Campbell

Campbell lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She didn’t want to look at the clock, knowing she’d see how few hours she had left to sleep. It would only stress her out about how tired she’d be tomorrow.

I’ll drink a lot of coffee. I’ll be fine.

She closed her eyes. The light of the streetlamp outside caught her eye. She turned over and faced the wall.

The heater kicked in.

She sighed. Useless. She might as well get up and work. At this rate, she’d never fall asleep. Still, she didn’t move. She closed her eyes and the image of the ring popped into her mind. What would it look like on her finger?

What would it feel like to commit to someone for as long as they both should live?

What if, after only a few years, he discovered all her flaws and decided he couldn’t live with her for one more day? Worse, what if something happened to Luke? She couldn’t lose anyone else she loved.

Which meant, maybe she couldn’t love anyone else.

Who was she kidding? Even now, losing him would be devastating. How had she let this happen? And what hope did she have of protecting herself at this point?

When morning finally dawned, Campbell felt groggy with the kind of headache that often accompanies a sleepless night.

As she readied herself for the day, her mind still spun with thoughts of the ring.

If Luke proposed and she waffled even a little, it could ruin their relationship. Worse, if she said she wasn’t ready, he’d certainly be hurt.

But pretending she hadn’t seen it wasn’t going to work either, because she’d always been a terrible liar.

As much as she didn’t want to love him, she didn’t want to lose him either.

As she walked toward the front of the gallery, the door popped open and a group of people entered. At the center of them, Meghan. Her face lit up when she spotted Campbell, and Campbell forced a smile, though her stomach somersaulted at the sight of Luke’s famous sister.

She reminded herself that no one knew how many times she’d imagined herself as part of Meghan’s inner circle—not because of her fame, but because Campbell had never had a sister. If she’d already adopted Luke’s family in her own mind, maybe marriage made sense. Maybe it was the next step after all.

“Hey Campbell,” Meghan said. She turned to her assistant and two men Campbell didn’t recognize. “You guys can wait here, I’ll just be a minute.”

Meghan approached the counter and rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry to bring them in here.”

“It’s fine. Maybe they’ll sign up for a class.” Campbell smiled.

“Nick worked out some crazy deal, and I’m going to have my own Christmas special on TV. Prime time.” She grinned.

Campbell knew Meghan needed a break to repair her image after everything she’d been through. Maybe this was the break she needed.

“That’s exciting.”

“I know, and we’re getting the whole family together at our cottage to go over how it’s all going to go. It’s live, so we need to rehearse.”

The whole family?

Campbell didn’t respond.

“I know it’s short notice, but the whole thing is like that. Would you mind showing up? You and Luke?”

Campbell’s mind came back to the ring. A camera crew and a Christmas special would be a unique way for a guy to propose. What if this was all part of the ploy to throw her off and keep her guessing?

“Campbell?” Meghan leaned in closer. “You okay?”

Campbell shook herself back to reality. “Of course, I’m sorry. It’s just . . .” If she told Meghan about the ring, Luke would find out she snooped. “I’m not sure what I’ll wear.”

Meghan laughed. “Just not one of those hideous Christmas sweaters. I’m going to have a hard enough time making sure Mama doesn’t show up in her Rudolph sweater. It actually has a reindeer with a light-up nose.”

Campbell laughed. “You really don’t have to include me in this, Meghan. I won’t be offended if it’s just your family.” She studied the papers on the counter.

“What are you talking about? You’re practically family already.” Meghan smiled. “At least, that’s what I’m getting from Luke.”

Campbell’s eyes darted to Meghan’s. Maybe she did know something. Maybe Luke had confided in her or Nick. He and Nick were good friends. “Do you know something?”

Meghan frowned. “About what?”

“Nothing, never mind.”

Meghan stared at her and Campbell shifted from one foot to the other, wishing she’d kept her mouth shut.

“You seem a little flustered. Is everything okay?” Meghan asked. “Oh gosh, you and Luke aren’t fighting, are you?”

Campbell shook her head. “No, no, of course not. We’re good. Everything’s good.”

Campbell could tell by the look on Meghan’s face she didn’t buy it. “Okay, well, I’ll have Luke call you with all the details. I still don’t know what time he’s available.” She turned to go. “You know how it is running your own business.”

“Sure do.” Campbell smiled and watched Meghan walk out onto the sidewalk, her handlers following close behind. The two men seemed to be setting up camera shots outside the gallery, and Meghan had pulled her phone out while they talked. Probably warning Luke that his girlfriend had gone crazy.

She wished she’d never opened the black-velvet box. At least then the surprise would let her answer in the moment rather than stewing about it. Across the street, Luke waved at Meghan, who walked over to the café. They talked for a few minutes, then both looked back toward the gallery. Campbell quickly buried her eyes in the paperwork on her desk, but all she could think about was whether or not Meghan had just implemented Luke’s plan.

If she went to Meghan’s Family Christmas Special, would she end up the main event?

