Her resolve clearly renewed, Sarah stood and placed her hands on her hips. Nothing would thwart her now. “We’re attending the dance tomorrow night, and that’s all there is to it.”
Her father made a small protesting noise that echoed Noelle’s sentiments. She was stuck going to this dance when it was the very last thing she wanted.
Dressed in a floor-length pink formal that had once been worn by Kristen in high school, Noelle felt like last year’s prom queen. Her enthusiasm for this dance was on a par with filing her income tax return.
“You look positively lovely,” her mother told her as they headed out the door.
How Noelle looked had little to do with how she felt. Her father brought the car out of the garage and held open the doors for Noelle and Carley, then helped their mother into the front seat beside him.
“How did I get so lucky—escorting three beautiful women to the biggest dance of the year?”
“Clean living,” Noelle’s mother said with authority. “And a clear conscience.” Noelle didn’t know whether to laugh at that remark or shrug in bewilderment. Leaning forward in order to look out the front window, Sarah added, “I think it’s going to snow.”
Hearing “Jingle Bells” on the car radio, Noelle suspected her mother was being influenced by the words of the song.
“We’re more prone to ice storms than snow this time of year,” her father said mildly.
Noelle had forgotten about the treacherous storms, although she’d experienced a number of them during the years she’d lived in Rose. They created astonishing beauty—and terrible dangers.
“Kristen and Jonathan are meeting us at the dance, aren’t they?” Carley asked.
“That’s what she said,” Noelle answered. Carley was dressed in a full-length pale blue dress with cap sleeves and she wore matching low-heeled shoes. She looked lovely and so mature it was all Noelle could do not to cry. Her baby sister was growing up.
“Do you think she’ll be there?” her mother asked, lowering her voice.
“Mrs. Sutton’s probably asking the same thing about you,” Noelle said.
Her mother gave an exaggerated sigh. “I’ll say one thing about Mary Sutton—she never did lack nerve.”
The Century Club was festive, with Christmas music and evergreen swags and large red bows. The ballroom was on the second floor, the cloakroom, a bar and buffet on the first. Couples lingered on the wide staircase, chatting and sipping champagne.
Noelle glanced toward the upstairs, and her stomach tensed. Thom was there. She didn’t need to see him to feel his presence. Why did he have to show up everywhere she did? Was this some kind of cosmic joke?
“Kristen!” her mother called. “Yoo hoo!” Anyone might think it’d been weeks since she’d last spoken to her daughter. “Hello, Jonathan.” She hugged her soon-to-be son-in-law.
“Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad.” Kristen paused in front of Carley, feigning shock. “This isn’t my little sister, is it? It can’t be.”
Carley rolled her eyes, but couldn’t hide her pleasure. “Of course it’s me. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Shall we go upstairs?” her mother suggested.
Noelle recognized the order disguised as a request. They were to mount the stairs on guard, as a family, in case they ran into the dreaded Mary Sutton.
Kristen cozied up to Noelle. “He’s here,” she whispered in her ear.
“I know.”
“Who told you?”
“No one.” She couldn’t explain how she’d recognized Thom’s presence. She just did. Like it or not.
The ballroom was crowded, and although this wasn’t the kind of social activity Noelle would have attended on her own, she couldn’t help getting caught up in the spirit of the evening. A six-piece orchestra was playing a waltz, the chandeliers glittered and she saw that it had indeed begun to snow; flakes drifted gently past the dark windows. On the polished dance floor, the women in their long shimmery gowns whirled around in the arms of their dashing partners. The scene reminded her of a Victorian Christmas card.
“Would you care to dance?” Jonathan asked.
Surprised, Noelle nodded. She’d only spoken once or twice to this man who was marrying her sister, and was anxious to know him better. “Thank you. That would be very nice.”
Just as Noelle and Jonathan stepped onto the dance floor, Kristen’s gaze met her fiancé’s. Noelle could have sworn some unspoken message passed between them. She didn’t have time to question her sister before Jonathan loosely wrapped her in his arms.
“I assume you heard what happened at the Value-X store,” she said, searching for a subject of conversation.
“Did you have as much trouble not laughing as I did?”
“More,” Noelle confessed with a grin.
“I’ve done business with the Suttons. They’re good people.”
“This feud between our mothers is ridiculous.” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Kristen, who was dancing, too—her partner none other than Thom Sutton. It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together, especially when she noticed that Kristen was steering Thom in her direction. Noelle marveled at her sister’s courage in asking Thom to dance with her. And of course she had. Thom would never have sought Kristen out, especially for a dance in the Women’s Century Club Ballroom with both mothers present.
The two couples made their way toward the center of the polished floor. When they were side by side, Jonathan stopped.
“I believe you’re dancing with the wrong partner,” he said.
Noelle didn’t need to look over her shoulder to guess Jonathan was speaking to Thom.
“I believe you’re with the wrong woman,” Noelle heard Kristen tell her partner.
Jonathan released Noelle, and Kristen stepped out of Thom’s embrace and sailed into her fiancé’s waiting arms, leaving Thom and Noelle standing alone in the middle of the crowded dance floor.
