Page 21 of Sweet Yuletide (Indigo Bay Christmas Romances #4)

On the morning of December twenty-fourth, Sheridan stood on the deck, watching the waves roll to shore. Clouds had moved in, but the sky wasn’t completely covered. She’d assumed her Christmas would be blue, not merry. She’d never been so happy to be wrong.

A door opened and closed.

Michael stood behind Sheridan and wrapped his arms around her stomach. “The ornaments aren’t dry.”

She leaned against him, soaking up his warmth. “They’ll be ready when Hope and Von return.”

When it’s time for me to leave .

Her chest tightened, imagining herself saying goodbye to Michael. She gripped the deck’s railing until her knuckles went white.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked. “You’re all tense.”

Oh, no . Sheridan didn’t want to ruin the time they had left together by worrying about the future. She would concentrate on today and tomorrow. Everything else could wait.

She let go of the rail. “I’m fine.”

“So am I.” He nuzzled against her neck. His breath was warm against her skin. “Do we have what we need for the next two days, or should we make another run to the market?”

She laughed. “More than enough. I can’t believe you bought eggnog.”

“Someone left a coupon by it.” With his hands on her shoulders, he turned Sheridan so she faced him. “I didn’t want to forget anything that might be a Christmas tradition.”

Will he forget me while he travels the world ?

Her breath hitched.

Nope. She wasn’t going there. Instead, she kissed his cheek, above where his beard started. “Thank you.”

His mouth slanted into a wry grin. “You’re welcome, but I’m doing this for me, too.”

“I’m amazed it’s Christmas Eve.” And that she was in his arms with the mistletoe only a few feet away.

“What time do we need to head to Main Street?”

“Three o’clock. What do you want to do until then?”

Mischief lit his eyes. “I have a few ideas—going on a walk, kissing, watching another movie, kissing.”

Her phone rang.

“Or answering the phone,” he added. “Then kissing.”

The ringtone made her stomach knot. She bit her lip.

“Sheridan?” Concern filled Michael’s voice.

“It’s… Sal.” She’d almost said her father, but he’d lost that title in November.

“Don’t answer.”

A million thoughts ran through her mind, but one came to the forefront. “What if something’s wrong?”

Michael lowered his arms to his sides, and she missed the warmth of his touch. “I’ll go inside to give you privacy.”

The phone rang again.

“Stay.” Her voice cracked. “Please.”

He touched her shoulder. “I’m right here.”

With a nod, she raised the phone to her ear. “Hello.”

“Things with Remy aren’t working out.” Sal sounded impatient. “I need you at the gallery, Sheri-doll.”

His use of her pet name melted Sheridan’s heart. He hadn’t called her that since Deena entered the picture. Unexpected hope blossomed. Maybe Sheridan would get her dad back.

She clutched the phone, torn between wanting to tell him she’d be there as soon as possible and needing him to own up to how badly he hurt her.

“You’ve got this, beautiful,” Michael said.

And she did, but hearing him was a wonderful reminder. This phone call was more than she expected, and though she was hopeful, it wasn’t enough. “Is that all you have to say to me?”

“What more do you need?”

She stared at Michael, drawing extra strength from him. She took a breath and another. “You gave my job and apartment to someone else. I need to hear more than I’m needed at the gallery. I need an apology for what you did.”

Sal mumbled something. “Deena said you’d be difficult about this.”

It always came back to his new wife. And though Sheridan was clinging to a sliver of hope, she wouldn’t be a doormat. “Then ask her to help you out.”

Silence filled the line.

“Look, I shouldn’t have listened to Deena. Things with Remy have been”—he lowered his voice as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear—“a disaster. She misunderstood how our commission worked and had a flash sale while I was away. Every piece was discounted fifty percent.”

Ouch . Sheridan cringed. Artists earned anywhere from forty to seventy percent of the sales price, depending on the contract. The gallery would have to make up the money. “That’s going to hurt.”

“If you had trained her—”

“Don’t blame me for this.”

“Okay, fine.” He sighed. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake letting you go. Do you want me to beg?”

It wasn’t the best apology, but she wasn’t like Michael, who had more family members than he could count on two hands. Sheridan had her parents, and she wanted them in her life. She needed both despite what had happened at Thanksgiving. “You don’t have to beg.”

“Can you be here by lunchtime?” he asked without missing a beat.

“No. I’m in South Carolina. I return on the thirty-first.”

“That’s too far away. I need you here before that.”

Again, she wanted to tell him yes, but she hesitated. As much as she wanted a dad, she needed him to want her in return. “If I change my flight, there’s a fee. I can’t afford to pay that.”

“I’ll pay for it. Try to be at the gallery when it opens on the twenty-sixth, so we can end the year strong.”

“I can’t work miracles.”

“No, but you can turn things around.”

His confidence in her abilities sent pride rushing through her. She reached out to Michael with her free hand. “I’ll try.”

“Please, Sheridan. This is important. I know I hurt you, but I’ll make it up to you.” He sounded contrite. “I promise.”

He’d broken his promises before, but she wanted to believe he had learned his lesson. “So, Remy…?”

“No longer works here.”

“What about Owen?”

