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Kate felt Frank stare at her from behind the counter. It wasn’t a creepy stare, but more of a concerned one. The fact that she was the only customer made it difficult to eat without feeling self-conscious, especially since she teetered on having a breakdown in public again.
As she finished up, Frank walked toward her with a large white book in his hands.
“Vivi told us you’re getting married.” He placed the book on the table, flipping open the cover, revealing a photo album of desserts. “Have you planned your dessert course?”
She widened her eyes, hoping the tears would soak back in, but it was no use. She grabbed the napkin Matt had given her and dabbed her eyes.
“Was the New Englander that lousy?” he joked. “Are you okay?”
She nodded her head, but didn’t respond, looking away.
“It’s just that...” Her bottom lip trembled. “I don’t need to plan a dessert course anymore.”
Her heart plummeted at the truth. His face said he realized why she had come alone. Without knowing what was happening, he pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. At first she stiffened up, but then covered her face with the napkin, her shoulders shaking as she wept.
“I’m so, so sorry,” she sobbed.
“There’s no need to be sorry,” Frank said, consoling her.
She lowered the napkin, looking at him as tears fell off her chin. “He said he couldn’t do it. What does that mean?”
Frank shook his head. “What a horrible thing to go through, especially during the holidays.”
“I didn’t see it coming.” She blew her nose. “He didn’t even explain.”
She wept again, heavy sobs with intermittent gasps of breath.
“He didn’t even give you a reason?” Frank sounded upset for her.
“We were packing to come to Camden Cove when he just stopped and told me he couldn’t do it.” She spoke through hiccups. “I thought he meant flying out here, but then he said he... he couldn’t marry me.”
“You must’ve been devastated,” Frank said.
She took a deep breath. “This was such a stupid mistake, coming out here. I wanted to prove that I was this strong, independent woman, but instead I’ve completely fallen apart. And now I’m falling apart in front of a complete stranger.”
“Well, we’re not strangers anymore.” Frank tilted his head and took a long look. Her emotions were so raw, she was sure he could feel her pain radiating through her. “Never doubt your strength. You just being here, getting on that plane without him is strength.”
He patted her hand, giving a small smile.
Her chin quivered. “I’ve lost my soulmate.”
“He’s not your soulmate,” he said matter-of-factly, and leaned back in his chair. “Not if he’s willing to leave you.”
His words made her bottom lip tremble even more.
“Sorry. What I’m trying to say is that everything happens for a reason.”
She felt sicker at hearing the terrible cliché.
“Sometimes when things fall apart, they’re really falling into place.”
He was not helping, even though her hiccups had slowed down. “I should go.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Frank asked as he stood up. “You should come to the party tonight.”
She shook her head. “I clearly shouldn’t be out in public.”
“Get some rest today,” Frank suggested. “But this evening, you’re coming to the Christmas party.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “Oh, no, I can’t be around people.”
Frank tsked and then said, “I’m not letting you be alone on Christmas Eve.”
***
MATT LIFTED THE COOLERS filled with the live lobsters into the back of his truck and shut the lift gate once they were secured. He had a few minutes before he needed to go over to his parents’ house, so he headed to Teddy’s Toyshop to grab his last gift. A horse figurine his niece had requested. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.
“Matt!” a voice called from behind.
Matt turned to see Officer Martinez jogging toward him in the parking lot.
“Alex, it’s good to see you.” Matt greeted his brother’s friend with a hearty handshake.
“Tell me that’s for tonight?” Alex asked, pointing to the coolers.
“The storm isn’t going to stop Sarah Williams.”
“I do love your mom’s mac ‘n cheese.” Alex had been a regular at the Williams house since Matt was a young boy. He played baseball with his older brother Jack, and was a lifetime Camden Cove resident like the rest of them. “I actually wanted to give you a warning. The Coast Guard called us and told us to listen around. They’ve seen some vandalism with traps recently. People’s lines have been cut over near Perkin’s Island.”
“Do you know who it is?” Matt asked, concerned. Matt hadn’t heard any scuttlebutt about traps being messed with, but Perkin’s Island was part of his territory. He was sure he would know by tonight. Half of the town would know the details by his parents’ party.
“You’ll find out before us,” Alex replied. Matt heard the undertone in his statement. Lobstermen had a long history of resolving matters between each other. “Would you let me know if you see or hear anything?”
Matt nodded. “Will do.”
There hadn’t been something like this for years, not since his grandfather died. For generations, territories were passed down within families. But some Fishermen believed one had to earn their place, and some thought Matt skipped to the head of the line without paying his dues, by inheriting part of his grandfather’s territory.
Matt wondered whose lines were cut as he walked through the village’s narrow streets, listening to the snow crunch under his feet. The morning was quiet, even the waves seemed softer. During the summer, this place was crammed with tourists. Cars lined the streets, traffic jammed the main strip, and every sidewalk or path was packed with folks visiting the quaint fishing town. He was proud to be a permanent resident, and even though most of his bread and butter came from those summer people, he preferred days like today when he had Camden Cove all to himself.
He opened the shop’s door as a couple stepped out. He held the door, humming a Christmas carol, but stopped short when he realized who they were. Justine and Freddy were hand in hand, and appeared just as surprised to see him.
“Hey Matt,” Freddy said, trying to be casual as he wrapped his arm around Justine. “Merry Christmas.”
