day awaited her. She’d already warned Noah that she might not make their workout tonight. The mall after Christmas would be worse than it was the weeks before it. Every store was having clearance sales and Veronica needed an entire new wardrobe for work.

It was going to be another wet one out but this couldn’t wait. If she was going to make a clean start then she needed the clothes to go with it. She grabbed her commuter mug and headed out her back door.

Noah had replaced her windshield wipers the day before when she told him about her day of shopping. He knew the rest of the week was supposed to be miserable. She smiled remembering his words “I don’t wanna have to worry.”

He was such a sweetheart. She sighed. If only he was a few years older damn it. She hopped in her car slipping the keys into the ignition. The car made a hacking noise followed by a wheezing sound but wouldn’t turn on. Her shoulders dropped. “Nooo!”

She tried again, and again the noises but no power. Her head dropped against the steering wheel and she gave it a minute. Silently praying, she tried it again. Nothing.

“Damn it!” She slapped the steering wheel then it hit her. This was the worst time her car could break down. Her first day of work was less than a week away.

Sitting up straight, she thought fast. What to do? She leaned over quickly and grabbed her purse then pulled the keys out of the ignition. Within minutes, she was on the phone with the auto club.

It would be at least a half hour before the tow truck would even be there to pick it up. Her day of shopping was shot. She tried Nellie. Maybe by some miracle she was free for the day. She hadn’t spoken to her since before she left on her cruise a few days before Christmas.

To her surprise, she answered. “Hey stranger.”

With nowhere to go Veronica plopped herself on the sofa. “How are you? How was the cruise?

“It was wonderful. How was your Christmas?”

Veronica almost said it was wonderful also but she knew better. “Quiet. We watched a movie marathon most of the day.”

“Oh good. I was worried maybe you’d spent the day alone. Noah was with you?”

Veronica rolled her eyes trying hard not to feel resentful. Nellie had been home for days from her cruise and she hadn’t bothered to call. Veronica had to remind herself of all the selfless effort Nellie had made to get her back to feeling human again. “Yes, he was here. It was nice.”

“What are you up to now?”

“Sitting here waiting for auto club. My stupid car won’t start and I start work next week. I need to make sure it’s running by then.”

“Well that stinks. But at least you have a few days to get it going right?”

Veronica frowned. She thought about it for a moment before mentioning it. She hoped with all her might Nellie would offer to pick her up. “Worst thing is I was supposed to go shopping today for work clothes. I was all set to go and the car wouldn’t start.” She waited, her fingers crossed.

“Oh man. Well maybe you’ll get it back before then,” she paused and Veronica heard her sigh. “Honey, I’d offer to take you but since we were gone for the holidays we’re making our rounds this week. Rick’s packing the car now. We’re headed up north today to his sister’s for a few days. Otherwise you know I’d be there for you.”