And if so, would it be the end of the best relationship she’d ever had? She couldn’t bear the thought of ruining what she and Luke had. Even if she hadn’t quite defined it yet.

Deep in thought, she didn’t hear the door open again, so when she turned and saw Adele walking toward her, she gasped.

“Sorry, darlin’, did I scare you?”

Luke’s family seemed intent on showing up today.

“Yes, but it’s fine.” She shuffled the papers around on the counter, avoiding her eyes.

“You all right? You seem flustered.”

Campbell’s laugh sounded nervous in her own ears. “Have you been talking to Meghan?”

Adele frowned. “No, and I need to talk to you.”

Was she coming to warn her about Luke’s plan?

Campbell took a deep breath. She was being ridiculous and she knew it. “About what?” She tucked the papers inside a folder and tried to look busy.

“Facebook.”

Campbell met her eyes and saw pure panic in them. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I think Henry said yes to bein’ my friend.” The panic intensified.

Campbell’s eyes widened. “That’s great, Adele.”

“No, it isn’t. I don’t know what to do next.” She dropped her purse on the counter and pulled out the little journal they’d all seen on Thanksgiving. “I know it’s hard to believe, but Henry wasn’t just a friend to me. I thought I was gonna marry him.”

“That’s not so hard to believe,” Campbell said, forcing her thoughts to stay off of Luke and on his mom.

Was Luke Campbell’s version of Henry? Years from now would she be looking him up wondering “What if . . . ?”

“I just don’t know if maybe he’s mad at me is all.”

“For something that happened almost fifty years ago?” Campbell asked.

“You don’t have to say it like that. Reminds me how old I am.”

“Sorry.”

Adele’s eyes glazed over. “I loved my Teddy. He was a lot like Luke—kind, good with kids, and he treated me like a queen. I don’t want any of this to make it seem like I was ever disappointed in the way things turned out.”

Campbell watched Adele swipe a tear off her cheek.

“But I’m alone now, and I guess a part of me is wonderin’ about Henry.”

“And you feel guilty?”

“Like I’m cheatin’. On my Teddy.”

Campbell covered Adele’s hands with her own, grateful to have gained the older woman’s trust.

“I’m sorry for unloading all of this on you. I can’t tell Meghan or Luke—and you’re practically family.”

Campbell’s face must’ve gone pale.

“What? Did I say something wrong?”

“No, no, of course not.” Maybe Adele was referring to their friendship—because of her history with Campbell’s mom. Not because of Campbell’s future with her son.

“So, what would you do? If you were me?” Her eyes pleaded.

Suddenly, their lighthearted talk from Thanksgiving seemed like a mistake. To Adele, this man was so much more than a potential Facebook friend, and they’d all made light of it.

“Send him a note, maybe? The Internet just makes it easier.”

Adele looked away. “Can you show me how?” It moved Campbell how difficult it seemed to be for her to ask for help.

“Of course.”

They sat down at the computer and pulled up Adele’s Facebook page.

“Now, if you want to send a note that anyone can read, you can go here.” Campbell showed her around Henry’s wall. “See, here, someone sent him a note about a chess game, and we can read that.”

“I don’t think I’d want anyone reading my notes to Henry.” Adele stared at the screen.

“Then you want to send him a private message.” Campbell showed her how to keep their communications private and then she clicked on his photo albums.

“He’s handsome, Adele.”

Adele smiled, eyes on the image of Henry holding two children.

They scrolled through the photos, and Campbell stopped on one of a younger Henry, arms around a small woman with dark hair. She leaned in and read what Henry had written about the photo.

“‘Still miss her, even five years later.’” She glanced at Adele.

“I’m glad he found someone,” Adele said. “I’m sure he made a great husband and they look so happy together.” She quieted for a long moment. “I think I should wait.”

Campbell stilled. “You don’t want to say hello?”

Adele clicked on the Message button and chewed on her bottom lip. “Maybe.”

“I’ve got a few things to do in the back room. You go ahead and when you’re done, just click Send.”

Adele nodded.

For ten minutes, Campbell pretended to work in the back room, but all the time, she kept one eye on Adele, who seemed to be deleting every word as quickly as she typed it.

Finally, Adele stood up.

“Did you send it?” Campbell asked, walking toward her.

“Yes. My hands are still shaking.”

“It’s always good to be kind to someone,” Campbell said. “Think of it that way.”

Adele smiled. “I like that. Join me for a cup of coffee?”

Campbell glanced out the window to the café. “Oh, I’ve got more work here, but you go ahead.”

“You sure? Luke is probably anxious to see you.”

“I wish I could.” Campbell fidgeted with the bottom of her shirt. “Tell him I said hi.”

Adele’s eyes narrowed. But Campbell couldn’t tell Adele what she suspected—or how it made her feel.

This was the kind of secret she couldn’t admit. At least not yet.

But she’d have to make some sense of it sooner or later. Because she had a feeling Luke wouldn’t wait around forever.

And that was exactly what she was afraid of.