All I Want For Christmas: A Sweet Serenade Christmas Novella (4 page)

Deeply involved in writing a letter to an agent about a liability risk for a food vendor, Hailey jumped when the phone at her elbow rang. She picked it up. “Hello?”

“I’m a dog.”

“Corey.”

“Don’t hang up.”

She fought the temptation long enough to ask the question uppermost in her mind. “Why are you calling?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“But we’re on the same floor in the same building.”

“I’d come to your desk if I thought you’d talk to me.”

“Why should I?”

“I want to ask your forgiveness.”

She groaned inwardly. If he’d said anything else, she might have been able to fob him off with a clear conscience. “You seem to make a habit of that.”

“Please? This is eating me up.”

Could she trust him to be sincere? Probably not. Should she give him a chance to be heard? Maybe. It was all so confusing, but one thing she knew. There was no way she was going to get involved with him again. “Meet me in the lobby in ten minutes.”

“Thank you.”

She slammed the phone down and tapped the end of her ballpoint pen against her desk repeatedly just to make it click. The precise sound comforted her. Nothing in her life at this moment came near to being as orderly. She should be spending her break with Matt not Corey. But Matt wouldn’t be there. She had to accept that fact.

Corey was waiting for her in the lobby. He took her elbow, and by unspoken consent, they went outside. He turned toward the walled garden.

She pulled away. “Let’s just walk.”

He didn’t try to take her arm again but stayed near. They headed downhill in the direction of the water. A cold wind was blowing in off the surface, and she hunched into her jacket for warmth. They stopped at the first cross street and waited for the light to turn green.

Corey turned her to face him. “I’m sorry I messed things up between us.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Will you let me explain about Tisha?”

“If it makes you feel better.”

“I’ve known her a long time, since we were kids, and I guess she’s a little possessive of me.”

“You guess?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Not at all. She wanted me to know she has a prior claim.”

He frowned. “That’s just it. She doesn’t.”

“Tell that to Tisha.”

“I did.”

“What?”

“I told her to lay off at the party.”

“That must have been after I left.”

“Where’d you go, by the way?”

“Home. I’d had enough.”

“I did look for you, just so you know. I felt terrible about what happened.”

That was too much. “You didn’t seem to feel badly while Tisha was draped all over you.”

“I was trying to let her down gently, but that only ended up confusing things. Now I’m in hot water with both of you.”

“It’s hard to sympathize.”

“Can you forgive me?”

“That might take a little time.”

“I’m hoping you’ll give me a second chance.” He pulled her into his arms.

“No, don’t.” She twisted out of his embrace. “That’s not going to happen.”

His eyes widened a little, as if she’d startled him, and no wonder. Whenever he’d tackled her before, she’d always caved in to her infatuation. Beyond physical attraction, she hadn’t given much thought until now to what it meant to love and be loved. This wasn’t it, though. Being manhandled, manipulated, and constantly confused was not her idea of romance.

Love should be like the tender relationship her parents had shared. Now that she put it in that perspective, much was becoming obvious, as if her mind was a foggy windshield that suddenly cleared.

“It could never work between us, Corey.”

He looked affronted. “Why not?”

“I could laugh, if it wasn’t so sad, but I’m in love with someone else.”

Matt slipped out the door of Seattle Coffee and turned his back on the kissing couple. At first when he’d seen Hailey through the window, he’d been confused. Why was she bringing this man, who must be Corey, to meet him? But they weren’t coming inside. When Corey kissed her Matt understood that she must have thought he wouldn’t be here. He
had
said he needed time.

Intent on putting as much distance between himself and Hailey as possible, he started off, heading nowhere in particular. He wouldn’t try to go back to the office until he’d calmed down. Following random green lights landed him at Pike Place. He skipped the market in favor of the small park to the north. In summer, a strange mix of residents, office workers, and tourists overran Victor Steinbrueck Park, but today only a few people shared were taking advantage of a clear, dry day to go for a stroll. He gazed past the stretch of green grass to where a ferry plied the water and let the tranquility of the scene soak into him.

It occurred to him that he was clutching his violin case like a life preserver. He set it on a bench and decided to open it. The weight of his violin felt comforting and familiar in his hands. Tuning his instrument took little time, and soon he was touching bow to strings. It had been a long time since he’d played like this. His fingers wandered over the strings, creating a quicksilver melody and assigning chord progressions with ease. His instrument became his voice, singing a melody that could not be found on a page, for it was his heart’s cry.

At some point people gathered, their faces reflecting the rapture he felt, and he lowered his bow to a smattering of applause. A man in a brown suede coat with ruffled brown hair dropped a twenty in his case.

He nodded his head in thanks.

His small audience called for him to play again, but he thanked them for their attention, packed his violin into its case, and moved on. At the entrance to the market, he took a moment to drop the twenty into the bronze pig to be distributed to the poor.

