Page 94 of Pity Present
“I don’t want to kick you out,” Henry says haltingly.
“I need to go home anyway,” I tell him. “Things didn’t go well for me here and I have a lot to think about.”
Luckily, Henry doesn’t ask me what happened. Instead, he says, “Thank you, Molly. I appreciate everything you’re doing.”
“I want you for a brother-in-law,” I tell Henry. “You and Ellen are perfect for each other and I think you just need a few days away from everything to realize that.”
“Text me the info. I can be there tomorrow.”
I say goodbye to Henry and then text him the deets on the Elk Lake Lodge. My next stop is Trina’s office. I’m nervous to see her because, between me and Blake, she wanted him to stay, and he’s the one who left. Now, I’m about to tell her that I’mleaving too. Knocking lightly on the door, I say, “Trina, it’s me, Molly.”
“Come in,” I hear her call out.
I open the door to find her sitting at her desk surrounded by studio lights. I turn to the side and see a guy about my age standing behind a camera. He’s taking pictures of Trina.
“I can come back,” I tell her.
She stands up and gestures me toward her. “Don’t be silly. This is Noah. He lives in Elk Lake, and I just hired him to take pictures for us at the lodge.”
Noah smiles shyly and waves. “Hey.”
“That was fast work,” I tell her.
“There’s no sense putting off the execution of a good idea.” She turns to Noah. “Can you give us a few minutes?”
Noah puts his camera down on her desk. “No problem. I’ll just be outside when you’re ready.”
After he leaves, Trina says, “He’s taking some headshots of me for our brochure. He’ll take some of Heath when he gets back from the city.” I was wondering why I hadn’t met Trina’s fiancé, and now I know why.
“I’m planning to go back to Chicago today,” I tell Trina.
Sitting down again, she says, “But you don’t have to go now. I understand that Blake left.”
“I’m certainly not going to stay and keep going to your event,” I tell her. “And I finished the report for your gift shop. I emailed it to you this morning.”
“I saw it and it looks great,” she says. “But why don’t you and Ellen stay on and have some fun?”
“Because,” I start to say before taking the chair across from hers, “Ellen’s boyfriend is going to come up and take my place.” I explain, “They broke up when he proposed last week. Ellen loves him, but she’s scared.”
“Oh, I see.” Trina turns to her computer and starts to type. “What’s his name?”
“Henry,” I tell her.
“And what are Ellen’s and Henry’s favorite foods, do you know?”
I list several of Ellen’s favorite things before asking, “Why?”
Trina smiles mischievously. “I’m going to do everything that I can to make sure they have the stay of their lifetime.”
“Trina, you’re too good.” Then I tell her, “I want to pay for their room.”
“Nonsense,” she says. “We expected you to be here for at least four more days, so there’s no new guest expected for that room.”
“Yes, but you shouldn’t have to pay for Ellen and Henry.”
“It’s Christmastime, Molly,” she says. “Christmas is the perfect time for happy endings.”
My heart sinks into my chest. She’s right. Christmas is a time for all good things to come to fruition. Too bad that’s not how it’s working out for me.
