“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.
Fifteen minutes later as they walked into the house, she decided she should be the one to compromise. “Mom, I wish now that I hadn’t spoken to Mrs. Sutton,” she said quietly. And she meant it; she should have restricted her remarks to “Hello” and maybe “Merry Christmas.”
“I do, too,” her mother said. “I know your intentions were good, but it’s best to leave things as they are. I tried for a long time to make up with her, but she refused to accept a replacement set and she refused my apology.” Sadness crept into her voice. “Mary did make one good point, though.”
Noelle mentally reviewed the conversation.
“She said it’s a good idea for you to stay away from Thom, and she’s right.” She sighed, then briefly placed her palm against Noelle’s cheek. Her eyes were warm with love. “The two of you have a history you can’t escape.”
“Mom, it isn’t like that. We—”
“Sweetheart, listen please. I know you once had strong feelings for that young man, and it hurt me deeply.”
“It hurt you?”
Her mother nodded. “Very much so, because I knew you’d be forced to make a choice between your family and Thom. I couldn’t bear the thought of you married to him or sharing my grandchildren with Mary Sutton. You saw for yourself how she feels about me. There’s no forgiveness in her. Really, is this the kind of woman you want in your life and the lives of your children? That’s the history I mean.” She kissed Noelle on the cheek and headed down the hallway to her room. “Good night now.”
Noelle shut her eyes and sagged against the wall. She’d been just a moment away from explaining that she was going to meet Thom in order to talk things out. Her mother sounded as though she’d consider it a personal affront if Noelle so much as looked at him. It was like high school all over again.
The only thing left to do now was sneak out the same way she had as a teenager. She couldn’t leave him waiting in the cold, that was unthinkable. Besides, this might be her one and only chance to sort out what had really happened, and she wasn’t going to throw it away. She didn’t intend any disrespect toward her mother or his, but she had to be there. If she didn’t show up, she’d confirm every negative belief he already had about her.
Carley was in bed asleep as Noelle passed her room. She went in to drop a kiss on her sister’s forehead, then softly closed the door. Noelle changed out of her party dress, choosing wool slacks and a thick sweater to wear to the park. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she waited for the minutes to tick past. With luck, her parents would be exhausted and both go directly to bed. Then Noelle could slip away undetected.
Finally the house was dark and quiet. The only illumination came from the flashing Christmas lights that decorated the roofline.
Opening her bedroom door, Noelle was horrified by the way it creaked. On tiptoe, she carefully, silently crept down the narrow corridor.
“Jake.” Her mother was instantly awake. “I heard something.”
“Go to sleep, honey.”
“There’s someone in the house,” her mother insisted.
Noelle froze. She could hardly breathe. Just imagining what her mother would say was enough to paralyze her.
“Jake, I’m serious.”
“I don’t hear anything,” her father mumbled.
“I did. We could all be murdered in our beds.”
“Sarah, for the love of heaven.”
“Think of the children.”
Noelle nearly groaned aloud. She was trapped. She’d have to pass her parents’ bedroom in order to steal back into her own. They were sure to see her. She couldn’t go forward and she couldn’t go back.
“All right, all right,” her father muttered as he climbed out of bed.
“Take something with you,” her mother hissed.
“Like what?”
“Here, take a wooden hanger.”
“So I can hang him out to dry if I happen on a burglar?”
“Just do it, Jake.”
“Yes, dear.”
Noelle had made it safely into the kitchen by the time her father came upon her. “Dad,” she whispered, hiding in the shadows, “it’s me.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” he whispered back.
“I couldn’t. I’m sneaking out of the house.”
“This late? Where are you going?”
He wouldn’t like the answer, but she refused to lie. “I’m meeting Thom Sutton in the park. We’re going to talk.”
Her father didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then it sounded as if he was weeping.
Noelle felt dreadful. “Dad? I’m sorry if this upsets you.”
“Upsets me?” he repeated. “I think it’s hilarious.”
“You…do?”
“Go ahead and meet your young man and talk all you want. This thing is between Sarah and Mary. Greg and I have been friends for years.”
This was news to Noelle. “You’re still friends?”
“Of course. He’s the best golfing partner I ever had.”
“You and Mr. Sutton are golf partners?” Noelle thought perhaps she’d slipped into another dimension.
“Shhh.” Her father raised a finger to his lips. “Your mother doesn’t know.”
“Mom doesn’t know.” This was more unbelievable by the moment.
“Scoot,” her father ordered, and reaching for the keys on the peg outside the garage door, he said, “Here, take my car. It’s parked on the street.”
Noelle clutched the set of keys and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”
He coughed loudly as she opened the back door. “You’re hearing things, Sarah,” he called out. “There’s nothing.” He gave her a small wave and turned back toward the hallway.
As soon as she was out the door, Noelle sprinted toward her dad’s car. It took her a moment to figure out which key she needed and then another to adjust the mirror and the seat. When she glanced at her watch, she was shocked to see the time. It was already ten minutes past one.
Thom would assume she wasn’t coming. He’d think she’d stood him up…when nothing could be further from the truth.
Thom expelled his breath into the cold, and it came out looking like the snort of a cartoon bull. An angry cartoon bull. That was exactly how he felt. Once again, he’d allowed