Page 23 of Sweet Yuletide (Indigo Bay Christmas Romances #4)

Merry Christmas to me.

The house was so quiet, so empty.

Michael had wanted to be alone for the holidays, but now, the silence grated on him.

He stared at his parents’ tree. Each ornament held a story, but today that brought no laughter.

No joy.

The multicolor lights blinked. On and off. On and off. He preferred white bulbs.

No presents sat under the branches. The stockings didn’t overflow with gifts. He missed the scent of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. He’d forgotten to share that tradition with Sheridan.

I don’t fly out until the morning. All I have to do is hang my ornament, and then we can spend Christmas Eve together.

He should have said yes.

Y-E-S.

Instead of saying that, he’d packed his bag and left the beach house before she returned. Why hadn’t he given her last night?

Michael made himself a cup of coffee. He took a sip when his phone rang—his mom.

Time to put on his game face. “Hey, Mom. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you. How are you?”

“Good. I’m at your house.”

“Did something happen?”

“My roommate had to fly home, so I came here.” Sheridan was probably at the airport waiting to depart. “I’ll go to Von’s place tomorrow.”

By then, all traces of her will have disappeared .

“Well, the kids want to open gifts, but I wanted to check in first.” His mom sounded like she was smiling. “Enjoy your quiet Christmas.”

“Have fun at your chaotic one.”

“Honey, you sound sad.” The way his mom picked up on their emotions was her superpower. “It’s difficult to lose a girlfriend and then a new friend, but you’re young, and you’ll meet other women.”

Except he might not ever meet another woman like Sheridan.

Was she perfect? No, but she had seemed perfect for him.

“Thanks, Mom.” He forced the words from his dry throat. “Tell Dad merry Christmas from me.”

“I love you, Mikey.”

“Love you.”

As he hung up, thoughts of Sheridan overloaded his brain.

Everything had been going well. She had no idea about the money he’d won.

He’d thought she accepted him being unemployed without a place to live, but nothing she said was untrue.

He was couch-surfing and had been for a couple of months.

Yesterday, he’d been staying in his future brother-in-law’s bedroom, a step up from sleeping in a friend’s living room.

But she’d hurt him.

And he’d shut down.

The way he always did. Scratch that, the way Mikey, youngest in the family, had since he’d been old enough to react.

Except he didn’t want to be Mikey any longer, which meant it was time to change.

She’d invited him to Berry Lake, which suggested she didn’t hate the person he was, but he hadn’t given her the courtesy of an answer. He’d asked her to stay.

He’d been selfish. Her dream was her dad’s gallery.

Michael should have said yes, continued working online and over the phone with his team. Someone else would turn in the ticket, but if he needed to be local that day, he could fly here.

Is it too late ?

She would be at the airport this morning. All he had to do was find her.

He tossed his toiletries into his duffel bag, which still contained his laptop and clothes, and then swung the strap over his shoulder. He had his keys, his phone, and a jacket. That should do it.

The drive took forever. Worry knotted his muscles.

What if her flight had taken off?

Adrenaline surged through him. He gripped the steering wheel.

Not wanting to miss seeing her, Michael pulled into the valet parking area, grabbed his bag off the front seat, and spoke to the attendant quickly. His conversation with Sheridan might be over in a few minutes. Still, he hoped she wanted him to go to Berry Lake with her.

Being together was the most important thing. Indigo Bay or Charleston or Berry Lake—as long as he was with her, the location meant nothing.

It was time to say goodbye to everyone’s annoying little brother, Mikey, who kept messing up, and become Michael, an adult who didn’t react to every little thing.

Michael wouldn’t sulk when his feelings were hurt, or he didn’t get his way.

He wouldn’t turn down an invitation out of spite.

Instead, he would offer to make this the best Christmas he could for Sheridan.

Michael prayed she didn’t turn him down the way he had her.

* * *

Sheridan hadn’t expected the airport to be so busy on Christmas morning. She rolled her suitcase away from the self-check-in kiosk, trying to keep her breathing calm and the tears at bay. As soon as she put enough distance between herself and the other passengers in line, she phoned her dad.

One ring, two rings, three rings.

“This better be important.” His voice was growly. “It’s still dark here.”

Okay, she’d woken him. That explained why he sounded like that. “I’m at the airport. The change fee hasn’t been paid.”

Silence filled the line.

She gripped her cell phone. “Dad?”

“There’s been a change of plans.”

Sheridan’s throat closed. She swallowed. “What kind of change?”