“He’s doing stuff behind the scenes. I don’t know if it’s making a difference yet, but we can discuss that when you’re here.”

He was saying all the right things, but Sheridan had to ask about one more person. “And Deena?”

“She told me she wouldn’t interfere in the gallery again.”

Okay, that was progress. Sheridan didn’t want to leave Indigo Bay early, but this was her career—her future—and her family at stake. She had no other choice. Michael would understand. “I’ll call the airline about changing my flight.”

“Thank you.” Her father’s relief was palpable. “I knew you’d come through for me.”

He still believed in her. She wiggled her toes.

“Text me the info and your confirmation number, so I can pay the change fee,” he added.

“I will.”

“Call them now. If you arrive today, we can spend tonight together.”

Her heart nearly exploded. He remembered Christmas Eve was his holiday this year. He hadn’t forgotten about her. She mattered to him. He still loved her. “I’ll do what I can.”

“Try your best. See you soon, Sheri-doll.” With that, he hung up.

As she stared at the phone, a mix of emotions ran through her.

“You okay?”

She smiled. “I am.”

Michael hugged her. “Good job standing up to your father.”

“I’m happy I did. He apologized and admitted he had made a mistake.” She blew out a breath. “I never thought that would happen.”

“So, why did he call?”

“He’s having issues at the gallery. He needs me to turn things around for him.”

Michael studied her. “What about your stepmother and her kids?”

“Remy no longer works at the gallery. My dad said his wife won’t interfere again.”

A smile spread across Michael’s face. He hugged her. “That’s wonderful.”

“I almost can’t believe it.” She leaned into Michael and held on tight.

The scent of him tickled her nose, and she wished he would go to Berry Lake with her.

Too bad her hometown would be the definition of boring to someone who wanted to travel the world.

“I never expected my father to call me or want me to come back.”

“How do you feel?”

“I’m so happy, but at the same time, I’m in shock.”

“Take your time to process everything. You don’t have to rush home.”

“He needs me there right away.”

Michael let go of her, but he kept his hands on her shoulders. “What do you need?”

You .

The realization almost made her laugh. She was being ridiculous.

They barely knew each other. A few kisses and holiday traditions didn’t make a relationship.

Not that they’d taken the time to put a name on what they were doing.

Whatever they had was temporary. Whether she left today, tomorrow, or on the thirty-first, the result would be the same—they wouldn’t be together.

That simplified everything, even if her heart disagreed.

She raised her chin. “I need my job at the gallery.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m happy for you.”

“But?”

Concern clouded his eyes. “After what you told me about your father, I’m not convinced changing your plans to suit him is for the best. Yes, he apologized, but it’s easy for him to tell you how much things have changed when you’re not there.”

“But he’s my dad. He’s learned his lesson.”

A vein pulsed at his jaw. “What if he hasn’t?”

She understood Michael was trying to protect her. He probably did this with his sisters and friends, but he didn’t understand her situation. He couldn’t.

“I won’t see the worst in him.” The words rushed out. “I can’t do that. I need things—him—to have changed.”

“I’m sorry if I upset you, but I’m worried about you, and I’m not sure you can trust him.”

“It’s okay, but he’s my father. This will work out.”

It must .

He caressed her cheek. “I hope so, for your sake.”

Now came the hard part. A lump formed in her throat. “The only problem is he needs me at the gallery on the twenty-sixth.”

Michael’s jaw dropped. “You’ll have to leave today or tomorrow.”

She nodded. “I want to stay until the thirty-first.”

“I want you to stay until then, too.”

“If I could…”

“But you need to go home.”

“I do. This is my chance to prove myself with the gallery.”

“You don’t have to prove anything to your father or anyone else.”

She stared at the deck. Michael was correct. “No, but I want to go home. If you want to come or visit—”

“You could stay here instead.”

“I can’t.” What she wanted—needed—clashed with what he wanted. “My dad’s gallery means everything to me. It’s my job, my passion, my life. My dad is far from perfect, but he’s giving me the chance to work there again. I need to do more than couch-surfing at friends’ houses and bumming around.”

As Michael’s face fell, he stepped away from her. “Wow. I didn’t realize that’s how you see me.”

“It’s not. I meant we’re at different places.”

“That’s interesting, because you agreed we were in the same spot.”

Heat flooded her face. “I care about you.”

“You have a funny way of showing it.” His shoulders sagged. “I thought you saw me differently, but you’re like everybody else who sees me as nothing more than a kid who never grew up. A loser.”

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to.” He moved toward the French doors. “You should call the airlines so you can change your flight. You might luck out and be able to find one for today.”

“But what about our plans? The community tree and lasagna for dinner.”

“You could be on an airplane by then.”

“I’m sorry.” The words sounded weak to her ears. “If I had a choice—”

“There’s always a choice,” he cut her off. “I hope you don’t regret yours. I’ll get out of your way so you can arrange your flight and pack. If there’s anything you didn’t finish for Hope, leave a list on the counter.”

Sheridan had only known him a few days, so her heart shouldn’t be breaking, but it was. “That’s all you have to say?”

“Have a safe trip home.” He opened the French door. “Goodbye.”