Music always changed his perspective. Sharing it with others took him out of himself in a way nothing else could. He hadn’t asked for the talent God had given him. The joy it brought came always at a cost. Charlie’s words returned to him in memory.
Whatever the trouble, you must set it aside or it will hold you back.
He knew what he needed to do, although it was like tearing his own heart out.

He had to stop seeing Hailey.

Fingernails drummed on Hailey’s desk, making her start.

Izzy laughed. “Sorry. Where were you?”

Heat rushed into her cheeks. “Thinking.”

“You’d better not let Kelsey see you staring at the wall like that.”

“I shouldn’t be spacing out, anyway.” She locked her screen and stood up. 

Izzy put a hand to her back and stretched. “What were you thinking about?”

“Only that I’m an idiot.” Hailey started down the hall for the break room.

Izzy caught up to her. “There’s a man involved, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Will you talk more quietly, please? Two men.” Hailey kept her voice low. “I’m swearing off them for life.”

“Just so you know, that’s always the first sign.”

“Of what, exactly?”

“That you’re about to find romance.”

“What?”

“It’s true, or at least in novels.”

“Izzy, this is real life.” The break room was thankfully empty. Hailey slumped into a chair and put her head into her hands. “It serves me right, but the man I love wants nothing more to do with me.”

Izzy sat across from her at the table. “You never know. Corey might come around.”

“Corey? Who said anything about Corey?”

“Didn’t you?”

“No.”

“Then, who—“

“Matt.”

“Ah!” Izzy infused the small word with a lot of meaning.

“Is that your smug way of saying I told you so?”

“Never that,
chica
.”

The gentleness in Izzy’s voice made Hailey want to cry all over again. She’d been doing a lot of that in the week since Matt stopped coming to the coffee shop. Izzy pressed a napkin into her hand, and Hailey dabbed the corners of her eyes.

“What happened to Corey? I thought he was the one you wanted.”

“That was a mistake.”

“Oh.”

“Not
that
kind of mistake. He and I don’t belong together, that’s all.”

A smug look came over Izzy’s face. “I could have told you that.”

“You did, as I recall.”

Izzy waved a hand. “So what happened with Matt?”

“I think he must have been playing with me all along.”

“That doesn’t sound like the man I met.”

“He never told me that he’s a famous violinist.”

“Wait! What did you say?”

“He’s a celebrated solo violinist. I looked him up online.”

“And that’s a crime?”

“No, but he shouldn’t have pretended to be a street musician.” She shredded the corner of her napkin. “I’m not sure what to think about that.”

Izzy shrugged. “Maybe he feels cagey about being famous.”

“I just wish he’d told me the truth.”

“Maybe he didn’t feel safe, considering that he’s in love with you.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Some things are obvious.”

“Well, if he did feel that way, I doubt he does anymore.”

“Hailey, Hailey.” Izzy’s hands warmed hers. “Love doesn’t die like that. Not when it’s real. Tell me, what are you doing Friday night?”

“Drowning my sorrows in eggnog and crying into my pillow.” She was only partially kidding.

“You’ll have to postpone your plans. I have a better idea.”

Hailey stared at her in faint alarm. “What do you have in mind?”

Izzy flashed a mysterious smile. “You’ll just have to find out on Friday. Bring something fabulous to wear.”

The week went by faster than Hailey expected. Before leaving work on Friday, she ducked into one of the changing rooms attached to the employee’s exercise room and slipped into a red dress.

Izzy was already waiting in the break room. She grinned at Hailey. “Look at you! Cinderella going to the ball.”

Hailey laughed. “Prince Charming need not apply. You’re gorgeous in that dress, by the way.”

“Carl tells me I clean up well.” She shimmied in her sequined black dress.

“Where is this Ball, by the way?”

“Details, details! You’ll find out soon.” They went down to the garage, where Izzy’s Ford Focus waited. “Go ahead and leave your bag in my trunk. I’ll run you to the ferry later.”

“Aren’t we taking your car?”

“It’s not far. I thought we’d go to Tulio’s. Tonight’s on me, by the way.”

“Thank you. I love Italian food, but I’ve never been to that restaurant.”

“Trust me. It’s amazing.”

After Hailey took her first bite of roasted chicken with caramelized garlic, sage, and lemon risotto, she had to agree.

“Told you so.” Izzy waved her fork, a bite of grilled salmon clinging precariously to its tines.

They applied themselves to their meal, and then sipped coffee while Hailey indulged in tiramisu and Izzy spooned gelato into her mouth, a serene look on her face.

Hailey picked up her coffee cup with a satisfied sigh. “Thanks, again. This was a wonderful evening.”

“It’s not over, yet.”