Slowly, dread dictating every move, Noelle turned and came face-to-face with Thom. He didn’t look any happier than she felt at this sudden turn of events. “I didn’t plan this,” she said in clear, even tones.
His expression implied that he didn’t consider her comment worthy of a response.
“Are you two going to dance or are you just going to stand there and stare at each other all night?” Jonathan asked.
Thom shrugged, implying that he could do this if he had to. Reluctantly Noelle stepped into his arms. She wasn’t sure what to expect. Actually, she hadn’t expected to feel anything, certainly not this immediate deluge of emotion. He kept her at arm’s length and gazed into the distance.
To Noelle’s horror, tears filled her eyes as all the old feelings came flooding back. She was about to turn and walk off the dance floor when his fingers dug into her upper arms.
“You’re not running away from me again.”
“Me?” she cried, furious at the accusation.
“Yes, you.”
His words made no sense, she thought grimly, but said nothing. The dance would be over soon and she could leave him behind. Or try to. Kristen would answer for this.
No, she decided, she had only herself to blame. Over lunch, Noelle had confided in her sister. Kristen, being idealistic and in love, had plotted to bring Noelle and Thom back together. She didn’t understand that reconciliation wasn’t always possible.
“I’d like to ask you a question,” she said when she could tolerate the silence no longer.
“Fine.”
“Why’d you do it? Did you want revenge for your mother so badly it was worth using me to get it?”
He stopped dancing and frowned at her. “What?”
“You heard me.” She couldn’t keep the pain out of her voice.
He continued to frown, as if he still didn’t understand the question.
“Don’t give me that injured look,” she said, clenching her jaw. “Too many years have passed for me to be taken in by that.”
“You were the one who stood me up.?
??
“Yeah, right,” she said with a mocking laugh. “After I made an idiot of myself in front of my parents, too. That must’ve given you a real kick.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Thom, I waited in that park for two miserable hours and you didn’t show.”
Not an inch separated them now as his icy glare cut into her. Dancing couples swirled around them, but Noelle was barely conscious of anyone else. For all she knew or cared, they were alone on the dance floor.
“I waited hours for you, too.”
His lying to her now was almost more than she could stand. “I beg to differ,” she said stiffly.
“Noelle, listen to me! I was there.”
“You most certainly were not.” Then, to prove that she wasn’t going to accept a lie, no matter how convenient, she added, “You think I just waited around? I was sure something had gone wrong, sure there was some misunderstanding, so I phoned your home.”
“I wasn’t there because I was waiting for you!”
He persisted with the lie and that irritated her even more.
“You were gone, all right,” she said, spitting out the words. “You were with your buddies bowling.”
His eyes narrowed and he began to speak.
But the music stopped just then, which was all the excuse Noelle needed to get away from him. He reached for her hand and pulled her back. “We need to talk.”
“No. It happened years ago. Some things are better left alone.”
“Not this time,” he insisted, unwilling to budge.
“What do you hope to accomplish by going through all of this now? It’s too late.” They’d gain nothing more than the pain of opening old wounds. Any discussion was futile. It’d been a mistake to let herself get drawn into this silly drama—just one very big mistake.
“I’m not hoping to accomplish one damn thing,” he told her coldly.
“I didn’t think so.”
Thom released her hand. “Just a minute,” he said as she turned from him.
Noelle hesitated.
“I was there. I stood there for two hours and waited. You were the one who never showed.”
“That’s not true!”
They stood glowering at each other, both refusing to give in. Noelle wasn’t going to let him lie his way out of this, though—not after what his deception had cost her.
“Hey, you two, this is Christmas,” someone called out.
The voice ended Noelle’s resolve. Whatever had happened in the past didn’t matter anymore. Certainly not after all these years.
“If you find comfort in believing a lie, then do so,” he said, “but don’t involve me.” He walked away, his face hard and impassive.
Left alone in the middle of the dance floor, Noelle stared at him in amazement. Of all the nerve! He’d stopped her from leaving and now he’d taken off!
Picking up her skirt, she raced after him. “All right! You want to talk this out, then we will.”
“When?” He continued walking, tossing the question over his shoulder.
With Christmas so close, her time was booked solid. “I…soon.”
“Tonight.”
“All right.” She swallowed hard. “When and where?”
“After the dance. In the park, same place as before.”
That seemed fitting, since it was where they were originally going to meet the day they’d planned to elope.
“What time is the dance over?”
“Midnight.” He glanced at his watch. “So make it one.”
“I’ll be there.”
He shot her a look. “That was what you said the last time.”
NOELLE McDOWELL’S JOURNAL
December 21
5:00 p.m.
Everyone’s getting ready for the big dance, but my head’s still spinning and i’ve learned that it helps me sort through my emotions if I write everything down. I ran into Thom again. It’s as though we’re being drawn together, as though we’re trapped in some magnetic field and are being pulled toward each other from opposite directions. I can tell he doesn’t like it any better than I do.
It happened yesterday when I met Kristen for lunch at The Rose Garden. No sooner had our order arrived when in walked Thom and his mother.