“Remy apologized. She wants her job back.”

“Wait. I thought you fired her.”

“No, she quit after I yelled at her. Anyway, I don’t need you at the gallery.”

This wasn’t happening. Not again. “But Remy has no idea what she’s doing.”

“That’s your fault for not training her.”

“You said you were struggling.”

“Owen offered to help me.”

Sheridan wanted to remind him that her stepbrother had no art or sales experience, but she pressed her lips together instead.

“That’s why I didn’t pay the change fee,” he continued. “Stay where you are. You’re not needed here.”

A lump, hotter than a charcoal briquet at a summer barbeque, burned in her throat. “I’m at the airport and turned in my rental car.”

“You can fly home, but I’m not paying the change fee. Ask your mother to cover it.”

Sheridan went numb. Michael had been right. Nothing had changed. Misguided hope had turned her father’s call into a dream come to life. But it hadn’t been real. His new family still meant more to him than her.

But she had to ask one thing. “Did Deena tell Remy to return to the gallery?”

“After I told Deena you would take over again, she made me realize I overreacted. She offered to help Remy figure things out.”

Of course, Deena had. And she would do whatever she could to keep Sheridan out of her father’s life and the gallery.

“Everything will be fine,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“I hope so, but not for you or Deena or her horrible spawn, but because Berry Lake needs a gallery for artists like Hope Ryan. They need to show their works locally, and tourists need a place to buy something more substantial than a trinket from the souvenir store. So, please don’t screw this up or let Deena get her hands on your gallery because she’ll dump the place at the first sign of trouble. ”

“Sheridan—”

“You might not see the truth, but I do. Finally. You’ve chosen Deena and her kids over me for the last time. I’m blocking your number. I put my heart and soul into the gallery, but I’m done. If it goes under, that’s on you. I refuse to let you dash my hopes again.”

Silence filled the line.

“Goodbye, Sal. I wish you luck. Because you’re going to need it.”

Sheridan waited for a response, but she heard nothing. The line had disconnected.

The numbness continued to grip her. A good thing, or she’d be crying her eyes out at the airport.

Her hand remained steady as she blocked Sal’s number.

It’s over .

It was really over.

She’d lost her father and the gallery. But worst of all, she’d lost Michael. She’d been so desperate to regain the first two, she’d lashed out at him.

Sheridan didn’t care that it was super early in Berry Lake. She hit the number for her mom’s landline. If anyone were up at this hour, they would be in the kitchen to answer.

“Hello.”

It was one of Max’s daughters, but she hadn’t talked to her enough on the phone to recognize the voice. “Is Sabine there? It’s Sheridan.”

“Merry Christmas. Everyone is still asleep. They went to midnight Mass, so they were up late. My dad texted me when they got home. I just got off my shift and came over here. I can wake her.”

Nell, who worked in the emergency department at the local hospital, was on the phone.

“No. Let her sleep.” Sheridan’s voice cracked.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m at the airport.”

“We’re so excited to see you.”

“My dad didn’t pay the change fee.” She blinked, but that didn’t stop the tears from welling in her eyes.

“He changed his mind about having me work at the gallery again. He told me to stay here because he doesn’t need me.

And I don’t have enough money to cover the change fee.

I turned in my rental car, even though my mom and your dad prepaid for the entire time.

Now I’m standing in the Charleston Airport on Christmas, and I have no idea what to do. ”

Sheridan wiped the wetness from her eyes.

“Hey. It’s going to be okay.” Noises sounded in the background. “I’m getting my credit card. I’ll pay your change fee.”

“Thank you, Nell.” More tears fell. “This means so…”

A male hand holding a credit card appeared in front of her. She followed the arm up to see…

Michael .

“Put the fee on this.” His serious tone matched the look in his eyes. “It’ll be easier to do it this way than over the phone.”

“Sheridan? Are you still there?” Nell asked.

“I’m here.” Sheridan sniffled. “I need to get off. The fee is covered.”

“Do you need us to pick you up?”

Hearing Nell say us warmed Sheridan’s heart. “I’ll text you.”

“We’ll be waiting to hear from you. And I’m sorry your father did that.”

“Thanks.” Michael continued to stare at her. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“When Sabine wakes up, I’ll tell her what happened. Bye.”

She disconnected from the call. “What are you doing here?”

“I want to apologize.”

“I’m the one who needs to say I’m sorry.”

“I was an idiot. I should have never left the way I did. I ruined Christmas Eve.”

“Everything you said about Sal was correct.”