“No?”

“I saved the best part for last.”

Leaving the quiet atmosphere of the restaurant, they walked northwest on Fifth Avenue, but when they turned left onto University street, Hailey’s steps slowed. “I think I know what you’re up to.”

Izzy took her by the elbow. “The concert is about to start.”

Hailey jerked her arm out of Izzy’s grasp. “How could you do this?”

“Don’t blame me. Matt gave us the tickets.”

“What? Why would he do that?”

“Well, okay, I asked him to. Stop looking at me like that. Someone had to do something, and I decided that was me. I didn’t tell him how you felt about him. That’s your call, but I really think you should.”

“What did you say to him?”

“Only that you’ve been miserable since he stopped meeting you.”

“I’ll never be able to face him, now.”

“I don’t know why not. The man is in love with you. You’re in love with him. You two should talk, maybe tonight.”

Hailey glanced at her in suspicion. “What are you saying?”

“It makes sense for you two to get together after the concert.”

“Oh, no. Don’t tell me--”

“It was his idea.”

“Okay.” Hailey put a hand to her stomach, where butterflies were stirring. “That makes a difference.”

Their seats were located just below the stage, close enough for Hailey to watch Matthew Kerrigan’s every emotion cross his face as he played his Stradivarius violin with the passion of a consummate musician. Beneath hot lights and in front of a packed house, he presented selections from a wide repertoire, ranging from the love theme from Romeo and Juliet to the Nutcracker’s Waltz of the Flowers.

As the final notes sounded, the audience sprang to its feet in a standing ovation. Hailey rose too, beside Izzy, applauding with a lump in her throat. This wasn’t the bedraggled musician from the coffee shop, but a confident man she didn’t recognize. He took several bows, then made a sweeping gesture toward the orchestra. The applause continued, and he took up his violin again amid cheers. The strains of Silent Night pierced the air, so pure and sweet Hailey wanted to weep. After more applause and several bows, Matt finally left the stage.

“Well? What do you think of the concert?” Izzy spoke near her ear, bringing her back to herself.

“It wasn’t anything like I thought it would be. I’m glad I came.”

“I’m sure Matt would like to hear you say that. We’re not allowed backstage for security reasons, but he wanted to meet us at the stage door. By the time we cut through this crowd, he’ll probably be there.”

They arrived before he did, which didn’t help Hailey’s nerves any. By now her palms were sweating. Musicians began to trickle out with their instrument cases. Finally, Matt appeared, elegant in his tuxedo.

“Thanks for the tickets.” Izzy stepped forward to shake his hand. “We enjoyed the concert.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you could come.” He smiled at Izzy, then his gaze shifted to Hailey.

His hand, offered in greeting, warmed her chill skin. A wave of longing almost like pain washed over her, making her knees go weak.

“I’ll just check out the powder room in the lobby.” Izzy gave a gentle push to the small of Hailey’s back, which caused her to step forward.

Matt watched Izzy disappear around the corner. “She’s acting strangely.”

“I think she’s giving us some time alone.”

“Oh.”

“Matt…”  Her throat closed up.

He pointed to her feet. “Can you walk in those?”

She looked down at her silver shoes. “Of course. They’re flats.”

He put his hand under her elbow. “We won’t go far.”

They wandered a couple of blocks to the waterfront park next to the aquarium, where they stood watching silver streams of water cascade in the fountain. She turned to him. “What happened to Matt, the gypsy violinist? I hardly know what to make of you in that tuxedo.”

“He’ll always be part of me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me who you are?”

“I shouldn’t have lied to you.” He looked back at the fountain. “I’m sorry.”

She took a deep breath, cold and spiced with salt from the Sound. “I need to know why.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. I saw you kissing Corey the other day.”

She frowned. “When?”

“Have you kissed him so many times in public you don’t know?”

“What are you talking about?”

“When I waited for you in Seattle Coffee, I wasn’t counting on having a ring-side seat.”

“You were there?”

“Oh, yes. Congratulations on catching the man you want.”

“It isn’t like that.”

“Oh? It seemed very much like that.” They moved away from the fountain, their shoes echoing on the boardwalk.

“You sound so bitter.”

He sighed. “I’m not being fair. You were clear with me from the beginning, but I let myself hope for something between us.”

“Matt—“

“I’ve finally stopped lying to myself.”

“I broke it off with Corey.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“This time it’s real.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Because I love you.” She hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that. There was no way she could look at him.

He laughed, but it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “Now that I’m not a street musician, you think I have more money than Corey, and you love me. Is that it?”

Anger flickered up her spine. “Now wait just a minute. Did you give Izzy those tickets and invite me on this walk so you could tell me off?”

“No.” He raked a hand through his hair and looked away from her. “I was trying to say a sweet goodbye.”