Page 95 of Pity Present
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
MOLLY
I don’t stay in Elk Lake long enough to see Henry. In fact, I don’t even tell Ellen that I’m leaving. I just pack up and roll out of the room while she’s in the shower. I do, however, leave her a note, so she won’t think I disappeared into thin air.
The train ride back into the city is nothing short of depressing. Happy, festive people are everywhere. They’re smiling and wearing Santa hats and animatedly discussing holiday plans. Couples are walking hand in hand and carrying shopping bags that are surely full of presents for loved ones. Meanwhile, I’m going home to my boringly sterile beige apartment that hasn’t even been decorated.
When the train pulls into Union Station, I’m overwhelmed by a horrible sadness. I have no idea why I’m so bent out of shape over Blake. Yes, I had high hopes of a possible future together, but we didn’t know each other well, and certainly not for long. There’s no reason I should let his treachery affect me like it has.
Blake is handsome, lovely, funny, and nice, but I probably just saw those characteristics amplified. Maybe I did that because Iwas finally ready to get back into the dating scene, and not because he was as perfect as I thought he was.
Taking a cab to my apartment, I stare out the window and try to force myself to enjoy all the decorations. It’s my favorite time of year in Chicago. I need to stop letting thoughts of Blake take center stage in my brain and ruin that for me.
When the cab pulls up to my building, I get out and briefly drop my suitcase off with the doorman. Then I head to the market on the corner where I buy a fresh wreath for my door, along with a poinsettia plant and some staples for my refrigerator. I’m going to go home and force myself into the Christmas spirit, even if it kills me.
When I get back to my building, Martin, the doorman, tells me, “I’ll bring your suitcase up for you in a few minutes. You have a delivery at the desk you might want to pick up.”
I stop at the desk and find that I’ve been sent a giant vase of red roses. There must be fifty of them. I open the envelope with my name on it, but the card isn’t signed. There’s just a simple message.
Christmas is a time for miracles.
Tears spring up in my eyes. That’s the same thing Ellen told me right before I left for Elk Lake. I line my grocery bags up my arms so that my hands are free to carry the flowers.
I love my sister’s optimism, but there are no Christmas miracles for me this year. Maybe next year, if I’m really good. Once I get to my apartment, I open the door and discover a Christmas tree has been set up in my living room by the window. Flipping on the light switch causes hundreds of tiny colored lights to flicker on and illuminate the glass ornaments that adorn it.
I pull my phone out of my purse and call Ellen. “What have you done?” I ask her.
“What haveIdone?” she flings. “What haveyoudone? Why is Henry here?”
“He’s there so that the two of you can work things out beforetoo much distance makes everything weird.” Then I tell her, “I love my tree and flowers.”
“I’m glad you love the tree,” she says, “but I didn’t send flowers.”
“Are you sure?” I ask her.
“Of course I’m sure.” I hear her giggle before she says, “Henry says thank you.”
“Are you going to thank me, too?” I ask her.
“Maybe,” she says. Her voice lowers. “I’m just really scared, Molly. I mean, what if things go spectacularly wrong?”
“Like they did with Don?” I know that’s what she’s really worried about.
“Yes, like that.”
“You can learn from the past, Ellen, but you can’t stop taking chances. You can’t stop believing that good things can happen to you.”
“You did,” she accuses none too kindly.
“I may have stopped believing in a fairytale ending for myself, but I’ve decided that it’s time to give love a chance again.”
“With Blake?” she asks excitedly.
“No, not with him.”
“Not with Kyle?” She sounds horrified.
“Not him, either,” I tell her. “I’ve decided that next year is going to be my year to make some big changes.” I list the few that I’ve come up with. “I’m going to start dating again. I’m going to travel less and accept more jobs closer to home. And I’m going to go see every romcom that comes out. Because honestly, if things can work out for a hooker and a billionaire, then surely, they can work out for me, too.”
