Page 7 of A Holly Jolly Mix Up (Sweet Christmas Kisses #12)
Andrew
I wake up to the sound of Angus’s paws scrambling across the hardwood floor. He barks excitedly and jumps on the bed. The bright sunlight peeks through my window blinds, casting patterns on the walls. I open my bedroom door, as Angus shoots out toward the living room.
The house is eerily quiet. Normally, I would hear Jane’s slippers shuffling down the hallway or her morning chatter as she makes breakfast. But today, there is only silence, with the occasional chirping of birds outside.
I call out for Jane, but there is no response. As an hour passes with still no sign of her, I start to feel a pit of worry form in my stomach. I knock gently on her bedroom door, hoping she’s just sleeping in. No response.
As I push open the door, I find an immaculately made bed and no sign of her belongings. Panic sets in as I frantically search the rest of the empty house, only to find her car missing from the driveway .
Just when I’m about to fully lose it, a loud crash echoes through the house.
I run to investigate and find Angus proudly standing next to a knocked-over trash can.
As I start picking up the crumpled papers scattered across the floor, my heart sinks as I realize they are letters from Jane, well, the start of ones.
A sharp pain shoots through me as I read them and realize that she left without a word or explanation.
“I don’t understand,” I mutter, my chest feels heavy and confused. “She just left?”
Angus barks in response.
I read the single sentences in the crumpled papers and can see that Jane’s absence is her own doing. She didn’t even say goodbye. I know it was only three days together but there was something here between us. Something real.
“She’s gone,” I mutter aloud.
Angus barks again, this time waiting to be let outside.
“Just a minute, buddy.”
Angus barks again and scratches at the back door.
“I get that you want out,” I mutter to the crazy animal. “Can’t I have a single moment to mourn here?”
Angus does a full circle, chasing his tale.
“Alright. Come on, boy.”
I open the door, and out he goes. I slip into my boots and make my way after him .
Since today is my last day here, I spent several hours last night formulating this big speech I wanted to give to Jane about staying in touch. Stating that as bizarre (and incredibly painful) as this weekend started, I had a wonderful time with her and wouldn’t change a thing.
But I’m grateful that I didn’t; I would have made a big fool of myself. Obviously, she doesn’t feel the same way. She snuck away into the night without a word, and I need to get over whatever I thought this might be.
“Angus, want to go on a hike today?” I ask, patting him as he bounded back to me.
The crisp air is cold but not as brutal as it had been yesterday. It’s the perfect time to enjoy this last day out in nature.
I pack a few snacks and bundle the both of us up before heading out.
We hike up a small hill behind the house which gives us a perfect panoramic view.
The snow drifts between the trees, the tops of the trees and houses covered in white.
I stand there, looking out at the picturesque view of Silver Valley.
It’s beautiful, but without Jane right there next to me, it feels a little less breathtaking.
Angus nudges my leg, urging me forward. I continue walking when a rabbit crosses in front of us, blazing a trail in the pristine snow. Angus immediately bounds after it, and I follow him.
Jane probably isn’t even thinking about me, and here I am, wishing she was here chatting away like she tended to do. How can you miss someone you only just met?
You had something real.
She was a stranger three days ago. How could it have been real?
“Face it,” I mutter to myself. “You fell for the witty, sassy journalist with expressive green eyes and tiny freckles across her nose.”
What? Angus barks at me as if he understands my thoughts.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I chide the pup, feeling foolish. “You liked her too.”
Love at first sight is real.
I scoff at my ridiculous thoughts. That only happens in movies, not in real life.
Yet here I am, missing the woman who was nothing more than a stranger three days ago.
But our connection…it was lightning in a bottle.
We sparked off each other from the start.
I begin replaying the last couple of days in my mind.
I try to think of any signs that Jane was planning to leave.
But there were none. We shared laughter, stories, and even moments of silence that seemed comfortable rather than awkward .
“Angus, leave the critter alone. Come on, let’s head back and get warm.”
Angus waddles back to me, and we make our way back down the hill. The giggle of some children perks his ears as I see him pivot in a new direction.
“Angus, gentle,” I call out as he is off with a start.
While I know he won’t intentionally hurt anyone, he’s still a puppy and loves to jump. Angus is enthusiastic and desperate for attention, but he hasn’t realized not everyone wants to be licked or jumped on. We’re working on that in training.
“Come here, buddy,” I call out to him, trying to get him away from the child.
He jumps up on a little boy in a snowsuit who topples backward.
“I’m so sorry,” I tell the woman standing watch next to the wrestling match Angus is having with the child. I hurry toward Angus to get him off the child.
“Oh no,” the boy giggles as Angus licks the boys’ reddened cheek.
“Zach, are you okay?” the woman asks the child, who just gives a thumbs up. “He’s okay. He loves all animals.” The mother finally turns to me. “Ever since he was a small child, anything fur or feather covered would flock right toward him. ”
I chuckle. “Well, Angus loves attention, but he’s sweet. He won’t hurt him on purpose,” I reassure her.
Zach rights himself in the snow, and Angus sits panting next to him. The sight is quite adorable actually. Then, Angus jumps with both paws right into Zach’s chest, pushing the little boy backward again. Jane’s voice echoes in my head. That little menace.
Zach’s peel of laughter would make anyone smile.
“Thank you.” The mother smiles softly. “We’ve had a tough time lately. This is the most I’ve heard Zach laugh. That dog of yours seems to have a knack for changing the mood up.”
I feel my own heart flip-flop in my chest. “Yeah, Angus is the best,” I tell her. “I’m a detective, and some days are extremely rough. One step in the front door and it all melts away. He brings the crazy right to my feet.”
“Wow, that’s a tough job,” she says. “No wife or girlfriend?”
“Nope,” I tell her as I inhale deeply. “Just Angus and me. I had a close call recently. I thought it could be something, but…I guess I was wrong.”
“I’m sorry. I’m a bit soured of late on love myself, but dogs—well, I might finally give in to Zach’s pleas for one of his own when we get home. ”
“I think he would be great with one,” I tell her as we stand and watch their antics unfolding in front of us.
“He would, wouldn’t he?” She looks at me and then back to the boys. “You know, sometimes people don’t realize what they have until it’s gone. Maybe she’ll come back.”
“Maybe,” I say, but even as I do, I know it’s a long shot.
We watch Angus and Zach play for a few more minutes before we all head home. The cabin is quiet without Jane’s laughter or her witty remarks. It feels hollow somehow.
Angus jumps on the couch and whines. He turns around in a circle before lying down, his sad eyes looking at me. It’s the same spot Jane sat in all weekend.
“I miss her too, buddy,” I say to Angus as he nuzzles his head against my leg. “I thought…well, it doesn’t matter what I thought.”
Tomorrow, we’ll be back to our usual routine, and all will be well.
I have Angus, and together, we’ll get through this loss of Jane.
Well, it isn’t really a loss since she was never really mine.
But, for the first time, my heart is longing for more.
Something that’s been dormant for a long time.
Jane opened my heart to the possibility of love.
She gave me a glimpse of what that would look like, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.
Maybe one day, we’ll meet again, but if not, I’ll at least have some entertaining memories of the reservation mix-up in Silver Valley.