13

We Need a Little Christmas

“No, Ronnie, for the last time, I haven’t heard from Clint,” Ava said from where she shelved the last of the toys that they still had on hand. “He hasn’t returned any of my calls or text messages yesterday or today.”

“Have you talked to Pete?”

“No,” Ava answered flatly. “If there were some kind of emergency or something, Pete would have called me. I think . . .” She swallowed hard. “I think that this thing between us has just moved way too fast for him and he’s having second thoughts.”

Ronnie stomped her elf boot so hard that the curled toe wiggled up and down. “Ava! It’s Christmas Eve. You and Clint need to be together.”

“Apparently he doesn’t think so,” Ava said, trying her best to keep her voice steady. “Look, he left me once before without looking back, and I guess he’s doing it again. But listen, sweetie, you should go home.”

“It’s only noon. We’ll have some last-minute shoppers.”

“I can handle it,” Ava gently assured her. “Look, I’m going to be okay. You can go.”

“Oh, Ava, I just don’t get it.” Ronnie frowned and looked as if she were going to burst into tears. Ava knew the feeling but forced herself to keep a stiff upper lip.

“What can I say?” Ava shrugged. “Life is weird.”

“This just sucks.” A tear slid down Ronnie’s cheek, nearly Ava’s undoing. “This is not a Hallmark movie ending,” Ronnie protested in a sad tone. “I mean, look, we’re having a white Christmas and everything.”

“Another reason you should go. The roads are terrible and getting worse.”

“Ava, I have a four-wheel-drive truck. I’ll be fine.”

Ava walked over and put her arm around Ronnie’s shoulders. “Hey, I’m going over to my parents’ farm later on. After a glass of my dad’s spiked eggnog, I’ll be fine. Please, Ronnie. Head on out and enjoy the holiday. I don’t want to think you’ll be sad on Christmas Day. As a matter of fact, I’m going to close up in a little while.”

Ronnie sniffed but nodded. “All right, but text me later, okay?”

“I will,” Ava promised and gave Ronnie’s shoulders a firm squeeze. “Now shoo!”

After Ronnie reluctantly left, it was difficult to keep her chin up any longer and Ava’s lips trembled. Not wanting a customer see her dissolve into a puddle of tears, Ava was about to walk over and lock the door when a woman entered. After swallowing hard, Ava managed a wan smile. Wait . . . she looked familiar.

“Hello, Ava. I know it’s been a while, but I’m Maria Sully.”

“Clint’s mom?” Ava asked and then felt silly. “Of course you are. May I help you?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.” Her rich brown hair was cut in a flattering layered bob framing her face. Shiny cowboy boots peeked out beneath her jeans, and she wore an expensive-looking leather coat with a jewel-toned scarf artfully tied around her neck. Maria had to be somewhere around sixty, but you would never guess it.

“What can I do for you, Mrs. Sully?”

“I’m looking for Clint. I haven’t heard from him since yesterday, and it’s not like him not to return my calls.”

Ava felt a flash of alarm. “Did you talk to Pete?”

She nodded. “Yes, and he said Clint had asked for the night off last night to shop, and he assumed he was with you. So he’s not?”

Ava shook her head. “I’ve been trying to contact him too.” She put a hand to her chest. “Have you been over to his condo?”

“He’s not there.”

“Oh . . .” Ava frowned.

“I have to ask, do you know why he might have left?”

“If you’re asking if we had a fight or something, the answer is no. Quite frankly, I’m totally hurt and confused. I have to wonder if Clint was feeling overwhelmed about the seriousness of our relationship. But if he was leaving, surely he would tell you or Pete.”

Maria shook her head. “Something isn’t right. I’m worried sick, Ava. I’m going to head over to the tavern and see if Pete knows anything. In the meantime, if you hear from him, let me know.” She dug inside her purse and pulled out a card. “My number is on here.”

“Do the same for me, please. I’m going to close up the shop.”

“Will do.”

Ava followed Maria over to the front door and locked up. The snow was falling down once more, but Ava noticed that Maria was driving a sturdy-looking SUV. Even so, if this kept up, the roads would soon become impassable.

Ava went upstairs to her apartment to let Rosie outside. Her emotions hovered somewhere between worry and confusion. She’d thought that Christmas was going to be filled with joy, and nothing about Clint’s behavior made any sense. Cell phone reception around Cricket Creek was good, so not answering his phone didn’t make any sense either. She watched Rosie frolic in the deepening snow, smiling absently when her little legs suddenly got stuck. . . .

Stuck!

Ava’s eyes widened, and she suddenly pictured Clint’s sports car. “He must be snowed in somewhere,” she whispered. But where? Ava racked her brain, going through the possibilities but coming up blank.

And then it hit her, and she snapped her fingers. The cabin! “It has to be it.” Cell phone reception in the wooded area down by the river could be spotty, especially where the cabin was located. She smiled, knowing why Clint would go there. He’d mentioned wanting to do something special, and the little hideaway in the woods would be the perfect setting.

Ava picked up her cell phone and called Pete.

“Ava!” His voice boomed into the phone. “Have you heard from Clint?”

“No, but, Pete, I think he might be at your cabin down by the river.” Joy shoved away the last of her doubt. She laughed. “In fact, I’d bet the farm.”

“Really? Let me check and see if the keys are there. Nope. Gone! Ava, he must be snowed in with that little car of his. Girl, get ready. Maria and I will pick you up in my four-wheel drive and deliver you to his doorstep like Santa on his sleigh.”