He ignored him, there was no need to carry on a conversation when one wasn’t needed.
“I heard you’re looking for some extra work this winter,” Freddy said as Matt went to walk inside. “You know we always need help with maintenance and repairs for the hotel.”
Matt gritted his teeth, but took the high road. “Thanks, but I’m good.”
Justine didn’t make eye contact. She stood holding a small bag, a present he assumed, in her hand. It wasn’t until he took another look that he noticed the large diamond on her finger.
His face must’ve showed his surprise, because Freddy felt the need to tell the story. “I wanted to wait until Christmas morning, but I was so excited, I popped the question last night.”
He locked eyes with Justine and said, “Congratulations.”
She squeezed up closer to Freddy and smiled. “Thanks, we’re thrilled.”
He nodded, but added nothing else. What do you say to your ex-wife, who finally landed a man with the money she always dreamed of having?
“Tell your family Merry Christmas,” Freddy said.
Matt squeezed the door handle, wishing he could squeeze Freddy’s head instead. He swallowed his pride, got his niece’s gift, and headed to his parents’.
Nothing made Sarah Williams happier than having her whole family at the house. Even though all her children lived close by, it was harder and harder these days to get them all together in one place at the same time. Christmastime was the exception.
His mom had an open-door policy for the Christmas party, but it was the usual crowd—mostly their family, some local business owners, and friends from the neighborhood and church. His brother would bring the prime rib, his uncles would bring the desserts, and he came with the lobsters.
When he walked in, Sarah called out to his dad, “John, Matt’s here.”
His dad looked up from his paper, then folded it, sticking it down beside the side cushion of his chair as he got up. “How many do you plan on prepping this year?”
“About a dozen... or two.”
John gave her the look, and shook his head. “Two dozen?”
“It’s not Christmas Eve without lobster mac ‘n cheese.” She sprinkled more salt into the boiling pot of water. “It’s your family’s tradition.”
John wasn’t buying it. She had grabbed hold of the tradition and made it bigger and more elaborate each year. She walked over to her husband, wrapped her arms around his waist, and kissed his cheek.
“I’ll give a hand.” John kissed her back, then put on his boots and headed out the door.
Matt and his dad carried in the coolers and dropped them next to the stove.
“Did you have any trouble getting this many?” she asked, surveying the load.
Matt shook his head. “Nah.”
He sat on a stool along the kitchen’s center island. Sarah didn’t hold back with the holiday spirit. Wreaths hung on every window, with candles sitting on the sills. Hand carved snowmen and reindeer stood among pinecones on the side tables. Bowls of cranberries and jars filled with candy canes lined the kitchen table. She even convinced his dad to cut down a twelve-foot tree, the biggest one to date.
“So, guess who I ran into?” Matt said, grabbing a muffin from the basket on the counter.
“Who?” she asked, turning to the lobster. She dropped them one by one into the boiling water.
“Katie O’Neil.”
“The Katie O’Neil?” She turned around to face Matt. She clearly remembered how head over heels he had been for her. “That’s right. Vivi had mentioned she was coming into town with her fiancé.”
“Well, she’s here, but I don’t think the fiancé came.”
Her eyebrows lifted, and she wiped her hands with a dishtowel. “No fiancé?”
“No fiancé,” he repeated. “I invited her to come tonight.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“Who’s coming?” John asked from his chair.
Matt swiveled to face him. “Vivi’s niece is in town.”
John opened the newspaper and nodded. “Is she bringing her whole family?”
Sarah stood, watching the pot. “Apparently she came alone.”
“Just as long as I don’t have to do any more for tonight.”
“I wonder where her fiancé is.” He could see Sarah’s curiosity grow.
He shrugged. “She was at the bakery eating breakfast, so I’m sure we’ll know the whole story soon, from Uncle Frank.”
She thought about it for a moment as she grabbed a coffee mug and filled it, setting it in front of him.
“Got anything stronger?” he said, as he took a sip.
She gave him a look.
“What? It’s Christmas Eve, after all.” He walked to the fireplace and sat on the hearth. He leaned over and rubbed Maggie Mae, the family’s chocolate lab.
“Everything okay?”
“Of course,” he replied. “Just looking for something to warm me up, nothing else.”
Just then, a car door slammed, and soon his sister Elizabeth walked into the kitchen. Her hands were full of Christmas bags and wrapped presents. Sarah rushed over to help her daughter as she stomped off the snow onto the floor mat. “Gentlemen, a little help?”
Matt and John sprang up.
“I have more in the car,” Elizabeth said, setting the bags on the counter. “Did you hear?”
He knew before she said it, but shook his head.
“Freddy popped the question.”
His stomach fell anyways, and he wished his coffee was stronger. “When did you hear?”
“She posted her ring last night.” She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. “I can’t believe they’d get engaged this soon.”
“Yeah, well, why wait?” He ignored the looks his sister and mother were giving him.
“What are you talking about?” his mother said.
“Justine and Freddy got engaged last night,” Elizabeth said.
Sarah’s eyes widened. “They’re engaged?!”
The last thing he wanted to do was sit around and talk about his failed marriage, his cheating wife and her new engagement.
Just as Elizabeth’s mouth opened, before she spoke, he interrupted and said, “Did you hear who’s in town?”