Page 15 of A Curvy Wonderland (A Curvy Girl Christmas #3)

15

HOLLY

I must have fallen asleep, because when I heard the door to my room open and I opened my eyes, the light outside was fading, somewhere between the pale yellow of late afternoon and the dark blue of nighttime.

I looked up to see my mom coming in still wearing her uniform from her job as a medical assistant at the local clinic. They all wore matching red and white scrubs, with the name of the clinic stitched over the breast pocket.

Her hair was pulled back into a slick bun, and she even had a red bow topped over it.

“Hey honey,” she said.

“Hey.” I sat up, leaning back against my headboard.

She joined me at the foot of my bed. “Those girls must be wearing you out.”

“Something like that,” I said.

Now I realized that she was holding something in her hand, and she held it out to me, revealing a dark green envelope with metallic gold lettering on the front.

“What's this?” I asked her, taking the paper in my hand. It felt expensive.

“Came in the mail for you today,” she answered with a shrug.

I flipped it over, seeing a matching gold wax seal with a Christmas tree stamped into it. It was beautiful, very Christmassy, exactly the thing I would have loved if not for the perpetual ache in my chest.

“Are you going to open it?” my mom asked. “I'm so curious.”

I smiled at her, thankful that she was excited enough for the both of us, and peeled open the flap. When I pulled out the card, golden Christmas tree shaped confetti came out, and I read the invitation.

You are cordially invited to a Christmas party in honor of your work for the giving tree.

Black tie.

Food and drinks will be provided.

Down below was the date and time and location–the café at Emerald Acres. Along with a request to RSVP. I instantly recognized Eldan’s number.

My heart twisted painfully at the thought of seeing him again at the café. The place where I shared my first, and likely last, kiss with him.

Mom read the lines with me, and just about when I was done, she grinned. “Oh my gosh, that sounds so fun. What are you going to wear?”

She was so excited that I didn't know how to tell her I didn't quite share her excitement. What would it be like to see Eldan now? Especially when it had probably been his mom to send out these invitations. Did he even know I was invited?

But Mom was already up and going to my closet. She pulled out a sparkling blue dress. “This would be so pretty for a black-tie event. We could even go to the mall and get a little hair piece to match.”

Okay now she was speaking my language. “We can go shopping?” I perked up a little at the thought.

She grinned. “Of course. Go get your coat.”

Mom and I left my dad and brother behind at the house, and walked together to Cider Center, going through each of the shops. There were so many fun stores in Garland like The Nutcracker and Santa's Bag, and sometimes Mom and I would just go window shopping to pass the time. But today, we were on a mission. We got more than just an accessory for my hair, also finding a beautiful necklace with a bejeweled blue and white candy cane on the end and matching sparkling earrings.

Before I went to bed, she had helped me lay them all out in my room so that they would be ready for the next day because she wouldn't be home from work in time to help me get ready.

“Remember to RSVP,” Mom told me before saying goodnight.

I nodded, going to my bed and switching to my messages. I was staring at the blinking cursor when a call came through from Delilah. “You're coming to the party, right?” she asked. “The girls are so excited.”

I had to smile at the joy in her voice. “Yeah.” I couldn’t say no and let Tatum and Lucy down.

“Great,” she said. “Because Tatum has been constantly begging me to have you come over and do her hair like you did for the Christmas tree lighting.”

A laugh passed through my lips, completely unexpected. “Of course I'll do her hair.”

So that was that. I couldn't back out now, because the girls were expecting me. Needing me.

I could set aside my pride for one night and then do my best to never speak to Eldan Green again.