Try as I might, I couldn’t keep my eyes off him. He apparently suffered from the same malady. Every time I glanced up, he was staring at me—and frowning. His mother was with him and I could see that he was trying to keep her distracted so she wouldn’t notice Kristen and me. I didn’t completely understand why until we arrived home and discovered that Mom and Mrs. Sutton had had another run-in while shopping for the Christmas baskets. That must have been something to see, although I’m grateful I didn’t!
After we left the restaurant, Kristen and I had a long talk about Thom. I told her far more than I meant to. I don’t think I’ve thought or talked this much about Thom in years, and I found myself experiencing all those pathetic emotions all over again. Kristen confessed that she’s been hurt and upset with me for staying away, and now that I’m home, I can understand her disappointment. It’s ironic, because after I told her how devastated I was when Thom and I broke up, she said she could understand why I’d stayed away. She even said she’d probably have done the same thing.
When I got back to the house, Mom was in quite a state. For a moment I thought she might have talked herself out of attending the dance, but our hopes were quickly dashed. Dad and I should’ve realized Mom has far too much pride to let Mary Sutton get the upper hand.
This Christmas-basket project is driving her nuts, but Mom’s determined to make Kristen’s wedding one this town will long remember, and she’s willing to make whatever sacrifice is necessary. I do admire her determination.
It’s time to get ready for the dance. Wouldn’t you know it? Mom came up with a dress, and just as Carley predicted, it’s pink. Pepto-Bismol pink. I can only hope Thom doesn’t show up, but at the rate my luck is running…
Chapter Four
The rest of the Christmas dance passed in a blur for Noelle. She danced with a constant stream of attractive men. She greeted longtime family friends and socialized the evening away, but not once did she stop thinking about Thom. They were finally going to settle this. Only she wasn’t a naive eighteen-year-old anymore and she wouldn’t allow his lies to go unchallenged. Thom claimed he’d been waiting for her in the park, but she knew otherwise.
At the end of the evening, the families trooped down the wide sweeping staircase. Noelle, Carley and their mother waited while Jake stood in line to collect their coats. No more than three feet away from them was Mary Sutton, who also appeared to be waiting for her coat. Noelle had to hand it to the woman; she did a marvelous job of pretending not to see them.
“Good evening, Mrs. Sutton,” Noelle greeted her, refusing to ignore Thom’s mother.
Sarah’s onetime friend opened and then closed her mouth, as if she didn’t know how to respond.
“Noelle.” Her mother elbowed her sharply in the ribs. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing. I’m greeting an old family friend.”
“Former friend,” her mother insisted. “We haven’t been friends in almost twenty years.”
“But you once were.”
Her mother sighed wearily. “I was younger then, and I didn’t have the discretion I have now. You see, back then I took friendship at face value. I trusted in goodwill and forgiveness.”
“Hello, Noelle,” Mary Sutton said, moving closer. “I, too, was once young and I, too, believed in the power of friendship. But I was taught a painful lesson when the woman I assumed was my dearest friend lied and deceived me and entrusted a priceless family heirloom to another. But that was a very long time ago. Tell me,” she said, turning a cold shoulder to Noelle’s mother. “How are you?”
“Very well, thank you.”
Her mother clasped Carley’s arm and stepped back as though to protect her youngest dau
ghter.
“You’re looking lovely,” Thom’s mother said, and her eyes were kind.
“Thank you,” Noelle said, although she could feel her mother’s gaze burning into her back.
Mary Sutton lowered her voice. “I couldn’t help overhearing your mother’s comments just now about friendship. I probably should’ve stayed out of it—but I couldn’t.”
“It’s so sad that the two of you have allowed this nonsense to go on for all these years.”
“Let me assure you, my grandmother’s tea service is not nonsense. It was all I had to remind me of her. Your mother lied to me about using it, and then lost it forever.” Her downcast eyes clearly said that the loss of her grandmother’s legacy still caused her pain. “You’re right, though. It’s unfortunate this has dragged on as long as it has.”
That sounded encouraging, and Noelle was ready to leap on what she considered a gesture of peace.
“However,” Mrs. Sutton continued, “there are certain things no friendship can overcome, and I fear your mother has crossed that line too many times to count. Regrettably, our friendship is unsalvageable.”
“But—”
“Another thing,” Mrs. Sutton said, cutting Noelle off. “I saw you dancing with Thom this evening. You two were once sweet on each other, but you hurt him badly. I hope for both your sakes that you’re not thinking of renewing your acquaintance.”
“I…I…” Noelle faltered, not knowing how to answer.
Noelle’s mother stepped forward. “I suggest your son stay away from our daughter.”
“Mom, keep out of this, please,” Noelle cried, afraid of what would happen if the two women started in on each other—particularly after the Value-X incident. This was the town’s biggest social event of the year, and a scene was the last thing either family needed.
Mr. Sutton returned with the coats, and Noelle’s father followed shortly afterward. The McDowells headed immediately for the parking lot, careful to avoid any and all Suttons. Everyone was silent on the drive home, but Noelle knew she’d upset her mother.